Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans | 40% | FAAB: 45-50%

Half of his 22 total utilizations came in the fourth quarter, when the game was still 6-0 Houston, until he scored the first TD and broke open the floodgates. The dynamic rookie brings versatility Nick Chubb cannot match, and a fresh set of legs helped propel the Texans to their first win of the season. Expect more of that to come as long as Marks is healthy, making him the top add of the week. Be aware he'll lose a few crucial touches around the stripe to the more powerful Chubb. Also, Joe Mixon (ankle) should eventually return, perhaps after the Week 6 bye, but Marks has staying power.

WR Darius Slayton, New York Giants | 85% | FAAB: 18-20%

Losing WR Malik Nabers to a presumed ACL tear will push Slayton up the depth chart and make him the likely deep threat of this passing game, partnering with Wan'Dale Robinson (83% owned) as the primary targets for new starter Jaxson Dart. The 28-year-old Slayton has finished with 700-plus yards in four of his six NFL seasons but has not lived up to the 48-740-8 line (12.1 PPR/game) from his 2019 rookie year. Consider him a WR3/flex type the rest of the way.

Fantasy Football Waiver Picks to Stash

It would be wise to snag these guys for a rainy day, if you have the roster space.

RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints | 64% | FAAB: 2-4%

Alvin Kamara is no stranger to minor injuries and ain't gettin' any younger, so expect more of Miller after his promising Week 4 showing. The fragile rusher garnered 11 attempts that turned into 65 yards and a score against Buffalo, which is about the only way he figures to contribute in fantasy, provided AK41 remains healthy. Nevertheless, he's a viable handcuff and stash for the right matchups with bye weeks arriving. The Saints face the New York Giants in Week 5, pointing toward a potential flex opportunity for needy gamers.

RB Kenneth Gainwell | Pittsburgh Steelers | 49% | FAAB: 1-2%

With Jaylen Warren inactive this week, it was Gainwell and not rookie Kaleb Johnson who dominated the backfield workload. The versatile veteran finished with a pair of scores and 134 total yards of offense. The primary reason he's only a stash listing is the Steelers are on bye in Week 5, which will give Warren more time to heal. Barring Warren finding his way to IR, Gainwell is merely a handcuff stash.

RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans | 53% | FAAB: 2-4%

Spears (ankle) is eligible to return as soon as Week 5, though it's likely the team will employ a ramp-up approach. He belongs on rosters in leagues of 12-plus teams, especially if you own Tony Pollard.

RB Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals | 80% | FAAB: 1-2%

Reiterating from last week, Demercado is worth stashing/handcuffing in cavernous leagues. His workload should chiefly come as a third-down option or change-of-pacer, which gives him a sliver of worth for PPR formats, especially if it looks like the Cards will be in a negative game script.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Streamers

Looking for a one-week rental to cover an injury, a bye week, or to exploit a matchup? These players belong on your short list of targets.

TE Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams | 75% | FAAB: 0-1%

There's tremendous risk associated with starting Tonges, but four teams on bye, coupled with a few injuries of note, including George Kittle, means there should be grace here. The Niners saw WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) exit early, and his status for Week 5 is unclear at this time. The Rams rank in the middle of the league vs. the position, and you could do worse if chasing a cheap TD is the plan.

PK Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Denver Broncos | 33% | FAAB: 0-1%

Already owned in most leagues, this one is aimed at smaller or more casual circles. The Eagles have a Week 5 date with Denver's stout defense, and Philly's offense hasn't fully clicked just yet. Stalled drives will lead to Elliott's powerful leg giving the chance for bonus scoring against a team that allowed four field goal attempts per game in the first three weeks.

PK Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks | 38% | FAAB: 0-1%

Much like the Elliott recommendation, McLaughlin is on most rosters, but it doesn't hurt to take a peek. The Seahawks have a strong enough defense to keep Tampa's offense from going bonkers. McLaughlin has been among the best feet in fantasy the last two weeks, and the Buccaneers' injury woes suggest points could be at a premium once again.

PK Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans | 91% | FAAB: 0-1%

Widely available, Ryland makes for a quality add against a Tennessee special teams unit that has granted at least two field goal attempts in each outing and three in both of the last two. For his part in this equation, Ryland has kicked exactly two FGs in each game, missing a pair of attempts on the season. With a long of 57, he also offers bonus points for those in distance-based scoring formats. Arizona's middling offense meets a defense that aligns fairly well with its talent and tendencies.

Fantasy Watch List

Anyone in this section may not necessarily be worth adding just yet, depending on your league size and scope, but gamers should take notice and be ready to pounce.

TE Theo Johnson, New York Giants | 89%

The second-year pro caught a TD in Week 4 -- the second of his career and first in 2025 -- from Jaxon Dart, which was his first passing strike as a pro. To be fair, it was a shovel pass, and Johnson landed three of five targets for an unmemorable 17 yards. The loss of Malik Nabers (knee) opens up a wealth of targets, and Johnson is one to watch as Dart navigates the next week or two.