Recommended Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

Building a fantasy football contender isn’t just about how well a manager drafts. Continuously making moves to amplify the strength of the roster helps replenish a team’s depth, and keeps talented players off of other teams. We’ll take a look at the priority adds to focus on ahead of Week 5.

The Lions have made significant strides on defense this season, and averted a crisis in their last game. Rookie safety Brian Branch appeared to suffer a notable leg injury, but was able to return to action. Detroit faces the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, who have struggled on offense with rookie quarterback Bryce Young under center.

Denver starting running back Javonte Williams suffered a hip flexor in Week 4. There’s optimism that he will be ready to go in Week 5, but the Broncos may hold him out in an abundance of caution. Williams is coming off of an ACL injury from a year ago, which would justify a conservative approach. McLaughlin and Perine would be interesting options if Williams can’t suit up.

The Cardinals may have the least amount of talent in the NFL, but it doesn’t mean they should be ignored for fantasy purposes. Arizona will need to throw the ball often to make points up, which remains that Wilson’s two touchdown performance in Week 4 may not be a fluke. While he’s not a lock to get into the endzone every game, he may still command significant volume.

As bye weeks start to factor into the fantasy equation in Week 5, teams will need to fill in their starting lineup with alternative players. For example, anyone rolling with Justin Herbert or Deshaun Watson may need a one week stopgap since the Chargers and Browns are on a bye. Trubisky’s mobility makes him an intriguing streamer, as he might put up respectable numbers on the ground.

Fantasy managers who did not invest in the tight end position early have found themselves scraping at the bottom of the barrel. Chicago’s offense woke up in Week 4 against Denver, with Kmet being a primary beneficiary. He logged seven catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns, and will be in line to receive an uptick in targets with Chase Claypool’s impending dismissal from the team.

As if the season wasn’t challenging enough in Cincinnati, wide receiver Tee Higgins exited Week 4’s game with a fractured rib. His status for the next game is uncertain, which means that Boyd figures to step in for a huge boost in volume. Boyd is arguably one of the best third receivers in the NFL, and has proven he can play well when he’s needed for a larger role.

The numbers continue to be modest for Kansas City’s rookie wideout, but it seems like Rice’s opportunity to shine may not be far away. He’s slowly been playing more and more as he gets accustomed to NFL action, and may command more looks from Patrick Mahomes sooner rather than later.

The Commanders’ defense made life difficult for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, and face a much easier foe on Thursday night against the Bears. It remains to be seen whether Chicago’s sudden offensive outburst had more to do with Denver’s porous defense. Deploying Washington’s defense on a short week is a solid move for those who stream the position.