FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 5 (2025)

October 1, 2025

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 5 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

We approach Week 5 with another chaotic week of football in the ledger, and now it's time to start dancing around byes. Regardless of whether you need help due to injuries, underperformance, or byes, we're here to help you get those dollar bearings. Let's hop into our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

Remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, as your league may have 1-3 or 0-4 squads ready to crash out with whatever they have left. Please note that the Bears, Falcons, Packers, and Steelers are the four getting an early breather on bye, but that doesn't mean they don't have some FAAB targets to offer. Consider them on the luxurious side for teams starting 3-1 or 4-0 with a comfortable foundation.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge whenever possible. We're going to cut off the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but clearly, you can be aggressive if someone is dropped or lingers on the wire above that threshold. I'm all for building a December juggernaut, but you need to win enough between now and then to place that hot streak in the playoffs.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Jaxson Dart (QB, NYG) - 23% rostered

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-10%

Dart’s first NFL start supplied several storylines. It led to an upset win over the Chargers, saw star receiver Malik Nabers lost for the year to a torn ACL, and had the QB rush 10 times for 54 yards and a TD.

The latter is what we needed to see, especially in the wake of the Nabers news. With an early lead to defend and a subpar receiving room, Dart only completed 13-of-20 passes for 111 yards and one score.

It’s great to see the rushing upside and no turnovers as confidence gets built, though he did require a concussion protocol check after taking many hits. His mobility can extend plays, and a Week 5 date at New Orleans is a solid fantasy matchup, but he’ll need to show more to be trusted with PHI, at DEN, and at PHI coming up in Weeks 6-8.

Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR) - 42% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%

The veteran slinger has now thrown multiple touchdowns in three straight games, attempting 33 or more passes in each of those contests. Life with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams is a good one, and that duo earns a lean in the red zone over rushing.

One hopes that the 49ers, Ravens, and Jaguars can provide ample resistance to push the pace in the coming three weeks before the Week 8 bye. Anyone in a bye-week blender should be able to plug-and-play Stafford with reasonable floor expectations around 16 points.

Cooper Rush (QB, BAL) - 0% rostered

FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%

Lamar Jackson is dealing with a hamstring strain suffered in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, and John Harbaugh did not initially elaborate on whether the score gap led to L-Jax remaining out (he later said he could not have returned).

Anyone in 2QB or Superflex leagues will be happy to see a Rush lifeline to Baltimore’s complement of weapons as bye weeks start. Week 5 at Houston should see the Texans key on Derrick Henry and force Rush to be the hero. With a week to prepare, Rush will hope to reprise the form that led to a pair of top-10 fantasy finishes on an ailing 2024 Cowboys team. Due to injuries, Baltimore's current defense may rival Dallas' unit.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Woody Marks (RB, HOU) - 31% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 45-55%
Aggressive Bid: 55-65%
Desperation Bid: 65-75%

Marks outworked Nick Chubb on Sunday, totaling 119 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-0 rout. Chubb gathered 62 yards on 15 touches, forcing zero missed tackles to Marks’ two. One of those was exceptional, as he juked the last defender between him and paydirt after changing direction a couple of times to weave through the front seven.

The rookie also notched five first downs (Chubb got two), with his versatility and burst evident on the field. He succeeded no matter which direction the play went, and simply looked electric doing so.

Monday’s presser saw head coach DeMeco Ryans praise Marks, saying that he’s “excited to see how much more he can handle.” So are we!

Kendre Miller (RB, NO) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 8-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-15%
Desperation Bid: 15-20%

Miller burst for an 18-yard touchdown on his first touch of Week 4, which helped fuel an 11-65-1 line on the day. Alvin Kamara was no slouch, rushing 15 times for 70 yards in the 31-19 loss, but Miller is gaining steam and Kellen Moore appears willing to lean into that.

Whether you want to trust a timeshare Saints player is a deeply personal call, but he’s trending up and movement among RB stashes is always notable. There’s always the chance that the 0-4 Saints move Kamara(‘s contract) at the deadline for whatever they can get.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PIT) - 23% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 6-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%

Jaylen Warren was inactive on Sunday morning’s early game in Ireland after most trends had him playing, which vaulted Gainwell into the unquestioned starting role. He’d proven trustworthy in the first three games, which led to 25 total touches (19 carries, six catches) for 134 yards and a pair of TDs.

Kaleb Johnson got six carries for 22 yards and didn’t catch his lone target, as he remains a non-factor. Warren and the Steelers now have a Week 5 bye to recover, but this performance may cause Gainwell to have more of a split with Warren than anyone likes.

Rachaad White (RB, TB) - 40% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-10%
Desperation Bid: 10-15%

Just a quick note that Todd Bowles said Bucky Irving is one of the players dealing with an injury that he’s concerned about. Irving was not involved in Tampa’s final drive, and issues can swell up and present themselves after a game is over.

There is some speculation that it is an ankle issue, with others wondering if it's the wrist that he came down on with the questionable fumble call. We'll stay tuned for official word. Just keep this in mind in case White, or Sean Tucker for deep leagues, is available.

Michael Carter (RB, ARI) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-7%

Another late edition here, as Trey Benson's status is up in the air with an undisclosed injury and Theo Mackie of azcentral.com points to Carter as a leading option if Benson cannot go. Carter led the Cardinals' backfield in Weeks 17 and 18 last year while the team dealt with several injuries, including both Benson and Emari Demercado.

Carter could be the grinder and get valuable goal-line reps while Demercado handles the change-of-pace/passing role. Keep it locked onto our news feed!

Other RBs Under 40% To Consider: Tyler Allgeier, Blake Corum, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Brashard Smith, Rico Dowdle, Tyjae Spears, Emari Demercado, Emanuel Wilson, Zavier Scott, AJ Dillon, Kyle Monangai, Isaiah Davis, and Antonio Gibson.

*Smith is my favorite riser of the bunch:

Chiefs HC Andy Reid on Brashard Smith: "Nags (Matt Nagy) is trying to increase (Brashard) Smith's reps every week and put him in a position where he can do some things."

— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) September 29, 2025

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Romeo Doubs (WR, GB) - 40% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 12-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

Doubs snagged all three of Jordan Love’s passing TDs in their 40-40 tie against Dallas, which amounted to a 6-58-3 line. A red-zone favorite, Doubs now has a 13-179-4 line through four games as Green Bay hits its early bye.

The WR room injuries will still be present on the other side when they host the Bengals. While he’s unlikely to become a PPR volume monster, Doubs and Love have a clear connection when the end zone approaches. This keeps him around that WR35-40 range in half-PPR formats.

Darius Slayton (WR, NYG) - 2% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 12-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

Slayton was NYG’s leading receiver on a measly three catches for 44 yards in the tight win over the Chargers. With Nabers’ season over, Slayton should become the clear vertical threat as Wan'Dale Robinson owns the intermediate/shallow zones.

Those who trust in Dart should bump up Slayton, while others who think the Giants will resemble the Titans can fully fade the opportunity that has opened up for Slayton. Jalin Hyatt has some of the tools to be the team's deep threat, but he's never proven consistent enough to compete in the NFL.

Elic Ayomanor (WR, TEN) - 31% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 7-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14%
Desperation Bid: 14-18%

I know that arguing targets/opportunity versus actual production can be tiring, but we can’t ignore the signs either. His two catches for 44 yards came with 82 air yards, which harkens back to Week 1’s lousy 2-13-0 line with 129 AY. Calvin Ridley struggled again and saw his snaps limited due to an undisclosed injury, which left Ayomanor was the most reliable WR.

No one is generally fantasy-reliable in Tennessee, but Ayomanor’s involvement and downfield reps make him the best we’ve got at the moment. Snagging 5-7 targets per game in September as a rookie with a first-year QB is a healthy starting block.

Isaiah Bond (WR, CLE) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-7%
Aggressive Bid: 7-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%

With Cedric Tillman out for multiple weeks due to a hamstring injury, Bond sneaks into the PPR circle of interest. The rookie caught 3-of-6 targets for 58 yards to lead the team, which may or may not stick with Joe Flacco for the London game against Minnesota.

Harold Fannin Jr. is likely utilized as the unofficial WR2, but Bond did run more routes (27) than both Fannin and David Njoku in Sunday’s loss. The clear advantage in work over Jamari Thrash thus far gives us some enthusiasm.

Malik Washington (WR, MIA) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-7%
Aggressive Bid: 7-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%

Washington only had 21 total yards on four touches, but the season-ending knee injury for Tyreek Hill should thrust him into a solid role. The Dolphins' defense isn’t going to seal many games in 2025, and Hill being a horizontal menace with agility is something that Washington is suited to replicate.

PFF charted Washington with the second-best receiving grade (92.4) and the most missed tackles forced (35) across the FBS in 2023, so let’s see how creative Mike McDaniel can get here with his back against the wall.

Jalen Tolbert (WR, DAL) - 4% rostered
KaVontae Turpin (WR, DAL) - 15% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Tolbert brought in four catches for 61 yards, though Fantasy Points Data only charted him with one first-read target against his six total looks. Compare that with all four of Turpin’s targets being schemed as a primary read, though he only caught three for 30 yards.

They need to score to elevate into relevance, with George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and Javonte Williams earning the majority of work. They’ll be TD-dependent dart throws in Week 5 at the Jets.

Luke McCaffrey (WR, WAS) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane split No. 3 duties while Chris Moore ran more routes than both of them combined, yet didn’t record a catch. McCaffrey caught the TD amidst two catches for 21 yards and had a slight edge in routes run (12 to 10) and air yards (62 to 53), so we roll with him.

If Terry McLaurin (quad) isn’t ready for Week 5 at the Chargers, then McCaffrey (or Lane) is at least going on your watch list.

*Keep an eye on both Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne as Pearsall/Jennings status updates roll in.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Brenton Strange (TE, JAX) - 28% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

For the second week in a row, Strange paced the Jags with six receptions on an underwhelming passing day from Trevor Lawrence. Of course, Jacksonville won both games and is now 3-1, though games against the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Rams before their bye could provide cold water.

Regardless, Strange is an integral piece as Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist/vibes) looks off and Travis Hunter mixes into the defense, with Parker Washington seeing zero targets in Week 4.

Hunter Long did “vulture” a TD for the second time this year, but the scores should soon tilt Strange’s way. The upcoming schedule should force more action through the air at a quicker pace.

Darren Waller (TE, MIA) - 8% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Waller the Baller stood tall in the red zone, snagging a pair of TDs in a triumphant return to play after a brief retirement during the 2024 season. And the first was a strong grab over Sauce Gardner that illustrated on-point body control. A hip injury kept him sidelined through the first three weeks, but now his athleticism and RZ presence will be needed with Hill done for the season.

he’s still got it 🔥

NYJvsMIA on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/vEisZimFZU

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2025

Theo Johnson (TE, NYG) - 5% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

Despite Malik Nabers’ injury, Big Blue actually played with a lead throughout Sunday, so the passing volume was rather muted. Johnson’s five targets were tied for the team lead, and while 3-17-1 remains quiet, there is no one piece of the offense set to absorb Nabers’ mighty target volume.

Expect all starters to see a rise, which should combine with typical negative gamescripts to elevate Johnson toward 6-8 looks per game. However, you may have to wait a week for this softer Saints matchup to pass.

Jake Tonges (TE, SF) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Some of you are simply seeking a decent one-week streamer to fill in for Tucker Kraft or Kyle Pitts Sr., so usage can take a backseat to overall scoring environments. Tonges worked around a shoulder injury to put up 3-58-1 in their Week 4 loss to Jacksonville.

Luke Farrell had a fumble and George Kittle isn’t expected back on the short week. What could consolidate things for Tonges is how banged up Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are.

Jennings looked iffy, gritting through ankle and shoulder injuries, with a brief exit from the game to have his core looked at after eating a hit, while Pearsall felt “a little bit of instability” in his knee after coming down hard. Brock Purdy may need Tonges more than ever against a tough Rams defense.

**Taysom Hill (and Foster Moreau) is returning to practice this week, which tightens the window for Juwan Johnson's stranglehold on elite snap counts. Stashing TEs is a tall order, and we'll need to see Hill prove capable following the ACL tear in Week 13 of last season, but Kellen Moore is the type to lean on playmakers.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

Arizona Cardinals Defense (vs. TEN) - 17% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-6%

This Cardinals defense hasn’t dazzled, but has delivered respectable efforts against the Saints, Panthers, a Mac Jones-led 49ers team, and the Seahawks. The friendly schedule run goes one more week, as they now host a bottom-tier Titans offense that has not found an identity. Tennessee was just shut out by the Texans and is a full-bore streaming target.

Cleveland Browns Defense (vs. MIN) - 8% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

The Vikings had a nice Week 3 against Cincinnati, but the Ireland game against Pittsburgh brought them crashing back down. Six sacks and two picks later, Carson Wentz looked like an overwhelmed backup QB.

Minnesota has already allowed 18 sacks and now heads to London for a showdown with Cleveland, which has stymied opponents who aren’t a homefield Detroit squad (27 points between Joe Burrow’s Bengals and Jordan Love’s Packers, eight combined sacks).

New York Giants Defense (at NO) - 2% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

The Giants are in trouble without Malik Nabers, but the defensive line holds the most team talent moving forward. Let’s see if they can stack up pressure on a Saints team that hasn’t scored more than 21 points in a game yet and has allowed multiple sacks and a turnover in three straight games.

More Waiver Wire Analysis