Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 5: Target George Pickens, Tyler Allgeier, More
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images. Pictured: George Pickens.
With another wild football Sunday in the rear-view mirror, it's time to assess the state of our fantasy teams and add (or cut) accordingly.
The injury report was loaded entering Week 4 with D'Andre Swift, Keenan Allen, Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery all out, and surprise inactives like Alvin Kamara and Zay Jones popping up last minute. Sunday only worsened matters, as we witnessed injuries to stars Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Whether you need a long-term replacement for Williams or Patterson, or just need a Week 5 streamer, make sure to check out The Action Network's top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis as of Monday and fantasy rankings are exclusive of the Monday Night Football game.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Kenny Pickett, Steelers (5% rostered)
Pickett made it into my lookahead waiver wire column on Friday with the suspicion we may see the rookie's debut sooner rather than later.
Starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky was awful through the first two quarters of the team's 24-20 loss to the Jets. Trubisky completed 7-of-13 attempts for 84 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, which prompted the Steelers to hand the reins over to Pickett.
The 2022 first-round pick immediately injected life into Pittsburgh's offense, though the stat line does not tell that story.
Pickett completed 10-of-13 attempts for 120 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions — one of which came on a Hail Mary on the final play of the game. He also rushed six times for 15 yards and two touchdowns.
It seems likely that the team will opt to start Pickett in Week 5 and beyond. His upcoming schedule isn't great, but he is a good bench stash for Week 7 onward.
Next three games: at Bills, vs. Buccaneers, at Dolphins
Teddy Bridgewater, Dolphins (2%)
Bridgewater got the call on Thursday Night Football after starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a devastating head and neck injury and was carted off the field.
Bridgewater was serviceable in the Dolphins' 27-15 loss to the Bengals and completed 14-of-23 attempts for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He is currently the QB23 with one game left to play.
We all wish Tagovailoa a speedy recovery, and while there is no firm timetable for his return, he has already been declared out of the Dolphins' Week 5 road matchup against the Jets. Bridgewater could be an inexpensive and widely available streaming option who has a number of weapons and a plus matchup on deck against the Jets' permeable defense.
Next three games: at Jets, vs. Vikings, vs. Steelers
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (17%)
Tannehill looked serviceable in Tennessee's 24-17 win over the Colts. He completed 17-of-21 attempts for 137 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is currently the QB20 heading into Monday Night Football.
It was Tannehill's third game this season with at least two touchdowns — a low bar admittedly, though I am very much intrigued by his Week 5 matchup against the Commanders.
Washington is allowing the fourth-most points per game and has yet to allow fewer than 22 points this season. Tannehill could be a good one-week band-aid for managers lean at quarterback.
Next three games: at Commanders, BYE, vs. Colts
Other quarterbacks to consider: Geno Smith, Seahawks (12%), Zach Wilson, Jets (10%), Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (28%), Andy Dalton, Saints (2%), Bailey Zappe, Patriots (0%)
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley, Falcons (16% and 0%)
The Falcons leaned heavily on their run game after quarterback Marcus Mariota threw a pick in the third quarter on Sunday.
Mariota tallied just seven completions on 19 attempts for 139 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception and five rushes for three yards while Atlanta's running backs accounted for most of the team's total offense in the 23-20 win over the Browns. Allgeier had 10 carries for 84 yards and Huntley saw 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Allgeier also tacked on one catch for 20 yards.
Both running backs had better fantasy days than Kyle Pitts and Drake London combined which is a massive indictment on the Falcons' passing game. We may see Desmond Ridder soon with Mariota struggling through the air.
Until then, I expect the team to continue to lean on their run game heavily. Allgeier would be my preferred add over Huntley in terms of priority, though both could end up having value with Cordarrelle Patterson landing on injured reserve on Monday with a knee injury.
Next three games: at Buccaneers, vs. 49ers, at Bengals
Latavius Murray and Mike Boone, Broncos (3% and 1%)
Star running back Javonte Williams suffered a torn ACL injury on the first play of the third quarter of the Broncos’ 32-23 loss to the Raiders. Next on the depth chart are Melvin Gordon III, Boone, Devine Ozigbo and Murray, who the Broncos poached from the Saints’ practice squad on Monday.
Gordon is the obvious beneficiary of Williams’ absence, though ball security has been a major pain point all season.
Per Adam Schefter, the veteran back has fumbled five times in his past 44 carries over five games. Gordon’s fumble on Sunday was costly, as it led to a 68-yard scoop and score for the Raiders – it’s the third time one of his fumbles has led to a fumble-six (is this a thing?) in Denver’s past 12 games.
Nonetheless, Gordon is rostered almost everywhere (79% of Yahoo leagues), so most managers will have to turn their attention elsewhere.
Boone, Murray and Ozigbo are widely available. Boone tallied a season-high four touches for 29 yards on Sunday while Murray recorded 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown — with one catch for eight yards — against the Vikings in London.
Per Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright, he expects Ozigbo to be the RB3 on the short week for Thursday Night Football against the Colts, but expects it to be a split between Murray and Gordon — with Boone as the RB3 — after that.
As such, Murray would be my preferred add over Boone, though I expect both to see a significant uptick in work, as I seriously doubt Denver just hands the backfield over to Gordon alone.
Next three games: vs. Colts, at Chargers, vs. Jets
Rachaad White, Buccaneers (27%)
It seems odd to be recommending a running back on a team that totaled just six attempts for three yards and a touchdown in Sunday night's 41-31 loss to the Chiefs. That one touchdown belonged to White, who saw three carries for six yards and five catches for 50 yards.
Star running back Leonard Fournette was even less effective on the ground. He logged three carries for -3 yards though he caught 7-of-7 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown.
I was actually surprised to see the rookie as much as we did in light of an early fumble that led to a Chiefs touchdown. He remains the clear cut No. 2 and an extremely valuable insurance policy should Fournette get hurt.
Next three games: vs. Falcons, at Steelers, at Panthers
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (19%)
It was the Clyde Edwards-Helaire show early as the Year 3 back had two quick touchdowns on back-to-back drives. Pacheco was also heavily involved with 11 carries for 63 yards — his most significant involvement since Week 1.
The rookie seems talented enough to carve out a role that could be complementary to Edwards-Helaire, whose touchdown scoring seems a bit unsustainable. For now, Pacheco is a stash candidate and at the very minimum, an insurance policy.
Next three games: vs. Raiders, vs. Bills, at 49ers
Mark Ingram II, Saints (31%)
Fantasy managers awoke in a panic early Sunday morning to the surprise late scratch of Alvin Kamara. In fairness, Kamara had been on the injury report, though there was optimism he would play in New Orleans' London game against the Vikings.
The Saints were forced to lean on a committee of Ingram and Latavius Murray, who split work out of the backfield fairly evenly. Ingram, who was banged up briefly but returned to the game, logged 10 carries for 30 yards and three catches for 13 yards while Murray tallied 11 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown with one catch for eight yards.
The New Orleans RB backup to own became clear (Ingram) when the Broncos signed Murray off the Saints' practice squad.
Next three games: vs. Seahawks, vs. Bengals, at Cardinals
Other running backs to consider: Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (47%), Devine Ozigbo, Broncos (0%), Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (32%), Rex Burkhead, Texans (23%), J.D. McKissic, Commanders (28%), Deon Jackson, Colts (0%)
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (47% rostered)
McKenzie (who was also in the lookahead waiver column) had another nice day for fantasy in the Bills' come-from-behind 23-20 victory over the Ravens.
Despite suboptimal weather, McKenzie caught 4-of-6 targets (tied with Stefon Diggs) for 21 yards and a touchdown — his third this season. He is the WR25 in half PPR with one game left to play, though it is unclear if his role was augmented as a result of Gabriel Davis' lingering injury.
At any rate, McKenzie should be rostered in more leagues as the Bills sort out their WR2 spot. He should also see additional work with Jamison Crowder suffering a broken ankle in Sunday's game which will sideline him indefinitely.
Note: McKenzie exited Sunday's game with a head injury, so be aware of that when picking him up. He may not be able to suit up in Week 5 if he does not clear concussion protocol.
Next three games: vs. Steelers, at Chiefs, BYE
George Pickens, Steelers (39%)
Pickens made it into last week's waiver wire article after his highlight-reel catch on Thursday against the Browns. You have even more reason to pick him up now on the heels of his breakout game, which was due in part to the Steelers' quarterback switch from Mitch Trubisky to Kenny Pickett. The rookie reeled in 6-of-8 targets for a team-high 102 yards and is currently the WR18.
Pickens was a great draft pick by Pittsburgh and now offers even more upside with Pickett under center. The Georgia product could be a star in the making and has even higher value in keeper formats.
I will note the Steelers' upcoming schedule is brutal, so Pickens may be more of a bench stash as opposed to an immediate play.
Next three games: at Bills, vs. Buccaneers, at Dolphins
Josh Reynolds and Jameson Williams, Lions (20% and 28%)
It was the T.J. Hockenson Show during the Lions' wild, 48-45 loss to the Seahawks in the bonanza game of the week.
Reynolds also stepped up with Amon-Ra St. Brown and D'Andre Swift sidelined and caught 7-of-8 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. It's unclear if St. Brown will miss additional time. If he does, Reynolds has deeper league flex appeal as the team's No. 1 receiver (and No. 2 option behind Hockenson).
Williams is a separate story. He is eligible to come off of the NFI list, though that may not happen immediately. When it does, however, he is definitely worth an add as a very talented rookie.
The Lions remain fairly shallow at the receiver position, and with quarterback Jared Goff chucking it gratuitously, Williams could have immediate impact once healthy. His status allows him to be put into IR spots, if your league has them, meaning he will not take up a bench spot.
Next three games: at Patriots, BYE, at Cowboys
Michael Gallup and Noah Brown, Cowboys (41% and 20%)
Gallup made his season debut in the Cowboys' 25-10 win over the Commanders. I was concerned he would be more of a decoy in his first game back, but he immediately found the end zone and caught 2-of-3 targets for 24 yards.
Even with Gallup on the field, Brown was involved and caught 3-of-6 targets for 61 yards. Both took a backseat to CeeDee Lamb, who looked brilliant and may thrive more sharing the field with better receivers.
Gallup and Brown could both end up having fantasy value, especially once Dak Prescott returns, which could be as soon as this week as the quarterback never went on injured reserve.
Brown has been solid through four weeks and is the overall WR28 heading into Monday night. That said, I would give preference to Gallup since we know the veteran can produce at a high level.
Next three games: at Rams, at Eagles, vs. Lions
Christian Watson, Packers (8%)
Watson had a lackluster receiving day in Sunday's overtime 27-24 win over the Patriots. He caught just 1-of-3 targets for eight yards, though the rookie did find the end zone by way of a 15-yard rush in the second quarter.
Last week, I told you to pick up Romeo Doubs, who also found the end zone and remains my favorite Green Bay receiver long term. Watson is also worth an add in deeper leagues, as the Packers' WR2 situation remains fluid.
The team has a nice stretch of games coming up, which could give the 2022 second rounder plenty of opportunities to break out.
Next three games: vs. Giants, vs. Jets, at Commanders
Corey Davis, Jets (25%)
Perhaps I was too optimistic about the Jets under Zach Wilson. I assumed the pass catchers would take a hit, but wouldn't be rendered completely useless for fantasy (as Garrett Wilson was on Sunday).
Davis finished with the best fantasy day among the receiving corps as he caught 5-of-7 targets for 74 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Moore caught three targets for 53 yards and Wilson caught two targets for 41 yards.
Both Moore and Wilson are rostered in most leagues (76% and 82%, respectively). Davis remains available in just about 75% of leagues and could be worth an add in deeper formats.
I worry, however, that Jets receivers under Wilson could end up a game of Russian Roulette, where a different receiver ends up with the fantasy-relevant performance each week.
Next three games: vs. Dolphins, at Packers, at Broncos
Jakobi Meyers and DeVante Parker, Patriots (43% and 28%)
Meyers has missed the past two games, but he should not be forgotten. He practiced in a limited fashion last week before ultimately being ruled out, which could indicate that he is close to returning. Meyers was the WR29 in half PPR through two weeks and had a very substantial target share when healthy.
Parker has stepped up with Meyers out. He caught 5-of-10 targets for 156 yards in a massive Week 3 against the Ravens. In Week 4, he hauled in both of his targets for 24 yards and a touchdown opposite backup quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Bailey Zappe. Hoyer didn't last long due to a head injury, though Zappe wasn't nearly as inaccurate as I expected in relief.
It's unclear if Zappe or Hoyer will start in Week 5 against the Lions, who are one of the juiciest matchups out there.
Detroit is allowing NFL-highs in points per game (35.3) and offensive yards per game (444.8). Even if it's Zappe, Meyers should be a solid start while Parker lands more in the dart throw conversation.
Next three games: vs. Lions, at Browns, vs. Bears
Zay Jones and Jamal Agnew, Jaguars (29% and 0%)
Coming off of a massive win versus the Chargers in Week 3, the Jaguars were promptly quelled by the Eagles.
Jones was not a part of the effort due to an ankle injury that made him a surprise inactive. Surprisingly, it was Jamal Agnew — not Marvin Jones Jr. or Christian Kirk — who stepped up in Zay Jones' absence with a pair of touchdowns.
Prior to that, it appeared that Zay Jones was developing as the team's No. 2 behind Kirk, which should be the case once he returns to the field. As such, I'm treating Agnew more as a one-hit wonder and would much rather add Jones. The Jaguars have a nice stretch coming up with the Texans on deck.
Next three games: vs. Texans, at Colts, vs. Giants
Other wide receivers to consider: Skyy Moore, Chiefs (12%), Mack Hollins, Raiders (31%), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (0%)
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Hayden Hurst, Bengals (21% rostered)
I have been singing Hurst's praises since the preseason as a sleeper candidate. Unfortunately, the former first-round pick has been mostly unremarkable for fantasy, save last week's win over the Dolphins. He reeled in 3-of-4 targets for 27 yards and a touchdown and is the TE9 in half PPR heading into Monday night.
Hurst is highly talented and is a nice Week 5 streaming option who could even emerge as long-term value for managers lean at the position. The Bengals face the AFC North-rival Ravens on the road, who have been very exploitable against the pass.
Next three games: at Ravens, at Saints, vs. Falcons
Will Dissly, Seahawks (3%)
Dissly scored yet another touchdown in the Seahawks' wild win over the Lions. He is currently the TE7 for the week and the TE9 on the season with one game left to play, currently outscoring the likes of Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Dawson Knox, Mike Gesicki, Darren Waller, Dalton Schultz and Cole Kmet on a per-game basis (all of whom where drafted significantly earlier).
Perhaps the end zone trips are a bit unsustainable for Dissly, who has reeled in all 12 of his targets this year for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Still, the fantasy points are intriguing and this Seahawks offense has a lot more spark than we thought it would.
Dissly could end up offering season-long value for managers who have one of the aforementioned struggling tight ends.
Next three games: at Saints, vs. Cardinals, at Chargers
Tyler Conklin, Jets (42%)
The return of Zach Wilson hurt most of the Jets' skill-position players, though I was encouraged to see Conklin remain involved significantly.
Entering the week, Conklin was the TE4 behind only Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz. He caught 3-of-5 targets for 52 yards and outproduced Garrett Wilson in the effort.
It was Conklin's worst game of the season and he is currently the TE8 through four weeks. His success moving forward is tied in large part to Wilson's success. Hopefully, his target share remains high and the touchdowns come with time.
Next three games: vs. Dolphins, at Packers, at Broncos
Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson, Colts (5% and 0%)
It's rather unfortunate for fantasy football purposes that the Colts can't seem to commit to a tight end given how much Matt Ryan likes throwing to them.
Last week, it was 2022 third-round draft pick Jelani Woods with the massive, two-touchdown performance. This week, it was Alie-Cox, who caught all six of his targets (tied at six with Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr.) for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Granson, who was a fourth-round pick in 2021, was also involved and caught all four of his targets for 62 yards while Woods caught his lone target for 33 yards.
This was Alie-Cox's best game by far and he is currently the TE2 behind only T.J. Hockenson for the week. This doesn't feel necessarily sustainable, though he and Granson may be worth an add in deeper leagues.
Next three games: at Broncos, vs. Jaguars, at Titans
Other tight ends to consider: Robert Tonyan, Packers (32%), Taysom Hill, Saints (29%), Hunter Henry, Patriots (35%)
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