Theathletic
Fantasy football Week 5 waiver wire: Streamers, Kareem Hunt, Dontayvion Wicks and more
W.Johnson38 min ago
Bye weeks are here, which means the Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire might be the most-important yet. There are still a few running backs who can step in this week and some great wide receiver pickups. As always, I'll cover some of the biggest worries and major breakouts through the first four weeks.
HEADS UP
WORRY REPORT (Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
POWER UP PLAYERS (Scale 1-5: more mushrooms = more excitement)
- Trey Sermon , IND — On volume, Sermon ranks No. 1, but even in his "best" season (2023), Sermon only forced 0.11 missed tackles per attempt, which ranked 80th (min. 25 carries) behind names like Jeff Wilson Jr. , Darrynton Evans , Pierre Strong and more. Similar to Cam Akers the past few weeks, if you need running back help, you have to chase the volume, but it's likely inefficient and Jonathan Taylor is out only a few weeks. If thinking purely long-term, I'd rather have all options through Rico Dowdle (Akers situation notwithstanding).
- Bucky Irving , TB — Now in a near-even 50/50 split.
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — If he starts getting goal-line work, Allen will be startable each week.
- Cam Akers, HOU — As previous weeks, only here if Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are out.
- Kareem Hunt , KC — If he's still available, certainly take a shot, but just as with Carson Steele before, don't overpay. There is no guarantee that the Chiefs are done with mixing in Steele, plus see below...
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire , KC — Edwards-Helaire is eligible to return to practice, and his issue was mental. So, if CEH is ready to play, he's also worth grabbing and stashing, as he's led before and could again. Though, this could be a complete mess of a committee.
- Rico Dowdle, DAL —
- Alexander Mattison , LV — I'm not starting Mattison yet, but Antonio Pierce sounded as if he's willing to give Mattison a run at the lead.
- Justice Hill , BAL —
- Tyler Allgeier , ATL —
- Tank Bigsby , JAX — Travis Etienne still out-touched Bigsby while dealing with a shoulder injury.
- Emanuel Wilson , GB — Could be due to the game-script, but Wilson is worth monitoring for potential Hill-like value.
- Roschon Johnson , CHI — Similar to Hill in use but less productive/consistent for now.
- Antonio Gibson , NE —
- Ty Chandler, MIN —
- Tyrone Tracy, NYG —
- Jaylen Wright , MIA — Raheem Mostert sounds as though he'll return in Week 5, but on the off chance he's not and/or DeVon Achane ever missed time, stashing Wright is smart.
- Dare Ogunbowale , HOU — Only here if Mixon and Pierce are out, and even then, "The Goon" is Gibson-like.
MEH, I'LL PASS
DUMPSVILLE (order I'd drop)
(if an injury ahead of them)
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Bucky Irving, TB
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Tyjae Spears , TEN
- Isaac Guerendo , SF
- Chase Brown , CIN
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Tank Bigsby, JAX
- Ty Chandler , MIN
- Emanuel Wilson, GB
- Trey Benson , ARI
- Ray Davis , BUF
- Gus Edwards , LAC
- Jamaal Williams , NO
- Kenneth Gainwell , PHI
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. , NYG
- Ronnie Rivers / Blake Corum , LAR
- Dontayvion Wicks , GB — As I mentioned on the "Speed Run" pod, if Christian Watson wasn't on the Packers this year, Wicks would have ranked No. 2 behind Jayden Reed for me, and it would have been very close. Wicks has NFL No. 1 wideout ability, and with him running as a top-two option, WR3 value is likely the floor.
- Ladd McConkey, LAC — With offensive line issues, Justin Herbert's quick read and safety option is McConkey.
- Josh Downs , IND — Also from the pod, whether it's Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco , I'm happy with Downs. He fits Richardson's style very well and will be the consistent and more-valuable option than Michael Pittman Jr. If it's Flacco, both Pittman and Downs are startable in almost every league.
- Darnell Mooney , ATL —
- Xavier Legette , CAR — It happened! Good news is that Jonathan Mingo was the primary slot receiver, and Legette ran just one fewer route (same as Diontae Johnson) and had 25.0 TmTGT%, including 24.1% on 1-2 downs (Johnson at 31.0%).
- Tyler Lockett , SEA —
- Quentin Johnston , LAC — Rough matchup with OL issues for the Chargers . Keep on the bench and keep patient.
- Romeo Doubs , GB — Now behind Wicks though.
- Tutu Atwell , LAR — Running as a top-two option and the Rams' version of Jayden Reed, but Atwell is a WR4.
- Wan'Dale Robinson , NYG — If Malik Nabers is out, the insane volume should continue and puts Robinson in the WR3 conversation. If Nabers plays, Robinson is more of a WR4 with the risk of non double-digit targets with his crazy-low YPC.
- Tre Tucker , LV — Usable, similar to Atwell as long as Davante Adams is out.
- Jordan Whittington , LAR — Whittington went from fourth to first in routes and opportunities. Stash him in case that continues, but Cooper Kupp is rumored to be back in two weeks.
- Allen Lazard, NYJ — Tied with Garrett Wilson with five red-zone targets.
- Keon Coleman , BUF — Until he's seeing a higher and more consistent target share (and routes), Coleman is a boom/bust WR5 but with plenty of upside to keep stashed on benches.
- Ja'Lynn Polk , NE — Jumped to a team-high in routes and targets. Polk's time is coming, however 1.) Kendrick Bourne could return and 2.) Polk's best days will be once Drake Maye takes over.
- Jerry Jeudy , CLE — At least seven targets in each game, with points ranging from 6.7-10.2.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster , Justin Watson , Skyy Moore , KC — Smith-Schuster fills a similar role to Rashee Rice , but we know he doesn't have much of a ceiling... Watson has big-play ability, and if he was the No. 1 or 2 wideout, he'd be in the WR3/4 conversation, and Moore also has some of the ability to fill the Rice role, but he's failed so far in the NFL. Also, don't be surprised if the Chiefs make a move — Amari Cooper has been named, but they might go super cheap with a Darius Slayton , etc. As you can see, it's all bench stashing for a lottery ticket, but most won't hit... if any.
- Mike Williams , NYJ — Still behind Allen Lazard in routes, so Williams might be no more than a WR4/5, especially with Aaron Rodgers' struggles.
- Jakobi Meyers , LV — Mostly guarantee a few points with an off-chance for double-digits.
- Ray-Ray McCloud, ATL — Low-end option for needy teams with byes.
DUMPSVILLE (order I'd drop)
MEH, I'LL PASS
FUTURE POTENTIAL
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
STREAMING DST
Week 5
Week 6
(Top photo of Kareem Hunt: Ronald Martinez/)
Read the full article:https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5804234/2024/10/01/fantasy-football-week-5-waiver-wire-streamers-kareem-hunt-dontayvion-wicks/
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