X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds

Pierre Camus' fantasy football waiver wire pickups, adds and sleepers ahead of Week 5 of the 2019 NFL season. Running backs (RB), wide receivers (WR), quarterbacks (QB) and tight ends (TE) to target or bid on.

There were plenty of fireworks on Sunday, with eight teams scoring 30 or more points. The vultures also came out to roost, assuming that's what vultures do. In other words, several unknown players came onto the field simply to steal a touchdown away from a fantasy stud and frustrate fantasy owners. We won't list those players here because we know Brandon Bolden and Troymaine Pope have no tangible value. Instead, we'll focus on players with an opportunity to contribute in Week 5 and beyond, based on matchups, rising snap counts, and other variables.

Each week, we will advise you which players to consider picking up on waivers that are owned in approximately 35% or fewer of Yahoo leagues so that you can make an educated decision about how to improve your fantasy football team. This list is NOT meant to be exclusive of all add-worthy players. For a more comprehensive list, check out our weekly Waiver Wire Lightning Round by position, ordered by priority. If higher-owned players not listed here are available in your league, feel free to treat them as priority pickups before these players.

As always, keep checking back here for updated waiver recommendations and always keep tabs on our NFL Player News feed. Be sure to also check out our weekly rankings and analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all options heading into Week 5.

Editor's Note: Access RotoBaller’s trusted fantasy football rankings for PPR, Standard, Dynasty, Super Flex, and Best Ball formats. Get tiered cheat sheets, expert analysis, and player outlooks to dominate your draft from every angle.

 

Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts - 35% owned

Even in a disappointing home loss to the Raiders, Brissett managed to come away with three touchdowns and 265 yards. Sure, that last 48-yard score to Eric Ebron came in garbage time, but that doesn't matter in the fantasy world. Brissett has thrown at least two TD in every game this year and gets to face the Chiefs in Week 5, who have struggled in the secondary and just gave up nearly 300 yards and three TD to Matthew Stafford.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals - 34% owned

We've yet to see how Dalton will respond in primetime at Pittsburgh, although his track record isn't promising. His passing output has gone down each week since going for a league-high 418 yards in Week 1. He does go back home to face the Cardinals, who are still without their top two corners and have had a hard time stopping teams through the air. They're allowing 290 passing yards per game in 2019. Dalton is a relatively safe streamer and should be the second choice behind Brissett.

Sam Darnold, New York Jets - 13% owned

It's still up in the air whether Darnold will play in Week 5 and conflicting reports aren't helping fantasy owners make an informed decision. He had a mediocre first game and has been on the sidelines for three weeks, so putting him in your lineup is a risky proposition anyway. If not for the favorable matchup, he wouldn't be a serious consideration. The Eagles have, however, allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and are struggling with injuries in the secondary yet again. If Darnold does play, he could be an option in Two-QB leagues.

Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - 12% owned

Minshew Magic. That's the only way to describe the rookie's comeback effort in Week 4. From a fantasy standpoint, he didn't do much to move the needle though, with 213 yards and two touchdowns. He's been remarkably consistent, finishing between 200-275 yards and tossing either one or two TD in each game. In fact, he's gone for exactly 213 yards on 33 attempts in each of his two road games. That's playable as a low-end QB2 in Superflex formats but the ceiling is always going to be limited in this offense. Love him for the Uncle Rico comps but don't get expectations up too high.

Others to consider: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers (10% owned); Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints (7% owned)

 

Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options

Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 40% owned

We need to cheat a little here because the state of the running back position is such that there are not many appealing options on the wire that haven't already been snatched up. Jones is more than one-third owned but is still available in more than half of fantasy leagues. Understandably, fantasy owners are skeptical after last year when he averaged less than two yards a pop and barely saw the field. This year, he's showing what the team expected. He's gone over 70 rushing yards in three out of four contests despite not seeing as many as 20 carries in any game. What holds him back is the lack of red-zone carries and an offensive scheme that doesn't prioritize throwing to running backs. He can serve as a flex play but no higher as long as he shares time with Peyton Barber.

Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers - 33% owned

The Niners are done with their bye, so you can put Mostert back in the flex conversation. A home game against Cleveland is an adequate matchup given his usage in the passing game and relatively high floor. Be warned that Tevin Coleman may be ready to return soon, so Mostert figures to be a short-term streamer rather than a long-term solution, regardless of how well he's playing.

Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons - 14% owned

It's puzzling how the 5'9" Smith keeps getting red-zone rush attempts over starter Devonta Freeman or bowling ball Qadree Ollison, who hasn't registered a carry this season. Smith is also outperforming Freeman by averaging 5.7 rushing yards per attempt compared to Freeman's 3.3. There doesn't look to be a ton of upside in this rushing attack right now but Smith is at least getting consistent touches each time out.

Ryquell Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars - 1% owned

The Jags finally got their running game going and wasn't limited to Leonard Fournette alone. In addition to Fournette's monster day, Armstead went for 42 yards in limited work and scored his first NFL touchdown on a seven-yard reception. His sudden jump is usage was unexpected, especially since he took zero offensive snaps the last two weeks after seeing eight in Week 1. The Panthers have been bottom-10 against the run so far this year

Dexter Williams, Green Bay Packers - 0% owned

Keep an eye on the other Williams in Packerville, as Jamaal is likely to miss Week 5 after getting demolished on a hit last Thursday and taken off on a stretcher. We know Matt Lafleur doesn't want to run Aaron Jones into the ground, so Dexter Williams could see 10+ touches in his first NFL action.

Others to consider: Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers (29% owned); Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys (27% owned); Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (9% owned);

 

Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options

Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons - 27% owned

Never an exciting pick, Sanu quietly is putting together a WR4 season once again. He caught nine for 91 against Tennessee although he was held without a touchdown. This could be dismissed as a once-off performance except that he's seen at least six targets and caught at least four passes in every game this year. Sanu isn't too friendly with the end zone - he's never scored more than five TD in a season - so his value lies in full PPR leagues as a high-floor option to get you through bye weeks and injuries.

Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers - 24% owned

If Davante Adams winds up missing the Cowboys game, Allison will see a big bump in target share. He's been touchdown-dependent for fantasy value so far this year, scoring twice but tallying just 76 total yards in four games. He could finally deliver more than a handful of receptions in a game that promises to have a high over/under.

Dante Pettis, San Francisco 49ers - 20% owned

Most fantasy GMs have dropped Pettis like a bad habit already. Between a calf injury and a questionable work ethic, he barely saw the field the first two games. Then, like Lazarus he rose from the dead to score in Week 3 and help the Niners remain undefeated. If he's got both feet out of the doghouse for good, Pettis could start to live up to some of the promise that made him a popular preseason sleeper.

Keke Coutee, Houston Texans - 18% owned

The crowded Texans receiver room has a little more room now that Kenny Stills has a hamstring injury. He left early against the Panthers, presenting an opportunity for Coutee to re-emerge as the WR3. He didn't do much, catching one of three targets for 11 yards. The entire offense was fairly ineffective, however, so it's not on Coutee alone. Houston is better at home and faces a Falcons Defense without Keanu Neal that has gotten progressively worse each passing week. There's a chance he stays in the background and offers little but there's no reward without risk.

A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans - 10% owned

Brown has emerged as the rookie wideout to own after going for two touchdowns, one a 55-yard sprint to the end zone where he did all the work himself. Scary Terry McLaurin (a.k.a. McLaurin F1) had the edge but now has a hamstring injury to deal with plus a quarterback issue (he doesn't have a good one). Brown is definitely worth a claim but not if you're looking for help in Week 5. The Titans take on the Bills, who just held Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman, and Phillip Dorsett to a total of 86 yards between them. Brown is someone to stash as a fourth or fifth receiver at the moment.

Antonio Callaway, Cleveland Browns - 1% owned

In a recurring theme this week, Callaway is eligible to return after his suspension ends. It has never been lack of talent that prevented Callaway from succeeding, so if he can keep his head straight, there's a path to production here. Rashard Higgins has been hurt the past couple of weeks and Jarvis Landry is now in the concussion protocol. Callaway could make an instant splash if he's needed on Monday. If nothing else, he's a speculative stash that will cost you nothing to add.

Others to consider: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (26% owned); Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys (23% owned); Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers (19% owned); Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (12% owned); Adam Humphries, Tennessee Titans (6% owned); Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (5% owned); Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars (4% owned)

 

Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options

Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers - 36% owned

He's technically just over our cutoff but Graham is available in most 12-team leagues so he warrants mentioning. Given all the injuries to key tight ends this week, a player like Graham is worth streaming because he's always a threat to score. The glory days are way past him but his 61-yard output in Week 4 was a reminder of what he can do when involved in the offense. The problem is that we don't know when that will be. The previous two games, Graham had zero receptions on a total of two targets. In Weeks 1 & 4, he combined for 14 targets. The Cowboys are no slouch on defense but without Davante Adams or Jamaal Williams, Graham will have to be counted on to some extent.

Trey Burton, Chicago Bears - 35% owned

He was a popular sleeper in 2018 who paid off handsomely in the first half and completely disappeared in the second half of the season. The story in 2019 has been a groin injury that kept him out of Week 1 and saw him limited the last two weeks. We haven't been able to count on him so far but that could change as he gets healthier and re-acquainted with running routes. The main reason to target him in Week 5 is a matchup with Oakland. The Raiders allowed both Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron to visit the end zone last game and have been one of the more generous defenses to tight ends this year, after finishing third-worst against the TE last year.

Chris Herndon IV, New York Jets - 16% owned

If you're in the market for a high-upside tight end that could conceivably stay in your lineup the rest of the season, rather than streaming, Herndon is the best bet. Bear in mind, he isn't eligible to play in Week 5 because the team had their bye and has only played three games. Herndon's four-game suspension has another week to go but the time to add and stash is now, not next week when everyone else will be of the same mindset. Herndon had a nice rookie year after a slow start. In his last 11 games, he averaged approximately three receptions and 41 yards per game with four touchdowns. If he and Darnold can rekindle their connection, he can enter the conversation as a top-10 TE.

Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - 5% owned

Jared Goff seemed to suddenly realize that tight ends are eligible receivers too, feeding the ball to Everett more than ever against Tampa Bay. On one drive alone, Everett caught the ball three times and then Goff hit him for a touchdown later that quarter. Everett came into the game with six catches over the first three games and averages 1.6 receptions per game for his career. We'll carry some skepticism about whether this is the start of a trend or simply a result of the Bucs giving up the middle of the field while the Rams were in pass-only mode. A tough matchup on the road against Seattle makes Everett a desperation streamer at best.

Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots - 1% owned

Another four-game suspension served, another potential waiver wire value. Watson is the second tight end who is set to play for the first time in 2019, although his upside is obviously not as high as it was 10 years ago. The Pats also have enough weapons that Watson won't be depended on to a high degree. He does have a rapport with Brady and could be a red-zone target, so consider him in standard leagues this week as they take on the pathetic Redskins.

Logan Thomas, Detroit Lions - 0% owned

Rookie T.J. Hockenson left the game early on an ill-advised leap that led to a concussion. Interestingly, it was Thomas, not Jesse James, who saw TE targets throughout the second half. James hasn't been a factor in the passing game, catching a total of five passes in four games. He's been a blocker on 34% of his snaps and dwells with a bevy of other tight ends who are barely targeted. By contrast, Thomas runs a route on 95% of his snaps. While the Lions are on bye in Week 5, if Hockenson is out beyond that, Thomas could be a sneaky streamer to watch.

Others to consider: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (20% owned); Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (11% owned); Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (14% owned); Ricky Seals-Jones, Cleveland Browns (1% owned)

 

Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options

Philadelphia Eagles - 37% owned

Fresh off a Thursday night performance in which they let Aaron Rodgers shred them for 422 passing yards and 27 points, it should be a different story for the Eagles Defense in Week 5. They will be at home to face the hapless Jets, who may or may not have Sam Darnold back in action. Philly only has a total of three sacks in four games, so the floor is pretty low here. Take a chance only if Luke Falk is at quarterback for this matchup, in which case there could be some turnovers in store.

Tennessee Titans - 24% owned

This defense doesn't get much recognition but they should. The Titans embarrassed Cleveland in Week 1, picking off Baker Mayfield three times, and just shut down the Falcons in Atlanta. They have yet to allow an opponent to score more than 20 points in a game, despite playing three of four matchups on the road. A home contest with turnover-prone Josh Allen (six INT, five fumbles) looks promising and should make Tennessee one of the best DST options for Week 5.

San Francisco 49ers - 24% owned

The Niners had a week off to prepare for their Monday Night Football showdown with Cleveland. In their first three games, the defense is allowing an average of 16 points per game with at least two sacks and one interception in each. The Browns offense looked like they finally woke up in their thrashing of Baltimore but Baker Mayfield has thrown a pick in all four games and still takes too many sacks. San Fran is riskier in formats where points against count heavily but have a higher floor than most streaming options this week.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF