Waiver Wire Adds for Week 5
3 October 2023 • by Bryan Oldham
Another wild week in the NFL saw a rookie go for over 200 yards against a Sean Payton defense, while a Super Bowl favorite fell to a Caleb Williams favorite in the Phoenix. If your lineup needs a spark or you’re still reeling from injuries, Rival Fantasy has got you. Here are our favorite adds for Week 4.
Quarterbacks
Sam Howell, WAS: Don’t call it a comeback! A dreadful Week 3 had a lot of us wondering how bad the Eagles were going to make Howell look. Though he only threw one touchdown in Philly, Howell kept the Commanders in the game and sent it to overtime with that last-second TD. With Chicago, Atlanta, and the Giants on the dockett for the next three weeks, Howell’s got a lot of room to prove he’s the guy for the job in D.C.
Josh Dobbs, ARI: 0 interceptions through 4 weeks – we love to see it. The last two matchups against the Cowboys and the 49ers saw Dobbs put up high-teens and mid-twenties in points, respectively, and he’s giving the Cardinals chances to win. He doesn’t have to be Patrick Mahomes, but Dobbs looks like a better option for QB streamers each week, so long as he continues to take care of the ball.
C.J. Stroud, HOU: Stop waiting. Simply put, Stroud is good. So far, he’s the best QB of this class and my favorite for Rookie of the Year. Roster him, acknowledge the growing pains, and enjoy the show.
Running Backs
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN: Javonte Williams truthers (read: this author) simply cannot catch a break. Odds are that Williams will miss at least one week with a new hip injury, and McLaughlin looks like the more explosive back compared to Samaje Perine. Sure, Sean Payton and co signed Perine as a free agent, but McLaughlin has continued to play his butt off with limited snaps. He’s a no-brainer handcuff for Williams managers and a good flier to have if Williams misses multiple weeks.
Cam Akers, MIN: He’s likely still rostered in your leagues, but there’s a world where Akers was dumped once the Rams benched him. Akers is the better running back in Minnesota, and Mattison has done nothing to prove otherwise.
We saw what Akers can do when he’s unleashed at the end of the 2022 season, and the Minnesota offense has to be potent in order to win games. Grab him where you can and know you’ve got a viable spot-start on your team.
Keaton Mitchell, BAL: The Ravens love to pick a running back out of nowhere to be the team’s bellcow, and they’ve done it again with Mitchell. While Justice Hill and perennial zero-RB favorite Gus Edwards are both there, Mitchell is a guy who is coming off of IR and fits the Baltimore scheme well. He’s a dart throw with explosive upside, and you want to be early to the party if he does see extended run. He has similar pop to Achane, but certainly don’t expect 200+ yard games behind Lamar.
Chuba Hubbard, CAR: he’s not going to be a world beater, but Hubbard shared snaps nearly evenly with Miles Sanders in Week 4 as the latter nursed a lingering groin injury. The volume alone is enough to warrant flex consideration, and given the rough RB waiver landscape, having a guy who’s an emergency flex/low end RB3 on your team isn’t a bad thing.
Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams, DET: The NFL announced changes to it’s gambling policy. For our purposes, the most important piece is that non-NFL bets made on an NFL team’s facility grounds now only carry a 3 game suspension. That means Jameson Williams can now be activated and unleashed as early as Week 5. This would not only give the Lions some depth chart clarity, but would be a lotto ticket to grabbing a potential WR 1 off the wire.
Michael Wilson, ARI: Another rookie WR on a questionable offense? Yeah, we’ve heard this story before, but the Cardinals are playing far better football than anyone expected. Josh Dobbs is making a valiant effort to keep the Cards in games, and Wilson appears to be gunning for that WR 2 spot behind Marquise Brown. 7 for 76 and 2 TDs against the 49ers is nothing to sneeze at, and Arizona has a knack for producing great fantasy wide receivers. He’s another wait-and-see pickup, but I’d rather be holding onto him if he continues his ascent rather than fighting for him in a few weeks.
Tyler Boyd, CIN: Tee Higgins is dealing with a fractured rib, and Joe Burrow isn’t looking like himself. That likely means more short throws, slants, and possession plays to try and get some momentum for the offense. Boyd is ole reliable, and fantasy managers know he can step up when one of Higgins or Chase is out. The Bengals offense is in shambles right now, but I’d rather take a shot on Burrow figuring it out instead of betting against him.
Romeo Doubs, GB: Look, if Doubs has made it this long on your league’s waiver wire, no one deserves to have him. However, the fact remains that he is violently under-rostered, while being the favorite target of Jordan Love. Christian Watson may have more touchdown upside, but Doubs is a possession guy. 9 grabs for 95 last week is a beautiful PPR stat line, and he’s verging on must-start territory. If he’s available, make your league regret it.
Tight Ends
Luke Musgrave: The rookie TE hasn’t flashed the same way Sam LaPorta has, but Musgrave is an important piece of the Packers’ offense. Jordan Love looks his way often, and Musgrave was in on over 85% of plays in Weeks 2 and 3. The only reason he faltered in Week 4 was due to a concussion, which is a shame since the Lions matchup was juicy. Take a flier, especially if you need some upside at the position.
Cole Kmet, CHI: Speaking of upside at the tight end position, Kmet has done it again. He’s certainly more widely owned than most waiver TEs, but like Cam Akers, folks in your league may have given up on Kmet after a rough first few weeks from the Bears. 7 for 85 and 2 TDs against Denver will certainly perk some ears back up, and shows what Kmet is capable of when given targets. The Bears’ front office didn’t pay Kmet in the offseason to be a decorative piece, so get him on your team if someone cut bait too soon.
Dalton Schultz, HOU: It’s a surprise to everyone how many times we’ve listed Texans players on our waiver columns, but Schultz is the newest entry into that group. He showed signs of life in Week 4, catching his first TD with the new team. If the Texans continue to improve on offense and let Stroud throw the ball, Schultz is going to get more opportunities. Understand the volatility, but know there’s upward momentum here.
Anyone you think we missed? Who are you spending your top waiver priority on this week? Sound off on social media and let us know!
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