Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Advice
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com.
Quarterback
Derek Carr, Raiders (36% Owned): Carr finally broke through, like I knew he would. In a shootout vs. the Browns, Carr chucked it 58 times to the tune of 437 yards and four touchdowns. With an awful defense, the Raiders will continue to be in shootout scenarios, and Carr’s next three tilts are against the Chargers, Seahawks and Colts. If you are struggling with someone like Russell Wilson, get out there and grab Carr.
Joe Flacco, Ravens (25% Owned): I’m still a little skeptical of Flacco, but the new weapons that the front office surrounded him with are working out. John Brown is everything he needed as a downfield threat, and Flacco’s thrown the ball 40+ times in three straight weeks. He has two road games upcoming, but if you need a QB and miss out on Carr, Flacco looks like a safe bet to not stink up the joint right now.
Running Back
T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars (50% Owned): Yeah, we’re doing this again. Leonard Fournette has re-aggravated his hamstring injury, leaving Yeldon as a boring-ish, volume-based RB2. Yeldon is a must-start in PPR leagues, and close to a must-start in half-PPR leagues. He’s not exciting, but he’s going to produce without Fournette in his way.
Frank Gore, Dolphins (8% Owned): Gore is doing exactly what I expected, getting in the way of Kenyan Drake’s touches. In a week where Miami was down all day, you’d think Drake would get a workout in the passing game. Nope! Gore carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards, and added a receiving score. Gore MUST be owned by any Drake owner, and in very deep leagues he has value as an emergency play that you can count on for non-zero output in your FLEX. In the event of a Drake injury, Gore becomes a steady, low-floor FLEX option.
LeGarrette Blount, Lions (15% Owned): Blount got seven carries for some reason. He’s a clear, must-own handcuff for Kerryon Johnson owners, but he can be safely ignored by the rest of your league. Should Johnson get hurt, Blount is a volume-based FLEX.
C.J. Anderson, Panthers (27% Owned): Anderson, like Blount, is a must-own handcuff for Christian McCaffery owners. He’s largely useless to everyone else, but if McCaffery went down, Anderson is talented enough to be in the RB2 conversation in a solid Panthers offense, especially with Cam Newton opening up running lanes.
Mike Davis, Seahawks (2% Owned): Davis got a shocking 21 carries last week for 111 yards and two touchdowns against a woeful Cardinals team. I’d still prefer Rashaad Penny if I’m a Chris Carson owner, but Davis is worth a $1 add if you have Carson based on that high usage. It’s wort noting that Davis has a brutal matchup this week vs. the Rams, but after that it’s Oakland and Detroit.
Wide Receiver
Taywan Taylor, Titans (3% Owned): Taylor is my favorite add of the week. With Rishard Matthews gone from the team, Taylor owned the No. 2 receiver role and saw nine targets from Marcus Mariota. He turned those targets into seven receptions and 77 yards in a thriller vs. the Eagles, and has a blowup matchup coming up vs. the barely-NFL caliber Bills. Get this explosive wideout and don’t be afraid to shell out some FAAB.
Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (47% Owned): Godwin can probably be had for free after a weak game vs. the Bears, and with Tampa Bay on bye. The Bucs receiver hierarchy is facing a potential shakeup with Jameis Winston taking over at QB, but Godwin is less dependent on big plays than DeSean Jackson, and his big body will soak up some of the targets vacated by TE O.J. Howard. See if you can sneak him on your team with a very low bid and be happy with the depth he provides.
Dede Westbrook, Jaguars (17% Owned): A few weeks ago I recommended Keelan Cole over Dede Westbrook. While I stand by that, Westbrook should be owned. He saw 13 targets vs. a vulnerable Jets secondary, and ravaged it for nine catches and 130 yards. This isn’t going to be a regular thing, but the Jaguars WRs seem to take turns going off, so he’s a decent option in any given week to replace a steadier option who is injured or on bye.
Tight End
Vance McDonald, Steelers (43% Owned): McDonald has been thrown to five times in each of Pittsburgh’s first three games, with varying degrees of success. With Le’Veon Bell holding out, this offense will continue to be pass-happy, rendering McDonald useful.
Cameron Brate, Buccaneers (24% Owned): Brate hasn’t matched his previous success with O.J. Howard emerging, but Howard is out now, and his connection with Winston is being rekindled. Even with reduced targets, Brate has scored in back-to-back games. With Tampa on bye, he’ll likely be a free add, and he can potentially pay off big.