Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 5

Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (available in 37% of leagues)

Minnesota’s offense has not been good this year. In fact, they haven’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. We saw some encouraging signs from Murray in Week 4, though, as he threw for 247 yards without Justin Jefferson (ankle) in the lineup. Although he didn’t do much running on Sunday, Murray has that in his toolkit, making him a decent reserve.

Others to Target

• Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (90%): Rodgers looked rough in the first two games of the season, but he has rebounded to throw for 591 yards and six TDs in Weeks 3 and 4. That moves him back into the QB2 conversation.
• Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (78%): I advocated for picking up Cousins last week, and he promptly went out and threw for 365 yards and two TDs. Even with the specter of Fernando Mendoza looming, there continues to be QB2 value with Cousins.

Running Backs

RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (40%)

Charbonnet (knee) returned to practice on Thursday, Oct. 1, opening a 21-day window for the team to activate him from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Two days later, Seattle put rookie Jadarian Price (chest) on IR, meaning he’ll miss a minimum of four games. Charbonnet, who had 874 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago, is not expected to play in Week 5, but a Week 6 return sounds plausible. He’s someone to grab now or it’ll be too late.

Others to Target

• RB Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles (72%): With Saquon Barkley (hamstring) departing due to injury for the second time in three weeks, Bigsby again carried the load. He was more effective this time, carrying the ball 14 times for 55 yards. He appeared to get dinged up as well, though, so keep an eye out for an injury update on both backs.
• RB Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (60%): Until Charbonnet is back, Wilson is the lead back in Seattle, and he might even retain that role for a while, as Seattle is unlikely to ask Charbonnet to shoulder too much of the load early on.
• RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (32%): Now that Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) has been placed on IR, Kamara should be the primary back for at least the next month with Kendre Miller as the complementary option.
• RB Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins (38%): For at least one week, it was Gordon working ahead of Jaylen Wright. He was shockingly effective, too, turning nine carries into 100 yards and a score. It’s still entirely possible that Wright ends up as the primary back, but you can’t ignore what Gordon did in Week 4.
• RB Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers (94%): Johnson had a terrible fumble when Green Bay was looking to go up two scores in the fourth quarter, but he looked like the team’s most dangerous runner (eight carries for 42 yards) and was getting the goal-line opportunity. Those in deeper leagues should at least consider scooping him up.

Wide Receivers

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (39%)

Worthy enjoyed his best game of the season on Sunday, catching four passes for 70 yards. It’s what happened around him that makes him a priority addition, however, as Rashee Rice (hamstring) injured his hamstring and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) was carted off. While we don’t know how long Rice will be sidelined, it’s hard to imagine we’ll see Thornton again in 2026. Even though the Chiefs are off in Week 5, Worthy should be added now.

Others to Target

• Tyreek Hill, Free Agent (78%): It’s been over a year since Hill injured his knee, and the rumblings are starting to grow louder about his return—especially after injuries to wideouts like Thornton and Jayden Reed (neck). While Hill is 32, he was on an 89-1,126-4 pace before he got hurt last season. That’s enough to make him worth stashing, at least in deeper formats.
• Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills (96%): In Week 4, Coleman enjoyed his best game since the 2025 opener, catching six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He’s a bigger target than DJ Moore (shoulder) or Khalil Shakir. If he can carve out a consistent role on offense, Coleman has intriguing upside.
• Romeo Doubs, New England Patriots (43%): Doubs is back on my list for a second time after posting a 6-58-2 line in a win over the Bills. He’s not going to wow you, but he’s a solid depth piece as a WR4/WR5.
• KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns (39%): I mentioned Concepcion a week ago based on his nine targets in Week 3. He followed that up with a 5-64-0 line on eight targets this past Thursday. Roster the rookie as a WR5 with upside.
• Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (97%): Pittsburgh’s passing game is still a bit dicey, but other than DK Metcalf, Wilson has been the closest thing to a standout. He’s at least someone to target in deeper formats.

Tight Ends

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (98%)

With Terrance Ferguson (ankle) landing on IR, Higbee steps into the role of LA’s primary pass-catching tight end. The veteran had eight catches, 62 yards, and a touchdown versus the Denver Broncos in Week 3 when Ferguson went down and then put up a 5-67-0 line on Sunday. He has tangible short-term value.

Others to Target

• T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (71%): It’s been a few years now since Hockenson did much of note, but he was busy against the Dolphins with 13 receptions for 119 yards. While you shouldn’t read too much into it—remember that Jefferson was inactive—this came in Murray’s second start, so perhaps Hockenson will be someone he leans on. Don’t forget that his favorite target in recent years with the Arizona Cardinals was Trey McBride.
• Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (93%): After scoring a touchdown in Week 3, Mayer caught eight passes for 82 yards versus the Chiefs. I’m skeptical an NFL offense can support two fantasy-worthy tight ends, but right now that passing game is centered on that position.

Defensive Teams

Defenses I like for Week 5

• Dallas Cowboys (84%): Jalon Daniels wasn’t terrible in his NFL debut, but he still took three sacks and tossed a pair of interceptions. He’ll make his first road start on Thursday night. Advantage: Dallas.
• Chicago Bears (41%): The Bears have been on a roll defensively, holding their last three opponents to a combined 22 points. Green Bay has struggled to open the season, and their backs are having issues with ball security.
• Cleveland Browns (86%): Cleveland had five sacks and two takeaways last Thursday, and now they face a New York Jets team that managed just 157 yards of offense in Week 4.