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Who Should I Drop for Week 5? Fantasy Football outlooks for Quentin Johnston, Rashod Bateman, Jake Ferguson, Adonai Mitchell, Mike Washington Jr., Emmett Johnson, Jonah Coleman, Alec Pierce.
Who Should I Drop? Who Should I Keep? Some of the most common Week 5 fantasy football cut candidates include players like Quentin Johnston, Rashod Bateman, Jake Ferguson, Adonai Mitchell, Mike Washington Jr., Emmett Johnson, Jonah Coleman, and Alec Pierce. However, don't worry, we are here to help you make the right waiver wire decisions and winning moves for Week 5. Once you decide who to drop, find your optimal fantasy football pickups for Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool helps make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to add... all free!
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Fantasy Football Drop Candidates
Read about fantasy football players to consider dropping for Week 5:
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has not disappeared from the offense, but there is not much fantasy value left in the role right now. He has seven catches for 108 yards on 19 targets through four games, and Week 4 summed up the problem pretty well: one catch for 44 yards on only two targets. Tre' Harris has been much more productive, with 13 catches for 209 yards on 21 targets, while Johnston has yet to score this season.
The Chargers still list Johnston as a starter on their unofficial depth chart, so this is not a case of him being completely phased out. The production just has not followed the playing time. RotoBaller's Week 5 Cut List labels Johnston a drop in most leagues, although its waiver coverage still leaves room for him as a boom-or-bust option in deeper formats. In standard leagues, Johnston can be dropped for a more useful option.
Deeper leagues can justify one more bench spot if waivers are thin.
Mike Washington Jr., Los Angeles Raiders
Four games into his NFL career, Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has recorded 24 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown. Washington Jr.'s workload has been limited by his RB2 status in Las Vegas behind running back Ashton Jeanty. However, Washington Jr. reached double-digit touches for the first time in the Raiders' Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jeanty has also struggled with rushing efficiency for the second straight season, averaging 3.4 yards per carry so far in 2026 after averaging 3.7 yards per carry in 2025. For now, Washington Jr.'s fantasy upside is limited as long as Jeanty is healthy.
Still, Washington Jr. is a premier handcuff running back option, and he may even work his way into some standalone value if Jeanty continues to struggle. For now, Washington remains a firm hold in most standard leagues, despite him operating as the No. 2 option.
Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson recorded just one touch in his team's Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, hauling in a 10-yard reception on his only target. Johnson is stuck on the depth chart behind superstar running back Kenneth Walker, who has gotten off to a dominant start to the 2026 season. However, Johnson has been effective in his limited opportunities, averaging 6.2 yards per touch on his 21 total touches.
Walker is also currently on pace to record over 400 touches, which would blow his previous career high of 255 touches out of the water. If the Chiefs decide to scale back Walker's workload, Johnson could get a chance to prove he can be a reliable contributor. At worst, Johnson profiles as a premier handcuff running back option who fantasy managers should target on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.
Those in shallower formats needing short-term production could consider dropping Johnson for running backs like Ollie Gordon II and Emanuel Wilson.
Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger) remains stash-worthy as receiver depth in fantasy football leagues despite missing the last two games due to a finger injury. With Mitchell out for a second straight game this past Sunday in the Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears, Isaiah Williams played 90% of the offense's snaps but drew just two targets on the day. WR1 Garrett Wilson saw most of the looks from veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
The 23-year-old Mitchell was looking like the clear No. 2 receiver for the Jets in the first two weeks of the 2026 season before he suffered a finger injury that has kept him sidelined for the last two weeks. Mitchell had nine catches on 15 targets through two games for 123 yards (13.7 yards per catch).
It is unclear exactly when he might return, but it could be as soon as this week versus the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 11. Mitchell should have WR3/flex appeal as soon as he returns to action in an improved Jets offense. Those rostering Mitchell should continue to view him as a top injury stash option despite the recent missed time.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has made a couple of big plays this season, but the weekly volume is becoming the problem. His best game came with Zay Flowers out in Week 2, when Bateman caught seven of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. Flowers returned the next week, and Bateman has seen only five targets over the two games since, finishing with two catches in each.
He still has 171 yards through four games, so this is not about Bateman suddenly losing the ability to make plays. There just is not much to work with when the targets dry up. Lamar Jackson's ankle injury does not help matters heading into Atlanta, either. RotoBaller currently has Bateman around WR48 for Week 5 after listing him as a drop in most leagues entering Week 4.
In standard 10- and 12-team leagues, managers can move on if a more dependable waiver option is available. He is easier to hold in deeper formats.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire instead? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here.
Week 5 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on finding replacements for specific players like Ollie Gordon II, Tyreek Hill, Malik Washington.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Once you decide who to drop, find your optimal fantasy football waiver wire replacements. Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for Week 5 for Ollie Gordon II, Tyreek Hill, Malik Washington:
More Waiver Wire Analysis
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