Bye Weeks Bring A BIG Week 5 Waiver Wire

Aaron Rodgers is a top waiver wire target for single-QB leagues, coming off two consecutive 20-point fantasy games. He is seeing a significant increase in passing volume, with at least 39-40 attempts in three of his first four games, driven by a philosophical shift in the offense under Mike McCarthy. He is a viable streaming option for Week 5 against a vulnerable Colts defense.

Bijan Robinson serves as the primary starter whose presence limits the weekly fantasy reliability and volume of Brian Robinson Jr.

Brian Robinson Jr. is a high-end emergency backup who is unreliable for weekly fantasy starts while playing behind Bijan Robinson. Despite a 25.7-point performance in Week 4, his typical volume of under 12 touches per game makes him a player to roster for depth but not one to trust in lineups unless forced by injury to the starter.

C.J. Stroud is a high-upside fantasy asset who has exceeded 23 fantasy points four times since the start of 2024. His passing volume is elevated because the Texans' defense (ranked 27th against scoring) forces the offense to play from behind. He is a viable streaming option for 18-point performances in favorable matchups, especially with Nico Collins back and an upcoming game against a Titans defense that ranks 27th in yards allowed per pass attempt.

The source advises moving on from Chris Godwin, citing declining efficiency and usage across the board, alongside concerns regarding his age and recent injury history.

The source recommends against using high waiver priority on Cyrus Allen. Despite injuries to other Chiefs receivers, Allen ran only a few routes, suggesting the team is not yet ready to rely on him as an impactful fantasy asset.

Dallas Goedert continues to deal with injury issues, which is contributing to the messy state of the Eagles' offense.

Darius Cooper's Week 4 performance, where he led the team with 7 targets and 18.3 PPR points, is viewed by the source as a 'fluke.' With DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert potentially returning, Cooper is expected to fall back in the pecking order. He is only recommended for extremely deep leagues in a pinch.

DeVonta Smith's availability for Week 5 is considered questionable at best due to injury, contributing to the overall instability of the Eagles' offense.

Emmanuel Wilson is a recommended waiver wire target for managers needing an RB2. He is expected to handle the bulk of the Seahawks' backfield work while Jadarius Price is on injured reserve, though the backfield remains a crowded and volatile situation.

Jadarian Price is a recommended drop in shallower leagues or for teams needing IR spots. He has struggled with efficiency and faces a crowded backfield with Emanuel Wilson and the impending return of Zach Charbonnet. His role is not expected to be significant enough to provide fantasy utility moving forward.

The source notes that nothing has gone well for Jalen McMillan this year, citing poor advanced metrics and a lack of meaningful role.

The source advises against adding Joe Mixon, viewing his signing with the Seahawks practice squad as a depth move rather than a fantasy-relevant opportunity. The Seahawks' backfield is viewed as a mess, with Emmanuel Wilson currently serving as the primary ball carrier and Zach Charbonnet expected to return soon.

Keaton Mitchell is a trending waiver target and intriguing bench stash with explosive skills. Despite playing under 40% of snaps (38.2% in Week 4), he is averaging 16 opportunities per game, indicating he is a key part of the offense when on the field. While he is a future-looking prospect rather than an immediate starter, he could become a viable flex option if the offense improves, though the source warns the Chargers' backfield remains an 'ugly three-headed monster'.

Keon Coleman is the top waiver wire target for the week, recommended as a flex option with a suggested FAAB bid of 8-10%. His value is tied to the injury of DJ Moore, as Coleman has shown increased production and target share (21.2% in Week 4) when Moore is sidelined.

The source recommends holding Kylen Granson on fantasy benches despite a quiet Week 4 performance, citing his elite athletic traits and unique skill set for the tight end position. While he is not yet a locked-in starter due to inconsistent usage, the source views him as a high-upside stash candidate worth keeping over dropping if roster space allows.

The source advises dropping MarShawn Lloyd because the role simply isn't there, and the Packers' rushing attack does not justify holding him.

Michael Mayer has fantasy relevance because Brock Bowers is primarily utilized as a wide receiver/slot weapon rather than an in-line tight end. Since Bowers' return, Mayer has run routes on 75.7% of dropbacks and earned 12 targets. He is a viable TE option, especially in matchups where the Raiders are forced to pass frequently.

Mike Gesicki functions as a big slot receiver for the Bengals, with over 80% of his routes coming from the slot. With potential absences for Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase in Week 5, Gesicki is poised for a full-time slot role. He is a top waiver target due to this usage and a favorable matchup against a Dolphins defense that has allowed at least 13.9 PPR points to tight ends in each of their last three games.

Quentin Johnston is considered a drop candidate due to poor performance; he has failed to score more than seven PPR points in any game this season and shows concerning usage.

T.J. Hockenson exploded for 24.9 points against the Dolphins, largely due to the absence of Justin Jefferson and a weak Dolphins defense against tight ends. Despite the big game, the source maintains a consistent outlook on Hockenson, noting his season average of 4.8 targets and 8.4 PPR points per game. He remains a viable starter in favorable matchups or when Jefferson is out, but his overall fantasy value is not fundamentally changed by this single performance.

Tank Bigsby is a drop candidate in fantasy leagues as he is set to miss 1.5 to 2 months following abdominal surgery. Despite showing promise as a backup, his long-term injury makes him unrosterable.

Tre Harris is a viable waiver wire add for Week 5 if Ladd McConkey is sidelined. He has maintained a 69.7% route participation rate and 21% targets per route run this season, with potential for 6-8 targets in McConkey's absence. He faces a depleted Denver secondary missing Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss. The source prefers Harris over Quentin Johnston as a stash, though both are currently bench depth.

Trey Benson dealt with ankle discomfort in Week 4, which contributed to Tyler Allgeier's increased playing time. His health remains the primary factor in the volatility of the Cardinals' backfield usage.

Tyler Allgeier's 54% snap share in Week 4 was inflated by 16 two-minute drill situations, which accounted for nearly 50% of his total snaps. While he is a skilled player in a fun offense, his usage will likely be volatile as long as Trey Benson is healthy; he should be rostered as a high-end emergency backup but is not a reliable weekly starter.

Tyler Higbee is a strong streaming option for Week 5, especially if Colby Parkinson remains sidelined. Higbee is running a high volume of routes (72.2% in Week 4), though his target share is capped by the return of Puka Nacua and competition from Davante Adams and Kyren Williams. He offers a solid floor, and the high-scoring matchup against the Bills (54.5 total) makes him a prime candidate for touchdown-dependent upside.

Tyler Huntley is a potential emergency Superflex option if Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with an ankle injury. He is not an inspiring fantasy play, having exceeded 17 fantasy points only once since 2023, and the Ravens' offense is expected to rely almost exclusively on Derrick Henry if Huntley starts. He is worth monitoring in Superflex leagues due to current QB injury trends.

The source advises against prioritizing Tyreek Hill on the waiver wire. At 32 years old, having not played in a year, and returning from a severe knee injury involving a dislocation and three torn ligaments, he is expected to be a shell of his former self and unlikely to provide consistent weekly production.

Tyson Bagent played 100% of snaps in his recent start, recording 268 passing yards. While he did not provide a massive fantasy performance due to the Bears' run-heavy approach, he is a viable emergency Superflex starter because the offense is moving the ball well under a creative coordinator and faces a Packers defense dealing with multiple injuries.

Will Shipley is the top waiver wire priority at running back for the Eagles following injuries to Saquon Barkley (hamstring, week-to-week). The source suggests bidding 10-14% of FAAB if in desperate need, though expectations should be tempered as he is not a workhorse back and has never exceeded 10 carries in a game.

Zach Charbonnet is nearing a return to the Seahawks' backfield, which will further complicate the depth chart and usage distribution in the coming weeks.