- Season-ending injuries to star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers have created a critical need for fantasy football managers to find replacements.
- Several teams are on a bye in Week 5, sidelining key players like Rome Odunze, DK Metcalf, Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs.
Season-ending injuries for a pair of star wide receivers, plus the first round of bye weeks, makes this a critically important time for fantasy football managers to fortify their rosters.
The devastating news that Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins and Malik Nabers of the Giants will miss the rest of the season with knee injuries will make wide receivers a top priority on the fantasy waiver wire heading into Week 5.
In addition, the Falcons, Bears, Packers and Steelers are off this week – depriving fantasy teams the services of WRs Rome Odunze (WR3 through four weeks) and DK Metcalf (WR17) among others. Running backs Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs will also be absent in fantasy lineups due to the bye.
Fantasy football players to add for Week 5
Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)
RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans (32% rostered)
Marks was one of our featured pickups last week, so hopefully you got him at a discount before his breakout game against the Titans. He tallied 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, while adding four receptions for 50 yards and another score. Nick Chubb may still be the nominal starter, but Marks is set to go. (Recommended FAAB bid: $19)
UPDATE: RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (51%)
The addition of starting running back Bucky Irving to this week’s injury report puts White in position to be the lead back on Sunday at Seattle. White played a season-high 30 snaps in Week 4, though he only rushed for 17 yards on six carries and caught four passes for 29 yards. However, he does have experience in the role — with 990 rushing yards and six TDS in 2022. And he’s been effective as a pass-catcher as well. In deep leagues, Sean Tucker (6% rostered) could be a worthwhile stash. (FAAB bid: $11)
UPDATE: Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals (12%)
Similarly, Trey Benson going on injured reserve Wednesday elevates Demercado’s fantasy profile. Mostly a third-down weapon behind Benson and James Conner (out for the season), Demercado caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in Week 4. But can he handle the rushing workload on early downs? We should find out this week. Fortunately for him, it will come against the lowly Tennessee Titans defense. (FAAB bid: $10)
WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (49%)
Although he had just three catches for 14 yards in Week 4, Robinson (who we first mentioned as a Week 3 pickup) stands to see the biggest increase in targets with Nabers out for the year. In deeper leagues, Darius Slayton (3% rostered) would be another potential pickup. Without Nabers, the Giants are also more likely to be playing from behind the rest of the way. (FAAB bid: $9)
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (40%)
Doubs won’t be able to help you this week since the Packers are off. However, he has become QB Jordan Love’s go-to receiver so far. He certainly boosted his fantasy stock on Sunday night with three TD receptions in Dallas – even though he’s only averaging 3.3 receptions and 44.8 yards through four games. If you can wait a week, Doubs could be the best available option to replace Nabers’ or Hill’s production. (FAAB bid: $8)
RB Kendre MIller, New Orleans Saints (5%)
The oft-injured third-year back showed why he should still be in the fantasy conversation in Sunday’s surprisingly close loss to the Bills. Recalling his huge outing in Week 18 last year (you do remember that, right?), Miller looked better than starter Alvin Kamara on the gound with 11 carries for 65 yards and a TD. With the Giants and Bears coming up in the next three weeks, he may have additional opportunities to shine. (FAAB bid: $7)
RB Justice HIll, Baltimore Ravens (4%)
With the Ravens playing catch-up against the Chiefs, Hill saw the field for a season-high 31 snaps. He caught a touchdown pass among his five receptions for 41 yards and added a 71-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to top off a fantastic fantasy performance that put him as the RB4 on the week. It’s hard to see him duplicating those numbers as long as Derrick Henry remains healthy. But as far as backups go …. (FAAB bid: $6)
QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (43%)
If not for Dak Prescott’s monster game on Sunday night, Stafford would have been the week’s No. 1 fantasy quarterback on the strength of his 375-yard, 3-TD effort against the Colts. Having the top overall fantasy performer in Puka Nacua on the receiving end certainly helps Stafford’s prospects going forward. If you could be without Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy or a QB on bye this week and need a streamer, Stafford faces the 49ers on Thursday. (FAAB bid: $6)
WR Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos (24%)
Looking for the hot hand? Mims fits the bill. He caught all six of his targets for 69 yards and scored on a 16-yard run against the hapless Bengals defense on Monday night. But don’t be too quick to dismiss Mims’ efforts because of the opposition. Denver lines up against the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Cowboys over the next four weeks – all of which are in the bottom half of fantasy defenses against wide receivers. (FAAB bid: $6)
WR Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (4%)
With Tyreek out for the season, Washington figures to see considerably more targets going forward. Jaylen Waddle is likely to take over the role as No. 1 receiver, but as defenses adjust to limit him, Washington should have more room to operate. He does have big-play ability – as evidenced by his 74-yard punt return touchdown in Week 2. (FAAB bid: $4)
TE Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (8%)
After missing all of last season and coming out of retirement, the veteran returned to the league with a bang on Monday night, catching a pair of touchdown passes. His presence as a legitimate receiving threat looms large for the Dolphins in the wake of Hill’s injury since they got almost nothing out of the tight end over the first three weeks. (FAAB bid: $4)
QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (23%)
More of a long-term play than a weekly streaming option, Dart was both a fantasy winner and loser this week. Yes, his first NFL start was a successful one, but he lost his best weapon in Nabers. Dart’s rushing ability (12 carries, 54 yards, TD vs. the Chargers) will give him a decent floor. But the rookie will be challenged to put up the passing numbers necessary to make him an every-week fantasy starter. (FAAB bid: $4)
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (23%)
Normally a player who rushed for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns (with six catches for another 35 yards) would put him at the top of the waiver wire options, not the bottom. However, Gainwell’s performance in Ireland only came because starter Jaylen Warren was inactive. With Pittsburgh on bye this week, Warren is likely to be back at full strength for Week 6. Still, if you need depth at running back, Gainwell has shown he can produce if called upon. (FAAB bid: $3)
(This file has been updated with new additions.)