Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds: Feed the Pigpen, Clean the Trough
Four weeks are in the books. By now, we know which fantasy football managers are contenders, which ones are pretending to be contenders, and which ones are refreshing the waiver wire at 2:00 a.m. while insisting they are “just looking.”
Week 5 is where things start getting interesting. The injuries are piling up. The bye weeks have arrived. And some players who looked like roster locks in August are beginning to look more like the fantasy equivalent of that leftover casserole nobody wants to eat.
The good news? There are still pigs worth feeding. The bad news? Some pigs need to be sent to the butcher.
Here are the Week 5 waiver-wire additions worth chasing, followed by the players whose roster spots may finally be better used elsewhere.
Week 5 Waiver Wire Adds
1. Will Shipley — RB, Philadelphia Eagles
The Add of the Week
Sometimes the waiver wire gives you a gift. This is one of those times.
Saquon Barkley left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Then Tank Bigsby suffered a core-muscle injury that will require surgery and is headed to injured reserve.
That left Will Shipley as the last running back standing.
Shipley played 29 snaps in Week 4 and handled six carries while running 15 routes. The production wasn’t impressive, but that’s almost beside the point.
If Barkley misses Week 5, Shipley could walk into the lead-back role for Philadelphia. And this is Philadelphia we’re talking about.
Even if the matchup against Jacksonville isn’t particularly attractive, volume is volume.
Pigskin verdict: Add immediately if available.
FAAB: 15–25%
2. Emanuel Wilson — RB, Seattle Seahawks
The Other Lead Back
Wilson is the kind of waiver-wire player fantasy managers love to discover before everyone else.
He just carried the ball 20 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, rookie Jadarian Price has been placed on injured reserve with a chest injury, opening the door for Wilson to handle the early-down work in Seattle.
George Holani is handling some passing-down responsibilities, and Zach Charbonnet is getting closer to a return from his ACL injury.
There is also the small matter of Seattle signing Joe Mixon. So, yes, there are warning signs.
But Wilson should have a legitimate shot at 15-plus touches in the immediate future. That’s enough to make him one of the week’s best waiver targets.
Pigskin verdict: Add aggressively, but don’t spend like he’s guaranteed to own the backfield all season.
FAAB: 10–20%
3. Keon Coleman — WR, Buffalo Bills
The Second Chance Pig
Maybe Coleman wasn’t a bust after all? After a disappointing start to his career, Coleman exploded Sunday for:
6 receptions — 116 yards — 1 touchdown — 7 targets
Then DJ Moore injured his shoulder again. That could create a much larger role for Coleman.
He led Buffalo’s receivers in snaps Sunday and should have a chance to become a much bigger part of Josh Allen’s passing attack while Moore is sidelined.
The next two matchups aren’t ideal. Josh Allen doesn’t care. Neither should you.
Pigskin verdict: The breakout may finally be arriving two years late.
FAAB: 5–10%
4. Tre’ Harris — WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The Depth Chart Is Starting to Talk
This one is about playing time. Harris played 93% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps Sunday.
Quentin Johnston played 74.6%. That is not a small difference.
Harris could also benefit if Ladd McConkey misses time with his foot injury. McConkey was unable to finish Sunday’s game and has been described as week-to-week.
The Chargers didn’t draft Harris in the second round to watch him sit around forever. The fantasy breakout could be coming.
Pigskin verdict: Add before the depth chart makes the decision for you.
FAAB: 4–8%
5. Dohnte Meyers — WR, Cincinnati Bengals
The “Who?” Add
This is exactly the type of player the waiver wire was invented for.
Meyers caught:
7 passes — 82 yards — 9 targets
He played 68 of Cincinnati’s 76 offensive snaps and ran 54 routes.
And now the Bengals have a serious receiver problem. Ja’Marr Chase left with a concussion. Tee Higgins left with an adductor injury. Andrei Iosivas is already sitting on IR.
Suddenly the guy who started the year as a complete afterthought is playing almost every snap for Joe Burrow. That’s opportunity.
Pigskin verdict: Add in virtually every competitive league.
FAAB: 3–8%
6. Khalil Shakir — WR, Buffalo Bills
The Boring Add That Keeps Paying Rent
Shakir isn’t flashy. He isn’t going to make fantasy managers post highlight videos on social media.
But he catches passes. He just caught 7 of 8 targets for 82 yards against New England, and DJ Moore’s injury could increase his short-term target share.
Shakir has always offered a relatively safe PPR floor. Now he may have a little more ceiling. That’s worth something.
Pigskin verdict: Excellent PPR depth.
FAAB: 2–5%
7. Mike Gesicki — TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Apparently Three Touchdowns Wasn’t a Fluke
Gesicki has only played 61.8% of Cincinnati’s offensive snaps, yet somehow already has:
11 receptions — 155 yards — 3 touchdowns — 15 targets
Now the Bengals could be without Chase and Higgins. That’s a pretty good reason to expect more targets.
And Miami has been getting absolutely abused by tight ends. The Week 5 matchup is almost begging fantasy managers to stream Gesicki.
Pigskin verdict: Strong TE streamer this week.
FAAB: 1–3%
8. Malik Washington — WR, Miami Dolphins
The Target Leader Nobody Is Talking About
Washington currently owns a 27.2% target share for Miami. That sounds much more impressive until you realize the Dolphins are averaging only 25.8 pass attempts per game.
Still, Washington has become Malik Willis’ favorite target. He caught five passes for 67 yards Sunday despite Willis completing only nine passes.
Miami gets Cincinnati next, and the Bengals are missing their starting slot corner. This isn’t necessarily a season-long WR3. But it could be a very useful fantasy piece.
Pigskin verdict: Add, especially in PPR.
FAAB: 1–4%
9. Jacoby Brissett — QB, Arizona Cardinals
The Matchup Add
We’re not pretending Brissett is suddenly Patrick Mahomes. This is about the matchup.
Detroit has surrendered 1,308 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes through four weeks.
Brissett has been inconsistent, but he has already thrown for 277 yards against the Chargers and 280 against San Francisco. If you’re streaming quarterbacks, this is exactly the kind of situation you target.
Pigskin verdict: One-week streamer with upside.
FAAB: 0–2%
10. Kirk Cousins — QB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Old Pig Still Has Some Bacon
Cousins continues to make the “he’s finally done” crowd look foolish.
Through four starts:
1,026 passing yards — 11 touchdowns
He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game. He’s averaging 36 pass attempts per game.
The matchup with New England isn’t particularly attractive, but the volume is. As long as Cousins continues throwing the ball this much, he remains a viable fantasy streamer.
Pigskin verdict: Add if you’re streaming quarterbacks.
FAAB: 0–2%
11. Antonio Williams — WR, Washington Commanders
The Deep-League Dart
Williams isn’t a plug-and-play starter. He’s a lottery ticket.
Terry McLaurin missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury, and Williams responded with a season-high 68.8% snap share and eight targets. The ugly stat line came largely because the Commanders cycled through quarterbacks.
If Jayden Daniels returns and McLaurin remains out, Williams suddenly becomes much more interesting.
Pigskin verdict: Deep-league stash.
FAAB: 0–2%
12. Jameis Winston — QB, New York Giants
Because Apparently We’re Doing This Again
Jameis Winston threw for:
250 yards — 3 touchdowns — 2 interceptions
The interception total is why you’re probably laughing. The touchdown total is why you should stop laughing.
Winston gets Washington in Week 5, and the Commanders have been much more vulnerable through the air than on the ground.
If you’re desperate at quarterback, Jameis could provide the full fantasy experience: Touchdowns. Yards. Interceptions. Emotional instability. Crab legs.
Pigskin verdict: Stream at your own risk.
FAAB: 0–1%
Time to Clean the Trough
Here’s the part fantasy managers hate. You have to drop somebody.
And no, “But I drafted him in Round 7!” is not a reason to keep him.
Your draft pick has already been paid for. The roster spot is now costing you something. If the player occupying it has less upside than the guy available on waivers, it’s time to move on.
Jaylen Wright — RB, Miami Dolphins
The Gordon Train Has Left the Station
This one hurts.
After De’Von Achane went down, Wright looked like a logical replacement. Then Week 4 happened.
Wright:
5 carries — 7 yards — 0 targets
Ollie Gordon:
9 carries — 100 yards — 1 TD — 2 receptions
Gordon took over the backfield after halftime and looked explosive. Wright isn’t necessarily worthless. But he’s now a handcuff to a player who wasn’t even supposed to be the guy a week ago. In shallow leagues, there are better lottery tickets.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in 10-team leagues. Hold only if your bench is deep.
Makai Lemon — WR, Philadelphia Eagles
This one is tougher. Lemon was a highly drafted rookie with a lot of talent, and Philadelphia may need him with DeVonta Smith dealing with a hamstring injury.
But through four games, Lemon has just:
10 receptions — 65 yards — 15 targets — 0 TDs
Even when the Eagles were missing multiple offensive weapons Sunday, Lemon managed only three catches for 27 yards.
The talent is there. The production isn’t.
Pigskin verdict: Hold in dynasty. Drop in shallow redraft leagues if a better opportunity comes along.
Darren Waller — TE, Carolina Panthers
The two-touchdown Week 2 game is starting to look like a distant memory.
Waller caught only three of six targets for 36 yards Sunday despite Carolina throwing the ball 41 times.
Worse, he played only 53% of the offensive snaps. With Carolina heading into its bye and Jalen Coker potentially returning afterward, there isn’t much reason to keep Waller occupying a valuable roster spot.
Pigskin verdict: Drop unless you’re desperate at tight end.
Quentin Johnston — WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers aren’t hiding the problem. Tre’ Harris played 93% of the snaps Sunday. Johnston played 74.6%.
And Harris is gaining momentum. Johnston still has a role, but he’s no longer an automatic hold simply because he was drafted highly.
If Harris is sitting on waivers, the decision becomes even easier.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow leagues. Hold only if you’re betting on a rebound.
DON’T DROP THESE GUYS YET
Before everyone starts throwing perfectly good pigs over the fence, there are a few players worth keeping.
Courtland Sutton
The production has been awful. But Pat Bryant’s injury could restore some of Sutton’s opportunity. FantasyPros recommends holding him for at least another week.
J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins hasn’t produced much, but he remains Denver’s primary early-down back. That’s still a fantasy role worth holding.
Kenyon Sadiq
The goose egg in Week 4 was ugly. But seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown didn’t disappear. He’s a rookie tight end on a limited offense, not a finished product.
If your league has deep benches, keep him.
Dontayvion Wicks
Three catches for 18 yards is not exactly the stat line you want. But the opportunity is still there, particularly with Philadelphia dealing with injuries at receiver and tight end.
Don’t confuse a bad fantasy week with a dead fantasy role.
The Week 5 Pigskin Rule
The waiver wire gets harder every week. Early in the season, you’re looking for talent. By Week 5, you’re looking for talent plus opportunity.
Will Shipley doesn’t need to prove he’s the next Saquon Barkley. He just needs Barkley and Bigsby to be unavailable.
Emanuel Wilson doesn’t need to prove he’s the next Marshawn Lynch. He just needs Seattle to give him the football.
Keon Coleman doesn’t need to suddenly become a 1,500-yard receiver. He just needs Josh Allen to keep throwing him targets while DJ Moore is sidelined. That’s how fantasy football works.
Opportunity creates fantasy points.
And sometimes opportunity also tells you when it’s time to move on. So this week, don’t ask:
“Who did I draft?”
Ask:
“Who has the best chance to matter in October?”
Feed that pig. And clean out the trough.
