Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups - Fantasy Football Free Agent Adds and Stashes (2025)

Rob's Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire pickups, adds, stashes and sleepers to target for 2025. His top waiver wire adds for Week 5 at RB, WR, TE, QB, K, D/ST.

Injuries are part of this game, and it seems as though every year is worse than the last. It's the nature of the beast, and the luck element of fantasy football, which isn't so different than the NFL. The healthiest teams and the ones that can weather the storm are the ones that are still standing at the end of the regular season.

As fantasy managers, we need to go with the flow. If you're dealing with injuries or underperforming players, the season is still in its early stages. It can be salvaged, and in that sense, the waiver wire is our best friend. Problems are rarely, if ever, solved by maintaining the status quo. So, if you find yourself with your back against the wall, don't be afraid to make changes to your roster.

Be sure to also check out our free Who Should I Pickup? tool and compare up to four free agent players at once - we'll tell you who to pick up. Please use the promo code "BOOM" to get 10% off our premium subscription tools. Now, let's get to the best waiver wire adds for Week 5.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

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Woody Marks, Houston Texans - 33.2% Rostered

Marks has been listed as a player to stash since Week 1, despite his rostership percentage being below 10%. It didn't take long for him to show us why. Nick Chubb has struggled in Weeks 1-3, and it seemed like only a matter of time before the team decided to give Mark a chance to provide the offense with more juice.

MAKE IT 2️⃣ FOR THE ROOK 😤

📺: @nfloncbs / @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/MAHDH3j7Zu

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 28, 2025

This past weekend, Marks led the backfield in every way. He finished with more snaps (40 to 30), more routes run (16 to 9), more targets (5 to 2), and more carries (17 to 13) than Chubb. Marks had 69 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards. He caught four of his five targets and scored touchdowns on the ground and through the air.

He scored 25.9 half-PPR points. He should be viewed as a top-30 running back moving forward, with upside for further improvement.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders - 5.0% Rostered

Rodriguez had the most carries on the team in Week 3, finishing with 11 carries and 39 yards. With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) on IR, many thought it would be Jacory Croskey-Merritt who would bust out. In reality, Ekeler's injury has given Rodriguez life.

This past weekend, Rodriguez played the same number of snaps and ran the same number of routes as Jacory Croskey-Merritt did. Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt tied for the team lead with seven carries. However, Rodriguez was slightly more effective, finishing with 59 yards compared to Croskey-Merritt's 47. Rodriguez is on the RB3 radar moving forward.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars - 47.7% Rostered

Tuten is a highly-regarded player for Jacksonville, whom they prioritized in the NFL Draft. They traded away Tank Bigsby to get him more opportunities, and he's looked good with his chances. The problem is that Travis Etienne Jr. has performed very well in the starting role. However, he has a history of fading as the season goes along.

He scored touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 3, and continues to stay on the RB4/5 radar.

Since the Bigsby trade, he's averaging seven touches per game. Fantasy managers should expect his role to grow as the season progresses. Head coach Liam Coen made both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving fantasy-relevant in Tampa Bay last year. They both finished as top-24 running backs. Tuten is worth stashing for that reason and because if Etienne were to get hurt, Tuten would be a top-12 running back.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers, 35.6% Rostered

Gainwell was a workhorse in the absence of Jaylen Warren, who was a late scratch. Warren's inactive status was somewhat of a surprise, but Gainwell was the beneficiary. He played 41 of the team's 53 snaps. He finished with 19 carries, 99 yards, and two touchdowns. He also led the backfield with 18 routes, catching all six of his targets for 35 yards.

He scored 28.4 half-PPR points against a strong Minnesota defense.

#Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell stepped in after Jaylen Warren was a late scratch — and I came away really impressed.

Against a tough Vikings' defense, Gainwell looked like a legit starting RB in this league: 134 total yards and 2 TDs.

Steelers improve to 3-1. pic.twitter.com/neFGYUCBNf

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 28, 2025

It's unknown how long Warren will be out, and given that his absence wasn't predicted, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a long absence. In fact, Warren may very well be back next week. However, given his performance, Gainwell is worth grabbing in case Warren's injury is more serious than initially thought. It's also possible that his performance this past weekend will result in a more committee-based approach.

Stash with Late-Season Potential

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs - 0.9% Rostered

Smith continues to operate as the Chiefs' No. 3 running back, but his role increased in Week 4. Kareem Hunt played 32 snaps, Isiah Pacheco played 27, and Smith played 19. That's the closest Smith has been to the two veteran backs all year. Smith ran 10 routes compared to Hunt and Pacheco's 16. Smith actually led the backfield in targets, and Kansas City seemed to make a concentrated effort to get him the ball.

Smith finished with three catches for 27 yards. Pacheco and Hunt continue to be borderline useless running the football. Until one of them does something of note, stashing Smith will continue to be appealing. We've seen Kansas City operate with a lackluster running game in the past, and that season, Jerick McKinnon had a hot streak. Smith's skill set is similar to his.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints - 5.6% Rostered

This is still Alvin Kamara's backfield, but Miller ate into his typical backfield dominance, albeit in a minor way. Kamara still dominated the passing snaps, but Miller played over 30% of the snaps and finished with 10 carries to Kamara's 15. Kamara finished with 70 yards, but Miller was even more effective. He had 65 yards and a touchdown.

Given Kamara's age and his decreasing efficiency on the ground in the last few years, we could see this backfield shift into a committee.

Kendre Miller finds an opening for a Saints TD

NOvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/g1kSJHyVTO

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

That would leave Miller drawing even with Kamara in terms of carries, or possibly even surpassing Kamara as the primary ball carrier for the Saints. It's also possible that Kamara becomes a trade candidate as we approach the deadline. While that is less likely, Miller is worth stashing. He's also a great handcuff if Kamara were to miss time.

Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys - 21.4% Rostered

Dallas is now 1-2-1. CeeDee Lamb (ankle) is expected to be out for a few more weeks, and their defense is atrocious. It's Week 5, and Dallas's season doesn’t look promising. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders are on one-year deals, and it's unlikely that either of them is the team's running back of the future. That is 100% true of Sanders.

Eventually, Blue is going to get a shot. It's only a matter of time. He's an explosive athlete with a strong pass-catching skill set. Stashing him could pay off later in the season once the offense opts to give him a chance in the backfield.

RB4/5's with High Contingency Value

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - 18.7% Rostered

Corum is no longer just a handcuff in Los Angeles. He's worked his way into RB4/5 value for fantasy purposes. The past two weeks, Corum has had eight and 11 touches. That volume is enough to keep him on the RB4/5 radar. In Week 2, he even got a goal-line touch that he turned into a touchdown.

Kyren Williams will continue to be the team's primary rusher near the end zone, but Corum has been very effective with his touches. He's averaging over 5.2 yards per carry and would immediately become a top-12 running back if Williams missed any time.

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 48.1% Rostered

White is arguably the best handcuff in fantasy football. Some others could argue for the title, but White is absolutely in the running. That alone should make him an appealing player to add. On top of that, however, White continues to factor into the offense, unlike other handcuffs who have virtually no standalone value.

Through four weeks, White has 31 total touches, including eight receptions. He's averaging just under six carries and two targets per game. His weekly value isn't that high, and you won't want to start him as long as Bucky Irving is healthy, but he's getting enough work, especially in the passing game, where he can be viewed as a viable RB5.

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs - 39.0% Rostered

Hunt led the Kansas City backfield in snaps and carries. He had 13 rushing attempts to Pacheco's seven. Pacheco was more effective with his opportunities, but it's noteworthy that Hunt played more snaps and was given more carries. Hunt played three of the team's four goal-line snaps, setting him up to be the likely beneficiary for any rushing touchdowns the team has in the future.

This backfield, given the lack of production from Hunt and Pacheco, should be viewed as fluid, which makes it incredibly frustrating for fantasy managers. Right now, Hunt is worth stashing in the event he's able to play a little bit better and separate himself from Pacheco a bit.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 35.5% Rostered

Allgeier is an elite handcuff. If Bijan Robinson were to miss anytime, he would immediately become a top-20 running back. He's a far better rusher than he is a receiver. His standalone value is apparent in weeks where the Falcons are in the lead.

This past weekend, Atlanta played with the lead for most of the game, which allowed Allgeier to finish with 16 carries, 51 yards, and one touchdown. The week before, they got blitzed by Carolina, and he finished with one carry. In Week 2, Atlanta dominated Minnesota, and he had 16 carries, 76 yards, and a touchdown.

The primary reason to stash Allgeier is his elite contingency value if Robinson were to get hurt. However, he has RB3 standalone value in the right matchups. The issue is that Atlanta is a somewhat unpredictable team, so it's hard to know which games they will be playing with a lead and when they won't be. If you're able to predict that correctly, however, you could have a usable RB3.

Outside of Corum, White, and Allgeier, if you do not need a starting running back, fantasy managers should prioritize the handcuffs below over the remaining running backs in this section. While these running backs are more playable than the handcuffs, the handcuffs offer more upside. 

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans - 28.0% Rostered

Spears is eligible to come off the IR in Week 5. The Tennessee offense has struggled immensely in the first four weeks of the season. Worse yet, they have a bottom-five running back target share in the NFL. Spears is regarded as an excellent pass-catcher, a skill set that will be neutralized given how Tennessee is currently distributing its targets.

While some may think that could change once Spears comes back, I'd preach caution because Tony Pollard is also an excellent pass-catching running back. Pollard dominated touches last year, even when Spears was healthy. He'll be viewed as an RB5 moving forward. Even his handcuff value is minimized.

We've seen Pollard operate without Spears for the first four weeks, and Pollard has been a middling RB2/3.

Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins - 28.1% Rostered

Gordon received nine carries in their Week 3 loss to the Bills. He finished with 38 yards, but most importantly, received a carry inside the five-yard line, which he took in from two yards out for a touchdown. He's a much bigger back than De'Von Achane, and that size could lead to more work near the goal line. He's a touchdown-dependent RB5 who should be ranked higher in games Miami is likely to keep close, or where they're outright favored.

The fact that Miami isn't very good is not ideal for Gordon's value because he isn't used in the passing game. He does have RB5 value because he very well might become Miami's goal-line back of choice. He also carries significant contingency value if Achane misses time.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets - 28.2% Rostered

The Jets aim to be a football team that prioritizes running the ball. The problem is their team isn't good enough for this to be the case. They'll often get behind on the scoreboard, negatively affecting the running game. Allen is the No. 2 running back for the Jets and could find success in games where the Jets are favored or expected to be in a close matchup, allowing them to stay committed to the run.

Allen is a touchdown-dependent RB3. He is a matchup-dependent, touchdown-dependent RB5. His contingency value is high if Breece Hall were to miss any time. However, if that were to happen, Allen would likely be the early-down and goal-line back, while Isaiah Davis operates as the pass-catching back, which would leave Allen in a committee.

Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers - 0.6% Rostered

MarShawn Lloyd is eligible to play in Week 5, but there have been few reports on his return to play. In the meantime, Wilson is solidifying his role as Green Bay’s No. 2 running back.

He had six touches in Week 3 and this week, received eight carries for 44 yards. He also chipped in, catching all three of his targets for 37 yards.

If he’s going to continue getting 7-10 touches per game in this offense, he should be on that RB4/5 radar. If Josh Jacobs were to miss time, this would likely turn into a full-on committee, but it appears Wilson would get the first shot of commanding the most opportunities.

Zavier Scott, Minnesota Vikings - 0.5% Rostered

His fantasy value is unlikely to last, but until Aaron Jones Sr. comes back, Scott is clearly the team's preferred pass-catching running back. This past weekend, he ran more routes than Jordan Mason. He finished with eight targets, catching six of them for 43 yards and a touchdown. He had 13.4 half-PPR points.

Zavier Scott gets his first career TD 🔥

MINvsPIT on @nflnetwork
Also streaming on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/PIy4mpDUrq

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 28, 2025

The Vikings fell behind the Steelers and played from behind the entire game, which helped Scott's fantasy value. His future value will be tied to Jones' availability. Next week, Minnesota plays the Browns, a likely low-scoring game, which will minimize Scott's appeal. The Vikings have a Week 6 bye, but play face-off against the Eagles in Week 7, in a contest in which the Vikings will be underdogs.

If Jones is still out, Scott could be a viable streamer.

Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals - 2.5% Rostered

Demercado is next man up now with the season-ending injury to James Conner (foot). He finished Week 4 with just two carries, but was the team's primary pass-catching running back. He played primarily on third down and in the two-minute drill. He finished with two targets, catching both of them for 13 yards and a touchdown.

Demercado is an RB5/6, but is only playable when Arizona is an underdog and likely playing from behind. That'll increase his playing time and opportunities for targets. While Demercado is more playable than the handcuffs below, the players beneath are better adds because of their upside.

Pure Running Back Handcuffs

• D.J. Giddens, Indianapolis Colts - 2.1% Rostered
• Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 42.1% Rostered
• Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles - 8.8% Rostered
• Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills - 14.0% Rostered
• Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers - 10.5% Rostered
• Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals - 0.4% Rostered
• Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears - 8.1% Rostered
• MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers - 2.7% Rostered
• Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers - 0.5% Rostered

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

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Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants - 29.9% Rostered

In two games this season, Robinson has a 25% target share and is the clear No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers. He had eight targets in Week 1 and 10 in Week 2. He finished with six catches, 55 yards, and 8.5 half-PPR points in Week 1. In the following game, he exploded, finishing with eight receptions, 142 yards, and one touchdown en route to 24.2 half-PPR points.

In each of his last two, Robinson has caught just four of his nine targets, but has continued to see a prominent role in the offense. However, with Nabers potentially suffering a season-ending ACL tear, Robinson should operate as Jaxson Dart's go-to option for the remainder of the season.

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans - 31.2% Rostered

Through four weeks, Ayomanor has five or more targets in every game this season. He's also scored touchdowns in two contests, resulting in him finishing with more than 11.0 half-PPR points in both games. Ayomanor has been Cameron Ward's most targeted player for Tennessee. Ayomanor and Ward are both just rookies, but fantasy managers should expect these two to improve as the season progresses.

The Titans' offense has been dreadful through four weeks, but given that they have a rookie quarterback and they recently switched play-callers, that's not entirely surprising. They have played three excellent defenses, including Denver, Los Angeles (Rams), and Houston. As the schedule opens up, don't be surprised if we see more efficiency and production.

Ayomanor still has WR4 potential and should be stashed given his rookie upside.

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos - 43.8% Rostered

Franklin has emerged and secured the No. 2 role in the Denver offense. In Week 2, he played 85% of the snaps and ran a team-high 27 routes. In Week 3, he and Courtland Sutton were the clear leaders in the receiver room. Both of them played over 40 snaps and ran over 30 routes. No other receiver had 25 snaps or more than 20 routes.

Franklin had out-produced Sutton in Weeks 1-2, but this past weekend, Sutton finally had his breakout game of the 2025 season. That, along with the Chargers' tough defense, meant a week to forget for Franklin. He finished with just two catches and eight yards. Regardless, his role is excellent and has plenty of potential.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - 7.8% Rostered

Coker is currently on the IR with a "significant" quadriceps injury and will miss between four and six weeks. He's eligible to return in Week 5, but it's unknown yet if he will. However, I'm stashing Coker anywhere I can. He was impressive as a rookie, and this offense is desperate for someone opposite Tetairoa McMillan to do something. Anything.

Ja'Tavion Sanders is currently week-to-week with a high-ankle sprain, and the team's No. 2 and No. 3 wideouts, Hunter Renfrow and Xavier Legette, have struggled. Before the season, head coach Dave Canales stated Coker would be his starting receiver. Once he's back, he should return to that role. Slot receivers have been productive in Canales' offense, dating back to Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay.

Coker should immediately become Bryce Young's No. 2 target-earner.

High Upside Stashes

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears - 12.0% Rostered

Burden had three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, leading to 18.3 half-PPR points. Fantasy managers were hoping for a bigger role in Week 4, and while that didn't necessarily happen, he did have the highest snap share of the season.

Burden also leads all Chicago receivers in receptions and yards per route run through four weeks. He's been an efficient player when presented with opportunities. D.J. Moore could be a potential trade candidate, which gives Burden a shot at increasing his role, but the more likely outcome is Burden starting over Olamide Zaccheaus.

Once that happens, Burden could quickly climb the target hierarchy in Chicago, although he won't surpass Rome Odunze.

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - 30.2% Rostered

We know Nico Collins is Houston's No. 1 receiver. We also know Christian Kirk is their slot receiver (at least right now). They're currently using Xavier Hutchinson as their No. 2 receiver, but he's been entirely unproductive. He has not hit any of these markers in any game this season: four targets, four catches, or 30 yards. Eventually, they're going to have to give Higgins a shot.

He found the end zone this past weekend, but was otherwise irrelevant. Hopefully, his touchdown catch leads to more opportunities. He's worth stashing if he can take over as the No. 2 receiver for the team. He's a rookie who had an incredibly productive two-year stretch at Iowa State, resulting in his selection as an early second-round pick. The talent profile is appealing.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers - 36.9% Rostered

He tore his MCL and ACL early last season and will need some time to shake off the rust. However, he’s an IR candidate and someone you can stash for free. From 2023-2024, he had 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished as the WR22 in 2022 and the WR12 in 2023. He’s absolutely worth taking a shot on.

He’s the receiver with the most chemistry with Brock Purdy and could be a second-half weekly WR2 starter. Reports have recently indicated that Aiyuk isn't close to returning, but if you have an IR spot, Aiyuk is still worth stashing, assuming he's able to return around Week 10-12.

Kyle Williams, New England Patriots - 2.2%

Williams has only had two targets this season. However, he was a third-rounder in this year's NFL Draft and was a productive collegiate player. His talent profile is one worth betting on. He hasn't gotten an opportunity yet, but the production from the primary New England receivers has been disappointing.

Stefon Diggs did have a 100-yard performance this past weekend, but Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas have left a lot to be desired. Assuming they're unable to pick up their production over the next few weeks and New England falls out of playoff contention, Williams may get more opportunities.

Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans - 0.3% Rostered

Noel is a third-round rookie who has elite speed. He played with Higgins in college and was just as productive as he was. His third-round draft pedigree speaks to his talent level. Kirk is currently the team's slot receiver, but since returning from injury, he's left quite a bit to be desired. He has a recent history of production in the NFL, so his leash is likely longer than that of fellow starter Hutchinson.

While Higgins is the likely replacement for Hutchinson, Noel could be the eventual replacement for Kirk if he fails to improve his performance. The Houston offense has struggled mightily through four weeks, and if they get to the point of wanting to switch things up, Higgins and Noel could be the beneficiaries.

They just did that at running back, giving more opportunities to Marks over Chubb. Eventually, they'll do the same at receiver, making Higgins and Noel players to stash.

Jaylin Lane, Washington Commanders - 0.3% Rostered

If you play in a deeper league, Lane is someone worth stashing, especially with the unknown status around Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin). Brown is dealing with a groin injury that has caused him to miss the last two games. McLaurin was inactive this past weekend and has been deemed "week-to-week" after seeking second opinions on his quad injury.

Jaylin Lane is a WR prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.68 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 112 out of 3441 WR from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/hueBwmKs6D pic.twitter.com/yGuu8qKbgJ

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 2, 2025

The biggest takeaway here is that we don't know when to expect any of these guys back on the field for Washington. Lane was a fourth-round pick who possesses elite downfield speed and could replicate McLaurin's loss. He won't be a consistent producer, but if McLaurin is out for an extended period of time, Lane could prove some boom weeks.

While it was McCaffrey who found the end zone, Lane out-snapped him. He ran the same number of routes and finished with the same number of targets. Chris Moore was ahead of both of them, but if McLaurin is out longer, don't be surprised if Lane or McCaffrey leap-frogs him. Of the two, I'd prioritize Lane.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - 2.7% Rostered

Watson is still on the PUP and won't be ready until midseason. However, Jayden Reed (collarbone) is slated to miss a majority of the season, Matthew Golden has yet to make a splash, and Doubs is who he is at this point. He's dependable, but unexciting. Wicks is an enigma. There's upside, but his consistency is all over the board.

This offense is strong, and Jordan Love is playing great. If Watson can get healthy, with Reed's injury and the inconsistencies shown from Doubs and Wicks, he could enjoy a productive second half. He is a solid stash candidate.

Potential WR4/5's

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts - 48.7% Rostered

Downs isn't a downfield threat, and due to his size and the presence of Michael Pittman Jr. and Tyler Warren, he won't be a good bet to score a lot of touchdowns. However, Downs has been a hyper-efficient receiver with the routes and targets he does receive. This is an offense on the rise, and Daniel Jones has given them competent quarterback play.

Downs is a good player, and it's rare to find legit good players on the waiver wire. Given that the offensive environment in Indianapolis has significantly improved, Downs is an elite bench player to have for bye weeks and injuries.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants - 3.6% Rostered

Slayton becomes a must-add player with the news surrounding Nabers. He's believed to have torn his ACL, which will immediately end his season. Slayton isn't a special talent, but he's plenty capable. He's been with New York for all six of his seasons. In four of them, he's eclipsed 720 yards.

Slayton is comparable to Gabriel Davis. He's a downfield threat. He'll be a boom-or-bust option, but he'll have plenty of opportunities to make some splash plays with Nabers' absence. He'll be a full-time player who will challenge to be Dart's No. 1 target-earner.

That will likely end up being Robinson, but on any given week, it could be Slayton, and if Dart is good, Slayton could maintain WR4/5 value with some weekly upside.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers - 36.7% Rostered

Doubs continues to be Green Bay's receiver who plays the most snaps and runs the most routes. He's a highly trusted player down by the end zone. On Sunday Night, Doubs had two short one-yard touchdown catches and a third later in the game.

However, Doubs continues to be a touchdown-or-bust receiver. He has games of 68, 28, 23, and 58 yards. This past weekend was his first game of the year with more than three catches. If he doesn’t find the end zone, you’re likely going to be left with under seven points and disappointed. That said, he’s the team’s preferred target near the end zone, so the four touchdowns aren’t a fluke.

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns - 38.7% Rostered

Tillman left this week with a hamstring injury and did not return. At this point, we don't know the severity; however, when it comes to hamstring injuries, receivers tend to miss one to two weeks. In Weeks 1 and 2, Tillman had 15 targets and caught touchdowns in both games. He struggled in Week 3 and finished with just three catches for 26 yards.

Cleveland is leading the league in pass attempts, a positive indicator of future success. Tillman's unknown injury severity puts a damper on his potential, however. In two out of his three full games this year, however, he scored over 9.0 half-PPR points, which makes him a quality bench player as long as he's healthy. Hopefully, we get more clarity this week before waivers run.

Isaiah Bond, Cleveland Browns - 0.4% Rostered

Bond was expected to be selected on day two in this year's NFL Draft, but due to off-the-field concerns, he went undrafted. He signed with the Cleveland Browns, and in Week 4, Tillman left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return. If he's unable to play next week, Bond appears to be the next man up.

This past weekend, Bond ran 27 routes, which was second only to Jerry Jeudy's 34. Bond finished with six targets, which was tied for second with Harold Fannin Jr. Bond had three catches and 58 yards. His yardage was the highest for the team. Bond looks like he'll be on the WR4/5 radar as long as Tillman is out.

Christian Kirk, Houston Texans - 31.6% Rostered

Kirk is Houston's slot receiver. Since returning, he's been third in snaps and routes run. In years past, we've seen the slot receiver in Houston be a productive fantasy player. That includes Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Kirk has yet to have anything close to that level of fantasy production, but he did have eight targets in Week 3.

This past weekend, he had four targets, three catches, and 20 yards. He has yet to have more than three catches or 25 yards.

The Houston offense has been stagnant all year, showing no signs of life. C.J. Stroud appears to be a completely different quarterback than the one we saw two years ago as a rookie. Kirk's fantasy appeal is almost non-existent in standard, slightly improved in half-PPR, but best in full-PPR. He's nothing more than a WR5/6.

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers - 10.7% Rostered

Austin is another player who left early with an injury. He went to the hospital for a shoulder injury and was seen with a sling. Before his Week 4 shortened contest, Austin had scored double-digits in two out of the first three games of the season. He had five or more targets in two of the three games.

Austin has dominated snaps and routes opposite D.K. Metcalf and has established himself as Pittsburgh's clear No. 2 receiver. He's shown to be a capable player in that regard, as well. However, given his unknown injury status, it may be more difficult for fantasy managers to add him to their roster.

The Steelers' offense has been decent to start the year. Aaron Rodgers has kept the offense moving, which should keep Austin in that WR4/5 range as long as he's healthy. Like Tillman, hopefully, we get more clarity on Austin before Tuesday evening.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts - 1.4% Rostered

Pierce missed Week 4 with a concussion, and while his replacement, Adonai Mitchell, made some splash plays, the negative plays he left on the field will do far more damage to his playing time. Before Week 4, Pierce had back-to-back weeks with five targets, four catches, and 67-68 yards. He scored over 8.0 half-PPR points in both contests.

While Pittman, Warren, and Downs work the short and intermediate parts of the field, Pierce is Indianapolis's primary downfield threat. He'll have games where he busts because he's competing with other quality pass-catchers and because his targets tend to be highly volatile, but they also come with plenty of upside.

He's a boom or bust player with WR3/4 weekly upside.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 2.0% Rostered

With Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, it'll be impossible for Tucker to be a consistent fantasy producer. Teams don't have three fantasy-relevant pass-catchers weekly. The problem for Tucker is that Meyers and Bowers are excellent. Even worse, Geno Smith has not been playing well.

However, Tucker has demonstrated a high weekly ceiling and is worth stashing in deeper leagues as a bye-week or injury replacement player. He has two games with over 12 half-PPR points, including a 36.9-point performance, and then two games with under four points.

He has two games with eight or more targets; however, it's essential to note that those performances occurred while Brock Bowers was dealing with a knee injury. Tucker is a boom or bust WR5/6.

Luke McCaffrey, Washington Commanders - 0.7% Rostered

McCaffrey finished fourth on the team in snaps played behind Moore and Lane. However, Moore finished with zero catches. McCaffrey and Lane each had two catches, but McCaffrey had more yards (21 to 18) and found the end zone. McLaurin and Brown are dealing with injuries with unknown return timelines. Until either player returns, McCaffrey and Lane will be given opportunities to make plays.

Mariota throws a dart to Luke McCaffrey to get @Commanders on the board

WASvsATL on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/CR8Z4zwbNi

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

McCaffrey and Lane's fantasy appeal is directly tied to the health of McLaurin and Brown. Until we receive more clarification on when either player will return, however, stashing McCaffrey or Lane could pay dividends if one of them can separate from the other (and Moore).

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 1.2% Rostered

It appears as though Calvin Austin’s shoulder injury is going to sideline him for a little while. Wilson has been operating as the team’s No. 3 receiver so far this season.

While he’s done very little in that role, he’ll know move into the No. 2 role previously occupied by Austin. Wilson is a former third-round player who is finally going to get his shot at some meaningful playing time.

Casey Washington, Atlanta Falcons - 0.1% Rostered

Darnell Mooney left Week 4 with a hamstring injury and did not return. When he missed Week 1, it wasn't Ray-Ray McCloud III who benefited; it was Washington. The same thing held true this past weekend. After Mooney left the game, Washington was the primary No. 2 receiver opposite Drake London.

Washington isn't worth adding unless you're in the deepest of leagues, but if Mooney misses any time, Washington will be a starter for the Falcons, giving him plenty of snaps and routes to earn targets. In deep leagues, acquiring any starter off the waiver wire can be worthwhile.

Boom or Bust, Touchdown Dependent WR5/6's

• Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens - 27.5% Rostered
• Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks - 6.5% Rostered
• Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers - 6.3% Rostered
• Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots - 15.2% Rostered
• Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City Chiefs - 19.2% Rostered
• Dont'e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders - 6.1% Rostered
• DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens - 11.0% Rostered
• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - 5.1% Rostered
• Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis Colts - 1.3% Rostered

All of these players are one of the top-three receivers on their respective teams, except Mitchell. Mitchell's value will evaporate the moment Pierce returns. Horton is the team's No. 3 receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Thornton's role is dependent on the health of Worthy. None of them is a target-earner. All of these receivers are nothing more than touchdown-dependent WR5/6's.

They're likely only to see 1-5 targets on any given week. The floor for all of these players is zero. On the flip side, they only need one target to make them a worthwhile start. Any of these players, based on their skill set and their utilization, is capable of taking their one target 75 yards to the house. If you're in a pinch and desperate, and find yourself as a large underdog, rolling the dice on one of these players could pay off.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

TE2's with Some Upside

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars - 22.7% Rostered

Strange has scored 7.5 half-PPR points or more in three out of four games this season. He has 45 yards or more in three games. He's coming off back-to-back games with six catches and seven targets. He has been a consistent factor in Jacksonville's passing game.

The team appears committed to having Travis Hunter play on both offense and defense, which has limited his snaps on offense in recent weeks. That has allowed Strange to become Trevor Lawrence's No. 2 target on the season. He has yet to catch a touchdown, but he's showing a very safe floor.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - 33.0% Rostered

Fannin's in the "must add" section, not because he's a must-start player, but because he could be. David Njoku is in the final year of his contract, and I expect that as we get close to the trade deadline, his name is going to come up. Given his age and where Cleveland is as an organization, there's little point in re-signing him. Such a move would make Fannin a must-start.

Through four weeks, despite Njoku's presence, Fannin has averaged six targets per game. That puts him on pace for 102 targets! For a rookie tight end to be on that kind of pace despite not being a clear starter is definitely a player we should want to bet on. He's struggled the past two weeks, but given his consistent target volume, Fannin should remain on the TE2 radar moving forward.

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens - 13.2% Rostered

In his first game back, Likely also drew even with Mark Andrews in terms of routes run (30 for Andrews and 25 for Likely). Andrews finished with eight targets, while Likely didn't earn a single one. Don't fret too much about that. He hasn't played for over a month, and this was his first game action of the season.

Outside of Zay Flowers, the target hierarchy in Baltimore is likely to change on a weekly basis. It could be Andrews one week, Likely another, and then Bateman another week. The Baltimore defense is bleeding points, which will likely lead to more pass attempts than expected from this offense —a good sign for the Baltimore pass catchers.

Sleepers Worth Stashing

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans - 20.5% Rostered

Okonkwo continues to play at a higher rate than he did last year, and his route share is also higher. Before this past weekend, he had back-to-back games of six targets. Okonkwo's ceiling is very limited due to the state of the Tennessee offense. There won't be many touchdowns to go around. Okonkwo is also used similarly to Jonnu Smith, meaning that most of his targets are close to the line of scrimmage.

This minimizes his yardage upside, but if Cam Ward can improve the passing attack as he gains more reps, Okonkwo's usage and utilization become more appealing. From Weeks 1-3, he had at least three catches in all three games. He's better in PPR-scoring leagues.

Deep, Deep Sleepers

• Theo Johnson, New York Giants - 1.6% Rostered
• Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - 58.5% Rostered
• Mason Taylor, New York Jets - 3.2% Rostered
• Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers - 2.1% Rostered
• Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - 42.8% Rostered
• Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - 12.5% Rostered
• Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins - 9.8% Rostered
• Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - 33.5% Rostered
• Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks - 1.5% Rostered
• Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - 4.0% Rostered
• Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - 1.2% Rostered
• A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks - 0.4% Rostered
• Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 10.6% Rostered

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

QB2's

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants - 21.1% Rostered

The loss of Nabers certainly hurts Dart's appeal, but he can use his legs, which gives him another advantage in terms of fantasy football production. He scored 19.8 points in his first start against one of the better defenses in the NFL. He only finished with 111 yards passing and one touchdown, which doesn't create a lot of optimism, but he also recorded 10 carries.

He finished with 54 rushing yards and a touchdown.

If Nabers were healthy, Dart could maybe flirt with top-12 numbers. With him out for the year, most likely, Dart will settle in as a QB2 with weekly QB1 upside because of his ability to score points on the ground.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - 41.0% Rostered

Stafford has now scored over 13 points in all four contests this season. That includes his Week 4 explosion of 27.4 points. Stafford has the benefit of passing to one of the best receiver duos in the NFL with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Given how the offensive talent Stafford is working with and with Sean McVay calling the shots, Stafford is in a great spot to continue this strong fantasy production.

Since he's not a runner, his upside is somewhat capped. However, Stafford looks like a high-end QB2, and when the Rams get in high-scoring affairs, Stafford can still put up top-five numbers.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons - 20.2% Rostered

Penix might be a tough sell for some. He's the textbook definition of boom or bust. He has two games with 5.3 and 3.8 points. In his other two, he scored 24.0 and 18.7 points. Penix can't be started yet, not with any confidence anyway. Still, he's a year two quarterback, still figuring it out, and he's shown us what the ceiling looks like.

If he's able to find a bit of consistency, Penix could surprise in the second half of the season. Given his draft pedigree and the strength of the offensive ecosystem around London, Mooney (health permitting), Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr., Penix is someone I don't mind stashing if I have roster space.

QB2 Options for Deeper or Superflex Leagues

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - 29.3% Rostered
• Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders - 35.1% Rostered
• Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - 9.4% Rostered
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 22.2% Rostered
• Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers - 17.8% Rostered
• Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals - 6.9% Rostered
• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - 54.0% Rostered
• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers - 9.9% Rostered

Stash in Superflex or 2-QB Leagues

• J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - 39.3% Rostered
• Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns - 0.4% Rostered

Team Defenses (D/ST) - Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 5

• Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans - 24.6% Rostered
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Las Vegas Raiders - 40.2% Rostered
• New York Giants at New Orleans Saints - 13.3% Rostered
• Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars - 7.2% Rostered

Waiver Wire Parameters for This Article

A few rules and notes about this weekly waiver wire article. Every league is different, with varying roster formats and sizes. That makes this one of the more challenging articles because every league’s waiver wire can look dramatically different. Even the host site you use matters. ESPN has rankings that differ from those of Yahoo!, which in turn differ from those of CBS or Sleeper, and all of this impacts which players are drafted and which are not.

We only identify quarterbacks and tight ends with a roster percentage of 60% or less. For running backs and receivers, that number drops to 50%. We don’t delve too deeply into defenses, but I highlight a few streamers to target each week.

Positions are also categorized into different groups, such as RB3 or a potential league-winner to stash. You’ll need to know your roster and what to look for on the waiver. From there, each positional groups are arranged based on who you should prioritize first at that position. We use ESPN’s roster percentages for this article.

For example, if you roster Nabers, McLaurin, or Mike Evans (hamstring), you might be more interested in someone like Doubs rather than Burden right now because Doubs is more likely to score points in the short term. Know your team and your team’s needs. If you’re healthy and you’re starting roster is strong, shoot for upside.

As a reminder, please use promo code "BOOM" at checkout for an additional 10% off any NFL Premium package.

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