As if injuries were not enough, now we have bye weeks to deal with. And to make matters worse, losing players from the Chiefs and Panthers, players like Patrick Mahomes, Bryce Young, Kenneth Walker, Tetairoa McMillan, and Travis Kelce, could be a real momentum stopper. But you still need to set a lineup this week, so let’s get to the Week 5 waivers.
Every week, we’ll highlight our Top 5 fantasy football waiver wire pickups to help you stay ahead of the competition and keep your roster strong. When bye weeks start, I also like to add this Pro Tip: WATCH THE DROP LIST! With so many star players on bye, managers may need to cut someone they normally would not. It won’t be Walker or McMillan, but it could be a good player to make room for a one-week replacement.
Week 5 byes: Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.
A few quick notes: I use ESPN as my baseline, so players must be available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues to make the list. I’m also a proponent of streaming QB, TE, K, and DEF, so you’ll rarely see those positions here; they’re easy to snag for free after waivers. Save your FAAB! Now, let’s hit the Top 5.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Waivers
Emanuel Wilson (50% Available on ESPN, 38% on Sleeper)
The news this week is that Zach Charbonnet is close to ready and the Seahawks just signed Joe Mixon, so why am I telling you to add Emanuel Wilson? First, “close” could still mean a few weeks for Charbs. Second, Joe Mixon is dust. With rookie Jadarian Price on IR, this is Wilson’s backfield for 2-3 weeks. He already had two 80+ yard games and will help those losing Walker or Chuba Hubbard this week a lot.
FAAB Suggestion: 15%. Likelihood you’ll still be starting him in a month: 33%.
If you want more than a Top 5, join us live today at 11 am EST on YouTube for WireTapped!
Keon Coleman (95% Available on ESPN, 85% on Sleeper)
My fantasy football relationship with Coleman has been a downward spiral. I was a fan before the draft because he is a tall WR. It’s my type, a la Mike Evans. Then the post-draft interviews, and the hook was set. Then he got on the field…or didn’t…and I realized I was bamboozled. But, he seems ready to step up after DJ Moore re-injured his shoulder, and you cannot ignore 116 yards and a TD. Plus, he plays with Josh Allen. They are saying Moore’s injury is short-term, but hurting yourself twice in a month is going to lead to some time off. Coleman could be fun in October.
FAAB Suggestion: 15%. Likelihood you’ll still be starting him in a month: 50%.
Woody Marks (50% Available on ESPN, 42% on Sleeper)
Marks is a slow and steady option. He is not doing anything special, but he does have TDs in back-to-back games. Plus, he plays the Titans and Giants over the next three weeks. If you need to fire him up during a bye week, he has shown more scoring upside than most on waivers. If you already have David Montgomery, Marks should be an insurance policy on your bench.
FAAB Suggestion: 10%. Likelihood you’ll still be starting him in a month: 20%.
Mike Gesicki (90% Available on ESPN, 84% on Sleeper)
Gesicki is a perfect “break glass in emergency” type player. When a Cincinnati receiver gets hurt, Gesicki tends to benefit. In case you missed it, all of the Bengals WRs are hurt. Ja’Marr Chase has a concussion, Tee Higgins is dealing with an abductor injury, and Andrei Iosivas was already on IR. There is a very real chance Gesicki is Joe Burrow’s WR1 this week against the Miami Dolphins. That’s also a Gesicki Revenge Game. To. The. Moon.
FAAB Suggestion: 5%. Likelihood you’ll still be starting him in a month: 20%.
Will Shipley (99% Available on ESPN, 99% on Sleeper)
Josh Hudson sums this one up best: “I love how we draft Tank Bigsby as a handcuff, and then he and Saquon Barkley go down in the same week. This season has been CRUEL!” Shipley has not looked bad this year in a backup role and came into the league with some pass-catching chops. Bigsby is done, so even if Barkley plays, Shipley has Flex value in PPR leagues in the short term.
FAAB Suggestion: 5%. Likelihood you’ll still be starting him in a month: 20%.
Be sure you’re following Ryan on X! If you’re looking for more, you can also find more great fantasy football content from Club Fantasy here!
You can also find Club Fantasy’s Week 5 rankings here!