Fantasy Football 2022 Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickup 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 roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill, Titans (17% Rostered): It has not been easy to stream QBs this season, as most of the fantasy-relevant starters are scooped up at a 50% clip or higher, but Tannehill provides some upside if you’re really scraping. It’s been tough sledding in the yardage department due to the lack of A.J. Brown, and now he’s without rookie Treylon Burks for the foreseeable future. Still, he has eclipsed 260 yards twice in four games, posted two multi-touchdown performances and offers rushing TD potential in any given week. With upcoming games against the Commanders, Colts and Texans, it could be a decent stretch.

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (28% Rostered): Garoppolo has been shaky in his first two games, and he’s yet to hit 250 passing yards or multiple touchdowns in 2022. But he has high-end weaponry at his disposal, and matchups with the Panthers, Falcons and Chiefs that are either plus opponents or possible shootouts.

Running Backs

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (50% Rostered): Miami’s running back committee is ugly, but right now Mostert is leading the snap rate battle pretty handily. Chase Edmonds has scored in three straight games, but that’s looking a bit fluky; last week Mostert was on the field for 72% of Miami’s snaps and he carried the ball 15 times for 69 yards. With Teddy Bridgewater taking over for the time being, Miami is probably going to run a bit more, and if Mostert continues to dominate snaps, the touchdowns should come. I’d avoid using him right away if I could, but if you are desperate the work seems to be there.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (18% Rostered): Allgeier is the odds on favorite to be the next man up with Cordarrelle Patterson and Damien Williams shelved, and he did a nice job in relief this week with 84 yards on 10 carries and a 20-yard reception. Atlanta has run the ball a lot this year, so Allgeier provides a pretty safe-ish floor if you are really hurting, but his upside is likely capped because he split carries evenly with Caleb Huntley. It’s possible Allgeier can take over when Atlanta’s coaches develop a game plan with he knowledge that Patterson is out, but there’s no way to know what the split will be moving forward until they play.

Caleb Huntley, Falcons (1% Rostered): Huntley, a rookie out of Ball State, was a big boy rumbling over Seahawks in his first game with meaningful work. He put up 56 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, matching Allgeier’s total. He saw much fewer snaps than Allgeier, and wasn’t involved as a receiver, but his big-ass frame looks ideal for short yardage work, meaning he very well may be Atlanta’s goal line hammer. It’s too early to tell, but I may actually prefer Huntley as an add over Allgeier. Don’t spend too much on either guy though.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers (3% Rostered): Warren is a clear-cut handcuff to Najee Harris in a league where the handcuffs are rarely this obvious. Harris managers should consider snapping him up, because even in a low-output offense with a bad offensive line, those touches are valuable.

Mike Boone, Broncos (3% Rostered): Boone might be a frisky add here with Javonte Williams’ season over. Melvin Gordon is obviously the first man up, but Denver has been forcing a committee this year and last, and Gordon has had some fumbling issues crop up in 2022. Boone was already encroaching on this duo a bit, seeing 19% of snaps in Week 3, so Boone could very well have a fantasy-relevant workload moving forward. And if he impresses…who knows?

Wide Receivers

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (41% Rostered): Gallup’s roster % is surprising, as he’s been close to suiting up for a while. Cooper Rush has proven competent, and even fed Gallup a TD this week. In his first action, Gallup saw 64% of the snaps, which is a very healthy number. Rush doesn’t seem to be a massive detriment to the Dallas pass-catchers, and Gallup should slide right in as the clear-cut WR2 in this offense. Gallup has never been the most consistent or PPR-friendly receiver, but he should be fairly heavily targeted with Amari Cooper gone. If he is available in your league, scoop him up and feel free to spend a bit.

Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (47% Rostered): McKenzie left Week 4 with an injury, so if he is not going to play this week adjust expectations accordingly. But Jamison Crowder broke his ankle in this game, meaning when McKenzie is back he is going to soak up a lot of the snaps that Crowder had. With increased playing time he will inevitably see increased targets, because the Bills don’t run the football. McKenzie will be up-and-down, but he will have a higher ceiling than most waiver wire options because this offense is so high-powered.

Zay Jones, Jaguars (28% Rostered): Jones has been shockingly heavily targeted, drawing double-digit looks in two of his three games. Christian Kirk is the man in this offense, but Trevor Lawrence appears transformed with a competent coaching staff in place, and Jones’ work is real. He’s currently inside PFF’s Top 20 receivers on the season. The upcoming matches are gorgeous – Houston, at Indianapolis, Giants – so Jones can be a pretty safe FLEX play.

George Pickens, Steelers (39% Rostered): Pickens has flashed his ridiculous talent, but you couldn’t go near him due to how horrendous Mitchell Trubisky is. The Steelers have admitted defeat on Trubisky, and made the move to first round pick Kenny Pickett. Is Pickett an upgrade? We don’t know yet, but it would be exceedingly difficult for him to be a downgrade. Pickens is now worth a bench stash if you have the space, because if Pickett is legit, he can easily leapfrog Chase Claypool in the WR pecking order.

Mack Hollins, Raiders (31% Rostered): Hollins is more of a desperation play, especially when Hunter Renfrow returns to the fold. But he saw heavy targets in Weeks 2 and 3 – 19 total – and he delivered with 224 yards and a TD in those games. There’s massive downside here, but in deeper leagues you may not have a choice.

Tight Ends

Hayden Hurst, Bengals (21% Rostered): Hurst is proving that he is going to thrive in games where Joe Burrow doesn’t have time to hang in the pocket and deliver consistent deep shots. With this offensive line…that’s most games. Hurst is a capable pass catcher who saw 15 targets in the first two weeks. On Thursday, he only drew four looks from Burrow, but he did find the end zone. Most of the time, Hurst will get enough work to avoid goosing you without needing a TD, and that’s a surprisingly rare quality at the position.

Robert Tonyan, Packers (32% Rostered): Tonyan has a bit more upside than Hurst, but he also cannot count on the same volume. Tonyan scored his first TD last week, but only drew two targets from Aaron Rodgers. There was hope the Packers’ inexperienced receiving corps would lead to more work for Tonyan, but Romeo Doubs is emerging as a de facto WR1 here, and Christian Watson scored in Week 5. Tonyan remains an option because of Rodgers’ greatness, and Tonyan’s nose for the end zone, but he’s an extremely TD-dependent and volatile play.

Will Dissly, Seahawks (3% Rostered): Dissly is in the Tonyan mold, only he’s scored in three of four games this year. Dissly doesn’t have a QB anywhere near as good as Aaron Rodgers, but Geno Smith has been impressive through four weeks. Dissly also benefits from having D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett draw all the defensive attention, leaving him wide open in the painted area. Just don’t be shocked when he gooses you; it will happen multiple times rest of season, and be aware that Dissly has yet to top four targets.

Taysom Hill, Saints (29% Rostered): Hill is nominally a TE, but he’s really just an offensive weapon. Hill’s value will decrease dramatically when Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara are operational once again, but until then, Hill is legitimately one of the Saints’ best red zone options. And they’re not afraid to snap it directly to him, and leave him to make a play. Monitor the New Orleans injury reports, and if the big guns remain out or limited, Hill has a chance to be a difference maker.