2017 Fantasy Football: Week 5 Waiver Wire Players
Waiver wire time is the best time of the week next to the actual games. Every weekend there is that one guy that has a huge game and we all put in our claim for him hoping he can turn around our season. And why not? Jordan Howard was a waiver wire add last year, Devonta Freeman was a waiver wire add a few seasons ago, Odell Beckham was a waiver wire add in his rookie season, and Josh Gordon was a waiver wire add in the last full season he played. All those players were the highest owned players on championship teams the year of their breakout seasons. It seems every year, at least one player emerges from out of nowhere and leads fantasy owners to the promise land. Will that player be someone from Week 4? Only time will tell…
Top Waiver Wire Adds for Week X
The LootCrate Waiver Wire Add of the Week: Deshaun Watson (HOU) 32 percent owned
How could Waston not be the LootCrate Waiver Wire add of the week after the performance he had today. He had 283 yards four TDs and one interception. If you couple this week’s game with last week’s good showing in New England, it looks like the Texans have their QB of the future. If you’re able to add him this week, you might have your QB too.
Quarterback
Andy Dalton (CIN) 46 percent owned
Dalton is starting to look like the Dalton that a lot of experts (yours truly) picked to be a dark horse top twelve QB this season. He came out last week, and for the first half it looked like he had figured it out, but after faltering in the second half I had my doubts about him. I think he will use this game as a springboard to better games. I know it was the Browns, but four TDs on the road is impressive nonetheless.
Jared Goff (LAR) 22 percent owned
Goff is turning into a legit NFL QB and is fast becoming a decent fantasy option as well. I don’t think he is quite a weekly fantasy starter, but if you’re looking for a bye week fill-in, Goff could be your guy. The only downside to Goff is his tough schedule that includes matchups with the Seahawks, Cardinals, Giants, Texans, and Vikings.
Running Back
Alvin Kamara (NO) 45 percent owned
There is only one team in the league that has a more frustrating running back situation on a year-to-year basis than do the Saints and that is the Patriots. During the Sean Payton era, the Saints always seem to have a three-headed monster in the backfield, and that was how this season started with Adrian Peterson, Mark Ingram and Kamara all getting touches. That changed this week with Peterson barely seeing the ball. A two-headed monster is much easier to deal with, and Kamara as the passing down back gives him a lot of value in a PPR leagues. The Saints figure to be playing from behind more often than not, and even when they are leading they like to pass it.
Andre Ellington (ARI) 22 percent owned
Ellington is a deep PPR league add only as I don’t think his production is sustainable, but any RB getting 14 targets, as he did in Week 4, will raise some eyebrows.
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Elijah McGuire (NYJ) 2 percent owned
McGuire was put on the waiver wire radar the moment he broke off a 69-yard touchdown run. With Matt Forte missing this game, McGuire may have shown enough to gain some more touches even when Forte is healthy. He also has a favorable schedule the Browns and Dolphins over the next few weeks.
Wayne Gallman (NYG) 2 percent owned
Gallman looked infinitely better than Paul Perkins has looked all season and has earned himself at least a spot in the rotation, even when Orleans Darkwa returns. The touchdown reception certainly helped his fantasy totals, but if you are desperate for an RB or have a spot on your bench, he is worth an add.
Aaron Jones (GB) 11 percent owned
Jones has the potential of being a one-week rental if Ty Montgomery is back for Week 6, but after a good showing on Thursday night, after both Montgomery and Jamal Williams went down with injury, he is worth an add.
Latavius Murray 15 percent owned/Jerick McKinnon 3 percent owned
The Vikings looked like they had finally found their Adrian Peterson replacement in Dalvin Cook, but after a non-contact injury that is feared to be a torn ACL, Murray will likely step into an early down role with the passing downs going to McKinnon. I wouldn’t reach too far for either, but both are worth adding in all leagues.
J.D. McKissic (SEA) Zero percent owned
I’m writing this as I watch the Sunday night game, and I just saw Chris Carson being carted off the field, and it did not look good. Eddie Lacy is more likely to be the guy to fill in, but after watching the explosion that McKissic had on his touchdown run, I think I want him over Lacy. (And he just scored a receiving touchdown right after I wrote this)
Wide Receiver
Will Fuller (HOU) 31 percent owned
For those of you that follow me on Instagram (@GoingFor2DotCom), you already know I had Will Fuller as one of my FanDuel value plays. I couldn’t go so far as to tell you to start him in seasonal leagues, but after a great showing in Week 4, he needs to be owned in ALL leagues.
Devin Funchess (CAR) 25 percent owned
Here we go again, the Devin Funchess “breakout” talk has resurfaced. He has received double-digit targets two games in a row, and with Greg Olsen on IR, he should continue to soak up some of that production. Cam Newton looked much better than he has all season in Week 4, which would help all of the Panthers’ skill players if he can build on this game.
Mike Williams (LAC) 7 percent owned
I mentioned Williams in my column last week thinking he might be able to make his debut in Week 4. He did not, but it is coming. He isn’t likely to come straight from the injury report and make a huge impact, but he could make a good bye week fill in if you have some late byes. There is that outside chance he comes back and does what Odell Beckham did in his rookie season, come in and dominate. It isn’t likely to happen, but it is possible, he has the talent.
Jaron Brown (ARI) 5 percent owned
Brown has turned into a target monster in this Cardinals’ offense with two games of 12 targets and one with 11. It was especially encouraging to see him do with John Brown in the lineup. He is a worth an add in all formats as the Cardinals are one of the more pass-heavy offenses in the league.
Tight End
Cameron Brate (TB) 49 percent owned
I talked about him all offseason as being the tight end to own for the Bucs in redraft leagues. Everyone else had already passed the proverbial torch to O.J. Howard, but rookie TEs don’t make an impact in the NFL often. Howard is the dynasty guy, Brate in redraft.
Evan Engram (NYG) 46 percent owned
Okay, I know I just said rookie TEs don’t make impacts in their first year, but Engram has proven to be the exception so far this season and has worked himself into a low-end TE1 over his first four games.
Tyler Kroft (CIN) 1 percent owned
Kroft had a good game filling if for Tyler Eifert and as long as Eifert is out, Kroft will be a low-end TE1.
I will update this on Tuesday if any players pop in the Monday night game.
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