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Jackson Sparks' deeper-league waiver wire sleepers for Week 5 (2024). His top free agent sleepers for 14-team fantasy football leagues or deeper.
As Week 5 of the fantasy football season rolls around, bye weeks are now in play. Bye weeks always present challenges, and that is especially true in deep leagues. Outside of running back stashes and handcuff RBs, the waiver wire is already beginning to become thin at this point in the year. That said, it can be difficult to know who to target on the waiver wire.
The top waiver wire adds are often obvious for traditional 10 and 12-team leagues, but a larger pool of players is in consideration in leagues of 14 people or more. Some of these Week 5 deeper-league waiver wire suggestions could have value right away, while others are simply bench stashes that could help your fantasy team in the future.
We won't cover chalk waiver wire pickups for shallower leagues like Kareem Hunt, Bucky Irving, and Rico Dowdle. Without further ado, here are the top deeper-league waiver wire targets for Week 5, including Tank Bigsby, Tyler Allgeier, Trey Sermon, Allen Lazard, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Legette, and Tucker Kraft.
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Running Back Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Tank Bigsby is averaging a whopping 8.2 yards per carry through his first 21 attempts this season. His three 20-plus-yard runs rank tied for fifth this season, and every running back ahead of him has seen far more work. Travis Etienne suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4, though it doesn't seem like it's a serious ailment. Either way, Jacksonville might start to switch things up on offense after a 0-4 start.
Trey Sermon has carried just nine times for 24 yards and a touchdown this season, but starter Jonathan Taylor was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following the Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sermon isn't viewed as a great NFL running back, but he's likely to see a massive opportunity share if Taylor has to miss time.
Tyler Allgeier played clear backup to Bijan Robinson through the first three weeks of the season, but in Week 4, he saw 10 total touches compared to Robinson's 11. It's hard to trust Allgeier in starting lineups, but it will be interesting to see if he continues to eat into the backfield work. At the very least, he's one of the best handcuff RBs to stash and would see workhorse usage if something happens to Robinson.
Justice Hill has now seen at least six targets in two of his four games this season, and although he can't be expected to score a touchdown every week as he did on Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills, he can be utilized as a deep-league desperation flex option in PPR formats. The Ravens continue to use him as a satellite back behind Derrick Henry.
Jackson lofts it to Hill for the 3rd @Ravens TD of the night!
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tI1duxgMt6— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
Alexander Mattison has been given a modest role through the first month of the 2024 NFL campaign, but with Zamir White continuing to struggle, the former Vikings' running back could start to see more touches as the season moves forward. White is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and has zero runs of 20 yards or more. Meanwhile, Mattison is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, has one explosive run, and has found the end zone twice.
Gus Edwards is likely to be dropped by many fantasy managers after his slow start to the season. In four games with the Chargers, he's rushed just 38 times for 113 yards and no touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins now looks like the clear RB1, but he has a troubling injury history, so Edwards can at least be stashed as a handcuff RB. Better matchups should be ahead of the Chargers, though a bye week comes in Week 5.
Emanuel Wilson saw just one fewer carry (eight) than Josh Jacobs (nine) in Week 4, just one week after he had a breakout performance against the Tennessee Titans. As long as MarShawn Lloyd remains on IR with a hamstring injury, Wilson is worth a roster spot in 14+ team formats.
Antonio Gibson is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 11.7 yards per reception, while Rhamondre Stevenson is averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 3.8 yards per reception. Stevenson has hit a wall after a strong first two weeks to the year, and he has fumbled in every game so far. Gibson came into the NFL as an explosive playmaker on the ground and through the air, so it wouldn't be surprising if New England starts to get him more involved to give the offense a spark.
Roschon Johnson didn't do anything too special in Week 4, but he did find the end zone on a goal line carry, and he might continue to be Chicago's RB2 behind D'Andre Swift moving forward.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is eligible to come off the Injured Reserve list in Week 5, and if he does, he could be more involved in the Chiefs' offense than expected. Kareem Hunt looked solid in his 2024 season debut, but Carson Steele and Samaje Perine have underwhelmed in the absence of Isiah Pacheco.
Trey Benson remains a high-end handcuff stash since James Conner has never gone a season without missing at least one game. Even if Benson gets starter treatment for one week this year, it will be worth the roster spot.
Ray Davis, like Benson, could become the starting running back for a top offense if the ball-carrier in front of him (James Cook) goes down. Davis would likely share time with Ty Johnson in that case, but it would make him at least a flex consideration.
Isaac Guerendo is worth stashing in deep setups as long as Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined. Jordan Mason has taken on a true workhorse role in San Francisco, but it's always smart to stash backup running backs in elite offenses.
Keaton Mitchell may not return until late in the year after suffering an ACL tear last season, but if you have an empty IR spot to stash him in, you might as well do it.
Note: Any direct backup running back, especially one in a good offense, should be considered a bench stash in deep leagues.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Allen Lazard and Mike Williams each saw at least five targets in the ugly loss to the Denver Broncos. Garrett Wilson has yet to fully establish himself as the true No. 1 wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers, so both Lazard and Williams could continue to get plenty of looks and red zone targets as the New York offense rounds into form.
Ray-Ray McCloud III has earned at least five targets in three of his four contests with Atlanta, including seven targets in Week 4. That's more than you can say about most wideouts who are available in deep leagues, so he's a clear top WR option.
Xavier Legette is now a full-time player in the absence of Adam Thielen, who is on Injured Reserve. The rookie out of South Carolina caught six of his 10 targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in Week 4, and if Andy Dalton remains the starting quarterback for most of the season, Legette could have spike weeks.
Xavier Legette's FIRST career TD!
📺: #CINvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/x8NFnvD1fY— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell have seemingly supplanted Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson as Matthew Stafford's preferred WR options with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined. Neither pass-catcher is a sure thing to produce, but if you're in a tough spot at wideout, they are fine flex options.
Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson both had disappointing showings in a plus matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 4, especially with Trey McBride out of action. However, they combined for 11 targets, and Kyler Murray has been capable of supporting multiple fantasy-relevant pass-catchers in the past.
Ja'Lynn Polk led New England in targets (seven) during the blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but he only hauled in three receptions for 30 yards. It appears the Patriots are in for a long year and are going to be trailing often, and perhaps rookie Drake Maye will take over the QB1 job at some point and give Polk a boost to his fantasy value.
Jalen Tolbert could emerge as the No. 2 wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb this season, especially with the 31-year-old Brandin Cooks starting to show extreme signs of regression. The Cowboys defense isn't a juggernaut like in previous years and the offense is struggling on the ground, so expect Dallas to be one of the highest passing volume offenses in 2024.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and Skyy Moore are all candidates to see more snaps, targets, and receptions after what looks like a major knee injury to second-year rising star Rashee Rice. It's tough to know which wideout is the preferred option here, but Smith-Schuster posted almost 1,000 yards in 2022 in Rice's role.
Ricky Pearsall is eligible to be activated to the 49ers' active roster in Week 5. Who knows if that will happen or if he'll earn a significant role this season, but he's a free flier for potential late-year production.
Tight End Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Taysom Hill is one of the most unique players in fantasy football. He's eligible as a tight end in lineups, yet he does most of his damage on the ground. Hill suffered an abdominal injury in Week 4, but he rushed six times for 24 yards and two touchdowns before exiting. The 2024 season has been rough for tight ends, so he can be utilized as a touchdown-or-bust starter when active.
TAYSOM TD 🙌#Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/XwLnaJ6BXi
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 29, 2024
Tucker Kraft is now the clear starting tight end for Green Bay after beating out Luke Musgrave. The 2023 third-round pick out of South Dakota caught six of his nine targets for 53 yards and a touchdown with Jordan Love back in Week 4, which automatically makes him a must-roster option at the quiet position for fantasy scoring.
Tyler Conklin has drawn 14 targets over the last two weeks and heads into a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, who have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends thus far.
Colby Parkinson has yet to post a big showing, but he remains on the deep-league fantasy football radar until Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are back in action.
Noah Gray could sneakily see a fantasy boost with Rashee Rice sidelined. He finished with four targets in Week 4, and the Chiefs could opt to use more 12-personnel after suddenly finding themselves shallow at wide receiver. It may be too early to pick Gray up, but he's at least worth monitoring in the coming weeks.
Cade Otton has seen 17 targets over the last two weeks, putting him firmly on the fantasy radar. The Washington product will likely struggle to be a consistent producer while sharing an offense with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but again, many fantasy managers are looking for any kind of hope at TE.
Brenton Strange is at least somewhat of a legitimate streaming consideration if Evan Engram can't play this week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends through four weeks of action.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues/Superflex Leagues
Kirk Cousins might become available on your waiver wire after another quiet week of fantasy production. If you need a streaming replacement for Jalen Hurts in Week 5, Cousins draws a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary on Thursday night.
Deshaun Watson has rushed for 117 yards this season, which isn't remarkable, but it gives him a slight boost to his floor and ceiling. The former Pro Bowler isn't a fantasy cheat code anymore like he was with the Houston Texans, but he's set to face a Commanders defense that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Opening drive TD for the @Browns!
📺: #CLEvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/a7Ehv7Ebir— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Daniel Jones has posted two top-11 fantasy QB weeks through four games. His play on the field looks ugly often, but he still has a little bit of juice as a runner, and Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson appear to be the best No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers he's had in his seven-year career.
Andy Dalton will play against the stingy Bears' defense in Week 4, so he's best left on the bench. However, the Red Rifle has attempted at least 37 passes and thrown for at least two touchdowns in his two starts, so he can be streamed in favorable matchups later this year.
Backup Quarterbacks To Stash For Two-QB/Superflex Leagues
- Drake Maye, Patriots
- Jameis Winston, Browns
- Drew Lock, Giants
- Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
- Mason Rudolph, Titans
- Tyrod Taylor, Jets
- Joe Flacco, Colts
- Malik Willis, Packers
- Aidan O'Connell, Raiders
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