Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 5.
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC) vs. Indianapolis Colts (32.6% Rostered)
Unfortunately, the Jaguars are 0-4, and Lawrence hasn’t played well. However, the former No. 1 overall pick had his best fantasy performance of the season in Week 4. He had two passing touchdowns and 14.8 fantasy points against a solid Houston Texans defense. By comparison, Lawrence had averaged 0.7 touchdowns and 11.3 fantasy points per game over the first three weeks, totaling 13.3 or less in every contest. More importantly, he is starting to click with Brian Thomas Jr. and could get Evan Engram back this week.
Jacksonville faces Indianapolis in a critical AFC South matchup in Week 5. They’ve struggled to slow down opposing quarterbacks despite facing some inexperienced passers. They have surrendered 343.7 passing yards, 1.5 touchdowns, and 20.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, giving up at least 17.3 in all but one contest. Last week, Justin Fields had 16.5 fantasy points with his arm, completing 64.7% of his pass attempts for 312 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis. Don’t be surprised if Lawrence has his best performance of this young season against these division rivals.
Alexander Mattison (RB – LV) vs. Denver Broncos (29.5% Rostered)
Mattison has started to earn a larger role, with Zamir White struggling. However, the veteran will have a featured workload in Week 5, with White missing this game because of a groin injury he suffered in practice on Wednesday. Mattison is the RB29 for the year, averaging 9.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 11.9 or more in half the contests. Furthermore, the veteran running back has a touchdown in all but one game this season, accounting for 37.5% of the Raiders’ offensive scores.
The Broncos shut down Breece Hall in Week 4, giving up 10 rushing attempts for only four yards to the superstar running back. However, that game was in awful weather conditions, and both teams severely struggled on offense. Meanwhile, Denver surrendered 106.7 rushing yards and 20.2 fantasy points per game to running backs over the first three weeks, giving up 91 or more yards in every contest. Expect Las Vegas to lean on Mattison on Sunday, especially with Davante Adams out and Jakobi Meyers dealing with Patrick Surtain II.
Dare Ogunbowale (RB – HOU) vs. Buffalo Bills (1.3% Rostered)
Houston will be without Joe Mixon (ankle) and Daemon Pierce (hamstring) for the third consecutive week because of injuries. While Cam Akers will get the start and see most of the work on the ground, Ogunbowale will be the passing downs back. The veteran leads the backfield in snaps played this season (90), including a season-high 29 snaps in Week 4. By comparison, Akers played 30 snaps last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, Ogunbowale outscored the veteran in half-point PPR scoring (13.4 vs. 5.3).
While Akers will be higher in fantasy rankings this week, Ogunbowale is significantly underrated at only 1.3% rostered. He was outstanding in the passing game, catching all four targets for 47 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 4. Meanwhile, the Bills have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to running backs this year (32.5). More importantly, they’ve had no answer for pass-catching running backs, giving up 17.8 fantasy points per game in the air, including 17.4 or more in all but one contest.
Jordan Whittington (WR – LAR) vs. Green Bay Packers (9.2% Rostered)
Unfortunately, the Rams will be without Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) for a few more weeks, leaving the team with limited options at wide receiver. However, Whittington is an appealing last-minute replacement for fantasy players losing Malik Nabers this week. The former Texas receiver had a full-time role for the first time in Week 4 with an 87.5% route participation rate, 27.68% target share, and 29% air-yards share (per Fantasy Points Data). He had a team-high eight targets and 9.2 half-point PPR fantasy points.
His eight targets were a career-high after totaling five over the first three weeks. Meanwhile, the Packers have surrendered 30.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the seventh-most in the NFL. Wide receivers have averaged 160.8 receiving yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game against Green Bay this season. More importantly, they have struggled against slot receivers. According to Fantasy Points Data, the Packers have surrendered 33.3% target share and 29.9% receiving yards market share to slot receivers over the first month. Whittington is a solid flex option this week.
Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6.7% Rostered)
Dallas will be without Brandin Cooks for a few weeks because of a knee infection, making Tolbert the clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver. The third-year pro is the WR54, averaging 7.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has been productive when seeing enough targets. Tolbert saw at least five targets in Week 2 and Week 3. He was the WR27 over those two weeks, averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game, totaling 11.2 or more in both contests, and 0.28 fantasy points per route run (per Fantasy Points Data).
Meanwhile, the Steelers have had one of the top defenses in the NFL over the first month, surrendering 13.3 points per game. However, they’ve faced four struggling passing attacks. Pittsburgh has allowed wide receivers to average 154.5 receiving yards, one touchdown, and 27.6 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks. Last week, Michael Pittman Jr. (113 receiving yards and 14.3 fantasy points) and Josh Downs (82 receiving yards and 18.2 fantasy points) dominated against the Steelers. Tolbert could have a Downs-like performance on Sunday night.
Erick All Jr. (TE – CIN) vs. Baltimore Ravens (2.1% Rostered)
The tight end position has been a nightmare for fantasy players. George Kittle (11.9) and Dallas Goedert (10.5) are the only two tight ends to average more than 8.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first four weeks. However, All is an under-the-radar tight end that should be on fantasy players’ radar. The fourth-round rookie is only the TE26 over the first month. Yet, he has been extremely productive with limited opportunities. More importantly, All has earned more snaps, playing a career-high 60% last week.
By comparison, Mike Gesicki played a season-low 33% of the snaps in Week 4. Meanwhile, All ranks first in target per route run rate (35%), first in first down per route run rate (14.7%), and third in yards per route run (2.41) among tight ends with at least 35 routes over the first month (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, despite not giving up a touchdown, Baltimore has surrendered 11.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the second-most in the NFL. All is a solid dart throw streaming option.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
