Week 5 features our first bye weeks of the 2025 fantasy football season. Fantasy managers who have leaned on players from Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh will need to supplement their fantasy scoring with their depth or the waiver wire.
Several significant injuries to fantasy players have also put fantasy managers in a bind. Finding streaming options on the waiver wire has never been more critical.
This article will focus weekly on players available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues and some deep sleepers rostered in less than 20% of leagues. Without further ado, here are the best Week 5 streaming options at every position.
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Quarterback Streaming Options Week 5
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants at New Orleans Saints (33% Rostered)
It is hard to imagine many ways that Jaxson Dart‘s NFL debut could have gone better. Dart completed 13 of 20 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown and added 10 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. He finished as the QB11 with 19.8 fantasy points. The passing stat line wasn’t fantastic, but it’s important to remember that the Chargers’ defense came into last week as one of the best pass defenses in the NFL this season.
Jaxson Dart Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Even more encouraging was Dart’s usage as a runner. The Giants had numerous designed rushes for Dart built into the game plan to take advantage of his mobility. The most significant flaw of the rookie’s debut was that he took five sacks, several of which can be attributed to his holding the ball too long, waiting for a play.
Dart will have a much easier matchup in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have the fourth-worst expected points added (27.35) and the fifth-worst success rate (83.8%) against quarterbacks this season.
Deep Sleeper: Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins (18% Rostered)
It hasn’t been a pretty start to 2025 for Bryce Young. He has just one game with more than 12.0 fantasy points, and he has thrown for fewer than 160 passing yards in three games this season. Three of his five touchdowns came in one game. As a plus, he hasn’t thrown an interception in two weeks, but it still hasn’t been pretty.
However, that doesn’t matter much with a matchup against the Dolphins on the horizon. Miami has the third-lowest pressure rate (21.5%), the second-worst expected points added (38.25%), and the worst DVOA (41.5%) against quarterbacks this season. The difference between Miami’s 32nd mark in success rate (63.6%) and the 31st team (New England) is equivalent to the difference between the 31st and 21st teams.
It is fair to be skeptical about Young as a fantasy quarterback in 2025, but Week 5 is an excellent opportunity for him to get back on track.
Honorable Mention: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27% Rostered)
Sam Darnold is starting to warm up in fantasy. He has three straight weeks with 15.0 fantasy points. During that time, he had three straight 200+ yard passing performances with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
He hasn’t shown that he can be a week-winner this season, but he’s a solid double you can plug into your lineup during bye weeks or injuries.
Running Back Streaming Options Week 5
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals vs Tennessee Titans (16% Rostered)
The fantasy world was shocked on Wednesday when the Arizona Cardinals announced that Trey Benson would be placed on the injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his meniscus. That leaves the Cardinals leaning on Michael Carter and Emari Demercado in the backfield for at least the next four weeks.
Carter played in three games without Benson last season, averaging 11.7 carries and 3.7 targets per game. He averaged over 60 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown during that time, averaging 11.9 PPR points per game.
Michael Carter Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Titans aren’t the best matchup from a football perspective, but the Cardinals should be in a positive game script, leading to more rushing volume for Carter.
Deep Sleeper: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars (6% Rostered)
The Chiefs have stated they are committed to getting Brashard Smith more offensive opportunities. Week 4 was a good first step towards that goal.
Smith logged a season-high 26% snap share in Week 4 against the Ravens. He had a career-high seven touches (four carries and three receptions) for 36 yards. More importantly, Smith has looked like the most explosive back on a team that has struggled rushing all season.
Brashard Smith Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Kansas City’s offense is always looking for ways to generate explosive plays. Smith is one of the few weapons on the offense (along with Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton) that can consistently get that done. He should continue to see his role expand as he makes good plays.
Honorable Mention: Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints vs New York Giants (27% Rostered)
Kendre Miller continues to have a consistent presence in the Saints’ backfield. The 2023 third-rounder has had at least five carries in every game this season. He’s seen his snap share increase each week, with a season-best 31.3% mark in Week 4. Miller parlayed the extra opportunity into a solid fantasy performance against the Bills (11 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown).
Kendre Miller Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Miller is healthy and making the most of his opportunities with the Saints. Week 4 was probably the ceiling for his performance and volume with Alvin Kamara healthy, but that can be enough to make him a Flex-level performer in fantasy.
Honorable Mention: Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins (18% Rostered)
Rico Dowdle has back-to-back games with at least 10 touches and 30+ all-purpose yards. He has at least one reception in all four games this season and had his second straight week with a 39% snap share.
Chuba Hubbard is working through a lingering calf injury, which could lead to a bigger role for Dowdle in Week 5. Miami has allowed the third most rushing yards this season (632) and the fifth worst yards before contact (2.7) and explosive rush rate (16.1%).
UPDATE: Hubbard has been ruled out for this week’s contest, making Dowdle an appealing option as the Panthers’ likely RB1.
Wide Receiver Streaming Options Week 5
Darius Slayton, New York Giants at New Orleans Saints (41% Rostered)
Somebody needs to step up to help rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart now that Malik Nabers is lost for the year due to an ACL injury. After Nabers’ injury, the workload was evenly distributed between wide receivers Wan’Dale Robinson (five targets) and Darius Slayton (four targets), as well as tight end Theo Johnson (five targets).
For Week 5, Slayton is a good bet to lead the Giants’ pass-catching group against the Saints. New Orleans is 29th in expected points added against wide receivers this season (27.35). They are also 13th in explosive pass rate against (13.9%) and have given up the fourth most touchdowns on explosive passes (three). That fits with his deep-ball ability more than Robinson’s underneath skill set.
Deep Sleeper: Isaiah Bond, Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings (5% Rostered)
Cedric Tillman landed on the injured reserve after Week 4 due to a hamstring injury. That leaves the Browns with a significant vacancy at wide receiver opposite Jerry Jeudy.
One player ascending in recent weeks is rookie UDFA Isaiah Bond. Over the last two weeks, Bond has recorded snap shares of 65% and 55%. He’s caught five of 10 targets for 74 yards during that time. He had a season-high of 19.3 yards per reception in Week 4.
Isaiah Bond Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Tillman’s injury opens an opportunity for Bond to continue to earn more playing time. Ultimately, his play style isn’t a perfect match with Dillon Gabriel‘s strengths, but Bond has the kind of explosiveness that can turn any target into a chunk gain.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets (5% Rostered)
Jalen Tolbert isn’t the most exciting wide receiver to roster in fantasy, but he will continue to see a steady target share with CeeDee Lamb on the sidelines. Tolbert has been targeted six times in each of the last two games without Lamb, catching seven passes for 85 yards.
The Jets have the third-highest expected points added against wide receivers this season (30.3) and the highest explosive play rate (20.5%), so this is a chance for Tolbert to make some big plays.
Tight End Streaming Options Week 5
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars vs Kansas City Chiefs (36% Rostered)
Brenton Strange is the most consistent pass catcher in Jacksonville through four weeks. Strange has at least four targets and three receptions in every game this season. He has at least 40 receiving yards in three of four contests. Strange is second on the Jaguars in targets (23) but leads the team in receptions (19) and receiving yards (182).
The veteran tight end is the TE14 in PPR scoring (9.3), but he has provided double-digit outputs in back-to-back weeks. The Chiefs have been solid against tight ends this season (3.4 points per game), but have allowed 15 receptions on 18 targets. Strange is set to have another respectable day of receiving volume.
Deep Sleeper: Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2% Rostered)
Elijah Arroyo is still the clear second tight end to AJ Barner in Seattle’s offense, but he steadily sees his snap share rise weekly. Arroyo had his first game with a snap share above 50% last week. The increased playing time led to two season-high receptions (on four targets) for 44 yards.
It was also clear that Seattle was trying to get the ball to the rookie when he was on the field. Arroyo was the first read on three of his targets and was just missed on an end zone attempt.
Elijah Arroyo Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The dynamic rookie is starting to get utilized in the Seahawks’ offense. And while the timeshare with Barner significantly caps his fantasy potential, Arroyo is also the kind o player who can turn a small target share into a big day in fantasy.
Honorable Mention: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings (29% Rostered)
Cleveland’s decision to turn to Dillon Gabriel at quarterback could help boost Harold Fannin Jr.‘s fantasy production, especially with Cedric Tillman hitting the injured reserve.
From a fantasy standpoint, Week 4 was the worst season of Fannin’s rookie year (two receptions for 24 yards). However, there were positive signals hidden in the subpar production. The tight end earned his second-most targets of 2025 (six) while logging his best snap share (85.1%).
Fannin has consistently earned targets this season, and a big day in fantasy is seemingly just around the corner.
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