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The bye weeks are finally here, so hitting the waiver wire may become a necessity for some who have managed to avoid it thus far. We also have another season-ending injury to a running back that now leads to an obvious target for those who've held onto their top waiver claim.
Below, you will find the top waiver wire options at each position with an analysis of their values, both immediate and long-term. We will look only at players who are rostered in 50% or fewer leagues, according to Yahoo! Players are listed in order of priority.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks - 44% rostered
Empty the wallet and don't think twice. It's always unfortunate when a backfield situation is cleared up due to injury and you have to feel bad for Rashaad Penny, who can't seem to stay healthy. It turns out his season is over after sustaining a fractured tibia against the Saints. That means he can be dropped and Penny becomes the top waiver priority in all leagues, not just for Penny owners either.
Walker was the second RB selected in the 2022 NFL Draft after Breece Hall and with good reason. He has breakaway speed and can make tacklers miss with ease. This became immediately apparent as soon as he took over for Penny when he ripped off a 69-yard run for a score.
Kenneth Walker is worth all of your remaining FAAB. pic.twitter.com/feAJnErFVb
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) October 9, 2022
It's not often that you find a starting running back with workhorse potential floating around the waiver wire but that's exactly the situation with Walker in more than half of fantasy leagues heading into Week 6. While it's always smart to save a dollar or two of FAB for the playoff run, don't hesitate to spend up as much as possible to claim Walker.
Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals - 10% rostered
James Conner exited early with a ribs injury and Darrel Williams suffered a knee injury in Week 5. That left Benjamin as the lone RB for Arizona and he responded with an 11-yard touchdown run to tie the game in the fourth quarter. He wound up with 25 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards working as the lone back in the second half. If Conner doesn't suit up next week, Benjamin has a great case to be streamed in the first week where byes come into play. Arizona will take on Seattle, which has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs thus far.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 34% rostered
It was the Leonard Fournette show as he racked up 139 total yards and two TD against Atlanta. White was minimally involved, carrying five times for 14 yards and catching three passes for 28 yards. He figures to be more involved in games where the Bucs are playing from behind or if the receiving corps is banged up. He can't be trusted in lineups when they take on Pittsburgh next week but he is a high-end handcuff to Lenny and could be plugged into lineups down the road if needed.
Mike Boone, Denver Broncos - 36% rostered
It's hard to get enthused about this Denver offense in any way but when you're desperate for a running back, you need to get deep sometimes. Boone carried seven times for 38 yards and caught three balls for 47 yards on Thursday night in the absence of Javonte Williams. He should run behind Melvin Gordon but if Gordon keeps putting the ball on the ground, as he did once again in Week 5, we could see more Boone. The looming threat of Latavius Murray being activated does negate some of the upside Boone has in the coming weeks, so don't consider Boone more than a bench stash for now.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts - 1% rostered
If both Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines are active in Week 6, then Jackson returns to irrelevance. If one or both miss, Jackson has a chance to flash the speed he showed off against Denver. Filling in for Hines once he departed with a concussion, Jackson led the Colts with 62 rushing yards and added another 29 through the air. It's a choice matchup against the Jags' run defense too, so don't feel as if you're reaching too hard by plugging in Jackson if you need a replacement for JT.
Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers - 0% rostered
Annual reminder - Kyle Shanahan absolutely hates your fantasy team. All the preseason buzz about Jordan Mason has amounted to nothing as he has touched the ball once this season. Instead, veteran Tevin Coleman was pulled off the street to serve as the RB2 in Week 5. He actually performed well, tallying 67 total yards and scoring twice. It is a slap in the face to Deebo Samuel and Jeff Wilson owners who had to watch him vulture touchdowns but don't be surprised if it continues. With a cake matchup against his former team in Atlanta next week, Coleman somehow becomes an intriguing pickup for those who have to replace Derrick Henry or Dameon Pierce during their bye and may lack depth at the position.
DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks - 1% rostered
While Walker is going to be the main runner in Seattle, he isn't likely to be the third-down back. That role belongs to Dallas, who played a combo of RB/WR at the University of Miami and caught 21 passes a year ago for Seattle. There haven't been a ton of passes going to running backs in Seattle this season, although that may be due to the fact it's not a strong suit of Penny or Walker. Dallas can be left alone in leagues with 12 teams or fewer; those who are desperate for upside at the position could take a flier here.
Others to consider: Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos (19% rostered); Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans (14% rostered); Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers (1% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots - 48% rostered
Meyers was dropped in many leagues due to the fact he didn't play in Weeks 3-4 and was questionable leading up to Week 5 with a knee injury. He showed that he was not only healthy but able to thrive despite catching passes from a third-string quarterback. Meyers put up 111 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions and was by far the leading receiver on the Pats. That makes 27 targets in three games this year.
His latest output did come against the Lions, who are the worst defense in the NFL, but it's not something out of the blue for Meyers. He is a strong PPR asset moving forward, especially when Mac Jones returns.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys - 50% rostered
It was actually a choice matchup for Gallup in Week 5 as the Rams had allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs entering the weekend. He didn't do much, catching four balls for 44 yards and had an egregious drop on one play. Gallup doesn't have the highest ceiling with game-manager Cooper Rush behind center. He should see that ceiling raised once Dak Prescott comes back and is worth holding in most leagues.
Corey Davis, New York Jets - 50% rostered
Just when a Jets receiver was starting to look like a consistent option... There was talk that Davis might be finally emerging as a true WR1 until he wound up with 38 yards on two catches against Miami. Truthfully, all Jets receivers were busts in this game because it was all about Breece Hall and they didn't have a pressing need to pass downfield in what turned into a blowout. Davis might see more action in a tougher matchup with the Packers next week. He remains a boom-bust option for the most part.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts - 8% rostered
The lone bright spot in an otherwise painfully dull win for the Colts last Thursday was the rookie wideout from the University of Cincinnati. Pierce surprisingly led the team with eight catches, 81 yards on nine targets. The fact he outproduced Michael Pittman Jr. could be a result of lesser coverage thrown his way. It does show that Pierce has earned Matt Ryan's trust, however, and he seems to have solidified his WR2 status in this offense that lacks playmakers. Pierce might not be a target hog most weeks, so fantasy managers will be counting on the deep shots to come through and should expect some inconsistency.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals - 18% rostered
A healthy Rondale Moore has made Greg Dortch insignificant. In Week 5, Moore caught seven passes for 68 yards while Dortch didn't even show up in the box score, playing just two offensive snaps. The imminent return of DeAndre Hopkins will further divide the proverbial pie of target share in this offense, so it's hard to picture Moore being a weekly fantasy starter when he is the fourth option in the passing game. He will have his moments, though.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars - 27% rostered
Week 5 was all about the other Jones in Jacksonville but Zay still got a healthy share of eight targets and was better than Christian Kirk. This offense is passing the ball often enough to give Jones a weekly floor in PPR leagues.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills - 2% rostered
The rookie might be higher on this list except that the Bills have their bye following their showdown with Kansas City, so he's merely a one-week rental. With TE Dawson Knox and WRs Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder sidelined, Shakir saw extended action, played 75% of offensive snaps, finished with 75 yards and caught his first NFL touchdown. He's shown good hands and plays in the best passing offense in the league but those targets might not be around if Mckenzie and/or Knox are back in Week 6 before their bye so he can only be considered a stash.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders - 1% rostered
Where has this been?? Brown went off for 105 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 after catching one ball across the first four games combined. Some might attribute the recent dis from Amon-Ra St. Brown as motivation for Brown but more likely it was the fact that Jahan Dotson and Logan Thomas didn't play and Tennessee's defense has a tendency to give up plenty of big plays. Don't get carried away by Brown's one-off performance. He might be worth a stream in 14-team leagues if needed based on the matchup with Chicago but it's unlikely he's going to suddenly break out.
Darius Slayton, New York Giants - 0% rostered
It's easy to forget Slayton is still with the G-Men. He might not be on the field at all if not for the litany of injuries to their receiving corps. Slayton was the top target in London, catching six of seven passes thrown his way for 79 yards. That far outpaced any other receiver on his team. It's hard to imagine him suddenly being a trustworthy fantasy player but they do face the Ravens next week, so he isn't the worst roll of the dice.
Tre'Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints - 0% rostered
Here's a deep speculative pickup. With Chris Olave in concussion protocol, Michael Thomas missing the past two games, and Jarvis Landry also coming off a DNP with an ankle issue, we could see Tre'Quan Smith as the top target for the Saints in Week 6. We don't know if he'll be catching passes from Andy Dalton or Jameis Winston yet either. I repeat, speculative pickup.
Others to consider: Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (36% rostered); Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (8% rostered); Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers (3% rostered); Tyquan Thornton, New England Patriots (1% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints - 28% rostered
Don't kick yourself for not seeing the Taysom Hill breakout game coming. This is what he does nowadays - show up every once in a while with a few big plays and steal touchdowns from Alvin Kamara and company. He just so happened to score three times on nine rush attempts while piling up 112 yards. He also threw for a touchdown on his only pass attempt for good measure.
It's tempting to dismiss this game as an aberration and not overreact by ignoring him on the waiver wire. That might be a mistake, though. The Saints have been without Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry already; Chris Olave left the Week 5 contest with a concussion and could miss the upcoming contest with Cincinnati. Given the state of the tight end position, Hill is just as valuable as anyone out there.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars - 24% rostered
We saw some wild target fluctuation in the Jags offense in Week 5. Marvin Jones led the way with 11 targets and 104 yards while Christian Kirk caught just one ball for 11 yards. Meanwhile, Engram saw 10 targets and caught six for 69 yards, all season bests for him. He still hasn't scored a touchdown, however, and this offense failed to find the end zone against Houston. Engram is fine as a low-end streamer in PPR leagues but lacks the ceiling to be a weekly starter.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - 32% rostered
Two, three, four... maybe five receptions next week? Kmet did a lot of nothing the first two weeks of the season, as did the entire Bears passing game. We can't say it's a prolific aerial attack now but at least the Bears are throwing a little and Kmet has seen his catch total rise for three straight weeks. A matchup with the Commanders next week puts him on the streaming radar. Who knows, maybe one day he'll even score a touchdown!
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals - 21% rostered
Hurst had to love scoring against the team that drafted and subsequently traded him. He's now scored in consecutive weeks and reached his season-high in yardage against the Ravens, although that was just 53 yards. If Tee Higgins is held out next week due to his ankle issue, Hurst becomes an interesting pick. If not, he's merely a TD-dependent streamer who will face a team that hasn't allowed single score to a tight end this season.
Others to consider: Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings (49% rostered); Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (38% rostered); Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks (18% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks - 34% rostered
There is no reason to doubt anymore. Geno Smith looks legit. His previous explosion came against Detroit, the league's worst defense, so it could be overlooked to some extent. Smith went into New Orleans against a stronger defensive unit and put up big numbers again, feeding his top two receivers all game long.
Smith only threw the ball 25 times and came away with 268 yards and three TD. He is now the QB5 in fantasy, ranking ahead of Justin Herbert after five weeks. At some point, regression might hit. For now, buy into his fit in the offense and the fact that he'll have to keep pressing as Seattle's defense gives up a ton of points to opponents on a weekly basis. Smith will return home to face Arizona next week, a unit that is bottom-10 against the QB.
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders - 46% rostered
Coming off two bad outings, Wentz went back over the 300-yard mark in Week 5 with a pair of touchdown passes. He couldn't pull out the victory, getting intercepted at the goal-line in the final seconds. It may be apparent that Wentz isn't the answer for Washington long-term but he should hold onto the starting job all season and has proven serviceable for fantasy at times. A Thursday night matchup between the 1-4 Commanders and 2-3 Bears could be a waking nightmare for those starved to watch football during the week and might make last week's game seem like a thriller. It could at least be a decent spot for Wentz to put up points.
Others to consider: Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (26% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Los Angeles Chargers Defense - 57% rostered
This unit hasn't been stellar, especially as Joey Bosa is on IR. Matchups matter first when it comes to defensive streamers, though. Needless to say, Denver's offense isn't a threat. They're already second-worst in terms of points scored, are without Javonte Williams, and now we know that Russell Wilson is banged up. For leagues where points allowed matter, the Bolts are a top pick.
Carolina Panthers Defense - 4% rostered
If you aren't concerned about the Rams' offense, you haven't been paying attention. Outside of Cooper Kupp, every single part of this unit has been a massive letdown. The Rams are 29th in scoring and 25th in yardage. They're tied with Indy for most sacks allowed (21) and have turned it over more than any team other than New Orleans. Even at home, the Rams are looking like a team you can stream defenses against.
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