Fantasy: Top waiver wire pickups for Week 5

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in fewer than 50% of leagues are considered.

Teams on bye: Chiefs, Panthers

Jump to: RB | WR | TE | DEF

Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals

Managers with Lamar Jackson on their roster may be panicking after the two-time MVP was spotted in a walking boot Sunday. His status for the near future is unknown, but it's reasonable to expect he'll miss this week's game.

Jacoby Brissett becomes a viable one-week replacement thanks to his matchup against the Lions. Detroit's secondary has been getting torched all season, and the team is allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Brissett scored 25.6 fantasy points against the 49ers two weeks ago, and his only unstartable game was in Week 2 against the Seahawks. You can confidently start him in lieu of Jackson or Caleb Williams in Week 5.

Other QBs to consider:

• Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (10%): Rodgers turned back the clock in his last two games, scoring nearly 24 fantasy points in back-to-back contests. The Steelers take on the Colts, who've allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season.

• Jameis Winston, Giants (4%): ​​​​​​The Giants face a Commanders defensive unit that's allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing QBs. Winston found his groove in Week 4, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns (with two patented Winston interceptions, of course).

Running backs

Emanuel Wilson, Seahawks

Emanuel Wilson barely qualifies here since he's rostered in nearly 50% of leagues, but if he's still available in yours, he's a must-add. Wilson scored twice, handled 21 carries for 81 yards, and had three receptions in his first start as Jadarian Price's replacement.

His role as the lead back in Seattle may be short-lived, though. Zach Charbonnet's 21-day practice window opened last week, and he could return after Week 5. Price is also eligible to return in Week 8. Additionally, the Seahawks signed Joe Mixon to their practice squad Monday, but he may be more of a depth add at this point in his career than a player who will carve out a large role in the team's backfield.

Wilson is still a worthwhile add as bye weeks approach, and he'll be an every-week starter until Seattle's other backs return.

Will Shipley, Eagles

Saquon Barkley is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, and Tank Bigsby requires abdominal surgery that will land him on injured reserve. That leaves as Will Shipley the last man standing in the Eagles' backfield.

Shipley has always held a pass-catcher role in Philly, but he's also shown he can handle work between the tackles. The third-year pro carried the ball six times for 23 yards in Week 4, and if he can continue to average nearly four yards per carry, he'll be a viable fantasy starter while Barkley and Bigsby are sidelined.

However, there's a scenario in which the Eagles aren't comfortable giving Shipley 12-15 carries a game. That could create work for either Jaydon Blue or Dameon Pierce, both of whom are on the team's practice squad. Philadelphia could also seek a free-agent back or make a trade. For now, though, Shipley is a priority add since he's the only running back on the active roster.

Other RBs to consider:

• Keaton Mitchell, Chargers (35%): He led all Chargers running backs with 15 touches in Week 4 but was the only one who didn't find the end zone. Still, the shift away from Omarion Hampton continues, and Mitchell appears to be the beneficiary.

• Kimani Vidal, Chargers (1%): After the Chargers dropped to 0-4, head coach Jim Harbaugh said his staff thinks a three-man committee is best for the team. Vidal is the least-rostered member of the trio and should be added in deeper formats where it's tough to find playable running backs. An injury to either Hampton or Mitchell would hugely boost Vidal's value.

• Joe Mixon, Seahawks (0%): The former Bengal and Texan could cut into Wilson's workload in Seattle if he's activated ahead of Week 5. It's hard to envision Mixon taking over as the lead back, especially after Wilson's Week 4 performance, but he's worth a speculative pickup based on his track record in the league.

• Austin Ekeler, Commanders (4%): In Ekeler's first start since rupturing his Achilles last season, he played the second-most snaps among Commanders running backs (16) while Rachaad White was sidelined, rushing four times for 29 yards and catching one pass for 11 yards. Ekeler's got lots of competition for playing time, but he may be the best running back on the team if he's 100% healthy.

• Seth McGowan, Colts (1%): If you have Jonathan Taylor on your roster but not McGowan, you're playing with fire. He's the clear backup to one of the best running backs in football.

• Jaydon Blue (1%) and Dameon Pierce (0%), Eagles: Keep an eye on Philadelphia's roster moves this week and be ready to grab either Blue or Pierce if they're elevated from the practice squad. Blue, whom the Eagles scooped up after the Cowboys cut him, has more potential, but Pierce may complement Shipley better as a between-the-tackles runner.

Wide receivers

Malik Washington, Dolphins

Malik Washington led the Dolphins in routes run in Week 4 and had a 29.4% target share. Without Caleb Douglas in the lineup, Washington is Miami's top passing option, and he'll be a solid flex play in deeper formats once bye weeks start. His fantasy ceiling is capped by playing for Miami, but he caught four or more passes in three of four games this season and is averaging 54.75 yards per outing.

Other WRs to consider:

• Khalil Shakir, Bills (42%): If Shakir is still available in your league, grab him. DJ Moore hurt his shoulder again Sunday and left the game. Shakir is a reliable pass-catcher for Josh Allen, and his value is even higher in PPR formats.

• Keon Coleman, Bills (4%): He exploded for six catches on seven targets for 116 yards and one touchdown once Moore left Sunday's game. He racked up 12 catches and 179 yards in the two games in which Moore was hurt. If Moore is out, Coleman can likely be started in 12-team leagues.

• Dohnte Meyers, Bengals (1%): Ja'Marr Chase is in concussion protocol and Tee Higgins is day-to-day with an adductor injury. If either one misses Week 5, Meyers' projections will skyrocket. He earned nine Joe Burrow targets Sunday, catching seven of them for 82 yards.

• Tyreek Hill, free agent (23%): Hill's expected to sign with a team over the next few days, and the Chiefs are one potential landing spot. Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton were both hurt in Week 4, and a reunion with Hill makes sense. The Chiefs are on bye in Week 5, and Hill isn't expected to be ready until November. He's still worth taking a chance on in case Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback in a few days.

• Tre' Harris, Chargers (9%): Ladd McConkey aggravated the foot injury he sustained in Week 1. Harris caught three passes for 60 yards and now has 12 targets over the past two weeks. If McConkey misses time, Harris seems to be the Chargers' top passing option.

• Roman Wilson, Steelers (3%): Wilson has earned six targets and caught at least three passes in each game this season. In his last two outings, he surpassed 60 receiving yards and scored a touchdown in each. Aaron Rodgers trusts Wilson, and the Steelers are throwing the ball more often than past Pittsburgh offenses did.

• Jerry Jeudy, Browns (5%): This one is for deeper formats, as Jeudy is only fantasy-relevant if he gets traded. Plenty of teams could use a veteran wideout - especially the Chiefs and 49ers - and Jeudy could find new life in a new situation.

• Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals, Chiefs (2%, 0%): If the Chiefs played tomorrow, their starting wide receivers would likely be Allen and Royals. A Week 5 bye may help Rice get back on the field in Week 6, but Thornton will likely miss more than one game. Allen was a preseason darling and Royals has earned more work so far this season. Both are worthy of the final bench spot in deeper leagues.

Tight ends

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings

With Justin Jefferson out of the lineup, Hockenson went off for 13 catches and 119 yards. The Dolphins are a friendly matchup for opposing tight ends, and so are the Saints, whom the Vikings play in Week 5. If Jefferson sits another game, Hockenson will be a borderline starter in 12-team formats.

Other TEs to consider:

• Mike Gesicki, Bengals (7%): Faces his former team - the Dolphins - in Week 5 and may be Burrow's top option if both Chase and Higgins are sidelined.

• Brenton Strange, Jaguars (27%): He could be a serviceable Travis Kelce (bye) replacement. Strange caught seven of eight targets for 95 yards in Week 4.

Defenses

• Browns (14%) @ Jets
• Jets (3%) vs. Browns
• Saints (6%) vs. Vikings
• Bengals (23%) @ Dolphins
• Commanders (1%) vs. Giants