Week 5 Waiver Wire – NFL Fantasy Football – 2025

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.

Follow Gthom on the cesspool they call X, or Twitter, or whatever it’s called @GarettThomas.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

Jaxson Dart (NYG) – 21% Rostered

It was a big first game for the rookie quarterback, and against a good defense. Dart finished 13-for-20 with 111 passing yards and one touchdown, while adding 54 rushing yards and a second touchdown.

Dart steps into the realm of both superflex leagues and traditional single-quarterback leagues. In leagues where managers can play two quarterbacks, Dart is a must-grab and is likely going for a premium price since he has the ability to rush the football. In single-quarterback leagues, he will likely come off the waiver wire due to the hype surrounding him, but until we see this performance on a more consistent basis, Dart should be viewed as a matchup-dependent fantasy player in this format.

Week 5 looks to be a great matchup as well. He will take on the Saints, who are allowing 20.6 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, the fifth-highest mark in the NFL. As a word of caution, the matchup and talent look great for Dart, but he is starting his first road game in the NFL. Rookie quarterbacks historically struggle in these situations, so keep your expectations adjusted.

Sam Darnold (SEA) – 9% Rostered

Darnold has not been flashy, but he has been consistent for fantasy over his last three games. He scored 17.8, 16.7 and 15.1 fantasy points, respectively. While those numbers are not flashy, they are serviceable for managers looking for streaming options as the BYE weeks begin.

The reason Darnold pops up on the radar for Week 5 is the matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed 18.8 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, the eighth-highest mark in the NFL. They have also been a pass-funnel defense in recent years, giving up 19.8 points to the position in 2024 and 18.0 in 2023.

There is upside in the matchup, but expect Darnold to finish as a QB2 or with streaming-level numbers.

C.J. Stroud (HOU) – 54% Rostered

There is risk in going here, but it may pay off as Stroud and the Texans take on the Ravens, who allow 23.1 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, the third-most in the NFL.

The risk is playing Stroud himself. He is averaging 13.9 FPPG, and the offense has been bad. They finally popped in Week 4 against a weak Titans team. This is a last-resort option, and if the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson plays, it becomes less appealing.

Marcus Mariota (WAS) – 11% Rostered

Mariota is locked and loaded to be started in Week 5, but only if Jayden Daniels misses. That is unlikely, given Daniels had two limited practices leading up to Week 4.

If Mariota is the starter, he takes on a quality defense in the Chargers. Over the last two weeks, Mariota had 20.2 and 17.2 fantasy points, respectively. This is largely fueled by his ability to run the ball. He has racked up 60 rushing yards in two starts.

Low-End Streaming Options at Quarterback

1. Bryce Young (CAR) @ Miami Dolphins
2. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs Carolina Panthers

 

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Woody Marks (HOU) – 33% Rostered

Marks had a breakout performance against the Titans after he posted 17 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown on the ground and four catches for 50 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. The bigger impact here is that Marks finally gave the Texans’ offense the big-play ability, something it has desperately missed.

The only other healthy back Marks is competing with is an aging version of Nick Chubb, and he has not looked explosive, and this Houston offense needs juice. Worth noting, Joe Mixon also had an update to his injury timetable, and he is still out indefinitely.

Fantasy managers should be picking him up in all formats – he is the pickup of the week. The rookie running back’s head coach already mentioned that he is “excited to see what Marks can do with an increased workload.

Marks may be surprisingly useful in Week 5 as he will face a depleted Ravens defense that has allowed 35.1 PPR points to opposing running backs this season, the most in the NFL.

Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 28% Rostered

Spears is expected to roll off injured reserve any day, and if you are desperate for running back production, he may be able to produce low-end FLEX numbers. Spears will continue to work in with Tony Pollard, the starting running back currently on the field for Tennessee.

Last season in this role Spears finished with 9.5 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. He is primarily a scatback who specializes in the pass-catching role, but he does have upside as a handcuff, too. What is most concerning about Spears being part of a platoon is that the Titans can hardly sustain one fantasy-relevant running back at the moment.

Spears is someone to add in 12-team and deeper formats. He can be handcuffed with Tony Pollard in smaller leagues as well.

Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) – 36% Rostered

No one could have predicted Gainwell’s performance against the Vikings in Week 4. He contributed 19 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and added six catches for 35 yards as a receiver, tallying a total of 31.4 PPR points.

While Gainwell had an incredible game against a tough defense, he goes on BYE in Week 5, and it is doubtful that he will garner all the touches in Week 6 when the Steelers play again. Gainwell’s big Week 4 performance was fueled by his teammate, Jaylen Warren, being a surprise inactive.

Gainwell will carry some value throughout the year. Week to week, he will likely not carry more than low-end flex value. Does he deserve to be rostered? Yes. But save your FAAB for bigger fish and do not burn a priority waiver on him.

Kendre Miller (NO) – 6% Rostered

Miller played the most snaps and received the most touches of his young 2025 season in Week 4. He finished with 12.5 PPR points on 11 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown in a loss to the Bills.

It is hard to know if Miller is becoming more involved in his offense, or if the Saints tried to attack the Bills’ lack of run defense as a game strategy. One thing is certain: Miller played well, and it may be enough to get him in the mix for this Saints offense, which is desperate for playmakers to help its young quarterback.

Add Miller in 12-team leagues and deeper, but hold off on playing him until his role appears more secure than it has up to this point in the season. If anything happened to starting running back Alvin Kamara, Miller would be an every-week FLEX with RB2 upside.

Rachaad White (TB) – 48% Rostered

White only makes this list with a write-up because his starting teammate, Bucky Irving, received an MRI on an undisclosed injury. Their head coach announced this early leading into Week 5, and Irving’s status should be monitored.

If Irving is unable to go, White would likely split snaps with another teammate, but he would be considered a flex player with RB2 upside.

White has played well in his backup role. So far this season, he has 23 carries for 108 yards and one touchdown on the ground and eight catches for 34 yards as a receiver.

Running Backs with Low-End FLEX Usage

1. Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 28% Rostered
2. Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) – 27% Rostered
3. Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – 34% Rostered
4. Kareem Hunt (KC) – 24% Rostered
5. Rachaad White (TB) – 48% Rostered
6. Blake Corum (LAR) – 12% Rostered

Deep League Running Backs or Stash Only Candidates

1. Kendre Miller (NO) – 6% Rostered
2. Zavier Scott (MIN) – 8% Rostered
3. Antonio Gibson (NE) – 1% Rostered
4. Brian Robinson Jr. (SF) – 46% Rostered
5. Brashard Smith (KC) – 1% Rostered
6. Bhayshul Tuten (JAC) – 48% Rostered
7. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) – 2% Rostered
8. Emari Demercado (ARI) – 1% Rostered
9. Justice Hill (BAL) – 12% Rostered
10. Jayden Blue (DAL) – 21% Rostered
11. Kyle Monangai (CHI) – 8% Rostered
12. Braelon Allen (NYJ) – 29% Rostered

 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Romeo Doubs (GB) – 37% Rostered

I felt like a broken record writing about Doubs over the last two weeks, but he finally exploded in Week 4 against the Cowboys. Doubs finished with eight targets, six catches for 58 yards and three touchdowns. Doubs will never be a consistent player, it seems, but he is tied to an offense that can produce huge fantasy numbers.

Doubs will go on BYE in Week 5. Given the volatility of his fantasy production, it is hard to advocate much FAAB investment or burning a priority waiver on him. Desperate managers may disagree. He will take on the Bengals in Week 6 once his team returns to action.

Troy Franklin (DEN) – 44% Rostered

Franklin caught four passes for 88 yards on eight targets and just missed catching a deep-ball target. He continues to be on the fantasy radar as he carved out a very nice role with an offense that should continue to get better.

Franklin will have a low floor each week due to being the WR2 in his offense. Going forward, he should be on a roster in 12-team leagues and deeper and should be utilized in PPR formats.

Christian Kirk (HOU) – 32% Rostered

It has not been pretty for Kirk so far, who started his 2025 season late due to an injury. Kirk is still ramping up to his full role, but the Texans desperately need help on offense.

In Week 3, he finished with three catches for 25 yards on eight targets; Week 4 was three catches for 20 yards on four targets. Kirk played 67% and 61% of snaps, respectively. It is worth pointing out that Week 4 was a blowout, which may have been why his snap percentage decreased week over week.

Expect his workload to continue to increase, and he just may be unleashed on a terrible Ravens defense in Week 5. They have allowed 39.3 PPR points per game to the receiver position, the fifth-worst in the NFL.

Eric Ayomanor (TEN) – 31% Rostered

The rookie receiver disappointed, but he led the team in targets with seven. His Week 4 performance ended with two catches for 44 yards.

It is interesting that Ayomanor has outperformed starting receiver Calvin Ridley in fantasy production this season. Through four games, Ayomanor has 39.1 total PPR points and averages 9.8 fantasy points per game; Ridley has 24.1 points and a 6.0 points-per-game average. Neither is a great fantasy player, but holding Ayomanor may pay off as the season goes, and he has caught a few early-season touchdowns as well.

Ayomanor can be left alone in 10-team leagues and should primarily be a 12-team league asset.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) – 8% Rostered

Smith-Schuster is a weekly dart-throw flex player. He is widely available, and he has scored 9.5 PPR points or more in three of his four games this season.

The veteran receiver will travel to Jacksonville in Week 5 to take on the Jaguars. The Jaguars have allowed 39.3 PPR points per game to the receiver position in 2025, the ninth-most in the NFL.

Jalen Tolbert (DAL) – 2% Rostered

Injuries are mounting for the Cowboys, and Tolbert may be worth a shot for managers in deeper formats. In his expanded role over the last two weeks, he has scored 7.4 and 10.1 PPR points, respectively, and he has played in at least 80% of snaps in both games. He did not come close to that in his first two weeks of action.

Dallas is also the top offense in the NFL in total yards, and that trend will likely continue. The Cowboys have virtually no defense through four games, and scoring points will be how they win ball games.

Tolbert should be operating as the third option in this offense. Taper expectations accordingly.

Luke McCaffrey (WAS) – 1% Rostered

McCaffrey has caught two touchdowns in as many weeks. In Week 3, he had two catches for 56 yards and one touchdown, and he followed that performance with two catches for 21 yards and one touchdown in Week 4.

His fantasy relevance is likely tied to the health, or lack thereof, of Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown. If McLaurin, or both players, miss, managers can start McCaffrey in deeper formats. If McLaurin suits up, McCaffrey should be off the fantasy radar.

 

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Darren Waller (MIA) – 10% Rostered

Three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns on four targets is one way to get welcomed back into the league. Waller should be picked up in all formats. 10-team leagues can stash or start him, but he looks ready to roll for deeper formats.

While Waller’s debut was exciting, it also coincided with the severe injury that Tyreek Hill suffered. With Hill likely sidelined for multiple weeks, Waller may get more first-read looks and additional targets as a result.

Isaiah Likely (BAL) – 13% Rostered

In his first game of 2025, it was a quiet and empty stat sheet for Likely. This performance is not a surprise coming off an injury (and with his starting quarterback injured), and the lack of production should be disregarded.

Likely profiles as a boom-bust tight end who should be on all rosters in 12-team leagues. Last season, he had 10 games where he finished as TE23 overall or worse, and only four weeks where he finished as TE9 overall or better.

There is upside with Likely. It’s possible he begins to take over as the main tight end within this offense. There is nothing on the field that points to that at this time, but with Mark Andrews’ age and Likely’s supreme athletic ability, it may be inevitable. Lastly, if Andrews gets injured and misses time, Likely would see a huge increase to his floor and ceiling.

Brenton Strange (JAC) – 21% Rostered

Strange is a PPR-only option who has scored 10 or more points in each of his last two games. In Week 3, he had six catches for 61 yards. He followed that with a six-catch, 45-yard performance. These types of games are what you should hope for from Strange. If he ends up with a touchdown on top of one of the aforementioned stat lines, you would be one happy fantasy manager.

Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) – 33% Rostered

Fannin is a strong stash candidate if you can afford it. He is utilized in multiple ways and has already found a role in his offense as a rookie, something that can be very difficult to do. Week 4 was also the first time he (barely) out-snapped the starting tight end, David Njoku, albeit the Browns were blown out 34-10.

The problem with Fannin’s weekly floor is that there are a lot of mouths to feed who can catch the ball. Add on that Fannin is still technically the TE2 on his team, and you can see he has a tall mountain to climb to find consistent production.

Finally, Cleveland WR2 Cedric Tillman may be sidelined in Week 5, and that may be enough for Fannin to be utilized in 12-team league formats and deeper.

 

 

DEFENSES TO STREAM

1. Cardinals D/ST vs Tennessee Titans
2. Colts D/ST vs Las Vegas Raiders
3. Browns D/ST vs Minnesota Vikings