Analysis
10/2/23
7 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Unless otherwise stated, players listed below are available in at least 50.0 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
>>READ: Takeaways From Every Week 4 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants WR
Add pre–Monday Night Football; 12 percent of current Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) pending MNF results.
As mentioned in last week’s NFL Week 4 Waiver Wire Targets, Wan’Dale Robinson played efficiently in his Week 3 return from ACL reconstruction. The New York Giants wideout’s role will grow in the coming weeks, and a good showing in Monday’s prime-time game will significantly increase the bid necessary to acquire him.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texas QB
Fourteen percent of current FAAB
Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud has thrown for 280-plus yards and two touchdowns in three consecutive games, averaging 21.30 fantasy points during that span, the seventh-most among NFL quarterbacks.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions WR
Fourteen percent of current FAAB
The Detroit Lions’ embattled 2022 first-round WR Jameson Williams returns from a gambling-related suspension this week. He is a talented, high-ceiling prospect with a dangerously low floor.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos RB
Thirteen percent of current FAAB
Denver Broncos No. 3 RB Jaleel McLaughlin outplayed No. 2 back Samaje Perine in relief of injured starter Javonte Williams last week, though Perine maintained an edge in passing-down usage. Upcoming games against the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs’ stout run defenses limit McLaughlin to RB3/Zero-RB RB2 viability in the short term, but he has a chance to surpass Perine completely.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys TE
Eleven percent of current FAAB
Jake Ferguson spent Weeks 1-3 teasing fantasy managers with sublime efficiency while locked in a part-time role. Coach Mike McCarthy deployed Ferguson on just three fewer routes (27) than Dallas Cowboys team leaders CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks in Week 4, facilitating team-highs for Ferguson in targets (seven), receptions (seven) and yards receiving (77).
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals WR
Eight percent of current FAAB
Arizona Cardinals rookie Michael Wilson is up to 2.32 YPRR on the year while catching nine of nine targets for 162 yards receiving and two touchdowns duringthe past two weeks. Wilson (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) profiles as Arizona’s potential long-term X-wide receiver.
Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos RB
Eight percent of current FAAB
Perine currently owns Denver’s passing-down role. He is a floor-related play, not a ceiling play.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Gus Edwards is a likely short-term option for the Baltimore Ravens with speedy rookie Keaton Mitchell’s requisite four-week Injured Reserve timeline complete. Baltimore faces the Pittsburgh Steelers’ malleable front seven, missing stud DT Cameron Heyward (Injured Reserve).
Jayden Reed & Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers WRs
Six percent of current FAAB
Wide receiver–needy fantasy managers should look to the Green Bay Packers and place claims on Jayden Reed, the NFL’s premier green zone target-earner, and Romeo Doubs, whose 27.7 percent TPRR ranks ninth among 41 NFL wide receivers with at least 25 targets.
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Stash These Players Now
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Elijah Mitchell suffered his fourth recorded knee injury during Week 4’s Thursday practice, elevating San Francisco 49ers No. 3 RB Jordan Mason to Christian McCaffrey’s primary backup.
Ronnie Rivers, Los Angeles Rams RB
Four percent of current FAAB
Ronnie Rivers assumed No. 2 duties with Cam Akers now on the Minnesota Vikings, and Rivers rushed efficiently (5.2 yards per attempt) for the Los Angeles Rams while taking on a part-time passing-down role.
Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals WR
Four percent of current FAAB
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins suffered a rib fracture that could sideline him for a week or more. Tyler Boyd no longer meaningfully contributes to the offense (0.85 YPRR) and flopped (PPR WR58) during Ja’Marr Chase’s five-week 2022 absence (inguinal hip injury). Andrei Iosivas’ 31.7 percent TPRR ranked second among 15 NFL preseason wide receivers with at least 15 targets.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts WR
Two percent of current FAAB
Rookie Josh Downs’ 20.08 percent TPRR hints at his developing target-earning ability for the Indianapolis Colts.
Rashaad Penny, Philadelphia Eagles RB
Zero percent of current FAAB
No. 2 RB Kenneth Gainwell inefficiently maintains a part-time offensive role. Should Gainwell’s 3.2 yards per rushing attempt and 0.33 YPRR continue, Rashaad Penny will get another crack at the rotational role prior to the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 10 bye.
Deven Thompkins & Trey Palmer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers WRs
Zero percent of current FAAB
Deven Thompkins functioned as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ No. 2 wide receiver following Mike Evans’ (hamstring strain) departure toward the end of the first half. Size-related questions cast a shadow over Thompkins’ (5-foot-8, 155 pounds) full-time viability. Still, the bounce-back, much-ballyhooed sixth-round rookie Trey Palmer (6-foot, 190 pounds) has failed to gain QB Baker Mayfield’s trust (10.6 percent TPRR).
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals QB vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Eight percent of current FAAB
Joshua Dobbs has parlayed 48 yards rushing and 227.33 passing yards per game into the overall QB5 spot (65.68 fantasy points) in Weeks 2-4. He gets the Bengals’ bottom-three rushing defense (5.1 yards allowed per rushing attempt) in Week 5.
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders QB vs. Chicago Bears
Six percent of current FAAB
Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders face a Chicago Bears defense allowing 267.75 yards passing per game, the fourth-most in the NFL.
Defenses
Detroit Lions D/ST vs. Carolina Panthers
Six percent of current FAAB
The scrappy Lions defense gets a Carolina Panthers offense whose quarterback, Bryce Young, and No. 1 wide receiver, Adam Thielen, are playing through ankle injuries. At the same time, the team’s starting running back, Miles Sanders, limps through a strained groin.
Looking Ahead to Week 6
Defense
Miami Dolphins D/ST vs. Carolina Panthers
Five percent of current FAAB
The Miami Dolphins carry streaming viability against the Giants (Week 5) and the injured Panthers (Week 6). New York quarterback Daniel Jones has gift-wrapped at least one interception per game this year, and the team’s offense has scored fewer than 14 points in two of three contests.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons TE vs. Houston Texans
Four percent of current FAAB
Jonnu Smith has forced a timeshare with Kyle Pitts. Houston’s tight end-friendly defense puts Smith on the TE1 streaming radar.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets TE @ Denver Broncos
Two percent of current FAAB
Tyler Conklin (21.3 percent TPRR, 1.68 YPRR) has played efficiently for the New York Jets during the past three weeks. Denver’s injury-plagued defense is among the league’s worst.
Kicker
Brett Maher, Los Angeles Rams K vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Four percent of current FAAB
Brett Maher has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game this season, and his 55 points rank second at the position. Los Angeles vs. Philadelphia is helpfully totaled at a fantasy-friendly 46.5 points at FanDuel.
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