Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire
By Brandon Lane
QUARTERBACK
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
Roster Percentage: 38%
Darold leads the league in rushing touchdowns…not just for quarterbacks, the ENTIRE league! In a Week 4 lose to Dallas, Darnold racked up two of those rushing TDs, rushing a total of 6 times for 35 yards. OH…and he completed 26-of-39 passes for 301 yards and two more touchdowns thru the air. Much of these stats were padded in garbage times but the upside should be there again when the Panthers take on the Eagles in Week 5.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Roster Percentage: 38%
There was concern coming into week 4 that Jones would struggle without two of his top WRs (Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton) in the game. Well, that didn’t happen as Jones completed 28-of-40 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns. He tacked on four rushes for 27 yards in an overtime win over the Saints. It would have been an even bigger evening if John Ross hadn’t fumbled a 50-yard play which was later recovered for a TD. The Giants face Dallas in Week 5 that have allowed an average of 315 passing yards per week.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
Roster Percentage: 31%
Trey Lance took the field in Week 4 after Jimmy Garoppolo left the 49ers’ last game with a calf injury. It was a bumpy road for this developmental talent who threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns while adding 41 yards on the ground. And although he had his struggles he did produce for fantasy managers in only one half of football. The 9ers take on a tougher defensive opponent in the Cardinals in week 5. Lance is must a stash in all leagues.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team
Roster Percentage: 10%
Heinicke completed 23-of-33 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns in Week 4 against the Falcons. He continues bolster his stats on the ground and adding five rushes for 43 yards. Washington will face a tougher defense in Week 5 against the Saints but he is still worth a look as a streamer.
Others to Consider:
Justin Fields (41% @ LV) Zac Wilson (9% @ ATL)
RUNNING BACK
If available:
Cordarrelle Patterson (76%) Alexander Mattison (70%) Eli Mitchell (72%) AJ Dillon (65%) Michael Carter (51%)
Damien Williams, RB, Chicago Bears
Roster Percentage: 10%
David Montgomery was having a monster game in Week 4 against the Lions for 23–106–2 but unfortunately went down in what we have now learned is a knee injury that will keep him out multiple weeks. Damien Williams is the next man up and he also had a nice game rushing eight times for 55 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 15 yards in the Bears’ Week 4 win over the Lions. Williams could operate in an every down role against the Raiders who allow 4.9 yards per carry. He’s our top add of the week!
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens
Roster Percentage: 48%
In Week 4 it was announced that Latavius Murray was expected to be the Ravens lead back and just before kickoff previous starter Ty’Som Williams was announced as inactivate. They Ravens stuck to their word have gave Murray 18 rushes for 59 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Broncos. While he is more of a plodding-style back who might not catch many balls, he looks to be the lead back in one of the most run-heavy offenses in the league. He should be owned in all leagues as a RB2/Flex.
Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
Roster Percentage: 3%
With Joe Mixon exiting Week 4 with an ankle issue, Samaje Perine could be in line for a big bump if Mixon can’t go for the Bengals in Week 5. Cincinnati has two TASTEE match-ups over the next two weeks vs the Packers and Lions. Perine could be in play as a solid flex if Mixon misses time.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
Roster Percentage: 30%
Once again Gainwell makes our list and in our eyes has been the Eagle’s most effective back. In Week 4 Gainwell rushed three times for 31 yards and a touchdown also catching 6-of-8 balls for 58 yards. Gainwell was the preferred back in two-minute drills and third downs. Its possible this growing workload will continue and now is the time to add Gainwell as solid bench depth/deeper league flex.
Others to Consider:
Marlon Mack (13%) Darrel Williams (10%) Alex Collins (2%) Khalil Herbert (1%) Chris Evans (1%)
WIDE RECIEVER
A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals
Roster Percentage: 25%
Another week…another six targets, 18% target share and back-to-back weeks finishing as a WR2. Like many of us I have been uninterested in rostering A.J. Green but it’s time to start believing. Smart fantasy managers want a piece of high-powered offenses and the Cardinals are just that. In Week 4 Green caught 5-of-6 targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Rams. He should be rostered in more leagues and can be viewed as a WR4 moving forward.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Roster Percentage: 38%
41% target share in Week 4 is hard to ignore and neither were Mooney’s five catches for 125 yards in the Bears Week 4 win over the Lions. As long as Fields is under center for the Bears, Mooney is someone you can consider moving forward. The Bears face the Raiders in week 5.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Roster Percentage: 25%
Bateman returned to practice last week after landing on IR due to pre-season core-muscle surgery. Its likely he will be eased into the lineup but once he gets rolling Bateman has the skill-set to become the WR1 for the Ravens.
Jamison Crowder, New York Jets
Roster Percentage: 20%
The Jets won a game! And part of the reason was the return of Jamison Crowder who caught 7-of-9 targets for 61 yards. Wilson loves targeting the slot and now that Crowder is back in the mix I think this is a trend that will continue. The Jets take on the Falcons secondary which has oozed fantasy goodness all season long.
Others to Consider:
Michael Gallup (47%) Tim Patrick (43%) Devante Parker (38%) Curtis Samuel (39%) Josh Gordon (32%) Hunter Renfrow (27%) Randall Cobb (7%) Kadarius Toney (3%)
TIGHT END
Dalton Schultz
Roster Percentage: 35%
For the second week in a row Schultz led the Cowboys in targets catching 6-of-8 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown in a Week 4 win against the Panthers. For those of you counting at home that’s more than 17 fantasy points in two straight weeks and he now has to be considered a TE1 moving forward. Pick him up and play him in Week 5 against the Giants.
Dawson Knox
Roster Percentage: 48%
Knox is becoming a red zone regular for the Bills. In Week 4 he caught 5-of-8 targets for 37 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Texans. Another pick-and-play option for week 5. Lets see if he can keep things rolling!
Others to Consider:
Jared Cook (48%) Cameron Brate (17%) Tyler Conklin (13%) Maxx Williams (2%) C.J. Uzomah (2%)
DEFENSE
Minnesota vs DET
Carolina vs PHI
Arizona vs SF
Las Vegas @ CHI
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