Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Week 5 Byes: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh
The Dart era in New York has begun, and he showed some flashes
in a tight win to the previously undefeated Chargers, passing
for 111-1-0 and rushing for 10-54-1. He definitely offers more
on the ground than Russell Wilson, but the loss of Malik Nabers
is huge concern. For Week 5, the Saints have allowed multiple
passing TDs in every game this year.
Darnold has strung together three solid starts after a rough
opening day loss to the 49ers, including a 242-1-0 line in a win
over the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. He's thrown
for at least 200 yards and a 5:2 TD:INT ratio over the last three
wins. Up next should be a shootout against the Buccaneers.
Young hasn't had the rushing upside that he showed at the
end of last year, but he's performed OK throwing the ball
against tough opponents to start the season. Up next he'll
get a Dolphins defense that has allowed the most points to opposing
QBs.
Geno Smith,
LV vs CHI: Geno struggled against the Bears poor defense, throwing
3 interceptions in a 25-24 loss -- his second three-INT game in
three weeks. Heading into Monday night, his 117 passing yards
is third lowest on the week ahead of only Jaxson Dart and Cam
Ward. Up next is a road meeting with the Colts.
Carson Wentz, MIN @ PIT: Wentz had another solid start in a close
loss to the Steelers. He rang up 350 yards passing and 2:2 TD:INT
ratio. Up next is a London game against a tough Browns passing
defense.
Matthew Stafford, LAR vs IND: Stafford is 3rd in fantasy points
among all quarterbacks heading into Monday night. He had a great
game in a win over the Colts, going 375-3-0. Up next is a divisional
matchup against the 49ers.
The rookie has increased his snap rate every week, and seemed
to take control of the backfield over Nick Chubb with Joe Mixon
still on IR. Marks had 17-69-1 rushing and 5-4-50-1 receiving
in a blowout of the woeful Titans. Up next he gets another juicy
matchup against the Ravens, who have allowed the most fantasy
points to RBs this year.
Gainwell got the start with Jaylen Warren being a late scratch
in Ireland, and exploded for 19-99-2 on the ground and 6-6-35-0
through the air. Warren may return after the Week 5 bye, but if
his knee injury lingers, Gainwell has shown himself to be a decent
replacement. He may be tough to add if you don't have the roster
space, but could be a sneaky add for leagues with deeper benches.
Hunt is still getting the highest-value touches in the Chiefs
backfield, and now that they've won two-straight games,
he should be owned more than 41% on Yahoo. He didn't have
to do much in a rout of the Ravens, but still went 13-34-0 on
the ground and caught his lone target. Note that RB3 Brashad Smith
(4-9-0, 3-27-0) was more involved this week. Up next is a Jaguars
defense that has been stingy to RBs on the ground, but has allowed
the 4th-most receiving yards to the position.
Trey Benson,
ARI vs SEA: Benson had a solid day in his first start since James
Conner went on IR, rushing for 8-35-0 and catching 5-5-19-0 in
a tough loss to their divisional rivals. Up next he gets a cupcake
matchup against the Titans.
TreVeyon
Henderson, NE vs CAR: Henderson didn't surpass Rhamondre Stevenson
on the depth chart, but had a nice complementary role, going 7-32-1
on the ground and 2-2-14-0 through the air in a blowout win over
the Panthers. He's got a nice schedule coming up where he should
be able to produce more, starting this week against the Bills.
Ayomanor led the team in targets and yards in a crushing loss
to the Texans, putting up a 7-2-44-0 stat line. The whole Titans
offense is struggling to score, but Ayomanor appears to be the
WR1 in Tennessee and should have better weeks as rookie Cam Ward
settles in. Up next is a Cardinals defense that has given up the
4th most receptions and 7th most yards to WRs.
Robinson led the team in targets in a win over the Chargers,
going 5-3-14-0, while Slayton ended up catching 3 of 4 targets
for 44 yards. With alpha WR1 Malkik Nabers suffering an apparent
season-ending ACL, targets in this offense are up for grabs. Robinson
is likely to see an uptick is with rookie Jaxson Dart still finding
his footing, but Slayton should also be more involved. Up next
is a Saints defense that has allowed 5 passing TDs to WRs in the
first four games.
Washington has been the clear WR3 for the Dolphins, but with
Tyreek Hill (knee) done for the season, Washington should see
more work. Carolina has actually been stingy against WRs to start
this year, but Washington should be able to deliver with volume
as the season progresses.
Brown appears to be the WR2 now that Xavier Worthy is back in
action, and managed a 5-3-38-1 receiving line in a big win over
the Ravens. He should be serviceable again versus a Jaguars defense
that has allowed the 6th most receptions to opposing WRs.
Downs has been relatively quiet to start the season, even though
he is 3rd on the team in targets (behind Tyler Warren and Michael
Pittman Jr.). He put up a 5-4-24-0 receiving line against a tough
Rams defense, but should see more daylight this week against a
Raiders team that has been getting shredded by opposing WRs.
Tolbert got the start across from George Pickens with CeeDee
lamb nursing an injury. He delivered a solid performance in a
shootout with the Packers, going for 6-4-61-0. Shootouts should
be common for Dallas given their terrible defense, so he may be
called upon again versus the Jets, who have allowed the 10th-most
points to WRs.
Strange tied for the team lead in targets, going for 7-6-45-0
in a win over the 49ers. He isn't the most explosive, but
he's getting regular work as a safety blanket for Trevor
Lawrence. He'll have a tough test against the Chiefs up
next.
Johnson was a key safety blanket for new starter Jaxson Dart,
putting up a 5-3-17-1 receiving line in a win over the Chargers.
He should see even more work with Malik Nabers out for the season.
Up next is a Saints defense that has given up a passing TD to
the position in two of their last three games.
Taylor has started to get more involved in the offense, finishing
2nd in targets behind Garrett Wilson the last two weeks. He notched
a 7-5-65-0 line in a loss to the Dolphins. Up next is a potential
shootout with the Cowboys.
Waller saw his first action of the season after being out of
football in 2024. He made a big splash, going 4-3-24-2. With Tyreek
Hill (knee) out for the season, Waller and the other pass catchers
should see more targets. It starts this week against the Panthers,
who have allowed the 6th-most points and 2nd-most yards to the
position.
Tre Tucker, LV vs CHI: Tucker came back down to earth a week
after leading all WRs in fantasy points, going only 2-2-13-0 receiving
in a tough loss to the Bears. He should be called upon more against
the Colts but is a volatile asset.
Sterling
Shepard, TB vs PHI: Shepard was relegated to WR3 with Chris
Godwin returning from injury, going 4-2-14-0 receiving. He'll
have a tough assignment against the Seahawks up next.
Cedric Tillman, CLE vs GB: Tillman left a blowout loss to the
Lions early (hamstring), and only managed one catch for 6 yards.
Up next he'll get a tough assignment against the Vikings
if he is healthy enough to return.
Tyquan Thornton,
KC @ NYG: Thornton was relegated to WR4 with Xavier Worthy back
from injury, catching 1 of 2 targets for an 11-yard touchdown.
His fantasy-relevant days could be over with Rashee Rice expected
to return Week 7, but he gets the Jaguars this week.
Christian Kirk, HOU vs TEN: Kirk was 2nd amongst WRs in targets,
but only managed a 4-3-20-0 receiving line in a blowout win over
the overmatched Titans. He should see more work against the Ravens
this week.
Rashod Bateman, BAL @ KC: Bateman struggled along with most of
Baltimore's offense in a loss to the Chiefs, mostly due
to losing Lamar Jackson (hamstring) early in the 2nd half. If
Jackson can't return against the Texans, Bateman will be
tough to trust.
TE Hunter Henry, NE vs CAR: Henry didn't see a lot of volume
in the blowout win over the Panthers, since Drake Maye only had
17 attempts. He did score a touchdown, however, making it 3 in
the last two weeks. He'll be called upon more in a tough
matchup against the Bills this week.
The Cardinals have been playing solid defense, and now they get
the hapless Titans, who have scored the fewest points in the league
while giving up the 2nd most sacks.
Browns vs MIN
The Browns have been lights out on defense, but have only one
win due to a struggling offense. Up next they get a Vikings team
that has scored a lot of points, but has allowed the most sacks
and has given up 7 turnovers in the first four games.
Colts vs LV
The Colts have been a well-balanced team and played solid defense
through four games, hence their 3-1 record. They’ve forced
a turnover in every game so far, and up next is a Raiders team
that has given up the 7th-most sacks and most interceptions to
opposing DSTs.
Other DST to consider: Panthers vs MIA
Last week’s waiver adds:
Texans vs TEN: The Texans got their first win
of the season in emphatic fashion, blanking the Titans while recording
2 sacks and a turnover. Up next is an explosive Ravens offense
that could be much weaker if Lamar Jackson is forced to sit.
Lions vs CLE: The Lions had a dominant performance
in a win over the Browns, getting 3 sack, 3 turnovers, a punt-return
TD and giving up only 10 points. Up next they get the struggling
Bengals offense.
Chargers @ NYG: The Chargers had been playing
solid defense, and even got 6 sacks against new starter Jaxon
Dart, but ultimately got their first loss versus the Giants. Up
next is another tough opponent at home against the Commanders.
