Let’s Go Shopping- Waiver Wire After Week 5

Let’s Go Shopping- Waiver Wire After Week 5

Injuries continue to pile up, and once again, we had some close calls that could have had even more significant impacts on your fantasy football season with injuries to Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson, which could have been worse. However, JJ might miss a week or two. James Conner’s injury could have been worse, too. Let’s look at waiver wire targets as we continue working through our bye weeks. 

Starter Worthy Weeks of Note- ESPN Availability Shown 

QB: Jared Goff: QB3 with 27.4 pts (46% Available) Continues to be better at home again this season.

QB: Brock Purdy QB5 with 26.1 pts (25% Available) Incredible Cinderella Story deserves A TV movie someday. 

QB: Desmond Ridder, QB6, with 24.2 pts (97% Available). He has more downs than ups this season, but this was an excellent all-around game to ensure he keeps his job longer. 

QB Sam Howell, QB8 with 23.4 pts (82% Available) Another guy who has some good games but more bad games but is surrounded by talented players. 

RB: Jaleel McLaughlin, RB7 with 17.9 pts (51% Available), Took over for the injured Javonte Williams and looked even more vital for the second straight week. 

RB: Tyjae Spears RB8 with 16.9 pts (74% Available) King Henry isn’t going anywhere, but the rookie is getting enough volume to be worthy of a flex start even when Henry is playing. 

RB: Justice Hill RB12, with 14.5 pts (76% Available), looks like the best of a weak cast of characters in the BAL RB Room but will have to withstand at least one more challenge soon. 

WR: Jakobi Meyers WR10 with 20.5 pts (14% Available) Solid second option on a team likely to throw a lot the rest of the season. 

TE: Logan Thomas, TE4 with 22.7 pts (91% Available), Didn’t just have one big week on Thursday Night Football; he has four solid games this year for someone at this ownership level. 

TE: Johnu Smith TE10 with 12.7 pts (90% Available) That’s back-to-back double-digit fantasy point games for this cagey veteran who gets as many snaps as Kyle Pitts. 

TE: Adam Trautman, TE11 with 12.6 pts (99% Available), Had more points in one week than in the first four weeks combined. 

Possible Injury Situations

Arizona: James Conner left the game early last week, and Demercado would be the replacement. 

Buffalo: Dalton Kincaid left the game early with a concussion and will have to pass protocol this week. 

Buffalo: Dawson Knox is nursing a wrist injury, but it’s not expected to be serious now. 

Chicago: They lost all their RBs to injury last week, and Herbert should miss a few weeks.

Houston: Tank Dell left early with a concussion and must pass the protocol this week. 

Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson will miss a few weeks, with Minshew taking over. 

Jacksonville: Zay Jones left the game early with a knee injury. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Kelce suffered an ankle sprain but returned to the game. Short week. 

Las Vegas: Davante Adams did not look healthy on Monday Night Football. 

Miami: Rookie superstar De’Von Achane is nursing a sore knee and could miss time. 

Minnesota: Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury and headed to IR. 

New Orleans: Chris Olave played with an injured toe but played a complete game. 

New York Giants: Daniel Jones left the game with a neck injury, and his status is unknown. 

Top FAAB or Waiver Targets This Week: 40% or More Available on ESPN

1. RB Jaleel McLaughlin: Another big week should keep earning volume. 25% FAAB

2. RB Roschon Johnson Needs to pass concussion protocol, but the job is his. 25% FAAB

3. TE Logan Thomas Could be a solid top 10 play weekly. 20% FAAB

4. KJ Osborn: We will see increased volume with Jefferson headed to IR. 20% FAAB

5. RB Emari Demercado: Another of my post-camp stashes for dynasty formats looked good when James Conner left the game early with an injury. 10% FAAB

6. QB Gardner Minshew: Takes over for the injured rookie for the next month at least. 10% FAAB

7. WR Joshua Palmer: Without Williams, look for Palmer to get a more consistent volume of 15% FAAB

8. WR Michael Wilson: Only two targets last week, but should earn more. 10% FAAB

9. RB Jeff Wilson: You want to own parts and pieces of this Dolphins attack. 5% FAAB

10. WR Curtis Samuel Had another strong game on Thursday Night. 5% FAAB

11. RB D’Onta Foreman: Bears lost all three of their active RBs last week with 5% FAAB

12. RB Keaton Mitchell Was impressive in pre-season and might get a shot soon. 5% FAAB

Smaller Dollar Hollers

1. QB Tyrod Taylor: Jones left with a neck injury last week and is playing poorly, too. 

2. RB Eric Gray: Breida isn’t the longer-term answer if Saquon continues to miss time. 

3. WR Cedrick Wilson: Can’t have enough options from the Dolphins.

4. WR Chase Claypool: They know how to use him in their offense. 

5. RB Ronnie Rivers: Kyren Williams is listed as questionable, so worth a dollar to protect. 

6. TE Noah Gray: The Chiefs are on a short week with Kelce nursing a bad ankle. 

7. RB Darynton Evans: Signed by the Bears in case nobody else makes it to next week. 

Wrapping It Up

During the bye weeks, fantasy football managers often make bad decisions trying to field a lineup, so the secondary market for waivers can sometimes be great shopping. Don’t be afraid to grab a guy on his bye week before you need to pay more next week. Good luck shopping this week!