It was a big week for those following the Waiver Wire Wishlist in Week 5. The running back position is by far the hardest to find value via the waiver wire and we had three suggestions top 14.5 fantasy points. Tank Bigsby had himself a week, currently sitting atop the Week 5 running back results with Monday Night Football yet to happen with 25.6 fantasy points. Trey Sermon filled in for the injured Jonathan Taylor and posted 18.3 fantasy points as Roschon Johnson scored 14.5 points himself. That wasn’t the end of the quality performances out of our suggestions however as Josh Downs, Tutu Atwell and Wan’Dale Robinson posted double digit fantasy performances and Tyle Kraft led all tight ends in Week 5 with 24.8 points. Heck, Geno Smith had 22.6 fantasy points as well. In all, a fantastic week. Let’s see what Week 6 has out there for us!
Each week, I will develop a list of must add targets for fantasy football leagues. My goal is to keep each suggestion under 40-percent owned in Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. At least one of my suggestions will be owned in less than 10-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. I will also strive to have at least one player per position (QB, WR, RB and TE.)
Both Justin Fields and Geno Smith put together quality outings in their respective games. Smith led the charge with his 22.6 fantasy points on 284 yards passing and a passing touchdown to go along with 72 yards rushing. Bigsby led the Jaguars’ backfield in their victory over the Colts with 101 yards rushing on 13 carries and two touchdowns, adding 28 yards on a single reception for 25.6 fantasy points. Baring what happens on Monday Night Football, Bigsby was the RB1 in all of fantasy in Week 5. Sermon ran the ball ten times in Taylor’s absence for 38 yards and a score. He caught all six of his targets for 25 yards as well for 18.3 fantasy points. Johnson punched in two scores on the ground for the Bears’ in their victory for 14.5 fantasy points. Robinson caught six-of-nine targets for 36 yards and a score enroute to 16 fantasy points. Downs caught nine-of-12 targets for 69 yards for 15.9 fantasy points and Atwell caught six-of-ten targets for 58 yards for 12.5 fantasy points. Kraft finished the week as the TE1 in all of fantasy, catching four-of-five balls for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Scoring 24.8 fantasy points.
Week 5 Results
Justin Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 15.9 Points
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) - 22.6 Points
Tyler Huntley (Miami Dolphins) - 7.5 Points
Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville Jaguars) - 25.6 Points
Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) -
Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) - 5.5 Points
Justice Hill (Baltimore Ravens) - 3.5 Points
Trey Sermon (Indianapolis Colts) - 18.3 Points
Roschon Johnson (Chicago Bears) - 14.5 Points
Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants) - 16 Points
Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) - 15.9 Points
Xavier Legette (Carolina Panthers) - 1.8 Points
Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers) - 4 Points
Tutu Atwell (Los Angeles Rams) - 12.5 Points
Mike Williams (New York Jets) - 4.5 Points
Tre Tucker (Las Vegas Raiders) - 4.6 Points
Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 7.4 Points
Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers) - 24.8 Points
Week 6 Byes
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
Week 6 Suggestions
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints) - Owned in 33% of Yahoo and 34.3% of ESPN Leagues
For the Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford owners who see their quarterback on a bye week or for those streaming the position, Derek Carr could be your answer in Week 6. Carr was rather good through the first two weeks of the season, topping 21 fantasy points in each of those outings. He’s since come back to earth with two poor performances against the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. We have yet to see what he does in Week 5 as he plays on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. So you’re probably asking yourself, why now for Carr? He gets the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 who have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Daniel Jones (New York Giants) - Owned in 9% of Yahoo and 13.9% of ESPN Leagues
Even without Malik Nabers, Daniel Jones looked good against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. He threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns while adding 38 yards with his legs. He scored 22.08 fantasy points. That marks the third week he’s topped 18 fantasy points on the season. Nabers should be back for their Week 6 matchup against the Bengals, who have allowed the 13th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Looking to the future even, outside of the Steelers in Week 8, Jones has some favorable matchups. He gets the Commanders in Week 9 (allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks,) Panthers in Week 10 (tenth most,) Buccaneers in Week 12 (sixth most) and Cowboys in Week 13 (11th most.) Now’s the time to add him in those deeper leagues or for those needy at the position.
Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) - Owned in 46% of Yahoo and 29.6% of ESPN Leagues
Tagovailoa will be eligible to return to action following the Miami Dolphins’ Week 6 bye after suffering a concussion in Week 2 that landed him on the IR. He posted 18.62 fantasy points in Week 1 and was the QB9 last season in all of fantasy football. Upon his return, he would get matchups that include the Indianapolis Colts (allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks) in Week 7, the Cardinals in Week 8 (4th most) and the Rams in Week 10 (fifth most.)
Running Backs
Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville Jaguars) - Owned in 23% of Yahoo and 9.5% of ESPN Leagues
If you didn’t add Bigsby last week, there’s still a chance. He was the engine behind the Jaguars’ first victory of the season over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. He completely out-performed Travis Etienne in that game, running the ball 13 times for 101 yards and two scores. That’s 7.8 yards-per-carry. Etienne ran the ball just six times for 17 yards. Now, Etienne will be involved in the passing game, just as he was in Week 5 (six catches for 43 yards.) This is no longer the case of adding talented backups. This will be a 1A and 1B backfield in Jacksonville moving forward.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (New York Giants) - Owned in 23% of Yahoo and 18.4% of ESPN Leagues
Without starter Devin Singletary in the lineup, Tracy Jr. made the most of his first NFL start. He carried the ball 18 times for 129 yards in the Giants’ Week 5 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. At this point, it’s too early to call if Singletary will miss Week 6, but in the event he does, Tracy will be in line as the starter against the Bengals, who have allowed the 12th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. With the way Tracy looked on Sunday, he’ll undoubtedly get more touches moving forward.
Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins) - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 8% of ESPN Leagues
I know the Dolphins are on a bye this week, but we need to plan for the future here. De’Von Achane suffered a concussion in the Dolphins’ Week 5 victory over the New England Patriots. This saw Wright lead the Miami backfield. He ran the ball 13 times for 86 yards. Raheem Mostert did return for the Dolphins but with the injury history to both Achane and himself, Wright is worth a bench spot moving forward.
Ty Chandler (Minnesota Vikings) - Owned in 28% of Yahoo and 34.9% of ESPN Leagues
Just like the aforementioned Wright, Chandler saw lead-back work for the Minnesota Vikings after starter Aaron Jones was forced out with a hip injury. The Vikings are also on a bye in Week 6. Chandler saw 16 touches in three-quarters of work as the lead back. He wasn’t as efficient as Wright was in his chances, but again, Chandler warrants a bench spot with the injury to Jones moving forward.
Roschon Johnson (Chicago Bears) - Owned in 20% of Yahoo and 11.2% of ESPN Leagues
D’Andre Swift has come around for the Chicago Bears and has put together back-to-back monster performances. However, Johnson is poaching the short yardage work, which included a two touchdown performance against the Carolina Panthers. Johnson also saw ten carries in that game. Johnson’s skill set goes well beyond that of a strict short-yardage guy. Grab him now as his role is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs) - Owned in 11% of Yahoo and 6.9% of ESPN Leagues
Yes, it is 2024 and we’re still talking about Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He is eligible to return to action after starting the season on the PUP, but will not play in Week 5’s Monday Night Football tilt against the Saints. Kareem Hunt seems to be the lead back but there are still plenty of touches to be had in that Kansas City backfield as Isiah Pacheco is out for the season. I don’t know what to expect as of yet, but time will tell.
Wide Receivers
Josh Downs (Indianapolis Colts) - Owned in 40% of Yahoo and 34.9% of ESPN Leagues
Like Bigsby, if you didn’t add Downs last week as I suggested, there is still time. Downs saw 12 targets last week against the Jaguars, catching nine of them for 69 yards. In the week prior, he caught eight-of-nine targets for 82 yards and a score. Both big games came with Joe Flacco under center and we are uncertain if it’ll be Flacco or Anthony Richardson in Week 6. Either way, his role is safe with whomever is throwing the football (I’d prefer Flacco as a Downs owner.) Even when Downs missed the first two weeks of the season, Alec Pierce in this role had monster games as well.
Jalen Tolbert (Dallas Cowboys) - Owned in 7% of Yahoo and 7.6% of ESPN Leagues
To start the season, I was extremely high on Brandin Cooks, the presumed WR2 in the Cowboys’ offense. However, it seems like that role belongs to Tolbert. He caught seven-of-ten targets for 87 yards and the game winning touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. He gets a favorable matchup in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions who have allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing receivers as well.
Allen Lazard (New York Jets) - Owned in 36% of Yahoo and 38.1% of ESPN Leagues
Lazard scored his fourth touchdown of the season in the New York Jets’ Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He also saw ten targets, although he caught just four of them. Either way, Lazard has seen at least eight targets in three-of-five games to start the season. He isn’t going anywhere as Aaron Rodgers’ go-to-guy.
DeMario Douglas (New England Patriots) - Owned in 6% of Yahoo and 23% of ESPN Leagues
Nothing about the New England Patriots is sexy. By any means. But Douglas has emerged as the top option in their depleted receiving corps. He caught six-of-nine targets for 59 yards in the Patriots’ Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He’s now seen nine targets in two-of-his-last-three games.
Tre Tucker (Las Vegas Raiders) - Owned in 19% of Yahoo and 17.2% of ESPN Leagues
Tucker was included in our Week 5 edition of this series and he didn’t show up against the Broncos. However, the rumor mill continues to circle about Devante Adams being traded away. In the Raiders’ Week 4 performance without Adams, Tucker caught five-of-six passes for 41 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. The game prior, he caught seven-of-nine targets for 96 yards and a score. In the event Adams is moved and Tucker slides into the permanent WR2 role in Las Vegas, this move now could pay off down the road.
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin (New York Jets) - Owned in 30% of Yahoo and 37.2% of ESPN Leagues
Conklin has now seen at least six targets in each of his last three outings. He caught six-of-nine targets for 55 yards in Week 5. It wasn’t that long ago when he caught five-of-six targets for 93 yards in Week 3 against the Patriots. As the tight end position continues to be a crap-shoot, Conklin’s consistency should interest you.
Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Owned in 37% of Yahoo and 16.7% of ESPN Leagues
Otton has now seen 21 targets over his last three weeks. Volume is key when it comes to tight end play and anyone receiving seven targets on average per game is worth a look. He also has 143 yards across those three games as well. Getting consistent production out of this roster spot should be enough to add Otton.
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