Week 5 Waiver Wire - Fix Your Lineup Right Now!
Josh and Joel Smyth break down Week 5 waiver pickups driven by a wave of injuries: Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby both out in Philadelphia, Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins banged up in Cincinnati, and Chiefs/Bills/Commanders receivers hurt as well. They rank Will Shipley, Tyreek Hill, and Mike Gesicki as their top three adds and also cover a long list of deeper streaming/stash options across the league.
This Week 5 waiver episode from Josh and Hayden (with Joel Smith) is dominated by in-game injury carnage — Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby both out in Philadelphia, Chase and Higgins both banged up in Cincinnati, and the Chiefs' receiver room gutted by Rashee Rice and JuJu-era depth piece Tyquan Thornton going down. The central argument is that this is one of the most actionable waiver weeks of the season, with several adds the hosts believe should go in lineups immediately rather than just get stashed.
The arguments
Will Shipley is the clear RB1 priority of the week, not just a committee piece. Hayden argues that with Bigsby needing core muscle surgery (six-plus weeks) and only practice-squad bodies (Damien Pierce, Jaden Blue) behind him, Shipley inherits a real role, pointing to his career-high usage games (Week 17 2024, Week 10 2024, playoff eruption) as evidence he can handle 15-20 touches. Joel agrees but is more cautious on explosiveness, projecting a 65-70% snap/touch split rather than a true bell-cow workload, and both flag the Week 5 London matchup against Jacksonville's elite run defense as a tough opening spot before Carolina and Dallas.
Mike Jasicki is a plug-and-play streamer the moment either Bengals receiver sits. Both hosts cite his track record (TE5, TE2, TE16/TE1 in prior games when Chase or Higgins missed significant snaps) as proof this isn't speculative — he's a known commodity tied to Joe Burrow in a game script (vs. Miami) that should feature heavy passing volume.
Dante Myers is a legitimate one-week (or more) starter given his route share, not a desperation fill-in. Hayden stresses Myers played 92-94% of Cincinnati's dropbacks and became a trusted target as the top four receivers got hurt around him; Joel wants to rewatch his tape since early work looked like manufactured touches before he started running real downfield routes, but both agree the Dolphins' inability to cover anyone makes him worth starting in a pinch.
Tyreek Hill is the highest-ceiling stash despite zero certainty he signs with Kansas City. Hayden frames this explicitly as the Week 5 version of Deebo Samuel in Week 1 — a former star reuniting with familiar coaching (Andy Reid, Eric Bieniemy) who could be an instant WR3/flex even at "80% of himself," especially with Rice's return timeline murky and Thornton likely out for the year. Joel is on board but caveats that enthusiasm should cool if he signs elsewhere, and both note he carries real trade value even for owners who don't want him directly.
Keon Coleman's usage swings entirely on DJ Moore's health, making him unstartable until there's clarity. Hayden's film review shows Coleman jumping to 74-78% snaps and essentially inheriting Moore's full route tree (stacks, crossers, downfield concepts) in the two games Moore has left early, posting 63 and 116 yards. Both agree he'd be a top-three add if Moore were ruled out for a stretch, but with no clear DNP news yet, they warn against locking him into lineups the way they would a confirmed-starter.
Antonio Williams is the best value play in Washington's crowded backfield-of-receivers, even behind Terry McLaurin. Joel highlights his 27% target rate per route (top-20 in the NFL) and his history of producing on limited snaps, including a 90-yard touchdown erased by a penalty; Hayden adds that if McLaurin sits again, Williams climbs clearly over Traylon Burks and De'Ami Brown, though the Jayden Daniels/Marcus Mariota quarterback uncertainty tempers how aggressively to start him.
Kirk Cousins is quietly must-roster in two-QB/deep formats off a three-week QB10/QB11/QB4 stretch. Both hosts note he's avoiding sacks and picks and torching defenses, but temper it by pointing to tougher matchups (Patriots, Bills, their top corners) and Las Vegas's bottom-ranked rest-of-season schedule as reasons this is a short burst, not a season-long streamer.
What it means for your roster
- Add Will Shipley immediately and prioritize him as the top claim of the week (hosts suggest being willing to spend 20-25%+ of FAAB); start him in all Saquon-vacated lineups despite the tough Jacksonville matchup.
- Claim Mike Jasicki now as a streaming TE1/flex option — both hosts say he's startable even if only one of Chase/Higgins is out, and a must-start if both sit.
- Pick up Dante Myers off waivers and consider starting him in deeper or injury-strapped lineups against Miami's leaky secondary.
- Stash Tyreek Hill aggressively (Joel/Hayden both put him top-2 on their pickup rankings) even on a bye week, treating him as a potential instant WR3/flex if he lands in Kansas City.
- Hold off starting Keon Coleman until there's firm word DJ Moore will miss time — he's a top-three pickup contingent on that news, not before.
- Grab Antonio Williams as a depth stash in Washington, and only trust him as a start if Terry McLaurin sits and Jayden Daniels is confirmed to play.
- Stream Kirk Cousins only situationally (against the Patriots/Bills if their top corners are out) rather than committing to him as a rest-of-season starter given Las Vegas's brutal schedule.
“I would even say like if Emmanuel Wilson did get picked up... I would put Shipley above Wilson.” — Joel Smyth
Players in this episode
→ Touches dropped from 26 to a minimized role in Week 4, did not play in crunch time, but hosts expect usage to bounce back.
↓ Nominally the Broncos' lead back but far less efficient than last year and dependent on scarce goal-line work since RJ Harvey is taking passing-down touches.
↓ Hosts say his touch share hasn't sustained from the playoffs hype, as Kyron Williams has looked excellent and taken over as the primary back in most game scripts.
↑ Undrafted rookie with a wild backstory ran 92-94% of Cincinnati's dropbacks last week and is attached to a high-volume Joe Burrow passing attack.
→ Took over in two-minute/late-game situations over Jeremiah Love, playing all 13 snaps in the final stretch.
↑ Working out for the Chiefs; hosts compare his potential return to Deebo Samuel's hot streak and project him as the team's best receiver if he signs, even at ~80% of his prior form.
↓ Leading a near-even three-way backfield split (26-25-25 snaps) with Hampton and Kamani Pidal; hosts don't believe he can be a workhorse, especially with Rashawn Slater out long-term.
↑ Rookie seeing strong target rate (27% on routes) and would climb value if Terry McLaurin misses time; had an 87-yard TD catch called back for an illegal shift penalty.
↑ Lead back after Jordan/Kenneth (Jadarian Price) hit IR, getting 60% of snaps and four targets including a 23-yard touchdown; trusted as long as it's just him and Zach Charbonnet/Kenneth Walker split stays limited.
→ Led the Chargers in routes run for the first time, seen as a talented player whose role should grow, but tough schedule makes him a second-half stash.
↑ Inherited DJ Moore's role in two games Moore left early, posting 116 yards and a touchdown; hosts say he'd be a top waiver target if Moore is ruled out but situation is murky.
→ Working out for Seattle; hosts suggest adding him preemptively but expect him to be limited for a game or two and would reduce Emmanuel Wilson's value if signed.
→ Quietly QB10/11/4 over last three weeks with good decision-making, but facing a brutal rest-of-season schedule including the Raiders.
↑ With both Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins banged up, Gesicki has posted three strong fantasy lines this season and historically becomes a top tight end when Bengals receivers are out.
↓ Frustrating add since Nico Collins' return has limited targets elsewhere in Houston's passing game.
→ Stepped up with 7 targets, 3 catches, 33 yards and two scores while Devonta Smith was out, but hosts view him as third receiver in a split rather than a must-add.
→ Had 3 catches, 2 touchdowns while McLaurin was out, but hosts don't trust it as a sustainable role.
→ Played 63% of snaps but did little with two targets after Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton were hurt; expected to be part of a receiver-by-committee short term.
↑ With Saquon Barkley hurt and Tank Bigsby out for six weeks with core muscle surgery, Shipley becomes the clear lead back and could see 65-70% of snaps/touches.
↓ Leads Steelers WRs in yards per route run and success rate, but route share dropped with Pittman and Metcalf both healthy, making him a tough start.