Things were slower than usual on the waiver wire to start this season, but big RB injuries the past two weeks have really ramped things up. Handcuffs Mike Boone, Caleb Huntley, Tyler Allgeier, Brian Robinson Jr., and Latavius Murray will be among the top Week 5 fantasy waiver pickups, and plenty of other solid players, such as George Pickens, Teddy Bridgewater, and Will Dissly, figure to be among the most sought-after free agent adds. Before you get ready to put in your claims and make your FAAB bids, you need to get your budget in order and figure out how much each player is worth.
As we'll do every week this season with the help of our friends at Fantasy Alarm, let's break down the top pickups and project how much of your FAAB budget you should bid on them.
DOMINATE YOUR LEAGUE: Get the Fantasy Alarm NFL Season Pass!
Week 5 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
By Ray Kuhn, Fantasy Alarm
Zach Wilson (NYJ). Wilson has a plethora of weapons in the receiving game, as well as an emerging young running back in Breece Hall to help keep the pressure off. Things should continue to get better from here for Wilson, who finished with 252 passing yards and led a game-winning drive last week. Projected FAAB Bid: 2-3% of total FAAB budget
Teddy Bridgewater (MIA). It is unclear how long Bridgewater is going to be under center for Miami, but I would expect Tua Tagovaliloa’s absence to be at least two weeks. The Dolphins have a few extra days to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Jets, and Bridgewater is not exactly lacking for weapons with the speedy Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal. Bridgewater is a savvy veteran quarterback who certainly knows what he is doing, and he will be put in the best position to succeed, which ultimately means getting the ball to Hill and Waddle and letting them put their speed to good use. After entering the game with about six minutes left in the first half, Bridgewater completed 14-of-23 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. That production could translate into a serviceable stat line over a full game. Proj. FAAB Bid: 1-2%
MORE QB CONSIDERATIONS (1-2% Bids): Kenny Pickett (PIT)
WEEK 5 FANTASY: Top waiver pickups | Trade advice
Week 5 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS). Robinson was set to be Washington's starter before being shot in an attempted robbery just before the start of the season. He missed the first four weeks, but his window is now open to return. With Antonio Gibson seemingly running out of chances, Robinson has the opportunity to immediately step in as the "1A" in this backfield and eventually completely take it over. Gibson and J.D. McKissic will always be involved, but Robinson has the talent to carve out an RB2 role with 15-plus touches per game in the near future. Projected FAAB Bid: 8-10% of total FAAB budget
Tyler Allgeier & Caleb Huntley (ATL). Allgeier had increasing amounts of hype through draft season, but then Week 1 rolled around and the rookie was inactive while Cordarrelle Patterson was back in control of Atlanta’s backfield. The rookie has been active for each of the three subsequent games, carrying the ball 10 and then six times for a combined 55 yards before picking up another 10 carries this past week. It was a complete timeshare for the Falcons, as Patterson had nine carries before exiting with a knee injury that ultimately sent him to IR, where he will miss at least four games. It was the best game of Allgeier’s career, as he gained 84 yards in what looked like a confirmation of our preseason beliefs. At the same time, Huntley cannot be ignored after he gained 56 yards and scored on 10 carries in his first action of the season. While both will have a role, the majority of Huntley’s production did come on one drive, and I think it will be Allgeier who takes the lead for the Falcons even if we have to exercise some level of caution. Proj. FAAB Bid: 5-7% of total FAAB budget for Allgeier; 3-4% for Huntley.
Mike Boone (DEN). With Javonte Williams (knee) out for the season, it's a clear and natural step for Melvin Gordon to ascend to being the unquestioned No. 1 back in Denver, but it's been a while since he has carried the load by himself and he also happens to have a fumbling problem as of late. Boone now steps into the role previously held by Gordon, and that puts him on our radar as a potential flex option. In his first action of the season after Williams’ injury, Boone carried the ball three times for 20 yards while catching one of his three targets for nine yards, but he also had a critical drop. Proj. FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Latavius Murray (DEN). Here is what we know, Javonte Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. Melvin Gordon has not played well this season due to his fumbling issues. The Broncos seemingly want to rely on a two-RB system. On Sunday, Murray was activated from the Saints practice squad and filled in for the inactive Alvin Kamra, finishing with 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch for eight yards, outperforming Mark Ingram. On Monday, Murray was signed to the Broncos' practice squad. Got all that? If you miss out on Mike Boone, there’s a chance Murray could still end up being the better back. Proj. FAAB Bid: 2-3%
MORE RB CONSIDERATIONS (1-2% bids): Mark Ingram II (NO); Phillip Lindsay (IND).
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
Josh Reynolds (DET). If we were not operating under the assumption that Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and DJ Chark (ankle) were imminently returning, our FAAB projection for Reynolds certainly would be higher, but after what we saw the first two weeks, Reynolds deserves some respect. In the first two weeks so of the season, Reynolds caught four passes on six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown before seeing his workload increase as the Lions started work through some injuries. Since then, Reynolds was targeted 18 times, turning that into 13 receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown while developing chemistry with Jared Goff. While the injuries to Chark and St. Brown do not appear to be long-term, their statuses are still up in the air for Week 5. Reynolds appears to have carved out a regular role with the Lions, as we know they will be playing catchup most weeks. Projected FAAB Bid: 3-5% of total FAAB budget.
George Pickens (PIT). Steelers’ fans got what they were after this week as Kenny Pickett took over under center. After being targeted just five times and catching just two passes in the first two weeks of the season, we are beginning to see what Pickens is capable of and why he generated excitement over the summer. Pickens caught three passes for 39 yards last week before exploding this past Sunday with six receptions on eight targets for 102 yards. With Pickett now starting for Pittsburgh, the thought process here is that this is just the beginning of the relationship for the rookie duo. Proj. FAAB Bid: 4-5%
Corey Davis (NYJ). While the focus is going to be on the young Jets’ receivers, Davis should not be overlooked. The veteran has a crucial touchdown reception in each of New York’s victories this season, and this past Sunday, he caught five of seven targets for 74 yards. In three-of-four games, Davis has between 74 and 83 yards, and with Wilson back under center for the Jets, there is value to be found in their offense. Proj. FAAB Bid: 2-3%
MORE WR CONSIDERATIONS (1-2% bids): Isaiah McKenzie (BUF); Michael Gallup (DAL); DeVante Parker (NE)
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 5 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
Mo Alie-Cox (IND). When searching for help at tight end, we generally end up hunting touchdowns. That lines things up perfectly with Alie-Cox, who caught two touchdowns last week in what was his best performance of the season. It does correlate with the awakening of Matt Ryan, or at least increased effectiveness, as Alie-Cox caught all six of his targets for 85 yards after catching a combined four passes in the first three games. The majority of value is still rooted in chasing touchdowns, but Alie-Cox’s target volume provides us with some optimism. Projected FAAB Bid: 3-4% of total FAAB budget
Will Dissly (SEA). Dissly is not going to be a true volume-based option with just 12 targets through the first four games, but most tight ends that we're looking at in this range do not fit that description either. What we do like though is the level of consistency that Dissly has shown in the red zone, as well as the chemistry he has developed with Geno Smith. He has a touchdown reception in three-of-four games. Proj. FAAB Bid: 2-3%
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 5 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire Defense pickups, streamers
As we always caution, you shouldn't spend more than one percent of your FAAB budget on a D/ST. Here are this week's potential streaming pickups:
- Miami Dolphins (@ Jets)
- Indianapolis Colts (@ Broncos)
- Minnesota Vikings (vs. Bears)
- Tennessee Titans (@ Commanders)