As Week 4 of the season wrapped up, there were plenty of players out with injury, which may leave your fantasy football rosters looking a little different and potentially weaker. While it’s hard to bench your fantasy studs you drafted before the season began, the option of streaming players off the waiver wire could bode well for your success in your fantasy football league. It is always a better decision to weigh your options and play the player with a much better matchup than start the same guy every week hoping for a breakout game.
Read on for three fantasy football wide receiver “streamer” options for Week 5. Despite having late-round ADPs, these players have a great chance to carve out a bigger role moving forward, especially with the number of wide receivers still dealing with injuries like Tee Higgins, Julio Jones, and A.J. Brown.
Players must be owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues to be included in the Week 5 fantasy football wide receiver streamers column. All ownerships for players will be provided and will reflect that of Wednesday morning, once waivers are processed.
Week 5 Fantasy Football WR Streamers
Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders vs. CHI (49.0%)
Despite being a third or fourth option in the Raiders offense, Hunter Renfrow has made some noise so far this season. Last week, he caught 6-of-8 targets for 45 yards and a touchdown and has caught at least five balls every game this season. The presence of Darren Waller hasn’t made Renfrow irrelevant and he still acts as Derek Carr’s security blanket to consistently move the sticks each drive. He logged just over 66 percent of snaps against the Chargers and now faces a Bears defense surrendering more than 43.6 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers thus far. He just made the cut, as he’s rostered in 49 percent of leagues, but if he’s available, I’d feel very comfortable starting him given his target share and consistency.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos at PIT (33.4%)
Tim Patrick’s strong start to the season came to a halt after only catching 3-of-6 targets for 39 yards against the Ravens last week, but he has a very good chance to bounce back here against the Steelers. It was to be expected that he’d struggle last week because the Broncos hadn’t faced any tough opponents through the first three games, but with both K.J. Hamler and Jerry Jeudy out, Patrick is still the WR2 in the offense. He logged nearly 92 percent of snaps last week, trailing only Courtland Sutton. As dominant as the Steelers pass rush is, their secondary is struggling to stop opposing offenses, surrendering 44.1 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers thus far.
Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints at WFT (43.5%)
Although he’s the WR1 currently, with both Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith still sidelined, Marquez Callaway hasn’t looked good. It’s mainly in part of the low-volume passing offense, as Jameis Winston barely throws over 25 times a game as it is, but if Callaway is ever going to have a chance at a good game, this may be the week when the Saints face the Washington Football Team. Washington is allowing the third-most fantasy football points per game to wide receivers this season and Callaway has led the team in snaps every week thus far, logging 82.4% last week. It’s a risky start, but the matchup is as good as it gets.