Fantasy Football 2024 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 rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.

Immediately Useful

Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs (36% Rostered): Hunt didn’t have a big game by any stretch of the imagination, and the electric player we once saw don this Chiefs uniform years ago is a relic of the past. However, the Chiefs’ injury situation is dire across the board on offense, and Hunt played nearly half Kansas City’s snaps and earned 17 opportunities. At this point, calling the Chiefs offense high-powered is really just giving them credit for the past when Tyreek Hill’s presence opened up the field for everyone. With that said, the starting Chiefs RB is still a very valuable role for fantasy production, and Sunday made clear that Andy Reid’s comfort level with Hunt makes him the leader of the pack. With bye weeks beginning, and injuries running rampant throughout the NFL, Hunt’s locked in volume as well as the offense’s overall upside with Patrick Mahomes running the show make him the top add. I don’t believe there’s league-winning upside anymore, but there’s weekly starter upside and playable FLEX floor.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Cowboys (48% Rostered): Being the Cowboys’ lead back doesn’t seem quite as fruitful as it was a few seasons ago, but Dowdle appears to have successfully relegated Ezekiel Elliott to change of pace status in this offense. His snap rates have hovered in the 45% range for each of Dallas’ first four games, while Zeke’s dropped from around 50% the first two weeks into the teens in Weeks 3 and 4. It’s obvious his juice is gone, and Dowdle is just capable of making more happen. Dowdle earned a season-high 11 carries vs. the Giants Thursday, and caught his lone target for a 15-yard touchdown. Like Hunt, I don’t see a league-winner here, but if he has the lion’s share of snaps and volume for Dallas, he’s going to get in the end zone on occasion and establish a useful floor for weeks when injuries are especially rough, or the bye weeks are piling up.

Trey Sermon, RB, Colts (1% Rostered): Jonathan Taylor suffered a potential high ankle sprain Sunday, so he’s likely to miss some time. Sermon appears to be the next man up, but I would be careful about spending a massive amount of FAAB. Even though he looks like the clear handcuff, he’s never been a positive contributor in the NFL, and in cases like this surprises are not surprising. If you’re desperate to replace Taylor, Sermon is the guy on the Colts, but it’d be preferable to replace him with Hunt or Dowdle if possible.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Packers (14% Rostered): Wicks was a popular sleeper this preseason, but through three weeks had obviously hit waiver wires due to a disappointing Week 1 followed by mediocre production trying to play with backup QB Malik Willis. Well, now he’s going to be an expensive add, because with Jordan Love back under center Wicks showed why we were all intrigued. He went off for five catches, 78 yards and two scores, taking advantage of extra snaps available due to yet another Christian Watson injury.

Before the season, I wrote about how Wicks was probably my second most desirable Packers’ receiver due to his versatility and ability to fill in any role on the offense. With Watson out, Wicks can capably step into that X receiver role and not affect the Swiss Army knife appeal of Jayden Reed. Wicks drew 13 targets in this game, and while this may be the high end of what he can do, that’s pretty damn useful. I’d spend pretty heavily for Wicks if WR help is necessary, and even if it’s not and you’re just looking to deepen your roster. Wicks will be a season long asset.

Justin Fields, QB, Steelers (31% Rostered): Fields has been quietly racking up wins in positive game scripts for the Steelers, but what we hadn’t seen was the electric fantasy superstar who put up RB1 rushing stats on the regular. Well, finally the Colts jumped on the Steelers and forced them out of their ultra-conservative philosophy, and we saw fantasy QB1 Fields unleashed. He threw for 312 yards and a score, which is more than usual, but the 10 rushing attempts, 55 yards and two rushing touchdowns are the good stuff. Those are the numbers that you pay draft capital for to pick Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray. I’ve banged the drum that this is available from Fields on the cheap, and now it’ll be less cheap. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers pulling the rug out from under him now, so Fields looks like a reasonable season long solution for managers who are hurting at QB.

Darnell Mooney, WR, Falcons (47% Rostered): Mooney had a down game, catching only three passes for 56 yards, but his six targets show the involvement is still there. Mooney has always been a boom or bust player, but in Atlanta the boom has been infused with a pretty solid floor. Now, three catches for 56 yards isn’t what you necessarily want in your lineup, but at this rate you can trust that Mooney won’t goose you. Mooney is a very nice asset for deep league managers navigating bye weeks, or even mid-size league managers dealing with those same byes, and maybe injuries to players they drafted.

Justice Hill, RB, Ravens (14% Rostered): Hill is playing more than you think, because Derrick Henry’s gaudy stats are hiding it. Hill’s been around a long time now, and we know he’s not a game-changer. But he is very clearly the Ravens’ passing situation back, and  when he’s playing around 50% of snaps, he’s actually established a non-zero floor. Hill has caught six passes twice in four games this year, and Baltimore’s defense has actually been surprisingly pliable against the pass. In games where the Ravens fall behind, Hill can do some stuff. He makes sense as a pure depth option/desperation FLEX.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Browns (48% Rostered): Flawed WR on a bad offense with a terrible QB anyone? Jeudy has problems for sure, but volume is king in fantasy, and Jeudy has drawn only seven fewer targets than Amari Cooper. If you’re managing a healthy team and you’re searching for upside to stash, move on past Jeudy. If you are hurting and need someone you can play immediately, Jeudy, with matchups against Carolina and Tampa Bay upcoming, fits the bill.

Josh Downs, WR, Colts (20% Rostered): If you are hunting for upside, Downs is an appealing option. Downs started the season injured, and in his second game back caught eight balls for 82 yards and a touchdown. Downs is unquestionably more palatable if Joe Flacco is playing QB rather than Anthony Richardson because Downs’ game, which is elite route running and separation on short and intermediate routes, doesn’t play as well with Richardson who is unrefined and often looking deep. Still, as Richardson grows as a passer, Downs will be a good friend to him because he’s consistently open. At his best, Downs is a high-volume receiving option with a safe, high floor, and big play upside. Even with Richardson making him volatile, he should be much more widely rostered than this.

Allen Lazard, WR, Jets (36% Rostered): Lazard doesn’t separate and consistently commits back-breaking penalties, but he’s Aaron Rodgers’ boy and therefore barely leaves the field. We said earlier volume is king, and that’s never been more true than it is for Lazard, who for all his flaws has always drawn targets from Rodgers and continually held at least marginal fantasy value. That’s the case here; Lazard has three touchdowns in four games, so he can’t be ignored, but I’d prefer to not ever play him because there really is no floor.

Joe Flacco, QB, Colts (1% Rostered): Flacco was jettisoned in the offseason because everyone knew if he stayed in Cleveland, he’d create controversy with Deshaun Watson by outplaying him. Thrust into action early Sunday for a whole new team, Flacco threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns against the best defense in the NFL. Anthony Richardson’s status is up in the air with a hip injury, but if he’s out, you bet Flacco is a playable option. He’ll be cheap too, since his starting status is extremely temporary.

Zach Ertz, TE, Commanders (30% Rostered): TE is disgusting right now, so before you laugh at me calling Ertz useful, keep in mind Mark Andrews was a fourth round pick and has had two targets and zero points in the last two weeks, while Kyle Pitts also put up a big, fat zero on Sunday. Ertz isn’t doing much, but he’s very crucially also not doing nothing. In the current landscape, doing something is being a startable TE, and with Jayden Daniels playing the way he is, Ertz is a good bet to do something.

Speculative/Deep Cuts

Mike Williams, WR, Jets (21% Rostered): Williams is still working his way back from a season-ending 2023 knee injury, and playing more and more each week. He looks better than Lazard does, and is a much better bet down the field than Lazard, even if they share the same issues of separation from DBs. If it’s not an immediate need, I’d prefer to add Williams over Lazard from this offense, but Williams isn’t exactly start-worthy just yet.

Jordan Whittington, WR, Rams (3% Rostered): Whittington finally made himself relevant after an offseason of hype. He was a late rising sleeper, and when injuries bit Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, Whittington had his lane to relevance. It’s taken some time, but Whittington was on the field for 97% of snaps on Sunday and had six  catches for 62 yards on eight targets. Now, there should still be hesitation to play him. He’s still an unproven rookie, on a team without quality receivers around him, and an offensive line that’s been eaten away at like it has termites. But stash him now, because another good game can give confidence that he’s actually a high-floor FLEX.

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (23% Rostered): We don’t have to like that Allgeier is a quality player whom the Falcons can’t keep off the field, but we have to accept it. He had nearly 40% of snaps on Sunday, and actually had more carries than Bijan Robinson. While we moan about that, Allgeier outplayed him, rushing for 60 yards on those eight carries. Most weeks, he’ll be an afterthought to Bijan with some standalone value, but should Robinson go down, Allgeier, with the role to himself, becomes a very valuable asset.

Alexander Mattison, RB, Raiders (33% Rostered): Mattison continues to be the clear handcuff to Zamir White, and the Raiders’ preferred option at the goal line. Neither RB has much value, but Mattison is probably the preferred option in desperation mode because he might score a TD.

Antonio Gibson, RB, Patriots (17% Rostered): Gibson remains behind Rhamondre Stevenson in a low-scoring offense, but Stevenson’s fumbling issues are now threatening to cost him snaps. Gibson has shown explosiveness this year, and big play ability in the receiving game. We have seen Gibson flash before and then fall out of favor, but he’s worth stashing if you’re a frustrated Stevenson manager.

Emanuel Wilson, RB, Packers (14% Rostered): Wilson doesn’t have much standalone value, but this is a good offense, and he has shown he’s the clear next man up for Josh Jacobs. A Jacobs injury puts Wilson in RB2 discussions.

Ty Chandler, RB, Vikings (33% Rostered): For Chandler, read the blurb for Emanuel Wilson, and replace Josh Jacobs with Aaron Jones.