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NFL fantasy football: Top QB, RB, WR and TE waiver wire pickups ahead of Week 5
We’re four games into the NFL season, and already the fantasy landscape feels like absolute chaos. Star players continue to suffer significant injuries and depth charts are shifting as underperformers lose roles, leaving fantasy managers scrambling for reinforcements.
On top of that, bye weeks are already upon us , meaning trusted starters will be sat on our benches. Make no mistake: this is the point in the season where the waiver wire isn’t just handy, it’s the difference between winning and losing.
We're here to guide you through the uncertainty. Here's our Week 5 guide to players you can probably find on waivers, and who can help keep your season afloat.
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Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Malik Nabers’ breakout season came to a gut-wrenching halt in Week 5, when the Giants’ star wideout tore his ACL during their upset of the Chargers . It’s a brutal blow, not just because Nabers has already looked every bit the superstar New York hoped for, but because it comes right as Brian Daboll is handing the offensive reins to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who desperately needed his No. 1 target on the field.
Slayton and Robinson should be the primary beneficiaries in Nabers' absence. They are second and third, respectively, behind Nabers in targets, and in Week 5, the Giants face a Saints' defense that has surrendered the fifth-highest points to opposition wideouts.
Robinson had a huge Week 2 performance against the Dallas Cowboys, but with two quiet outings since , he may still be available on the waiver wire in shallow leagues. Slayton should be a free agent in most.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Cleveland Browns
At the time of writing, the reports that Gabriel will be replacing Joe Flacco as the Browns quarterback in Week 5 are unconfirmed. Cleveland's unofficial depth chart still lists Flacco as the starter.
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However, head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn’t shut the door on a change , and honestly, it feels like it should’ve happened already. Joe Flacco has looked every bit his age, and this Browns offense is crying out for a spark.
London is a brutal stage for a rookie’s first start . The Vikings’ defense is loaded with pass rushers and savvy vets, so if you’re grabbing Dillon Gabriel off waivers, don’t expect fireworks right away.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White hasn't been much of a fantasy factor, with Bucky Irving dominating touches in the Bucs' backfield. But Irving is dealing with a lower leg injury, and his Week 5 status is uncertain .
If Irving is sidelined, White suddenly looks like a sneaky-good waiver add. But if Irving bounces back fast, White slides right back into fantasy irrelevance. That makes it tough to know how aggressive you should really be with your FAAB.
Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
We told you to grab Marks in last week's article ; hopefully, you listened. If not, and if you're fortunate enough to find him on waivers still, you have one last shot, but you will have to spend significantly more of your FAAB.
The rookie has been inching his way into the Texans’ backfield mix, and Week 4 was the true breakout: 17 carries, five catches, 109 yards from scrimmage, and two scores. With that kind of production, it’s clear he’s not just a flash in the pan; he’s likely to continue being featured heavily.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Cleveland Browns
Bond didn’t come out of the gates hot, but his target share has ticked up every week, and with Cedric Tillman now on IR , the rookie's arrow keeps pointing up.
Tillman went down early against the Lions, and Bond stepped in with three grabs for 58 yards. A quarterback switch could make him a bit unpredictable in the short term, but if you’ve got the patience, he’s the kind of fantasy stash that could pay off over the rest of the season.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets
Taylor hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet so far, with just one game over 20 receiving yards, but that’s not unusual for a rookie tight end.
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The encouraging part is the recent uptick. 13 targets in the past two weeks, capped by a five-catch, 65-yard outing against Miami in Week 4. That’s the kind of positive trend fantasy managers covet.
Others to consider
If you’re hunting for help at quarterback, chances are the Jaxson Dart train has already left the station. But if by some miracle he’s still sitting on waivers, grab him now. In superflex formats, he’s long gone. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is nearing a return and could have been dropped in shallow leagues following his injury.
At running back, keep an eye on New Orleans Saints’ Kendre Miller, Washington Commanders' Chris Rodriguez, and the Denver Broncos' R.J. Harvey. All three make sense as deep-league dynasty stashes.
At wideout, we’ll bang the drum again: Elic Ayomanor should be rostered everywhere unless you play in a shallow league .
And at tight end, consider veteran Miami Dolphins' tight end Darren Waller in redraft leagues, and Los Angeles Chargers' rookie Oronde Gadsden in dynasty.
