The fourth week of the season wrecked a lot of fantasy rosters, and the waiver wire is where you get them back. Saquon Barkley left Sunday with a hamstring injury, Ja'Marr Chase is in concussion protocol, Tee Higgins is dealing with a groin injury and D.J. Moore aggravated his shoulder. The 
Chiefs and 
Panthers are on bye this week, and Week 6 takes out the 
Bengals, 
Lions, 
Dolphins and 
Vikings.
Barkley is the one to be careful with: he left Sunday's loss to the Rams with the hamstring injury (box score) and his status for Sunday at Jacksonville is unsettled, so read his report before you act. The better strategy this week is the same as every week: chase opportunity, not last Sunday's box score. Roster percentages below are approximate and move all day, so check your league before you bid.
Use the NFL start/sit board and the NFL player news wire to confirm roles, the injury report to track every move as it posts, and the NFL projections for the ranking behind our calls. Our defense vs. running backs and defense vs. receivers show how each opponent has treated each position.
The Big Free Agent: Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill is a free agent, and he is not on the Dolphins. Miami released him in the offseason, and he has not played since the knee injury that ended his 2025 season in September. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on Monday that Hill could sign with a team this week and that he wants a contender. The Chiefs have discussed bringing him back and the Giants and Ravens have been mentioned in rumors, but no team is confirmed.
He is not a Week 5 starter: he still needs a team, a practice ramp-up and medical clearance. He is rostered in roughly 29 percent of leagues, and he is a pure stash for managers who can afford the bench spot. If he signs with the Chiefs or another contender, his value jumps overnight, so watch the player news wire and the transactions page. FAAB: 3 to 7 percent, bench stash only.
Quarterbacks
1. Kirk Cousins, 
Raiders (roughly 17 percent rostered). Cousins has three straight games with 20 or more fantasy points and multiple touchdown passes in every one, averaging 256.5 passing yards per game. He is a legitimate QB1/QB2 streamer, and Las Vegas travels to 
Patriots in Week 5. Priority: High. FAAB: 8 to 12 percent.
2. C.J. Stroud, 
Texans (roughly 37 percent). Stroud came back to fantasy form in Week 4 against Dallas with 347 yards and two touchdowns, with Nico Collins back in the lineup (box score). Houston visits 
Titans this week, and he is the best option for anyone with a quarterback on bye. Priority: Medium-high. FAAB: 3 to 7 percent.
3. Jacoby Brissett, 
Cardinals (roughly 10 percent). Not a sexy name. He has been under 17 fantasy points in three of four starts, but Arizona hosts Lions this week and Detroit has allowed 21 or more points to several quarterbacks. Streamer only: FAAB 1 to 3 percent.
Deeper streamers: Aaron Rodgers of the 
Steelers has three touchdown passes in each of the last two games and hosts the Colts, while Jameis Winston of the 
Giants is volatile but gets Washington's defense, which has given up plenty of quarterback points.
Running Backs
1. Emanuel Wilson, 
Seahawks (roughly 50 percent). This is the big one. With first-round rookie Jadarian Price on injured reserve with a chest injury, Wilson became Seattle's lead back and had 120 yards from scrimmage on 24 touches against the Chargers (box score). He should keep the job until Charbonnet is activated. If he is still on your wire, he is the top running back pickup of the week. Priority: Elite. FAAB: 20 to 30 percent.
2. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (roughly 58 percent): the stash. The 58 percent rostered number can fool you. Charbonnet is coming back from a torn left ACL, and Seattle has said he will not be activated before Sunday's game against San Francisco. He is practicing and will get team reps this week, but he likely needs more time after that. He is a stash with real upside, not a Week 5 start, and he has 12 touchdowns from last season sharing work with Kenneth Walker III to remind you why. FAAB: 5 to 10 percent, bench stash.
3. Austin Ekeler, 
Commanders (roughly 2 percent). He returned to Washington and played 26.2 percent of the snaps, leading the backfield with 29 yards on four carries while Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 15 yards on nine (box score). The backfield is unsettled, and Washington hosts the Giants. Priority: High. FAAB: 8 to 15 percent.
4. Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals (roughly 28 percent). He scored 12.9 fantasy points in Week 4 with Jeremiyah Love active, and he is the best handcuff on the board. Arizona hosts Detroit, and if Love misses time Allgeier is an immediate flex play. Priority: High. FAAB: 5 to 10 percent.
5. Will Shipley, 
Eagles (roughly 1 percent). Barkley left Sunday's game with the hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby is headed to injured reserve after core-muscle surgery. That leaves Shipley as the healthy back for a trip to Jacksonville. If Barkley sits, Shipley is a legitimate RB2/flex. Priority: High. FAAB: 8 to 15 percent.
6. Kaleb Johnson, 
Packers (roughly 6 percent). He led the Packers with eight carries for 42 yards in the win over Tampa Bay (box score), but MarShawn Lloyd still played more snaps, so this backfield is not solved. A bench stash before the breakout becomes obvious. FAAB: 4 to 8 percent.
Wide Receivers
1. Keon Coleman, 
Bills (roughly 4 percent). Six catches on seven targets for 116 yards and a 34-yard touchdown against New England (box score), after D.J. Moore aggravated his shoulder injury. Moore's injury is not considered long-term, but if he misses time Coleman is a WR2. Buffalo plays at the 
Rams on Monday night. Priority: Elite. FAAB: 15 to 25 percent.
2. KC Concepcion, 
Browns (roughly 51 percent). The rookie led the Browns in routes and targets on Thursday night (box score) and has 17 targets over the last two games. The production has not caught up with the opportunity, which makes him a buy-before-the-breakout candidate. Cleveland visits the 
Jets. Priority: High. FAAB: 8 to 15 percent.
3. Romeo Doubs, Patriots (roughly 58 percent). He led New England with six catches on nine targets and scored twice in the win over Buffalo. A.J. Brown has an ankle injury and could return, and Mack Hollins left with a calf injury, so Doubs's role depends on the Patriots' report. Priority: Medium-high. FAAB: 5 to 10 percent.
4. Dohnte Meyers, Bengals (roughly 0 percent). The speculative add. He caught seven of nine targets for 82 yards in Week 4 as injuries thinned the Bengals' receivers. Ja'Marr Chase is in concussion protocol and Tee Higgins has a groin injury, and the team is treating both day to day for Sunday's game in Miami. If either sits, Meyers's role grows; if both sit, it explodes. His value is tied to the injury report, so bid accordingly. FAAB: 3 to 8 percent.
5. Malik Washington, Dolphins (roughly 28 percent). He has topped 40 receiving yards in all four games and is a safe flex against Cincinnati. Priority: Medium. FAAB: 3 to 6 percent.
Deeper: Roman Wilson of the Steelers has found a role with 60-plus yards and a touchdown in consecutive games.
Tight Ends
1. Mike Gesicki, Bengals (roughly 10 percent). He has scored a touchdown in three of four games, with 11 catches, 155 yards and three touchdowns. If Chase and Higgins are limited, the Bengals lean on their tight ends, and Miami has been generous to the position. Priority: High. FAAB: 5 to 10 percent.
2. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (roughly 55 percent). He caught all 13 of his targets for 119 yards against Miami (box score). One big game does not make him elite again, and Minnesota is on bye in Week 6, but a 13-target game is hard to ignore and he is a TE1 if you can find him. Priority: High if available. FAAB: 8 to 15 percent.
3. Michael Mayer, Raiders (roughly 12 percent). He had a team-high eight catches for 82 yards against Kansas City (box score), one target behind Brock Bowers, and Cousins has leaned on his tight ends. The matchup in New England is tougher. FAAB: 1 to 3 percent.
Defense/Special Teams
Bears are the best add: 38 percent rostered, 28 points allowed over their last three games with eight sacks and three takeaways. They are 3-1 after beating the Jets (box score) and visit Packers in Week 5. It is more than a one-week streamer. FAAB: 1 to 3 percent.
Other streamers: the Bengals defense against Miami, which has allowed the third-highest sack rate, the 
Jaguars defense (six interceptions) against Eagles's offense at home, the Giants (six interceptions) at Washington, and the Browns at the Jets.
The Order I Would Bid In
In a typical 10- or 12-team PPR league: 1. Emanuel Wilson, 2. Keon Coleman, 3. Kirk Cousins, 4. Austin Ekeler, 5. Will Shipley, 6. KC Concepcion, 7. Tyler Allgeier, 8. Mike Gesicki, 9. Romeo Doubs, 10. Kaleb Johnson, 11. Dohnte Meyers, 12. T.J. Hockenson, 13. C.J. Stroud, 14. Zach Charbonnet (stash), 15. Tyreek Hill (stash), 16. Michael Mayer.
Do Not Chase Last Week's Box Score
Darius Cooper caught three of seven targets with two touchdowns against the Rams (box score), and I am treating him cautiously. Philadelphia's offensive situation makes chasing his Week 4 production risky, and no Eagles receiver topped three catches with DeVonta Smith out. Do not assume every player who benefits from an injury keeps the role: the best adds are players whose opportunity can survive past one game, which is why Wilson, Coleman, Concepcion and Allgeier rank above a receiver who caught two touchdowns on three catches.
Make the Moves With Our Tools
Check depth charts and the volume board to see who is in line for touches. The red zone page and Mismatch Machine show target and carry share, and the trade value tool helps if you want to trade for a handcuff. Run your whole roster through the AI Roster Doctor, line up your week with My Team and sort your starters on the start/sit board.
For DFS, the NFL DFS Edge and NFL Fantasy and DFS hub grade salary against production, and the Lineup Shuffler shuffles lineups. Weather matters in October: check NFL weather and the Weather Book before you set a Sunday lineup. Betting? The NFL props board, Hit Board and unders board hold the numbers, and the NFL Parlay Generator, Parlay Builder and Parlay Doctor build and grade the slip.
The week in context: the Week 5 page, Week 5 matchups and the rest of the NFL hub, plus the schedule for the full slate. Build a teaser on the Teaser Generator, follow along on Game Zone, and find our written reads on the NFL verdicts. Every call is stamped the next morning at Graded Results, with Calibration showing whether it holds up. Watch the shows on FantasyDailies TV.
Teams in This Article
Seahawks · Bills · Rams · Raiders · Patriots · Texans · Titans · Cardinals · Lions · Eagles · Jaguars · Commanders · Giants · Packers · Bears · Browns · Jets · Bengals · Dolphins · Vikings · Steelers · 
Colts · Chiefs · Panthers
The bottom line: opportunity created by injuries drives Week 5. The Eagles could be without Barkley and Bigsby, the Bengals could be without Chase and Higgins, Coleman just showed what he can do with a bigger role, and Emanuel Wilson owns Seattle's backfield for now. Do not wait until Sunday morning to figure out who you need. Waiver claims are where championships get built.
