Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups (Fantasy Football Redraft PPR)

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Lost Malik Nabers or Tyreek Hill to injury? Got Bijan Robinson or Josh Jacobs on bye? Don’t panic – we’ve got you covered heading into Week 5. Below we rank the top waiver wire adds, explain why they’re worth picking up, and recommend how much of your FAAB budget to spend on each. The tone here is conversational but data-driven, so let’s dive into the analytics behind each pickup.

Top Waiver Wire Adds for Week 5

  1. Woody Marks (RB, HOU) – 40-60% FAAB. The rookie Marks exploded in Week 4, seizing control of the Texans backfield. He posted 17 carries for 69 yards and a TD, plus 4 catches for 50 yards and another scorecbssports.com. Veteran Nick Chubb managed only 47 yards, so it’s clear Houston has found their more efficient lead runner in Marks. In fact, Marks is averaging 2.8 yards after contact per carry (versus Chubb’s 2.2) and showcasing excellent receiving skillsblitzsportsmedia.com. With a Week 5 matchup against Baltimore’s run defense – which has allowed the most rushing yards and fantasy points to RBs – Marks could cement himself as a weekly starterblitzsportsmedia.com. He has bona fide rest-of-season RB2 upside, so don’t be shy about bidding aggressively to secure him. Many analysts suggest at least 25% of your budget for Markscbssports.com, making our 40-60% recommendation aggressive but this level of pickup doesn’t come often.
  2. Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, NYG) – 10-15% FAAB. With Giants star WR Malik Nabers done for the season (ACL), Robinson is poised for a larger role out of the slot. He’s had a quiet couple of games (only 40 yards across Weeks 3-4), but history shows he thrives when Nabers is out. In two games last year without Nabers, Robinson totaled 11 catches for 86 yards and a TD on 20 targets – averaging a solid 13 PPR pointscbssports.com. That short-area quickness and YAC ability will be vital for New York now. Expect Robinson to see an uptick in designed touches near the line of scrimmage. His prior chemistry with QB Daniel Jones was promising, and the hope is rookie QB Jaxson Dart will also lean on Robinson for easy completions. He’s a savvy add in all PPR formats where available. Consider a ~10% FAAB bid for the potential weekly flex who could lead the Giants in targets underneath.
  3. Rachaad White (RB, TB) – 8-10% FAAB (if available). With Bucky Irving set to undergo an MRI on his ankle after getting dinged up in Week 4, Rachaad White becomes one of the top contingency adds of Week 5. White is firmly the No. 2 in Tampa Bay, but he’s already shown efficiency on limited touches and flashed PPR upside with a 4-catch game just last weeknfl.com. If Irving misses time, White would step into a full workload, likely handling 12–15 carries with steady involvement in the passing game, making him a plug-and-play RB2 for however long Irving is out. He’s available in roughly 55% of leagues, and with short-term starting potential on the line, an 8–10% FAAB bid is a smart investment to secure immediate production in a backfield that’s proven it will feed its lead back.
  4. Darius Slayton (WR, NYG) – 8-10% FAAB. Slayton is suddenly the Giants’ de facto No.1 receiver moving forward. With Nabers out, Slayton will assume the primary boundary role and deep-threat duties. We have a glimpse of what that looks like: Nabers missed two games in 2024, and in those Slayton saw 22 targets, catching 14 for 179 yards and a scorecbssports.com. He was immediately peppered with looks once Nabers exited in Week 4, finishing that game with a team-high 44 receiving yards. Slayton’s ability to stretch the field gives rookie QB Dart a much-needed vertical option. The Giants face New Orleans in Week 5 – not an easy matchup, but Slayton’s volume should be secure. He’s a priority add for WR-needy teams. Spending around 10% FAAB is reasonable given he could lead the Giants in targets and receiving the rest of the waycbssports.com.
  5. Ollie Gordon II (RB, MIA) – 5-8% FAAB. The Dolphins’ rookie running back is flying under the radar but should be stashed now. Gordon has quickly emerged as Miami’s #2 RB behind De’Von Achane, carving out the short-yardage and goal-line role. In Week 3, he punched in an early goal-line touchdown against Buffalo, and the Dolphins have a history of using multiple backs near the end zone (Raheem Mostert had 21 TDs in 2023 in this offense!). Gordon’s usage indicates he’s taken over that power-back role – he even continued to see work after veteran Jaylen Wright returned from injuryfantasypros.com. Miami’s high-scoring offense can support two RBs, and if anything happens to the smaller Achane, Gordon’s value would skyrocket. Even in the meantime, he might vulture TDs and see 5-8 touches per game. With upcoming games vs. CAR and LAC (friendly defenses for RBs), Gordon is a smart bench add. A modest 8% FAAB bid should suffice to get this upside stash in most leagues.
  6. Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN) – 5-8% FAAB. Spears is a speculative add with potentially big upside later on. After starting the year on injured reserve (ankle), Spears is eligible to return in Week 5. The Titans could really use his spark – their offense has been sluggish and one-dimensional. Here’s what’s interesting: Tennessee’s new head coach hinted in the offseason about using a committee backfield. So far, that hasn’t happened because Tony Pollard (yes, Pollard is a Titan now) dominated 94% of RB touches through four weeksfantasypros.com. Pollard hasn’t been very effective with that heavy workload, and Spears could immediately eat into his snaps now that he’s healthy. Remember, Spears was explosive as a rookie change-of-pace back in 2023 and offers great receiving chops. There’s certainly a chance this becomes a messy committee on a poor team, but there’s also a scenario where Spears takes over if Pollard continues to underwhelm. At minimum, Spears will mix in and could have standalone PPR flex value. Add him for a few percent of your budget now, before we see a possible timeshare shift.
  7. Romeo Doubs (WR, GB) – 5-8% FAAB. Doubs is coming off a monster three-touchdown performance in Week 4, and while we shouldn’t chase last week’s points blindly, he’s clearly a key part of Green Bay’s passing attack. In that Week 4 game at Dallas, Doubs stepped up with 6 catches for 58 yards and 3 TDs on 8 targetscbssports.com. He now has 4 TDs through four games. The Packers are on bye in Week 5, which might make some managers overlook Doubs, but this is a great time to stash him for Week 6 and beyond. With second-year WR Jayden Reed sidelined by a collarbone injury, Doubs has been operating as Jordan Love’s top option, especially in the red zone. No, he won’t catch multiple touchdowns every week, but he’s on pace for a career year and can be a solid WR3/Flex once Green Bay returns. If you have the bench room, spend ~8% FAAB to lock in a receiver who is averaging 13.7 PPR points per game so farcbssports.com and should continue as a featured target (especially if Christian Watson remains inconsistent). Just note you’ll have to survive his bye week.
  8. Elic Ayomanor (WR, TEN) – 5-8% FAAB. Ayomanor, a rookie, has quietly become Tennessee’s most reliable wideout. Through four games he’s seen at least 5 targets each week and leads the Titans in receiving yards (151) and receiving TDs (2)blitzsportsmedia.com. In Weeks 2 and 3 he even finished as a top-30 PPR WR, commanding a hefty 26.9% target share in Week 4blitzsportsmedia.com. Veteran Calvin Ridley has faded into the background, and Ayomanor has stepped up as QB Cam Ward’s favorite target in the passing game. The Titans’ offense isn’t high-flying (Cam Ward is a rookie QB, and they’ve been sluggish to start), but volume is volume – Ayomanor has twice seen 7+ targets in a game already. Heading into Week 5, he’s essentially the WR1 for Tennessee. The Titans face Arizona this week, a favorable matchup where Ayomanor could continue his steady production. He’s worth an add for at least 5% of your FAAB, especially in deeper leagues. Think of him as a fringe WR3 who provides a safe PPR floor with upside for more if the Titans’ offense picks up.
  9. Kendre Miller (RB, NO) – 5-8% FAAB. The Saints’ backfield pecking order behind Alvin Kamara is clarifying, and Miller is staking his claim to the No. 2 job. It’s been a long wait since Miller was a third-round pick in 2023, but he finally showed signs of life in Week 4: 11 carries for 65 yards and a touchdownfantasypros.com. Yes, that production came in a blowout win (and against a vulnerable Bills run defense), but it’s notable that New Orleans trusted him with double-digit carries. Kamara is still the workhorse (he had 15 carries and 4 catches in Week 4), so Miller’s increased touches may have been game-plan specific. Still, it’s clear Miller is now ahead of any other Saints RB on the depth chart. New Orleans also has a fairly easy upcoming schedule for RBs, which could allow Miller to see continued work in favorable game scripts. He’s worth rostering as a high-value handcuff who also might have some standalone flex weeks. You can bid around 5% or a little more if you have Kamara or need RB depth. Miller’s a lottery ticket for the second half of the season – if anything happens to Kamara or if the Saints increase Miller’s role to keep Kamara fresh, you’ll be glad you picked him up.
  10. Malik Washington (WR, MIA) – 5% FAAB. With Tyreek Hill out for the season (knee), the Dolphins will need their depth receivers to step up – and Washington is a name to know. A second-year slot receiver, Washington had a stellar college career at Virginia and showed flashes as a rookie return man. Now he’s poised to see more snaps and targets in Miami’s high-octane offense. So far this season, Washington’s contributions have been modest (he’s yet to top 50 yards in a game), but he did earn 5 targets in Week 3 and the coaching staff likes his quickness in the slot. With Hill gone, Jaylen Waddle becomes the clear No. 1, but Washington could slide in as a full-time WR3 (and Miami runs a lot of 3-WR sets). According to CBS Sports, Washington and veteran Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will “likely see more snaps” with Hill sidelinedcbssports.com. Consider Washington a deep-league PPR flier – maybe he ends up with 5-6 targets per game in this dynamic passing attack. His upside is capped by Waddle dominating looks (and Miami possibly utilizing TEs more), but if you need a warm body at WR, Washington is worth a speculative 0-5% FAAB bid. Monitor how Tua distributes targets in the first game without Hill; Washington could emerge as a sneaky slot option.
  11. Troy Franklin (WR, DEN) – 0-3% FAAB. Franklin is a second-year receiver who might be on the verge of a breakout – or he might just be a matchup-dependent play. Playing in Denver’s new-look offense (with rookie QB Bo Nix under center), Franklin has flashed upside early this year. He currently boasts an 18-196-1 stat line through four gamescbssports.com. In Week 4, he led the team with 8 targets, catching 4 for 55 yards in a win over Cincinnatifantasypros.com. That kind of usage (team-high targets) is encouraging, and there’s even buzz in Denver that Franklin could overtake veteran Courtland Sutton as the WR1 (there’s active debate about who the real top target is)x.com. However, Week 5 brings a tough matchup @Philadelphia, and Franklin’s production has been a bit uneven (after a hot start, he had a quieter Week 3). Consider him a high-upside bench stash – you may not start him against the Eagles’ stout secondary, but he could be very useful in easier matchups down the line. If you have roster space, a small FAAB bid (3-5%) could net you a young receiver on the rise. Just note that in shallow leagues, he’s more of a watch-list guy due to Denver’s sometimes inconsistent passing game.
  12. Darren Waller (TE, MIA) – 0-3% FAAB. It’s not often you see a big name like Waller on waivers, but circumstances have been unusual. Waller came out of retirement this year and was traded to Miami, making his debut in Week 4 on Monday Night Football – and what a debut it was. He caught 3 passes for 27 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Jetscbssports.comcbssports.com. The 33-year-old tight end had been inactive the first three weeks (getting back into game shape after a year off and dealing with a hip issue), but Miami activated him and immediately utilized him in the red zone. With Tyreek Hill’s injury, Waller’s presence becomes even more important for the Dolphins. Remember, this is a player who was a top-3 fantasy TE in his prime, and Miami’s offense historically peppers the tight end (in 2024, Jonnu Smith led the Dolphins in catches and TDs before he was traded)cbssports.com. There is risk – Waller is older, and Miami may use him mainly in key situations – but the upside of a TE who can score twice in a game is worth a flier. If you’re streaming at tight end or need a potential upgrade, add Waller for a few bucks of FAAB. He’s a boom/bust TE2 who could quickly ascend to TE1 status if his role expands beyond red-zone packages. At worst, you have a TD-dependent option; at best, you’ve snagged a late-season difference-maker for pennies.
  13. Jaxson Dart (QB, NYG) – 1-3% FAAB. The Giants handed the keys to first-round rookie Jaxson Dart in Week 4, and he showed enough to put himself on the 2QB/Superflex radar – even in 1QB leagues, he’s an intriguing matchup-based streamer. Dart’s passing numbers weren’t gaudy (111 yards and 1 TD through the air), but his rushing set him apart: he ran 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdownblitzsportsmedia.com. That dual-threat ability helped him tally 19.8 fantasy points in his debut. In fact, Dart is one of only five QBs in the last two seasons to log 10+ carries, 50+ rush yards, and a rush TD in a gameblitzsportsmedia.com. The loss of his top WR (Nabers) does cap Dart’s passing upside a bit, but he didn’t look overwhelmed without him – Dart remained poised and kept making plays with his legs. Upcoming schedule: at New Orleans in Week 5 (the Saints have actually been a friendly matchup for fantasy QBs)nfl.com. If you need a QB for a bye week fill-in or want to see if Dart’s rushing can carry him to consistent fantasy production, he’s worth a speculative add. Invest a minimal FAAB amount (1-3%) unless you’re in a superflex, in which case he’d command more. The bottom line: Dart offers a weekly ~20-point ceiling thanks to his rushing, making him a fun upside QB2 to stash.
  14. Blake Corum (RB, LAR) – 0-3% FAAB. Rams fans and fantasy managers have been excited about Corum, the former Michigan star, and he’s starting to make his mark. The Rams are working Corum into a committee with Kyren Williams, and by Week 2 we saw what that could look like: Corum handled 5 of the team’s 17 RB carries, racking up 44 yards and scoring his first NFL touchdown in a road wintherams.com. In that game, the carry split (Williams 12 carries, Corum 5) was much closer than Week 1’s, which head coach Sean McVay said was “more in alignment” with their envisioned rotation. McVay praised Corum’s explosiveness and vision, indicating the team plans to continue using him regularly moving forwardtherams.com. Corum has also ripped off some big runs (two 15-yard runs in Week 2) and has been used in goal-line situations (multiple short TD plunges in recent games)nfl.com. All this suggests Corum could have sneaky value as a touchdown-dependent flex play, with the obvious upside of being a league-winning stash if Williams were to miss time. He’s rostered in only ~25-30% of leagues, so now’s a good time to scoop him up. Since he’s still a backup, you shouldn’t spend more than a couple percent of FAAB. But if you have space, Corum is exactly the kind of bench RB who could swing a playoff run if things break right. At worst, you might get a few usable weeks out of him as bye-week relief.
  15. Brock Purdy (QB, SF) – 0-5% FAAB. It sounds odd to see Purdy on a waiver list – after all, he’s the starting QB of a high-powered 49ers team. Yet in some leagues (especially 10-team single-QB formats), Purdy was dropped after a lackluster start or due to a minor injury concern. If that’s the case in your league, swoop in and add him. Purdy did come out of Week 4 with a sore toe and is officially “questionable” for the 49ers’ upcoming game, but team reports suggest it’s a mild issue and he’s likely to playnfl.com. When healthy, Purdy has proven to be a steady fantasy quarterback. Through four games, he’s averaged around 250 yards passing with a total of 4 TDs (and added a rushing score or two in some simulations). While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, remember that Purdy is distributing to Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and George Kittle – an elite supporting cast that gives him multi-TD upside any given week. He did throw a couple of interceptions in a Week 4 loss and has had some “real football” struggles in clutch moments, but for fantasy we care about the stats. The 49ers remain one of the higher-scoring offenses, and Purdy’s efficiency (70%+ completion rate) should eventually translate into more touchdowns. If you need a quarterback, you could do a lot worse than Purdy as your QB2 or even a low-end QB1. He’s a “safe” 15-18 point guy with potential for more if San Francisco gets in a shootout. Since many managers already have their QB, you likely can get Purdy for free or a token bid. Scoop him up and enjoy the reliability.
  16. Jalen Coker (WR, CAR) – 0-5% FAAB. Coker is a deeper name to know, especially in competitive leagues. A second-year receiver for Carolina, Coker flashed playmaking ability as a rookie (and in preseason), but a preseason quadriceps injury landed him on IR to start 2025. Now he’s eligible to return in Week 5 against Miami, and the Panthers have high hopes for him. Carolina’s upcoming schedule is juicy for passing: Dolphins, Cowboys, Jets in the next three games – all teams that can put up points, meaning the Panthers may need to throw. Coker could make an immediate impact upon activation. Why? Because the Panthers’ receiving corps beyond their No.1 (sophomore Tetairoa McMillan) is wide open. They traded away veteran Adam Thielen, so Coker is expected to step in as the No.2 option for Bryce Young, according to reportscbssports.com. At 6’3” with good speed, Coker profiles as a receiver who can win contested catches – exactly the kind of target a young QB might lock onto. Keep expectations in check since we haven’t seen him yet this year, but if you have a free IR spot or bench room, Coker is an intriguing stash. Add for a few percent of FAAB (or even $0) and see what happens. He could be this season’s “out of nowhere” mid-year pickup if he quickly forms chemistry with Young.

Players You Can Safely Cut

In addition to grabbing fresh talent, you should also clear roster dead weight. Here are some players you can consider dropping (in a redraft PPR context), along with brief reasons why:

  • Darnell Mooney (WR, ATL – Mooney has been battling a hamstring injurycbssports.com and hasn’t produced much even when active. In a run-heavy Falcons offense (and now dealing with that injury), Mooney’s upside is minimal. You can drop him for a healthier, more promising WR.
  • Josh Downs (WR, IND) – The Colts’ slot receiver hasn’t been heavily involved and is currently the fourth option at best in an inconsistent passing game. With Indy leaning on the run and spreading the ball to Michael Pittman Jr. and others, Downs’ rest-of-season projection is low. He’s droppable in standard-sized leagues.
  • Cooper Kupp (WR, SEA) – This one is tough to say, but yes, you can cut Kupp in shallow leagues. The former fantasy superstar just isn’t the same asset after his move to Seattle. He has yet to score a touchdown in 2025 and has been held under 6.0 PPR points in two of his last three gamesprofootballnetwork.com. Kupp had one decent 7-90-0 outing in Week 2, but otherwise he’s been a third option in the Seahawks’ passing attack (behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tory Horton when healthy). If you’re in a 8- or 10-team league, you likely can’t afford to roster a name-value player who isn’t producing. Barring a sudden resurgence, Kupp can be released for one of the hot waiver pickups above.
  • Jonnu Smith (TE, PIT) – Smith had a surprising season in Miami last year, but after an offseason trade to Pittsburgh, he’s become a non-factor. The Steelers have Pat Freiermuth at tight end, and Smith has only a handful of targets on the season. There’s no fantasy value here; feel free to drop Jonnu.
  • Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX) – Lawrence entered 2025 with high expectations, but it’s been a rough road. He’s dealt with multiple injuries (offseason shoulder surgery, a concussion) and hasn’t been a reliable fantasy starter. The Jaguars’ offense has been up and down, and Lawrence has yet to regain his pre-injury form. In one-QB leagues, you can cut him for a hotter hand (like Stafford or even the upside of Dart). Lawrence’s six injuries over the last two seasons have caused him to miss time and struggle with consistencysi.com, so it’s understandable to move on.
  • Joe Mixon (RB, HOU) – Mixon’s situation is murky and not worth the hassle. After years in Cincinnati, he’s essentially off the fantasy radar now. Mixon started 2025 on the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list and has yet to play. There have been no positive updates on his status, and Houston’s backfield has moved on with Woody Marks and Nick Chubb. Drop Mixon – he’s giving you zero production and no clear timeline to returnrotoballer.com.
  • Kaleb Johnson (RB, PIT) – A deep name some had stashed, Johnson has fallen off the map. Even when Steelers starter Jaylen Warren was out in Week 4, Johnson managed only 6 carries for 22 yards while playing behind Kenneth Gainwellcbssports.com. Pittsburgh is on bye Week 5, and Warren is expected back Week 6, so there’s no reason to hold Johnson. Cut him loose.
  • Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, SF) – Robinson opened the year as Washington’s starter, but things changed fast. He was reportedly on the trade block in preseason and ended up being traded to the 49ers as depthsports.yahoo.com. Now he’s merely Christian McCaffrey’s backup in San Francisco, which gives him very little standalone value. Unless you’re handcuffing CMC, you can drop B-Rob. He won’t help your fantasy roster barring a McCaffrey injury.
  • Tank Bigsby (RB, PHI) – Bigsby hasn’t carved out any meaningful role behind Saquon Barkley. Through four weeks, he’s seen minimal snaps and touches. Philidelphia hasn’t shown any inclination to use him beyond the occasional breather for Barkley. In redraft, you can safely cut Bigsby and free the roster spot.
  • Jerome Ford (RB, CLE) – Ford had a moment last year when Nick Chubb got hurt, but in 2025 he’s not startable. Cleveland revamped their backfield and Ford is currently a backup with very limited usage (and Cleveland’s offense isn’t yielding many RB scoring opportunities outside of their main guy). With Chubb gone to Houston, the Browns have been leaning on Quishon Judkins and the other backs on the roster have no meaningful roles. Ford only had a minor role even when situations looked favorable, so he’s droppable.
  • Cedric Tillman (WR, CLE) – The Browns’ young wideout is dealing with a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks (possibly through Cleveland’s Week 9 bye)cbssports.com. He wasn’t very involved even when healthy, and now with this injury, there’s no reason to stash Tillman. In most redraft leagues, you can cut him and revisit once he’s healthy (if he shows signs of a breakout, you can always try to re-add later).
  • Evan Engram (TE, DEN) – Engram’s move to Denver came with high expectations, but his performance so far has been underwhelming: in 2025 he has caught just 8 passes for 62 yards and 0 touchdowns through four games. He’s also played a limited share of offensive snaps (around ~38% early on) and has been out-snapped at times by Adam Trautman or utilized primarily in blocking roles. Denver’s offensive scheme features multiple TEs and rotating personnel, so Engram hasn’t locked in a consistent, fantasy-impacting role. In standard redraft formats, you’ll often find better weekly options at tight end or viable streaming alternatives; unless you’re extremely thin at the position, Engram is expendable for more consistent performers.

In summary, don’t hesitate to cut bait on underperforming or unavailable players. Freeing those spots for high-upside waiver adds is how you stay ahead in a redraft league. Good luck in Week 5, and may your waiver claims bring you the depth and spark your team needs for the rest of the season!

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