Beat Next Week's Waiver Wire: Last Minute Week 5 Pickups & Adds

Skychizen analyzes deeper Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire sleepers, pickups & adds for running backs (RB), wide receivers (WR) and tight ends (TE) to stay ahead of the curve.

Who is going to be the top waiver wire pickup next week? Why didn’t I stash that guy before the games started?

These are things we all wonder as the weekly waiver wire deadline approaches in the middle of the next week. This article will give a quick look at some guys that could be on the top of the waiver wire next week, or not, if we preemptively pick them up! Staying ahead of the curve in fantasy football can yield you waiver wire treasures, and save you FAAB money (or your waiver position).

Typically throughout the season, I try to keep one of my roster spots as a revolving door of waiver wire pickups that I believe have boom-or-bust potential and fantasy upside. This can change often, but coming into every Sunday I will re-evaluate and pick one player based on my future needs and roll the dice before that week's games start. With this is mind, we can use the different games to our advantage (as the schedule allows). An example would be picking up a 1 PM player, and then dropping them for a 4 PM player if they do not impress.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
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• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Potential Week 5 Breakouts & Waiver Wire Stashes

This is a tough week (strategy wise) to maximize potential for dropping players from earlier games that don't pan out, as I don't see much potential in the later games in the day. I would suggest to heavily consider stashing one of the below 1 PM players off the waiver wire based on your needs if you have the room. Also remember to revisit these posts in future weeks to review the players listed, as some of these players might not become relevant until later on in the season. Let's get to it.

Sunday 1 PM Pregame Stashes

Darrin Reaves / Chris Ogbonnaya (RB, CAR) - 9% / 2% owned in Fleaflicker

The Carolina RB core is decimated with Deangelo Williams expected to be out a few weeks, and Jonathan Stewart facing other ongoing injuries (as usual). Darrin is an UDFA, but is worth a stash if he can somehow impress with his opportunity on Sunday. Ogbonnya, recently signed, will be likely be handling some carries as well, and had some past success on Cleveland, although a full time role is questionable.

Joseph Randle (RB, DAL) - 5% owned in Fleaflicker

Demarco Murray is still healthy? Yes, and although there is no guarantee he will get hurt this year, missing a game or two is likely. Grab Randle as an injury lotto ticket - the Cowboys will most likely turn to him immediately if Murray goes down, with decent volume as they continue to stress the run game weekly.

Mike Williams (WR, BUF) - 30% owned in Fleaflicker

With the change of QB in Buffalo, we expect some of the team's passing numbers to improve. Although we don’t know who will benefit from Orton taking over, Williams could be one of the main beneficiaries. He has flashed talent in the past, and was already being heavily targeted by Manuel (though inaccurately).

Donte Moncrief (WR, IND) - 5% owned in Fleaflicker

He flashed some magic against JAX two weeks ago on 5 targets. As his opportunities increase, he could prove that he is the best wide receiver on this Colts team. Once his blowup game does occur, he will be on the top of the waiver wire adds list.

Allen Robinson (WR, JAX) - 13% owned in Fleaflicker

He's now the #1 WR on JAX, as Shorts is expected to miss significant time to allow his hamstring to heal. Robinson didn’t have much opportunity to shine with a strong SD pass defense last week, but as Bortles improves and chemistry increases, Robinson could be a great pickup if he is still available in your PPR leagues.

Storm Johnson (RB, JAX) - 3% owned in Fleaflicker

It’s possible that this 7^th round pick could have already taken over the full time RB job in JAX if he was healthy earlier in the season. Johnson is expected to get some touches this Sunday, and if he impresses could eventually grab the full time role away from an ineffective Toby Gerhart. The Jacksonville offense can’t get any worse then it already is, so there is upside here.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, TB) - 12% owned in Fleaflicker

Jenkins is expected to return this Sunday, and could be a big target for Mike Glennon who is already missing Mike Evans. Jenkins could be a solid tight end for the rest of the season if Glennon relies on him as much as we expect. Sunday’s matchup against a leaky New Orleans defense doesn’t hurt either.

Odell Beckham Jr (WR, NYG) - 19% owned in Fleaflicker

Beckham is expected to make his debut this Sunday after battling a hamstring injury since the start of the season. This 2014 first round pick is expected to see limited reps, but if he can impress expect to see him at the top of waiver wire pickups lists next week. He could potentially wrestle away the #2 WR job from Randle before the end of the season.

Sunday 4 PM Pregame Stashes

C.J. Anderson (RB, DEN) - 6% owned in Fleaflicker

Montee Ball is still not getting the job done in Denver with a low 3.4 YPC. Based on rumblings out of Denver, giving Anderson more opportunities in the future is not out of the question if Ball can’t improve soon. Denver wants to win now, and they will roll with the RB who gives them the best chance to do that. Anderson is a great stash if Ball continues to struggle.

Let's Keep An Eye On

Not a recommended stash this week, but let's see if an opportunity develops:

Paul Richardson (WR, SEA) - 3% owned in Fleaflicker

I wrote a sleeper post on Richardson earlier this year found here. Not much has changed, and Richardson has yet to see his opportunities in the crowded WR corps of Seattle. Barring a major injury to a SEA wide receiver, or a string of losses in which the passing game is truly ineffective, I’m not sure we will see Richardson get involved anytime soon.