CLICK HERE: COMPLETE LIST OF WEEK 5 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
Poorly drafted fantasy teams, those hit by injuries, or those that got even stronger were fortunate to have four elite waiver wires to begin the season. But, with the likes of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, De’Von Achane, and Tank Dell no longer around, we have finally run out of quality reinforcements.
On the bright side, some upside (Jameson Williams and Michael Wilson) and potential consistency (Tyler Boyd) are available on the fantasy Week 5 waiver wire.
EARLY Fantasy Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups: Jameson Williams, Michael Wilson, Jaleel McLaughlin
Let’s dig in.
FIRST LOOK: Jaylen Warren (55% rostered), Romeo Doubs (54%), CJ Stroud (46%)
MICHAEL WILSON, WR ARIZONA CARDINALS (1%)
Oh, look. Another rookie wide receiver is making plays. We all thought the Cardinals would suck this year, and while their record on paper confirms that, they are competitive, and Josh Dobbs has made many players fantasy-relevant. This week, Michael Wilson caught all of his seven targets for 76 yards and two scores against the league’s best defense.
Wilson has proved he’s a silky route runner and has dependable hands. He can also get deep and play the physical intermediate game. While Hollywood Brown remains the Cards’ WR1, the third-round rookie has some sexy Flex upside.
JAMESON WILLIAMS, WR DETROIT LIONS (32%)
Lions OC Ben Johnson has the Lions offense rolling, averaging nearly 27 points per game through four weeks. Now, the team gets its 2022 first-round pick back after Jameson Williams sat out the beginning of the season due to a gambling suspension.
Williams will slide into the WR2 role behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and not only make plays on his own, but his elite speed will open things up for the rest of the offense. If Jamo can put it all together and hit his crazy potential, he can be a rest-of-season fantasy starter in one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Ultimately, he needs to turn his flashes into consistent play.
JALEEL MCLAUGHLIN, RB DENVER BRONCOS (2% ROSTERED)
You may not know this, but Jaleel McLaughlin is the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher (8,161 yards), and the undrafted rookie has made his presence felt over the last two weeks. In Week 4, when Javonte Williams exited with a hip flexor, McLaughlin took over the early down duties, rushing seven times for 72 yards and adding three receptions for 32 yards and a score.
The early word out of Broncos camp is that Williams should be okay and might not miss much time, if any, but McLaughlin looks like the real deal alongside Samaje Perine. McLaughlin is a solid waiver candidate if you have some bench space and want a potential Week 5 or long-term stash.
TYLER BOYD, WR CINCINNATI BENGALS (37%)
Tyler Boyd is most certainly not going to warrant an FAAB dump. Now, in his eighth season, we know what Boyd is, but with Tee Higgins out a few weeks due to fractured ribs, Boyd will be the WR2 on a disturbingly bad Bengals offense. If you need a solid weekly Flex play due to injuries, then Boyd could bring low-double-digit stability to your squad. Higgins’ injury opens up a healthy target share after seeing 28 targets through four weeks.
KEATON MITCHELL, RB BALTIMORE RAVENS (17%)
Let’s add another running back to this mess of a backfield in Baltimore. Keaton Mitchell, the third-fastest back behind De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs, balled out in the preseason before heading to IR with a shoulder injury. Now, he is eligible to be activated. Mitchell brings an intriguing skill-set to the Ravens’ backfield and just has to overtake Gus Edwards and Justice Hill after beating out Melvin Gordon. Mitchell is a solid stash in deeper leagues.
WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT: RB Tyjae Spears (24%), RB Chuba Hubbard (25%), WR Marvin Mims Jr. (39%), WR Michael Gallup (19%), QB Sam Howell (18%)
