Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups: Target George Pickens, Michael Gallup, Mike Boone, Falcons RBs

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire pickups where we give you the players to start right away, stash at the end of your bench, or stream for a week or two.

Let’s look back at Week 4 and dissect the future prospects for the fantasy football Week 5 waiver wire.

Note: Roster % based on Yahoo leagues and should hover around 50% or less

WEEK 5 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

START

1. George Pickens, WR Pittsburgh Steelers (39% rostered)
2. Michael Gallup, WR Dallas Cowboys (41%)
3. Raheem Mostert, RB Miami Dolphins (50%)
4. Jared Goff, QB Detroit Lions (53%)
5. Mike Boone, RB Denver Broncos (1%)

We’ve all waited for the George Pickens breakout, and now it seems to be coming sooner rather than later with the switch to Kenny Pickett under center. Pickens had six grabs for 102 yards on eight targets this week. The change at QB cannot be understated, as Pickett allows the offense to open up more and raise its overall ceiling. Pickens is fully ready to skyrocket past Chase Claypool in the target share battle and could see some big games coming down the road.

Returning from injury, Michael Gallup was second on the team in routes run behind only CeeDee Lamb. Noah Brown had a nice run, but this job is all Gallup’s moving forward as Dallas’ WR2. Cooper Rush is actually keeping this team afloat until Dak returns. It’s shocking he’s still available in 60% of leagues.

Right at the 50% threshold, Raheem Mostert has managed to avoid injury long enough to be relevant this year. Mostert has a strong grasp on the lead back role, out carrying Chase Edmonds 15 to five in Week 4. With Tua shelved for the foreseeable future, Mostert and the running game could be leaned on more.

Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense are for real, folks. The former No. 1 overall pick has an 11:3 TD:INT ratio and has put up over 15 fantasy points in each game this season, highlighted by two 34-plus point games. Goff is coming off a 39-point outburst without his two most explosive weapons and gets a solid, yet unspectacular Patriots defense this week. Goff could be a rest-of-season starter coming out of the team’s Week 6 bye week.

The loss of Javonte Williams for the Broncos is devastating news for all. Mike Boone, however, stands the most to gain from Williams’ absence, as Melvin Gordon was seemingly super-glued to Denver’s bench following a critical fumble. Boone out-snapped Gordon 19 to 10, ran more routes (12 to 5), and split carries. We know what Gordon is at this point and maybe Boone can repay fantasy managers for busting in the 2019 championship weekend.

STASH

1. Damien Williams, RB Atlanta Falcons (1%)
2. Rachaad White, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27%)
3. Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh Steelers (5%)
4. Corey Davis, WR New York Jets (25%)
5. Geno Smith, QB Seattle Seahawks (13%)
6. Jaylen Warren, RB Pittsburgh Steelers (9%)
7. Alec Pierce, WR Indianapolis Colts (5%)
8. Latavius Murray, RB Denver Broncos (1%)
9. Caleb Huntley, RB Atlanta Falcons (1%)

We broke down the Falcons’ backfield with Cordarrelle Patterson on IR, and it’s not pretty. But, they get Damien Williams back next week, making him the likely option to start after Week 5. Williams was in-line for early-down duties before being placed on IR with a rib injury. If you want to stream Tyler Allgeier this week, feel free. But, it should be Williams’ backfield when he returns to the lineup.

Rachaad White proved on Sunday night that he would be a valuable Leonard Fournette handcuff if the veteran went down. White posted career highs in targets, receiving yards, snap share, and was used on the goal line. White was known as one of the best pass-catchers in this rookie class and he proved it in a positive game script with the Bucs trailing all night. Let’s monitor his snaps in a close game before we move him to the ‘Start’ section.

It wasn’t the prettiest showing, but Kenny Pickett’s arrival to the NFL showed some signs of talent. Despite the three picks, he targeted George Pickens heavily which is a huge plus but also showcased his legs and ability to throw the deep ball. He finished the day with 12 fantasy points in one half, so he has a pretty high ceiling with the Steelers’ weaponry around him.

Zach Wilson returned and didn’t seem to be on the same page as anyone outside of Corey Davis. The veteran of the group caught five of seven targets, while the more talented youngsters couldn’t secure more than two receptions on the afternoon. Stash Davis in case Wilson opts to be a moron.

We probably shouldn’t get carried away when a quarterback dismantles the Lions, but Geno Smith has hit 20-plus points in three of four games and is coming off a 35-point outburst. Smith might not be a start this week against the Saints, but he has the Cardinals X2, Chargers, Giants, and Bucs before the team’s bye week. It also helps that he can throw the football to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Geno is turning back the clock to his days in Morgantown.

Najee Harris looks like a plodder right now and is most likely still ailing from foot and ankle injuries. On the contrary, Jaylen Warren looks explosive and accumulated only 26 fewer yards than Harris on Sunday on 11 fewer carries. Warren is the Steelers’ clear RB2 and would be an immediate plug-and-play if Harris were to miss any time in the future.

This Colts offense isn’t what we thought it would be when they acquired Matt Ryan. Jonathan Taylor looks lost and the target totem pole makes no sense. Ryan seemed to like what he saw in rookie Alec Pierce, targeting him six times in Week 4. Pierce has all the measurables, Ryan just needs to figure out this offense before it’s too late.

Latavius Murray made Mark Ingram look like dust Sunday morning in London. He actually looked so good that the Broncos stole him off the Saints’ practice squad. Murray will enter the Broncos’ committee that consists of Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone — neither of who will likely take this backfield over in the post-Javonte era.

I can guarantee this guy is available in every league. Caleb Huntley actually tied Allgeier in carries on the day with 10 and showed a blend of quickness and power around the goal line that makes him a decent stash until Patterson returns.

STREAM

1. Khalil Shakir, WR Buffalo Bills (0%)
2. Josh Reynolds, WR Detroit Lions (20%)
3. Tyler Allgeier, RB Atlanta Falcons (16%)
4. Hayden Hurst, TE Cincinnati Bengals (21%)
5. Deon Jackson, RB Indianapolis Colts (0%)
6. Teddy Bridgewater, QB Miami Dolphins (2%)

Rookie Khalil Shakir looks to be entering the Bills’ WR3 role after the injuries to Isaiah McKenzie (concussion) and Jamison Crowder (ankle, IR). Gabe Davis has been unproductive while nursing his ankle injury, meaning Shakir is looking at an immediate jump in usage and production.

Taking full advantage of the injuries to Amon-Ra St Brown and DJ Chark, Josh Reynolds has produced double-digit scoring games in three straight now. Detroit has been scoring like crazy thanks to its pathetic defense. Should Reynolds be at the top of the receiver depth chart again this week, he’d play a great play against a struggling Patriots team. Jared Goff has targeted Reynolds 18 times in two weeks.

Cordarrelle Patterson landed on the IR with a knee injury so rookie Tyler Allgeier should start until Damien Williams returns next week. He led all running backs in snaps and routes run this past week, breaking off a 42-yard run in the process. This anemic offense has periods where it goes super run-heavy, thankfully taking the ball out of Marcus Mariota’s hands.

Hayden Hurst saw 15 targets over the first two games before a groin injury flared up in Week 3. He returned Week 4 and secured three of four targets for 27 yards and a score. Hurst gets the pathetic Ravens’ secondary this week where he has a chance to make some noise.

If Jonathan Taylor can’t go on a short Thursday night turnaround, Deon Jackson could play a pivotal role for the Colts. Nyheim Hines is a great receiving back, but he’s not meant to be a lead guy taking a bunch of carries up the middle. Jackson fits that mold more for any super desperate owner.

With Tua shelved due to his mashed potato brains, Teddy Bridgewater enters the fold for Miami. While not very great, he does offer some rushing upside and has receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal. So, he’ll have plenty of talent around him to make plays and possibly get a respectable fantasy start out of Teddy Two Gloves against the Jets.