Waiver Targets 5.24

These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening).

Week 5 teams on bye: Lions, Chargers, Eagles, Titans

QB Pickups

Justin Fields, PIT, Week 5 vs DAL

Fields was one of our recommended “Early Waiver Adds” on Sunday morning. Mike had a great write up on Fields’ fantasy situation before his monster game last week, a reminder to file that article away each week and to be trying to save yourself some FAAB by getting ahead of your league mates.
Low-to-Medium priority add. Fields is a fine fill-in this week to cover for a bye or an injury and might even be a longer-term fantasy starter. He showed his rushing upside last week (10-55-2) but has also completed more than 70% of his passes for 557 yards the past two weeks combined.
10% or less of FAAB.

Geno Smith, SEA, Week 5 vs NYG

Geno has been written up extensively in the Daily Dose space the past few weeks. He remains available in more than half of Yahoo leagues.
Low-priority add. Geno is a fine streaming option in single-QB leagues in a good matchup at home against the Giants defense.
5% or less of FAAB.

RB Pickups

Kareem Hunt, KC, Week 5 vs NO

Hunt appears to have taken the lead in the Chiefs’ backfield after Carson Steele’s second lost fumble in as many weeks. Hunt racked up 85 scrimmage yards on 14 carries and three targets in KC’s win over the Chargers.
High-priority add. Hunt appears to have the opportunity to be the lead RB for an offense designed by Andy Reid and led by Patrick Mahomes for up to a month, maybe longer. Yes please!
50 – 75% of FAAB.

Tank Bigsby, JAX, Week 5 vs IND

Bigsby led the Jags in rushing with seven carries for 90 yards in Week 4. It was his second time leading the team in rushing this season.
Medium-priority add. It seems like Tank’s uptick in carries was due to starting RB Travis Etienne getting attention for a minor shoulder issue this last week. Bigsby remains a great handcuff at worst, and he could be afforded more opportunities if he continues to produce.
5 – 15% of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority RB adds to consider:

Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – Surprisingly had more carries and rushing yards than Bijan Robinson last week. One of the best handcuff RBs in the league.
Rico Dowdle (DAL) – Continues to lead the Dallas backfield in opportunities, caught a receiving TD last week.
Samaje Perine (KC) – Continues to play a secondary RB role for KC, vultured a goal-line TD last week.
Kimani Vidal (LAC) – J.K. Dobbins has taken control of the backfield from Gus Edwards, but it seems possible that the rookie Vidal could get some opportunities once he is cleared.

WR Pickups

Xavier Legette, CAR, Week 5 at CHI

XL made the most of his larger opportunity within the Panthers’ offense in Week 4. He caught six of 10 targets for 66 yards and his first career TD and also rushed twice for 10 yards.
High-priority add. Legette is a high-draft-pedigree prospect with size, speed, and increased opportunity in what now appears to be a functional NFL offense with Andy Dalton at the helm. The Panthers seem likely to be trailing, and passing, a lot, and their next three games (at CHI, vs ATL, at WAS) all look like spots to consider XL in fantasy lineups with teams starting bye weeks.
20-40% of FAAB.

Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs, GB, Week 5 at LAR

The Packers are passing again! GB fell behind 28-0 to the Vikings and forced QB Jordan Love into 54 attempts in his first action since injuring his knee Week 1. Doubs (eight targets, 4-39-0) and Wicks (13 targets, 5-78-2) were both heavily involved, and even more so after Christian Watson left the game with an ankle injury.
Medium-to-high priority adds. Watson is rumored to have a dreaded high-ankle sprain and could miss some games or even end up on IR. I like Wicks’ upside more than Doubs’, but I think both can be short-term WR options with considerable upside in Watson’s absence.
Wicks: 20 – 30% of FAAB; Doubs: 10 – 20% of FAAB.

Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG, Week 5 at SEA

Wan’Dale had a whopping 14 targets in Week 4 and caught 11 of them for 71 yards. He has six or more catches in three of his four games this season. He’s ranked among the top 24 WRs in PPR through Sunday of Week 4.
Low-priority add for PPR formats. The Giants seem likely to continue to focus their offense around superstar rookie WR Malik Nabers and their running game, but we have to pay attention to any WR getting the target volume Robinson has seen so far this season.
5% or less of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:

Jordan Whittington (LAR) – The rookie WR led the depleted Rams offense in targets and catches last week.
Darnell Mooney (ATL) – Now up to three straight weeks with six or more targets and 56 or more receiving yards.
Josh Downs (IND) – Turned his nine targets into an efficient 8-82-1 stat line in Week 4 catching most of his passes from backup QB Joe Flacco.

TE Pickups

Tucker Kraft, GB, Week 5 vs LAR

Kraft has separated from fellow second-year TE teammate Luke Musgrave and become the Packers’ top fantasy TE option. He had his best game of the season last week, catching six of nine targets for 53 yards and a TD. He also caught a two-point conversion and lost a fumble.
Low-to-medium priority add. Kraft is a reasonable fantasy TE option as a regular player on a good offense with what seems likely to be plus-QB play. The team seems to trust him in most situations, including targeting him at the goal line.
10% or less of FAAB.

Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:

Tyler Conklin (NYJ) – Full-time player catching passes from an all-time great QB.
Colby Parkinson (LAR) – Another full-time player catching passes from another all-time great QB.
Cade Otton (TB) – Full-time player catching passes from one of the top fantasy QBs so far this season.

Full Week 15 NFL Edge >