Welcome to the Week 5 Waiver Wire. In this article, I will highlight the players you should prioritize on waivers as we head into Week 5. I have broken down my targets into shallow, standard, and deeper league options. However, I will list more options under the standard column, as that will be the most popular range of targets.
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Week 5 Deep League Waiver Wire Targets
Note: This range will apply to leagues with deeper benches and more experienced managers, with players available in at least 75% of leagues. Each player is listed with their current rostership percentage and a recommended FAAB bid range for a $100 budget. All values are in reference to four-point per passing touchdown leagues with Half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted.
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz, Vikings (12% Rostered) | $3-5
It’s a dark day when Carson Wentz is the best option on the waiver wire, but here we are. It’s unclear exactly how long J.J. McCarthy will be out or how long Wentz will be starting, but while he is the starter, Wentz is a worthy fantasy asset. In two starts, Wentz has posted two games with at least 15 fantasy points, including 350 yards passing and two touchdowns in Week 4.
If Wentz starts again for the Vikings in Week 5, he will face the Cleveland Browns, who are far from an ideal matchup, but Jared Goff proved this week that you can still produce against them. Until McCarthy is back, Wentz is a high-end QB2 for fantasy.
Spencer Rattler, Saints (7% Rostered) | $2-4
Perhaps even scarier than Wentz is adding the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback, who at this time is still Spencer Rattler. The Saints are bad, but have managed to stay competitive lately, even against a far superior Buffalo Bills team in Week 4.
Rattler had his best game in Week 2, with over 20 fantasy points, but has been average in his other three games. His last two outings have led to under 15 fantasy points, which isn’t usable in 1-QB leagues but is serviceable in Superflex or 2-QB leagues. Rattler is a desperation option, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Add Rattler at your own risk, but there are worse options for managers who need a quarterback.
Other Options: Marcus Mariota, WAS (17% Rostered); Bryce Young, CAR (20% Rostered); Andy Dalton, CAR (0% Rostered); Joe Flacco, CLE (10% Rostered).
Running Backs
Zavier Scott, Vikings (3% Rostered) | $2-3
Who the heck is Zavier Scott? After veteran Aaron Jones was predictably lost to an injury, we all expected it to be Jordan Mason‘s breakout season. What no one expected was that Scott would suddenly find himself a worthwhile streaming option. Scott didn’t play a snap through two weeks, but turned a limited Week 3 appearance into 5.5 half-PPR points.
In Week 4, Scott took the largest role of his career and turned that into 13.4 half-PPR points. Perhaps the most interesting part of his emergence is how he is doing it. Aaron Jones was a three-down workhorse who had the majority of the rushing and receiving work to himself. Since his injury, it appears that the Vikings have divided his workload between two players. Mason is getting most of the rushing work, while Scott is handling most of the receiving game work. In Week 4, that receiving role turned into a top-15 running back finish. For as long as Jones is out, it looks like both Minnesota running backs are going to be fantasy relevant. Scoop up the cheaper, unknown option while you can.
Kendre Miller, Saints (7% Rostered) | $3-4
Perhaps a reflection of Rattler being their starting quarterback, the Saints have suddenly become a more run-heavy team. Rattler threw the ball 27 times in Week 4 against Buffalo, while the combination of Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller rushed the ball a total of 26 times. It’s not exactly an all-run offense, but the 50/50 split is far higher than anticipated with an aging Kamara.
In Week 4, the split in the backfield played out with 15 carries for Kamara and 11 carries for Miller. Again, not 50/50, but closer than expected. Kamara has typically been more of a receiving back than a traditional running back, but this usage is unexpected. Kamara turned his carries into a 4.67 yards per carry average, while Miller parlayed his carries into 5.91 yards per attempt. Miller was also able to find the end zone this week, which begs the question: Do the Saints have a running back by committee? Kamara was the only Saints running back to receive a target, so the receiving work is still his, but it appears as if Miller is going to be far more involved on the ground than expected; he should be added immediately.
Other Options: Emari Demercado, ARZ (5% Rostered); Antonio Gibson, NE (2% Rostered); Justice Hill, BAL (10% Rostered); Miles Sanders, DAL (14% Rostered).
Wide Receivers
Luke McCaffrey, Commanders (3% Rostered) | $1-2
Happy McCaffrey Brothers Touchdown Day! Sunday saw both McCaffrey brothers find the end zone. The younger, receiving version of the brotherly duo is Luke, who filled in well with the absence of Terry McLaurin. McCaffrey only saw two targets and posted 21 yards, but he turned that into a touchdown, which gave him 9.1 fantasy points for the week. He also managed to post a 13-point performance in Week 3, which gives him back-to-back usable weeks for fantasy.
In Week 5, Washington faces the Los Angeles Chargers, who have a tough secondary. But, with star defender Derwin James likely to cover either Deebo Samuel or McLaurin if he returns, it’s likely McCaffrey finds himself as the open man in the offense. There is no floor whatsoever with McCaffrey, but with all the injuries to receivers this season, he may be the fill-in you need to replace an injured or suspended star.
Jalen Nailor, Vikings (7% Rostered) | $0-1
Jordan Addison returned from a three-game suspension this week, and everyone assumed it would be a three-man passing game between him, Justin Jefferson, and tight end T.J. Hockenson. What we forgot to factor in was that Carson Wentz was going to throw the ball 46 times against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hockenson saw five targets, Addison saw eight, Jefferson received 11, and even the above-mentioned Scott saw eight targets. So, with all those options, how could there be anything left for Jalen Nailor?
Well, Nailor somehow managed to still draw four targets, which he turned into a whopping two yards receiving. His yardage output was unimpressive, but his touchdown this week, paired with receiving four or more targets in three consecutive weeks, makes him a desperation play for fantasy managers in need of a receiver with upside.
Other Options: Kalif Raymond, DET (0% Rostered); Isaiah Bond, CLE (2% Rostered); Greg Dortch, ARZ (0% Rostered); Darius Slayton, NYG (0% Rostered); Jalen Tolbert, DAL (15% Rostered); Michael Wilson, ARZ (6% Rostered); Sterling Shepard, TB (18% Rostered); Parker Washington, JAC (6% Rostered).
Tight Ends
Tommy Tremble, Panthers (0% Rostered) | $1-3
The Panthers look awful, and yet somehow a potential streaming tight end has emerged from within. Perhaps the growing list of injuries to receivers has made Tommy Tremble the only option left for Bryce Young, with Tetairoa McMillan seeing double coverage. Tremble posted a combined 6.8 fantasy points through the first three weeks of the season before exploding for 12.7 points in Week 4.
His five catches, 42 yards, and one touchdown are a solid TE1-level performance. You cannot expect this level of production from Tremble every week in what could be one of the league’s worst offenses. The Panthers get Miami next week, and they can’t stop anyone. Between upcoming bye weeks and an easy schedule, Tremble could find himself on the streaming radar for the next few weeks with Ja’Tavion Sanders sidelined. He is worth a shot in deeper leagues.
AJ Barner, Seahawks (2% Rostered) | $1-3
Barner saw only a modest three catches for 32 yards in Week 4, but he added a touchdown. As usual, that made him a top-12 tight end for the week. As is common, tight end rankings this season are coming down to who can find the end zone, and while Barner is unlikely to do so consistently, he does have weekly upside.
Sam Darnold and the Seahawks aren’t exactly throwing the ball all over the field and have become one of the more run-heavy teams in the league. But with no passing option receiving more than five targets last week, they clearly want to spread the ball around. Barner is going to be your typical low-floor, touchdown-dependent tight end streamer, but he had some upside if he can expand his role slightly.
Other Options: Mitchell Evans, CAR (0% Rostered); Theo Johnson, NYG (5% Rostered); Dalton Schultz, HOU (15% Rostered); Elijah Arroyo, SEA (7% Rostered); Cade Otton, TB (11% Rostered).
Week 5 Standard League Waiver Wire Targets
Note: This range will primarily apply to most leagues with standard benches, with players available in at least 50% of leagues. Each player is listed with their current rostership percentage and a recommended FAAB bid range for a $100 budget. All values are in reference to four-point per passing touchdown leagues with Half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Rams (41% Rostered) | $3-5
Stafford has managed to stay healthy through the first month of the season, and that is half the struggle in relying on him for fantasy. He has thrown the ball at least 33 times in each of the last three games, with 41 attempts in Week 4 being his season-high. That season-high in passing attempts led to season-highs in yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points with 375 yards, three touchdowns, and 27 fantasy points.
He has thrown multiple touchdowns in each of his last three games, and a Week 5 matchup with an injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers squad should help to keep that streak going. Stafford currently sits at QB12 on the season, and if he stays healthy and continues to throw the ball at this volume, he should stay in the low-end QB1 conversation.
Jaxson Dart, Giants (34% Rostered) | $2-3
Dart made his NFL debut in Week 4, taking over for a struggling Russell Wilson. That start saw Dart post his first NFL win in a solid performance. His performance as a passer would put him in the group of Rattler and other backup-level quarterbacks, as he threw for only 111 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts. Instead, the majority of his fantasy value in this performance came as a rusher. Dart rushed the ball 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown.
His first start has Daniel Jones‘ peak vibes. It remains to be seen if he can become a better passer than Jones, but with the potential to put up 50 yards rushing at any given time, he makes a solid fantasy option. Even if he isn’t starter-worthy yet, he is one of the best stash options at the position.
Other Options: Trevor Lawrence, JAC (35% Rostered); Michael Penix Jr., ATL (39% Rostered); Sam Darnold, SEA (28% Rostered); Aaron Rodgers, PIT (31% Rostered).
Running Backs
Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers (43% Rostered) | $4-5
After being the Kenneth Gainwell guy during his time in Philadelphia, I refused to buy in when he was moved to Pittsburgh. He always seemed to have an explosive and electric presence to his game that was poorly used in Philly, and the arrival of Saquon Barkley all but killed his fantasy viability.
Four weeks into the 2025 season, and it now appears that I can victory lap my belief in his talent while mourning the fact that I didn’t buy back in on him this offseason. Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson seemed to be a duo that would leave Gainwell off the fantasy radar. However, through three weeks, Gainwell was seeing touches over a struggling Johnson. In Week 4, Warren was out with an injury, and it was assumed that Johnson would simply step in and take his place, but the majority of the fantasy production instead went to Gainwell.
Gainwell out-carried Johnson 19 to six and saw six targets to Johnson’s one. He parlayed that workload into a 28-fantasy-point outing. If Warren misses more time, Gainwell is in the RB2 conversation; if Warren returns, Gainwell is still in the streaming conversation as a flex option.
Woody Marks, Texans (37% Rostered) | $8-10
The Texans appeared deadset on proving that Nick Chubb was still a thing in the absence of Joe Mixon, but sadly, that appears to be false. For the first time this season, Chubb was outcarried 17-13 by rookie Woody Marks in Week 4, but that was still more work than Chubb should be receiving. Marks is averaging almost a half-yard more per carry than Chubb, although even the rookie is struggling to average more than four yards per carry behind this offensive line.
Not only has he taken over as the primary rusher for Houston, but Marks is also receiving more targets than Chubb and is slowly taking over the starter’s job from Chubb. It’s unclear how long it will take the Texans’ coaching staff to abandon Chubb altogether, but when they come to their senses, Marks will be a consistent RB2.
Other Options: Tyler Allgeier, ATL (40% Rostered); Blake Corum, LAR (30% Rostered); Chris Rodriguez, WSH (34% Rostered); Rico Dowdle, CAR (25% Rostered); Ollie Gordon, MIA (44% Rostered).
Wide Receivers
Jayden Higgins, Texans (34% Rostered) | $2-4
Another member of the Houston Texans offense, and another rookie. Higgins has only five catches and roughly 100 yards receiving through four weeks, but he scored his first touchdown in Week 4. So far, Higgins has shown little upside in a struggling Texans offense with one of the worst offensive lines in football, but Week 4 made him a slight blip on the radar.
He isn’t a must-add player just yet, but his talent in what could be a solid offense if they figure things out makes him a great stash candidate, especially in Dynasty formats. Nico Collins is seeing the majority of the attention from opposing defenses, which leaves Higgins with plenty of room to maneuver. If the Texans’ offensive line can make improvements and C.J. Stroud can recover his rookie-year form, Higgins could be a second-half-of-the-season breakout candidate.
Other Options: Christian Kirk, HOU (49% Rostered); Joshua Palmer, BUF (27% Rostered).
Tight Ends
Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers (27% Rostered) | $1-3
After a breakout performance by the rookie in Week 3 that saw him post 7.1 fantasy points, Gadsden posted only 2.6 half-PPR points in Week 4. His two catches and 16 receiving yards were not the performance I was hoping for, but I still hold out hope that his talent and presence in this high-flying offense could make him a great sleeper tight end.
In Week 5, the Chargers face the Washington Commanders, who have struggled lately. This matchup could be another chance for Gadsden to become fantasy-relevant. Don’t expect Gadsden to be a consistent weekly producer, as there are too many receivers ahead of him in the pecking order, but he can be your standard touchdown-dependent tight end streamer.
Brenton Strange, Jaguars (33% Rostered) | $1-3
Strange has been boring but productive. Performances of 7.9, 3.2, and 9.1 fantasy points through three weeks made him a decent option for managers who needed to add a tight end off the waiver wire; see my many George Kittle rosters. He once again posted a usable fantasy score in Week 4, and once again saw 7 targets, making it his third straight game with five or more targets.
The Jaguars’ offense is hit-and-miss, so it’s impossible to say he has a safe floor, but it appears as if he is going to be getting at least five targets and 40 yards every week. He is yet another case where his ability to get into the end zone each week will be the difference between a TE15 performance and a TE5 performance.
Other Options: Jonnu Smith, PIT (52% Rostered).
Week 5 Shallow League Waiver Wire Targets
Note: This range will primarily apply to home leagues and those with shorter benches, with players available in at least 25% of leagues. Each player is listed with their current rostership percentage and a recommended FAAB bid range for a $100 budget. All values are in reference to four-point per passing touchdown leagues with Half-PPR scoring unless otherwise noted.
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, Jets (67% Rostered) | $5-10
Fields has never been my favorite quarterback to roster in fantasy. He is the QB equivalent of A.J. Brown to me. When I have really needed him in the past, he has either put up a dud game or missed the game with an injury altogether. That’s not a formula for success.
Through four weeks, Fields has put up two huge performances, one complete dud, and missed Week 3 altogether. This perfectly illustrates my point. One great game, one awful game, and one game missed with an injury. I loathe having Fields as my starting quarterback, but acknowledge that if you have lost a star such as Joe Burrow or Jayden Daniels, you may be forced to look his way. Fields is one of the few quarterbacks who is capable of producing at a level that comes anywhere near those guys, but his floor is significantly lower than both. Consider Fields an ultra-high-ceiling and ultra-low-floor quarterback option.
Daniel Jones, Colts (73% Rostered) | $5-7
Jones has been one of the most pleasant surprises this season at quarterback, and he’s been a mainstay in this column all year. Unfortunately, his fantasy output is trending way down, and he is showing signs that the end could be near. He has scored 29, 23, 16, and 10 fantasy points in four games this year. That is a three-week trend of his fantasy production going further down each week.
He has managed to throw for at least 200 yards in all four games and has thrown exactly one touchdown in each game, but Week 4 saw the interceptions creep back into his game. After throwing no interceptions through three weeks, he threw two in Week 4 against the Rams. Don’t get me wrong, Jones is a decent streaming option if you are desperate at quarterback in a deep league, but the wheels may be about to fall off. So, if you already have him on your roster, you may want to attempt to sell high instead of adding him. However, he is still worth a waiver claim if you can get him cheap.
Other Options: C.J. Stroud, HOU (67% Rostered); Brock Purdy, SF (73% Rostered).
Running Backs
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (73% Rostered) | $25-30
Charbonnet has been one of the best running back handcuffs of the season, and the only reason he still comes in under the 75% threshold is a Week 3 injury. He was excellent in Week 1, non-existent in Week 2, injured in Week 3, and excellent once again in Week 4. Is it possible that Charbonnet is the running back version of Justin Fields? Although I suppose Fields is the running back version of Justin Fields.
Walker has always appeared to me to be the better of the two Seahawks running backs, but the coaching staff doesn’t appear as certain. Charbonnet and Walker have both received double-digit carries in every game they have appeared in, which demonstrates Seattle’s desire to operate this backfield as a committee. Both are receiving roughly two targets per game, which limits their receiving upside, but they are both talented enough to be fantasy-relevant. This situation provides fantasy managers with two fantasy-relevant options; unfortunately, the two limit each other’s ability to be anything more than touchdown-dependent RB2s.
Rachaad White, Buccaneers (51% Rostered) | $5-10
Let me get this straight: Bucky Irving is the workhorse in the Tampa Bay backfield. Irving is still getting the bulk of the rushing work, and he is getting his fair share of receiving work. But White is also receiving some consistent targets in the passing game, especially with Mike Evans now out.
White saw four targets through three weeks, but recorded five targets in Week 4 for four catches and 29 yards. He was still inefficient with his targets and failed to do much with them, but he can be useful as a flex play while the Buccaneers’ receiving corps is depleted.
Other Options: Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (74% Rostered); Kareem Hunt, KC (55% Rostered).
Wide Receivers
Khalil Shakir, Bills (74% Rostered) | $5-10
Shakir was the hot sleeper of draft season, but fantasy managers quickly cooled on him when it appeared that Keon Coleman was going to break out. Shakir was good in Week 1 before disappearing behind Coleman in Week 2. This is when his rostership numbers started to drop below 75% for the first time.
In Week 3, he rebounded with 12.5 points and followed that up with a 15.4-point performance against the Saints in Week 4. The Bills are still one of the most run-heavy teams in the league behind James Cook and Josh Allen, but recently, they have begun to produce some fantasy-relevant options through the air. The Bills’ offense may see a rotation of Shakir, Coleman, and tight end Dalton Kincaid taking turns with their boom weeks, but Shakir remains a solid option for those in need of a receiver.
Rashid Shaheed, Saints (65% Rostered) | $10-15
Shaheed saw a nearly 50/50 split on targets in Week 4 between himself and Chris Olave. The problem is that New Orleans seems to have realized that they have a terrible quarterback and are skewing further towards the run with each passing week.
Despite the general failures of the Saints, Shaheed has become a reliable producer if you need a receiver who can be flexed and who will consistently put up a handful of fantasy points per week. There is no ceiling in this offense, but Shaheed is a set-it-and-forget-it flex receiver.
Other Options: Elic Ayomanor, TEN (58% Rostered); Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG (65% Rostered); Tre Tucker, LV (72% Rostered).
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert, Eagles (68% Rostered) | $3-5
As the perennial Dallas Goedert hater, it pains me to say this, but Goedert is probably the best tight end available on your waiver wire. Goedert is yet another player who follows the Justin Fields productivity model. In Week 1, he was great, in Week 2, he did not play, Week 3 saw an average output, and Week 4 was a boom week.
I hate relying on Goedert on my fantasy roster as he is typically injured when I need him, but if you need a streamer and he is on the waiver wire, he is a great option to start. Just don’t get too comfortable relying on him.
Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (72% Rostered) | $4-8
Harold Fannin Jr. looked to be the rookie breakout of the year through two weeks, but the recent struggles of the Cleveland Browns seemed to have put a damper on that breakout party. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has maintained a consistently high pass volume through four weeks, but his production fell off greatly after Week 1. This is in large part due to matchups. In Week 1, they faced a Bengals defense that may be the worst in the NFL. In the following three weeks, they faced the Ravens, Packers, and Lions. None of those teams is an easy matchup.
Week 5 sees Cleveland take on a Vikings matchup that isn’t perfect but is far better than what they have seen recently. After that, they get Pittsburgh, Miami, and New England, all of which have been great matchups. Look for Flacco to continue throwing at an insane volume, which is likely to see targets head back to Fannin Jr., increasing his fantasy production.
Other Options: Kyle Pitts, ATL (74% Rostered); Zach Ertz, WSH (74% Rostered).
Week 5 Waiver Wire Defenses
(Available in at least 50% of leagues)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2% Rostered) | $0-1
The Colts currently sit as DST7 on the season and have been a pleasant surprise for fantasy. They have posted 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one touchdown through four games. The only question is whether this productivity has been a result of easy competition or is a sign of the Colts becoming an elite D/ST for fantasy.
In Week 5, they face a Las Vegas Raiders team that has been all over the place but has struggled to score with any consistency. The Raiders rank as the fourth-best matchup for opposing defenses and are allowing 10.3 fantasy points per game to their opponents. The Colts can be streamed as a top-six D/ST this week.
Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers (5% Rostered) | $0-1
The Dolphins currently rank as DST30 on the year and have been one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Miami has recorded only six sacks and no turnovers on the year and has done nothing for fantasy managers. I don’t normally advocate for starting an awful defense, but the matchup with Carolina is so enticing that I have to fire them up as a dart-throw option.
The Panthers rank as the sixth-best matchup for opposing D/STs and are allowing 9.5 fantasy points per game to their opponents. This one is risky and is only for those of you in dire need of a streaming defense. But if desperation is your current position, stream the matchup and hope the numbers hold up.
New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints (7% Rostered) | $0-1
The Giants currently rank as the DST27 on the season and have been every bit as bad as the Dolphins. Once again, we will be looking to stream a prime matchup since it’s not a good week overall for high-floor options. New York has posted 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions on the season, and is getting by largely on turnovers.
The Giants have looked far worse this season due to some bad matchups against solid offenses, but this week they will go up against Spencer Rattler and the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans ranks as the eighth-best matchup for fantasy D/STs and is allowing eight fantasy points per game to opponents. Once again, in a bad week for streaming defenses, let’s hope the matchups hold instead of the talent.
Week 5 Waiver Wire Kickers
(Available in at least 50% of leagues)
Matt Gay, Commanders vs. Los Angeles Chargers (31% Rostered) | $0-1
Gay checks in as PK10 on the year and has been surprisingly consistent after some years of struggling in Indianapolis. He got off to a bad start through two weeks, but has put up elite performances in the past two weeks. This year, he is 10 for 10 on extra points and seven for 10 on field goals. He has made four field goals of more than 40 yards and three of more than 50 yards, showcasing that he still has some juice left in his leg.
The Chargers rank as an average matchup and are allowing 9.8 fantasy points per game to kickers, so there is plenty of room for Gay to keep his hot streak going.
Daniel Carlson, Raiders vs. Indianapolis Colts (18% Rostered) | $0-1
Carlson ranks as PK20 on the year and has been disappointing to start the season. He has been the opposite of Gay: solid through two weeks, but struggling over the last two weeks. This year, he is six for six on extra points and seven for nine on field goals. He has made two field goals of more than 40 yards and two of more than 50 yards.
The Colts don’t rank as a solid matchup and are, in fact, one of the worst matchups on paper, but Carlson has enough of a floor to overcome this against a Colts team that seems largely fraudulent.
Joshua Karty, LAR, vs. San Francisco 49ers (2% Rostered) | $0-1
Karty ranks as PK16 for the year and has been average for the Rams. Like Carlson, he started strong but has disappointed the last two weeks. This year, he is 10 for 11 on extra points and eight for 10 on field goals. He has made two field goals of more than 40 yards and one of more than 50 yards, as he lacks a truly elite leg.
The 49ers haven’t been a great matchup for kickers this season, but with a severely depleted defense, that could be about to change. I expect Karty and the Rams to handle the 49ers in this divisional showdown, and it should be tight enough to provide Karty with chances to put points on the board.
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