Fantasy football has been very strange through the first four weeks of the NFL. I have no idea who’s better than who anymore, whether that’s fantasy or real life. Anyway, I will start spiraling if I don’t get back on topic, so here are the waiver wire pickups for week 5.
Quarterback
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions – Yahoo! 53%, Sleeper 51%
I know that normally my threshold is 50%, but I’m doing this to emphasize that if he’s available, PLEASE go pick him up. Goff is a top 5 fantasy QB in most formats, and the Lions league worst defense (and maybe worst in history) will keep him as at least a top 10 guy for the rest of the season.
Running Back
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons – Yahoo! 19%, Sleeper 31%
Patterson was just moved to IR and will be missing at least 4 weeks, maybe more. This will give Allgeier the opportunity to shine in his absence. He has a tough matchup against the Bucs that I would sit him for unless your desperate, but he’s still a good add, nonetheless.
Caleb Huntley, Atlanta Falcons – Yahoo! 1%, Sleeper 0%
If you’re here reading this post on waiver day, it’s likely that your league has already taken Tyler Allgeier as a stash a while ago. Well, Caleb Huntley is almost guaranteed to be there. The Falcons have never seemed to actively want to go with just a single RB, so it’s likely to be a split between Allgeier and Huntley. What that split looks like isn’t entirely known, so Huntley is a good add to make in hopes that his role is bigger than we expected.
Mike Boone, Denver Broncos – Yahoo! 3%, Sleeper 0%
Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos – Yahoo! 1%, Sleeper 0%
I threw up a little writing this. The Broncos just lost Javonte Williams for the rest of the season, so it’s going to be a split between Gordon, Boone, and Murray. Gordon can’t go 5 rushing attempts without fumbling, so he may be used a lot less than some expect should that continue. Mike Boone was already being used a lot in the passing game, so he could make some noise there. Latavius Murray could find himself with some goal line work. Honestly, it’s a dart throw, but I’d probably go with Boone in PPR leagues. I also would be more patient with Latavius since he was just added to the team and will likely take a bit to get assimilated into the offense.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts – Yahoo! 0%, Sleeper 0%
Phillip Lindsay, Indianapolis Colts – Yahoo! 0%, Sleeper 0%
Jonathan Taylor is most likely good to go for TNF against the Broncos, but as a precaution you could add either or Jackson or Lindsay, as it was reported that they would both see some work should JT not be able to play. Take your pick from the two and consider them an insurance back that you can drop if JT is good to go and remains healthy for the entire game this week. Although I still love Lindsay as a Broncos fan, Jackson was already given a couple snaps back in week 2, while Lindsay has yet to crack the main roster, so I would lean Jackson here.
Wide Receivers
Corey Davis, New York Jets – Yahoo! 26%, Sleeper 29%
Davis saw a team high 7 targets from Zach Wilson, who made his season debut this Sunday. The veteran receiver has already had some value this season, scoring 13.7 and 16.3 PPR points in weeks 1 and 2 respectively. The Jets will continue to air it out, Wilson attempted a 36 pass attempts this week, the lowest mark on the season between him and Flacco. This number likely won’t get much lower considering the high-powered offenses they’ll be matched up against soon. Expect a healthy target share for Davis.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys – Yahoo! 41%, Sleeper 58%
If you have IR spots in your league, he was probably a draft and stash guy, but if you don’t, I would check your waiver wire just in case. Gallup saw a 64% snap share in his return to action and caught both of his targets, including one for a TD. A nice start to his shortened season.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions – Yahoo! 20%, Sleeper 33%
Like I said before, the Lions defense might be the worst ever, which means that a lot of throws happen for the Lions, and with a decent number of injuries piling up, a lot of those throws are directed at Josh Reynolds. Amon-Ra and/or Chark might have to sit again, and that would mean Reynolds is a solid start in almost any league.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts – Yahoo! 5%, Sleeper 18%
The Colts don’t have a lot of options in the passing game, so Pierce should see a decent target share as he comes into his own on the team. Rookie wideouts normally start to emerge around the second half of the season, so you might be able to get a head start by rostering Pierce sooner rather than later.
Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville Jaguars – Yahoo! 0%, Sleeper 0%
Agnew is an all-around gadget guy for the Jags who saw an uptick in usage due to the negative game script and the absence of Zay Jones. Should Zay Jones have to miss again, he could be a desperation flex in a deeper league, but his snap percentage being at just 38% makes me think this is more of a fluke than anything.
Tight Ends
If I sound depressed and dejected about the tight ends on waivers, it’s because I am. None of these guys are exciting, and it kinda made me sad to write about, so let’s just get this over with.
Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers – Yahoo! 32%, Sleeper 40%
Bob Tonyan found the endzone this week and could be a favorite, along with Lazard, in that area of the field for Rodgers. Pretty much any tight end on the waiver wire now is someone you add in hopes of a TD, so you might as well if you’re struggling.
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks – Yahoo! 3%, Sleeper 6%
Friends, we cannot continue to ignore Big Montana forever. This absolute legend of a man has scored yet another TD on the season, his 3rd thus far. He played in a season high 73% of snaps in week 4, and although he only saw 4 targets, he still had a better week than Kyle Pitts. All jokes aside, he could be a desperation play for anyone struggling at tight end who just needs to pray for a TD.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints – Yahoo! 29%, Sleeper 27%
He is inevitable. Hill managed to find the endzone this week thanks to increased opportunities with Jameis and Kamara both out. He continues to have tight end designation for God knows what reason, so you can probably start him there next week if needed if Kamara and Jameis miss time again. Even if Kamara is back, I still might play him, but it’s more of a longshot at that point.
Mo Allie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts – Yahoo! 5%, Sleeper 6%
The dude is like 7 feet tall, so he naturally gets the ball thrown to him around the endzone. He made the most of it scoring 2 TDs against the Titans in week 4. He also saw a season high 70% of snaps this week, as well as a season high 6 targets. It’s probably just a fluke game, but you never know.
Defenses to stream this week:
Minnesota vs Chicago Bears
Jacksonville vs Houston Texans
Miami @ New York Jets
Green Bay vs New York Giants
Make sure to be on the look out for more highly rostered guys that were rage dropped in your league, you might be able to find a difference maker that way as well. Good luck to everyone in their waiver efforts for week 5!