Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 5: Streamers, Michael Wilson, Jaleel McLaughlin and more

April 2024 · 10 minute read

Read Jake Ciely’s latest fantasy football waiver wire advice. 

The Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire is a bit slim, but with bye weeks starting, we will need fill-ins more than ever. We have some injuries — Mike Evans, Javonte Williams, etc. — to monitor, which could result in some waiver pickups becoming starters in Week 5. We kick it all off with some major worries, including Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins (rib injury).

HEADS UP

** BYES: CLE, LAC, SEA, TB **

WORRY REPORT
More Ducks+Eggs (1-5) = More Concern

STREAMING QUARTERBACKS

Emojis

WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS

  • Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN — McLaughlin could have just one week of startability, but he’s worth stashing as another next-man-up option. McLaughlin has pushed ahead of Samaje Perine, and while the split would be close to a De’Von Achane-Raheem Mostert type share, that would give McLaughlin RB3 value with a ceiling inside the Top 20. If Williams doesn’t miss time, McLaughlin is a stash down by Tyjae Spears.
  • Matt Breida, NYG — The clear lead with Saquon Barkley sidelined. Would be in the RB2/3 conversation if Barkley doesn’t return this week. If Barkley is back, Breida is down by CEH.
  • Jaylen Warren, PIT — Najee Harris had a decent Week 4, but Warren neared a 50/50 workload split with 48.3% of the touches. Warren also has more passing game upside.
  • Justice Hill, BAL — Hill had just three touches in Week 4, but in games where the Ravens aren’t holding a healthy lead (and Hill was coming off an injury), he should be more involved.
  • Roschon Johnson, CHI — When the Bears aren’t having their way and need to pass more/play catchup, Johnson should see more use. Johnson also has upside as the clear lead if Khalil Herbert gets hurt.
  • Keaton Mitchell, BAL — 🎯 Upside stash. Mitchell can return this week and has Achane-like upside, though a bit lower ceiling given the offense. This is a lotto ticket pickup.
  • Chuba Hubbard, CAR — 🫡 Miles Sanders wasn’t 100% in Week 4, so I wouldn’t expect a 50/50 split otherwise, as the split was 72/28 heading into Week 4.
  • Ezekiel Elliott, NE — Next man up and partial timeshare (though, more of the one-third split we’ve seen and not the rumored “lead work”).
  • Kenneth Gainwell, PHI — 🫡 Relegated to next man up now that D’Andre Swift has finally happened.
  • Jeff Wilson, MIA — Could be too high, as Achane and Mostert leave no need for another option, but the Dolphins like Wilson. There is always a chance Wilson could get lead work, and given this offense, he’s a worthy flier.
  • Devin Singletary, HOU — Backup to Dameon Pierce, and he might see more of the share if Pierce continues to be so-so performance-wise. However, without lead touches, Singletary would be impossible to start.
  • Zach Charbonnet, SEA — 🫡
  • Tyjae Spears, TEN — 😤 Has Top 20 potential if Derrick Henry gets hurt.
  • Rico Dowdle, DAL — 🫡 Stash where you can for one of the more valuable backfields — bruised hip, FYI, which may not result in missed time.
  • Tank Bigsby, JAX — 😤
  • Elijah Mitchell, SF — 🫡 Banged up but still RB2 upside if healthy and Christian McCaffrey gets hurt.
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC — 🫡
  • Samaje Perine, DEN — If Williams is out, Perine would get a share warranting an RB3/4 play.
  • Ronnie Rivers, LAR — 🫡 It’s Rivers, not Zach Evans, currently next up behind Kyren Williams.
  • Keaontay Ingram, ARI — 🫡
  • Kendre Miller, NO — 🫡 Nothing more than the backup plan, as even with Jamaal Williams out, Alvin Kamara’s return relegated Miller to two touches, same as Adam Prentice.

    • MEH 😒

    DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (Order I’d Drop)

    WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS

  • Romeo Doubs, GB — 😤 Christian Watson ran just 19 routes in his return, but Doubs remained a top-two option with 36 routes, 38.2 TmTGT% and 36.1 RteTGT%, all Packers’ highs.
  • Jameson Williams, DET — 🔍 He’s back early! Williams had just 9-1-41-1 last year — yep, one catch for that big touchdown on nine targets — but that big-play upside is appealing. Williams is the second-best talent, and his ceiling is a WR3 in the Nico Collins range (boom/bust), but the risk is zero if you want to consider selling high too.
  • Michael Wilson, ARI — Wilson was a preseason and weekly upside stash, so you should be familiar with the explanation. Quick version: top-two receiver in Arizona; offense isn’t awful; Wilson has NFL No. 2 receiver ability; can become more consistent than Marquise Brown.
  • Zay Jones, JAX — 😤 When Jones is healthy, he’s the No. 2 and Christian Kirk the No. 3, but if a team is man-heavy in coverage, Kirk would have the edge.
  • Brandin Cooks, DAL — The schedule hasn’t been the best for the passing game (tough matchup and/or cruise control beatdown of the opponent). But if the passing game gets going, Cooks has shown he has a little bit left in the tank.
  • Tyler Boyd, CIN — 🔍 Tee Higgins might only miss a week or two, and Joe Burrow is broken, but Boyd steps in and Burrow can’t throw it deep. Boyd would be a Curtis Samuel-type play. Boyd is behind only Doubs if you only need a one-week option.
  • Quentin Johnston, LAC — 🎯 Big bump in routes, as Johnston had 22 (Keenan Allen and Joshua Palmer, 30 each), but Johnston saw just three targets. Not startable yet, but the breakout is nearing.
  • Rashee Rice, KC — Tied with Skyy Moore for third in Route% (48.6) behind Justin Watson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (60.0%) but led the receivers in targets and receptions (5-3-32). It’s not much, but Rice could ascend to the No. 2 role for future value.
  • Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG — Similar to the Chiefs, we’re looking for someone to step forward, and it looks to be Robinson again now that he’s 100%. Unfortunately, it’s the Giants and not the Chiefs offense.
  • DJ Chark, CAR — 🔍 Down week, and Chark is nothing more than boom/bust, but some managers might need that.
  • Treylon Burks, TEN — 🎯 Was out with an injury, but if DeAndre Hopkins ever got hurt too and Burks was playing, he’d have WR3 upside.
  • Rashid Shaheed, NO — Still seeing plenty of routes and opportunities, but Week 4 was a lost week with Derek Carr’s injury.
  • Jayden Reed, GB — Pushed down to third in GB receiver pecking order. Reed has a higher ceiling than Doubs but would need to get a top-two role (bumping Doubs). Though, if Watson were to get hurt again, Reed would be in the WR3/4 mix.
  • Curtis Samuel, WSH — Floor play if healthy. Samuel has been targeted more consistently than Jahan Dotson, though, he brings a lower ceiling. If you never need him, bump Samuel down to the bottom.
  • Marvin Mims, DEN — 🎯 Can’t start him based on a Hail Mary type of play, as the Broncos haven’t given Mims more than 12 routes in a game.
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA — 🎯 Copy/paste Mims with a few more routes.
  • Jonathan Mingo, CAR — 🎯 The Panthers could use Mingo to spark the receiver room, but he still needs to climb the ladder to play as the No. 2 for startability.
  • Michael Gallup, DAL — Gallup is third in the wideout pecking order, and that often falls behind tight end Jake Ferguson as well. Deeper stash only if CeeDee Lamb or Brandin Cooks were to miss time.
  • Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins, TB — Palmer is my pick and Thompkins would be in “Meh,” if Mike Evans misses time. Chris Godwin is the obvious benefit, but Palmer has run as the No. 3, and Thompkins is limited size-wise, likely relegated to three-wide and slot work only. Buccaneers are also on a bye, which could delay Evans updates.

    • MEH 😒

    DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (Order I’d Drop)

    STREAMING TIGHT ENDS

    STREAMING DST

    Week 5

    Week 6

    (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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