Just like that, four weeks of the NFL season are already in the books! With standard fantasy leagues running a 14-week regular season, this means that only ten weeks remain to round your team into form and ensure that you qualify for the playoffs. On the bright side, it was a mild week in terms of key players succumbing to injuries on the field. That said, there are still plenty of situations around the league where injuries are influencing who to prioritize with fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
In addition, several young players are growing increasingly relevant on the fantasy front. As always, managers are advised to prioritize situations, snap counts, workload and target shares over a one-week scoring output when deciding on which players to claim. These are the stats and trends that will better predict sustainable success. Read on for our top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 5.
Note: Players must be owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues to be included in the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups column. Ownership percentages will reflect their status on Tuesday mornings ahead of standard waiver processing.
QB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (29.1%)
While Geno Smith has thrown as many interceptions as he has touchdowns this season, he continues to be a steady QB in fantasy. His sheer volume of passing attempts in the last three games indicate opportunity. Smith has surpassed 300 yards in two of those games and fell only 11 yards shy in the other. Of course, having weapons like DK Metcalf, Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett helps, as does the presence of a complimentary run game. Smith is the QB8 on the season and a healthy matchup against the New York Giants in Week 5 raises his fantasy football waiver wire pickups appeal.
Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (34.6%)
Not only were we reminded of how impactful Justin Fields can be running the football in Week 4, but we also witnessed one of his best games ever as a passer. To be fair, almost all of his production came with the Steelers trailing big in the game. However, being the eternal optimist that I am, we’ll lean towards believing that Fields can build off this performance.
The two rushing touchdowns and 30+ fantasy points probably won’t be replicated. That said, Fields presumably will maintain the starting gig even with Russell Wilson getting back up to speed from injury. The Steelers have some fantasy-friendly matchups upcoming. His rushing upside makes him a viable fill-in with bye weeks starting as well.
MORE: NFL Power Rankings Week 5 – Rookies Stack Wins
Our NFL Power Rankings have been updated once again! Click through to see where your team is ranked heading into Week 5!
RB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys (43.3%)
Somehow, someway, Rico Dowdle remains eligible for inclusion in our fantasy football waiver wire pickups column again this week. His ownership spiked, but he is still rostered in less than 50% of leagues. That is almost certain to change after further evidence in Week 4 that Dowdle is the Cowboys’ lead back. He played 24 snaps last Thursday compared to just nine for Ezekiel Elliott. Dowdle’s efficiency is also worth noting as he has averaged four yards per carry or more in three straight games. Dallas would be foolish not to lean on him even more going forward.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs (21.5%)
An early fumble by Carson Steele led to Kareem Hunt dominating the workload in the Chiefs’ backfield in Week 4. Signed to the practice squad only a couple of weeks ago, Hunt now finds himself as a relevant name in fantasy football once again. The 29-year-old played 45% of the team’s total offensive snaps and earned 16 total touches while doing so. Steele was relegated to just 18% of snaps while Samaje Perine played 40%. Andy Reid will likely go back to Steele more going forward, but Hunt is worth the roster spot as this rotation continues to get sorted out.
WR Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (27.1%)
We have been trained to believe that Daniel Jones and the Giants’ passing attack is a lost cause. Well, let me be the first to tell you this is not the case. Rookie wideout Malik Nabers has sparked something in one Danny Dimes. Meanwhile, third-year pro, Wan’Dale Robinson has also emerged as a viable fantasy football waiver wire target operating as the team’s WR2. His 14 targets last week were the most he’s seen in a game to date. Robinson now has eight or more targets in three of four games and is quietly the WR22 in PPR scoring. He must be rostered heading into Week 5.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (8.8%)
After missing the first two games of the year with an injury, Josh Downs made his presence felt for the Colts in Week 4. He turned nine targets into eight receptions for 82 yards and a score, a line that indicates he is the WR2 in this offense when healthy. Of course, the uptick in production coincided with backup QB Joe Flacco entering the game. However, the one promising anecdote for Downs is that he did garner five targets in Week 3. Anthony Richardson’s inaccuracy as a passer could hold Indy’s receivers back in fantasy, but Downs should at least be rostered in leagues given his potential upside.
TE Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (35.6%)
Viewed as a hot fantasy football waiver wire pickups option last week, Tyler Conklin failed to turn in the kind of production managers were hoping for. The same can be said of the Jets’ entire offense in an embarrassing home loss to the Denver Broncos. Rest assured, Conklin is still a viable option at the weak TE position. Despite only having 17 yards receiving in Week 4, Conklin still garnered eight total targets. That gives him a total of 14 targets through the last two games. He is clearly on Aaron Rodgers’ radar and must be rostered going forward.
Tucker Kraft (4.6%)
In honor of wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks getting 13 targets in Week 4 and being under consideration for this column, we are including Tucker Kraft as our second option in the TE wasteland. After all, he did see a season-high nine targets in Week 4 as the Packers tried to overcome a massive deficit on the scoreboard. Jordan Love has plenty of weapons at his disposal, but perhaps Kraft can maintain enough of his attention to be a viable bye-week streamer in fantasy. That’s all I got. Look, I’m trying here, okay?
Alright, maybe I do have a little more. If you need a tight end, definitely keep tabs on the Los Angeles Rams this week. Tyler Higbee (0.4%) is technically eligible to return after sitting on the PUP list for four weeks. Meanwhile, Colby Parkinson (34.2%) hasn’t put up big stats, but he has gotten at least five targets in three of four games to date. Whoever is starting at TE for L.A. in Week 5 is a viable add/streamer as needed.
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