We’ve reached Week 5 of the NFL season, which means that there are some waiver wire pickups worth considering in fantasy football.
Of course, the nucleus of your fantasy football roster is already intact, so this week’s additions are likely spot starts or bench stashes.
Well, except for one player. We’ll get to him.
Here are the best waiver wire pickups for Week 5 of the fantasy football season.
10. AJ Brown (WR, Tennessee Titans, 6.0 percent owned)
Trusting the Titans passing game still isn’t something I’m comfortable with, but we have to go by what we see. And what I see is that Brown can play since the rookie had three catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Falcons. However, the volume is a concern. He hasn’t had more than three catches in a game, so that needs to increase for him to be a viable fantasy football starter. Still, he may be worth a stash if you have the room.
9. Matthew Stafford (QB, Detroit Lions, 44.2 percent owned)
Before you go rushing out to pick up Stafford for this week, just know that he’s on a bye. However, what makes him an intriguing add is his schedule after the break, and others could slide in and snag him knowing what it looks like. Here’s his next four matchups: at Packers, vs. Vikings, vs. Giants, and at Raiders. Three of those four are potential big games for the Lions quarterback.
8. Gardner Minshew (QB, Jacksonville Jaguars, 14.3 percent owned)
Minshew mania continues to run wild on the NFL. Just when we thought the Jaguars had no chance of beating the Denver Broncos, Minshew worked his magic and orchestrated a game-winning drive. He has scored at least 15 fantasy points in all four games this season, so while the Jaguars love to the run ball, he’s finding yards through the air and on the ground. Three of his next five opponents are the Jets, Bengals, and Texans, making him a solid add.
7. Jameis Winston (QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 43.8 percent owned)
I fully expected to see bad Jameis against the Rams. Instead, we got good Jameis, and maybe even great Jameis. He threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns in a stunning win for the Bucs, and we have to consider that he’s becoming a viable fantasy option each week. I don’t completely trust him just yet, but there are far worse options.
6. Keke Coutee (WR, Houston Texans, 28.2 percent owned)
Kenny Stills is dealing with a hamstring injury, which opens up opportunities for Coutee heading into Week 5. If Stills were to be sidelined, Coutee would step in to try to capitalize on the potential that he showed last season. And with a very favorable Week 5 matchup against the Falcons, he could even be a big performer.
5. Tennessee Titans DST (47.0 percent owned)
The Dolphins are on a bye this week, so you can’t just scoop up the opposing defense like you’ve been able to do in recent weeks. So, the next best option on the waiver wire could be the Titans. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is in concussion protocol, and that could lead to Matt Barkley starting under center. The Titans defense is capable of forcing turnovers and getting pressure, so it’s a great spot for Mike Vrabel’s group.
4. Mohamed Sanu (WR, Atlanta Falcons, 35.2 percent owned)
Teams who play from behind are going to throw the ball a lot. Well, it appears that the Falcons may be doing more often this season since they’re struggling on the defensive side of the ball. So, the reliable Sanu is probably going to continue to be a factor. He has at least four receptions in every game this season and double-digit fantasy points in all but one.
3. Ronald Jones (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 41.2 percent owned)
Jones is emerging as the go-to-back in Tampa Bay, and with the offense clicking, perhaps we need to get in on the action. Aside from a dud against the Panthers, Jones has rushed for at least 70 yards in the other three games this season. He only has three receptions on the year which may knock him a little in PPR leagues, but his volume seems to be increasing each week. His schedule isn't the greatest, but he's an excellent bench add given his improvement.
2. Geronimo Allison (WR, Green Bay Packers, 27.2 percent owned)
With Davante Adams’ status in question for the Week 5 tilt against the Cowboys, Allison’s value goes up. While he only had three catches for 52 yards against the Eagles, he added a touchdown. And again, it’s all about workload here. If Adams is out, Allison is an obvious pickup.
1. Darrel Williams (RB, Kansas City Chiefs, 44.3 percent owned)
We’ve reached a point where you have to load your roster with as many Chiefs as you can get. And for some reason, Williams still has fairly low ownership despite clearly being a major factor in the offense right now. He has 33 fantasy points combined in the past two games, and I’m not sure Andy Reid can sideline him even when Damien Williams returns.
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