Tua Tagovailoa Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Targets (Week 5)

With the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, fantasy football managers are left with a potential void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your waiver wire this week.

• Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Justin Fields (QB – CHI): 44% rostered

• Next opponents: @MIN, WAS, @NE
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: To put it simply, Justin Fields has not been good this season. It seems like the Bears are content with running the ball heavily, which would require some change in script to warrant adding Fields off the waiver wire. Fields’ floor is firmly around 10 fantasy points with his rushing ability. His upcoming schedule has a good mix of weaker pass defenses and better teams that are likely to push Chicago into a more pass-heavy negative game script.

Geno Smith (QB – SEA): 12% rostered

• Next opponents: @NO, ARI, @LAC
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Not many would have guessed that the Seattle Seahawks would be starting the more productive QB in addition to the haul of draft picks they received in the Russell Wilson trade. Geno Smith has been a revelation so far in 2022 and is on the heels of a 33.7-point performance in Detroit on Sunday. The Saints will be a difficult assignment next week, but Geno has produced in every game except for Week 2, when he left with an injury.

Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT): 5% rostered

• Next opponents: @BUF, TB, @MIA
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The rookie first-round pick from Pitt made his NFL debut to start the second half on Sunday, replacing the inept Mitch Trubisky. The kid didn’t look too bad, combining three (very unfortunate) interceptions with two rushing scores. It can be surmised that Pickett has usurped Trubisky for the foreseeable future. One issue with adding Pickett right now is the difficulty of the next two matchups. It might be prudent to give him a couple more weeks to marinate on the wire, then strike when the schedule lightens up a bit.

Teddy Bridgewater (QB – MIA): 2% rostered

• Next opponents: @NYJ, MIN, PIT
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Teddy B replaced Tua Tagovailoa on Thursday night and passed for 195 yards with a touchdown. It is unclear how long Tua will be held out with his severe concussion and neck injury, but it is likely that Bridgewater will lead the Dolphins into the Meadowlands against the rival Jets in Week 5. New York has been a sieve on defense and turnover-prone on offense. For a cheap one-week stream in superflex and deeper formats, Bridgewater could be a decently safe floor play.

Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF): 28% rostered

• Next opponents: @CAR, @ATL, KC
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Similar to Teddy Bridgewater, Jimmy Garoppolo is a low-ceiling option for Week 5 in a moment of desperation. He is going to enjoy a string of mediocre defensive opponents in the coming weeks. If adding Jimmy G on waivers, keep expectations modest. He has looked horrendous since stepping up to replace injured starter Trey Lance and offers zero rushing upside.