Waiver Wire Watch: Week 5 Targets

Sep 30, 2019

Adam Glanzman / Contributor / Getty

Week 4 brought us the first bye weeks of the season, though with the Jets and 49ers being the first teams to take a break, fantasy teams weren’t really hurting too much. Now that we’re one-fourth of the way through the season, the waiver pool is thinning out a bit. However, there are a few noteworthy players returning from suspension who I mention below along with the rest of the Week 5 waiver wire targets.

Before we get into the meat of the article, there are a few house-keeping items: Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 5.

Quarterbacks

1. Jacoby Brissett

2. Andy Dalton

3. Chase Daniel

4. Marcus Mariota

5. Kyle Allen

6. Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts, 35% owned ($5)

Brissett has been a staple in this section for weeks, as I’ve been pounding the table for more people to add the young passer. He’s proven capable of leading Frank Reich’s offense and his schedule was and continues to be quite favorable. Brissett has thrown two-plus touchdowns in every game this year, and is averaging nearly 290 yards per contest over his last two weeks, which happened to be more favorable matchups. Even without T.Y. Hilton this week, Brissett threw for 310 yards and three scores. Brissett is the crown jewel among quarterbacks still on the waiver wire, and if you’re in need don’t wait any longer to add him.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, 35% owned ($4)

Through three weeks, Dalton was the No. 10 fantasy quarterback. No matter how he does on Monday Night Football, as long as he's healthy heading into Week 5 he'll be a decent streaming option against a generous Cardinals secondary.

Chase Daniel, Chicago Bears, 0% owned ($1)

Mitchell Trubisky left the game early in the first quarter, forcing Daniel into action. The veteran acquitted himself well, completing 22 of 30 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Trubisky was seen on the sideline in a sling, but at this point, the extent of his injury isn’t clear. If Daniel starts again next week, he’ll be a potential streaming option as the Bears will face the Raiders in London. The Raiders have been gashed through the air in two of the last three weeks, and the only time they weren’t was when Dalvin Cook and the Vikings ran roughshod over the Raiders.

Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans, 11% owned ($1)

Mariota put together a great performance just when questions were starting to swirl about how long he would keep his starting job. A 227-yard, three-touchdown, no interception performance should give him some more leash. Don’t expect Mariota to take this game and ride a wave of momentum into the next few weeks, as the Titans face a buzzsaw of a schedule, starting with the Bills next week. Only look to Mariota if desperate.

Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers, 17% owned ($1)

Allen’s run as a starting fantasy quarterback may already be coming to an end. While he was electric in his first start of the season (261 yards, four touchdowns), Allen fell flat against the Texans, losing three fumbles and failing to throw a touchdown. Allen’s upcoming games are brutal if he continues to start for the injured Cam Newton. His next six weeks look like this: vs. Jacksonville, at Tampa Bay, BYE, at San Francisco, vs. Tennessee, at Green Bay, with a bye week. Only those desperate for a signal-caller should look Allen’s way given the gauntlet he'll have to run.

Dwayne Haskins, Washington Redskins, 3% owned ($1)

Haskins was thrust into the spotlight this week to fill in for the struggling Case Keenum. The rookie didn’t provide much of a change, completing nine-of-17 passes for 107 yards while throwing three interceptions in relief. If the team turns the offense over to Haskins from here on out, they’re dealing the rookie a tough hand. Four of his next five matchups come against elite defenses (vs. New England, vs. San Francisco, at Minnesota, at Buffalo). Haskins is worth a speculative add, as a week of starter’s practice reps and the return of Terry McLaurin could help him, but it’d be risky to trust him before he establishes himself as a bona fide fantasy quarterback.