Check out our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 6.

Week 4 saw more significant injuries, putting pressure on fantasy football managers to make the right waiver wire moves. With Tyler Allgeier, Mike Boone, Nyheim Hines and more potentially ready to be Week 5 starting options, let’s dig through the top Week 5 waivers, plus the worries, streamers and more.

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HEADS UP

  • Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
  • Listed in order of preference — I’ll often prioritize potential upside over immediate middling production
  • No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
  • Streaming QB and TE are grouped together— their ranking might change slightly once projections/ranks run — DSTs might move a tad too
  • Emojis
    • 😤 = I Tried to Tell Ya — players included for several weeks (not much more to add if you don’t want them)
    • 🧐 = Check if Dropped — players whose managers might have cut for other needs or impatient

WORRY REPORT
More DUCKS 🦆 (1-5) = More Concern (woo-hoo!)
Egg 🥚 = 1/2… or about to birth a new concern duck

QUARTERBACK

  • Trevor Lawrence, JAX 🦆 — The rough weather hurt the passing game and Lawrence’s ability to hold on to the ball (four fumbles). Those negative points and just 174 passing yards led to a down Week 4, but Lawrence was coming off two nice showings against the Colts and Chargers, plus, he should get Zay Jones back.

RUNNING BACK

  • Antonio Gibson, WSH 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Check the tweet below. Time was ticking on Gibson, and even though he’s done well behind some questionable line play and hasn’t fumbled once, Robinson returns in Week 5.

Brian Robinson activated

Gibson by week:

Snap% – Pass Snap% – TmTGT%

64.3 – 57.8 – 19.5
54.2 – 61.5 – 9.1
44.6 – 57.6 – 2.4
38.0 – 51.9 – 7.5

— Jake Ciely (@allinkid) October 3, 2022

  • Najee Harris, PIT 🦆🦆 — The Steelers have struggled on offense, but they finally made the switch to Kenny Pickett, which should help. Harris is fifth in the league with five Goal Line rushes, but he’ll need a bit of offensive line help too, ranking 78th in average Yards Before Contact (0.74), behind even Gibson at 0.77.
  • Rams RBs 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — The split isn’t going away. Cam Akers leads, Darrell Henderson gets most passing game opportunities, and they’re sharing red zone work. On top of that, the offensive line still stinks, Matthew Stafford isn’t right, and no one in the passing game outside Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee is helping. It’s gross. I can’t stomach dropping starting running backs, especially with byes coming, but if your league is shallow… ugh… I won’t say it, but…

WIDE RECEIVER

  • Elijah Moore, NYJ 🦆🦆🥚 — More… on this situation below… but in Zach Wilson’s first start, Moore didn’t rebound to the level of last year’s, late-season run. Once again, Moore led the team in Route% (percent of dropbacks which player ran a route) at 92.5 and has never dipped below 88.7. However, he was fourth in TmTGT% (percent of total team targets) at 11.8. Moore had four in Week 5, while Corey Davis had seven and Garrett Wilson six. Moore still can be the No. 2, at worst, but it would be nice to see a big game.
  • Michael Pittman, IND 🦆 — Pittman had stat lines of 13-9-121-1 and 9-8-72-0 in his two games before a 6-3-31-0 dud in Week 4. Matt Ryan looks lost, but Pittman is allowed to have an off-week.
  • Diontae Johnson, PIT 🦆🥚 — Unless Pickett decides to pepper George Pickens and no one else, as he did for much of his time replacing Mitchell Trubisky in Week 4, Johnson should be fine. He’s still eighth in TmTGT% (29.4) and is a terrific receiver. Johnson and Pickens will be a formidable duo if Pickett can capitalize.

TIGHT END

  • Kyle Pitts, ATL ♾️🦆 — Outside of his 11.2-point Week 3, Pitts has 2.9, 2.9 and 3.0, respectively, in his other games. The 23.4 TmTGT% would be enticing if not for Marcus Mariota and an offense that has limited him to just 22 targets. For comparison, Drake London’s 32 targets equal a 34.0 TmTGT%. Until the Falcons change up their style and/or Mariota hits the bench for Desmond Ridder, our third-round picks on Pitts look wasted.

STREAMING QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

Top Streamers

If You’re Needy

WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS

  • Tyler Allgeier, ATL — With Cordarrelle Patterson on the IR, Allgeier steps in as the lead, though sharing time with Caleb Huntley. There is a bit of a concern for Allgeier’s peak value given Huntley seeing more goal-line work, but Allgeier has some Tevin Coleman similarities to his game and can be an RB2 if the split is 60/40. A full 50/50 split without goal line touches puts Allgeier’s risk higher, with a floor in the RB4 range.
  • Brian Robinson, WSH — 🧐 The Commanders activated Robinson, and while it’s likely a full-blown committee, Robinson could step right back into the lead.
  • Raheem Mostert, MIA — Led the backfield, though Chase Edmonds scored again. Likely continues to be a frustrating backfield.
  • Caleb Huntley, ATL — See: Allgeier. Worth a flier given the split concern, and hey, Huntley could surprise and outperform Allgeier.
  • Nyheim Hines, IND — 🧐 While reports have Jonathan Taylor avoiding serious injury, it’s a short week, and Hines would be a high-floor play while Taylor is out. If you need a one-week play, Hines ranks second.
  • Mike Boone, DEN — With Javonte Williams done for the year, Boone will split with Melvin Gordon, though Boone has the lower ceiling without improving (or use) in the passing game.
  • Isiah Pacheco, KC — Could be a one-week blip, but it appears Pacheco has passed Jerick McKinnon. If so, Pacheco can have some standalone value with byes coming and a high upside if Clyde Edwards-Helaire were to get hurt.
  • Eno Benjamin, ARI — 😤
  • Mark Ingram, NO — Ingram left for some time with an injury, but he’s still first up for Alvin Kamara if/when Kamara misses (more) time. It’s not a bellcow role, as Ingram would just be an RB3.
  • Latavius Murray, DEN — In case you missed the news, the Broncos sniped Murray off the Saints practice squad. He was solid in Week 4, but he’s likely insurance if Boone falters in the split with Gordon, or if Gordon somehow misses Week 5.
  • J.D. McKissic, WSH — 😤

    • MEH 😒 MAYBE DEEP LEAGUES

    BACKUPS and/or LONG TERM UPSIDE STASH

    If you don’t need a starter/fill-in, would stash all the above before Mark Ingram.

    DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (in order I’d drop)

    • James Cook, BUF — Devin Singletary is still a bellcow, much to the surprise of many, including me. Cook likely would split with Moss if Singletary got hurt, which caps his ceiling.

    WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS

  • George Pickens, PIT — I mentioned last week that it would take Kenny Pickett at quarterback to unlock Pickens. Well, that sound you hear is the padlock falling to the ground.
  • Michael Gallup, DAL — 🧐 First game back and seemingly no restrictions. Even if Noah Brown doesn’t miss time, Gallup is back and the No. 2 for the Cowboys.
  • Alec Pierce, IND — Pierce appears cemented in the No. 2 role, and he led the Colts wideouts in yards (80) by 37 over the next closest. It also gives Pierce 3-for-61 and 4-for-80 in his past two games.
  • Zay Jones, JAX — Jones missed Week 4, and while the weather was a major factor, Jamal Agnew was the No. 2, way ahead of Marvin Jones. If Zay Jones returns, he’s back in play as a WR4.
  • Jakobi Meyers, NE — 🧐 Like Zay Jones, if Meyers returns, he’s back in play as a WR4, even high-floor borderline WR3 in Full-PPR.
  • Tyler Boyd, CIN — 😤
  • Josh Reynolds, DET — If both Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark return, Reynolds is droppable. However, Reynolds is here in case either miss Week 5, as he clearly can handle being the No. 1 or 2 wideout for Jared Goff.
  • Rondale Moore, ARI — There was concern that Moore got Wally Pipped, but Moore not only ran 33 routes to Greg Dortch’s 16, he also spent 71.2% of the time out wide, which was the big surprise. DeAndre Hopkins is looming, which would push Moore to Russell Gage-like value in Arizona, but for the next two weeks, Moore has startability.
  • Joshua Palmer, LAC — Rinse and repeat last week: As long as Keenan Allen is sidelined, Palmer is a boom/bust WR3 play, and he’s a boom/bust play even with Allen on the field.
  • Isaiah McKenzie, BUF — McKenzie’s use is a bit weird, losing snaps to Jake Kumerow when he’s healthy, but Jamison Crowder is out, Gabe Davis isn’t 100%, and even if Davis was, we’ve seen McKenzie (and Cole Beasley in years past) have WR4 value in this offense.
  • Kadarius Toney, NYG — 🧐 As I answered the statement, “Someone has to catch the ball,” with a tongue-in-cheek joke, there is a chance (albeit slim), Toney finally finds value in 2022. Kenny Golladay is hurt, and Richie James, David Sills and Darius Slayton continued to prove they’re not the answers, so Toney and his ability could be the solution. Unfortunately, everyone is still limited by the quarterback play.
  • Corey Davis, NYJ — The first game with Zach Wilson led to a different pecking order in TmTGT%, as it went Davis, then Garrett Wilson then Elijah Moore. Don’t expect that every week, but Davis is in the mix with more upside if Moore or Wilson missed time. This could lead to rotating values since Wilson doesn’t primarily target Wilson as Joe Flacco did. Though, it would be fun, name-wise.
  • Jahan Dotson, WSH — Dotson is dominating the Commanders in End Zone targets and receptions (four each). Only Terry McLaurin has two EZ targets and no one has an EZ touchdown reception. Dotson will miss 1-2 weeks but is worth stashing if still available.
  • Nico Collins, HOU — With byes coming, we’ll promote Collins off the stash pile, as he now has at least 12.9 TmTGT% in the last three games with 18 targets total. The yards are nice with 18.8 YD/REC this year, so with a slight uptick in reception% (52.4), Collins could be a weekly start option.
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling, KC — McKenzie for the Chiefs.

    • BACKUPS and/or LONG TERM UPSIDE STASH

    MEH 😒 MAYBE DEEP LEAGUES

    • Noah Brown, DAL — As mentioned, Gallup is back and the No. 2, though if you want to stash Brown for Dak Prescott’s return, you can.
    • Darnell Mooney, CHI — Eh. Mooney failed to capitalize on a cake matchup with the Texans last week (well, Justin Fields did), and while it was nice to see Mooney relevant, chasing one week of production feels short-sighted.
    • Jamal Agnew, JAX — Weather stunted the downfield game, and Jones likely returns.
    • Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE — Just like Week 1, this was an off week for Amari Cooper, who remains the only usable Browns wideout.
    • Christian Watson, GB — His time is coming, but don’t let his rushing touchdown overshadow being fourth on the receiver depth chart with just 18.9 Route%.
    • Trent Sherfield, MIA — One-off week where Sherfield saw increased use. With Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback, we’re certainly not concerned with the No. 3 in Miami.

    DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (in order I’d drop)

    • Greg Dortch, ARI — Moore is back, immediately passed up Dortch, and DeAndre Hopkins is just two weeks away.
    • Russell Gage, TB — With Chris Godwin returning, only Mike Evans and Godwin had more than 33 routes (Gage’s total), and they were at 49 and 45, respectively. Julio Jones was in the mix too, which means Gage is no more than a deep, matchup-based flier unless Evans or Godwin went down.
    • Allen Robinson, LAR — I’m struggling to even type this. However, we know Zay Jones is producing as the No. 2 for the Jaguars (when healthy); we know Reynolds is Top 30 with both Lions out, potentially startable if just one out; Pierce has upside, Boyd and Davis producing as No. 3s. I’m likely stopping at Boyd if dropping ARob, but if you wanted to go further, I don’t know how I argue.

    WAIVER WIRE TIGHT ENDS

    Top Streamers

    If You’re Needy

    STREAMING DST RANKINGS

    Week 5

    • MIN vs CHI
    • MIA at NYJ
    • NO vs SEA
    • TEN at WSH
    • JAX vs HOU
    • CAR vs SF
    • KC vs LV

    Week 6

    • CIN at NO
    • CLE vs NE
    • JAX at IND
    • WSH at CHI
    • CHI vs WSH
    • ARI at SEA
    • NE at CLE
    • MIA vs MIN

    (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

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