As we enter Week 5 of the fantasy football season, the waiver wire is heating up with hidden gems and breakout studs ready to make a difference in your lineup. Injuries, underperforming busts, and bye weeks create the perfect storm for fantasy managers to snag season-changing players off the fantasy football Week 5 Waiver Wire.
Let’s dive in.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 5 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
Tier 4: Best of the Rest
10. Justice Hill, RB Baltimore Ravens (14%, 28%)
While the Ravens rolled through the Bills on the ground, it was Justice Hill who consistently moved the chains through the air for Baltimore. Hill lead all Ravens in targets, receptions, yards and even scored a touchdown as other Baltimore receivers have struggled to perform consistently. Hill will carry even more value when the Ravens find themselves playing from behind or in pass heavy game scripts.
9. Tre Tucker, WR Las Vegas Raiders (9%, 19%)
Make it back to back weeks now that second year receiver Tre Tucker has scored a touchdown for the Raiders. Tucker has seen high snap percentages all year as the Raiders WR3, but got a nice boost this week with Davante Adams sidelined with an “injury.” Tucker has seen 15 targets over the last two games, and there’s a chance for even more upside if Davante Adams has played his final game in Vegas.
8. Rico Dowdle, RB Dallas Cowboys (48%, 56%)
Rico Dowdle has yet to eclipse a 50% snap share in any game this season, but there are some signs that he will be the answer at RB for the Dallas Cowboys. He luckily caught his only target of the game and turned it into a touchdown to salvage his fantasy day. On the ground though, Dowdle is averaging over 4 yards per carry in each of his last three games. You can see some elusiveness and explosiveness in his runs, he simply just needs more touches. It seems like a good buy low spot, as it becomes increasingly clear that Ezekiel Elliott’s proverbial tank is on empty.
7. Trey Sermon, RB Indianapolis Colts (1%,4%)
The injuries piled up for the Colts this week as Jonathan Taylor is dealing with a high ankle sprain. The team will not put him on short term IR (four game minimum), meaning the injury isn’t as bad as it could be, but Taylor is still likely to miss time over the next few weeks. This will put Trey Sermon as the lead back for the Colts likely in Week 5 against the Jaguars. Sermon hasn’t had a lead back role since 2021, but based on sheer volume alone he’ll be worth an add and stream.
Tier 3: High-Upside WR Targets
6. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR New York Giants (26%, 45%)
Despite watching a pretty poor Thursday Night Football game, there were some positives that came out of it relating to the Giants offense. Wan’Dale Robinson has cemented himself as a second target hog in New York behind Malik Nabers. Robinson has 38 targets through four weeks, 14 of which came against the Cowboys this week. While his YAC needs some work, the yardage should hopefully course correct itself moving forward. With no other Giants receivers stepping up thus far, the undersized Robinson should continue to draw high usage rates.
5. Xavier Legette, WR Carolina Panthers (14%, 38%)
Panthers rookie Xavier Legette had his breakout game this week against the Bengals. With Adam Thielen placed on IR, Legette was in line for a bigger workload and delivered when given the chance. In Week 4, he put up 6-66-1 on 10 targets while seemingly jumping Jonathan Mingo on the team’s depth chart. Legette has serious speed and can be a great complement to Diontae Johnson. As long as Andy Dalton is under center, Legette and other Panthers players are serviceable to fantasy owners.
4. Josh Downs, WR Indianapolis Colts (20%, 29%)
It took some time, but second-year receiver Josh Downs has finally arrived. Downs missed the first two weeks with an injury while being eased into the game last week, but he was fully healthy heading into Week 4 and balled out. He racked up 8-82-1 on nine targets, likely sending Alec Pierce back to the deep ball cardio role as he operates in the slot and draws high percentage looks. The injury to Anthony Richardson also helps Downs’ stock as he’s likely to see better receiving numbers with Joe Flacco under center.
3. Dontayvion Wicks, WR Green Bay Packers (13%, 18%)
The return of QB Jordan Love opened up the Packers passing attack and Dontayvion Wicks had himself a day with two touchdowns on 13 targets in Week 4. The injury bug bit Christian Watson (ankle) once again, entering Wicks into a significant role. Getting behind on the scoreboard early tipped the scales offensively, but Wicks is a talented young receiver looking at a future increase in snaps played with Watson likely sidelined for some time. His window opened, and Wicks certainly leaped right through it. He’s here to stay in a great passing offense.
Tier 2: The ‘Member Berry
2. Kareem Hunt, RB Kansas City Chiefs (35%, 37%)
Seeing his first usage of the season, Kareem Hunt was thrust right into lead back duties as he had 14 carries on the day. He nearly tripled Semaje Perine and reduced Carson Steele back into a towel boy. Hunt has that familiarity in Andy Reid’s offense and will be relied upon more with Rashee Rice’s season likely over. Scarcity at the RB position moves him high up on the waiver wire list for the time being.
Tier 1: The FAAB Buster
1. Justin Fields, QB Pittsburgh Steelers (31%, 42%)
Your QB1 for Week 4 is starting to look like the elite fantasy weapon we’ve seen in the past. Justin Fields was great against the Colts throwing for over 300 yards and rushing for over 50 with three total scores. The Steelers ground game has been very underwhelming between the Harris/Warren combination, opening the door for Fields to convert around the goal line and use his legs more often. He’s playing with confidence and winning. If Fields keeps this up, we might see the reemergence of an elite fantasy QB.
