Who Are the MUST-ADD Fantasy Waiver Wire Players? Which Players Get Dumped? | The Audible LIVE!
Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom run through Week 5 waiver wire targets and drops across all positions, highlighting QB streamers like C.J. Stroud, RB value in Jordan Mason and Jonah Coleman amid injuries to Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby, WR intrigue around a potential Tyreek Hill return and Bills depth, and tight end streaming options. They close with 'Shut Em Down' fades and 'Hold On' patience plays for struggling but talented players.
# The Audible – Week 5 Waiver Wire Breakdown
This is the Footballguys waiver wire special for Week 5, with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom running through add priorities and drop candidates at every position, paired with their companion "Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire" article. The central argument is that this is a shallow, turn-it-over week: outside a handful of injury-driven backfield opportunities and one blockbuster NFL transaction, there's little game-changing value, so managers should prioritize speculative IR stashes and be patient with proven players stuck in bad matchups rather than panic-drop them.
The arguments
C.J. Stroud is the top streaming quarterback despite Houston's 0-4 record. Bloom argues Stroud is clearly the best thing on a Texans offense that can't run the ball, and with Tank Dell activated off his practice window plus Jalen Noel and Xavier Hutchinson making plays, Stroud has weapons against a suspect Texans-opponent pass defense. He's rostered in the 15-30% range depending on league format.
Jordan Mason is the running back of the week. Bloom put him at 25-50% rostered, framing him as a near-perfect scheme fit for Minnesota's run-heavy offense as Aaron Jones battles wear, with no reconditioning concerns after a thumb injury. Both hosts flagged this as a must-add even in shallower leagues.
The Joe Mixon signing is a mystery that complicates Green Bay's backfield. Bloom noted Emmanuel Wilson loses shine now that Mixon is back after reporter John McClain called it the most mysterious injury situation he's covered, but neither host trusts Mixon enough to call him an add yet — Wilson remains a thin flex play against San Francisco for now.
Jonah Coleman is a priority stash on IR despite Denver's grim run-blocking situation. Cecil pushed this hardest, noting Coleman looked like the best back on the roster in a small sample before his ankle injury, and argued fantasy managers should also watch the Broncos as a team that might trade for a veteran back (Tony Pollard, Tajae Spears, or James Conner were name-checked) given how J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey have looked as runners.
Tyreek Hill's potential return to the Chiefs is the most interesting story of the week, but not the top pickup. Bloom valued him at only 10-20% FAAB budget, reasoning that one year removed from a catastrophic injury makes immediate impact uncertain, but noted Mahomes "feeling it again" and the loss of deep threat Tyquan Thornton as signals the market may undervalue him.
Dante Myers profiles as a real Week 5 contributor in Cincinnati, not just a bye-week fill-in. With Tee Higgins banged up (possible adductor issue), Bloom argued Myers is likely to start and catch passes from Joe Burrow, elevating him beyond a one-week plug.
Bo Nix is a buy-low, not a shut-em-down, because of the schedule. Cecil flagged Denver's remaining slate as the easiest in the league after two more games (Chargers, Seahawks), and both hosts agreed patience beats panic here — a direct rebuttal to treating Nix like dead weight after a rough week.
What it means for your roster
- Priority add: Jordan Mason (Minnesota) — highest-value waiver claim at running back this week.
- Speculative IR stash: Jonah Coleman (Denver) — worth a bench spot now; also monitor the Broncos as a likely trade-deadline buyer for a veteran back.
- Stream at QB: C.J. Stroud against a weak Texans-opponent pass defense; Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers are lower-priority streaming options in one-QB leagues.
- Bid cautiously on Tyreek Hill: cap spending at 10-20% of FAAB — upside play, not a guaranteed immediate starter.
- Add Dante Myers in Cincinnati as a near-term starter-caliber option with Higgins compromised, not just a Bengals-bye throwaway.
- Do not drop Bo Nix, Josh Downs, Ladd McConkie, or DeVonta Smith/Christian Watson-type struggling veterans — hosts explicitly argued patience over panic given improving schedules or expected health returns (Keenan Allen, Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield).
“If the poop dollar is still a dollar, it does still spend, even though it's got poop on it.” — Sigmund Bloom
Players in this episode
↓ Sabotage drop candidate, seen as living off 2024 reputation after a failed offseason offensive installation.
→ Dealing with injury issues, but Chargers' schedule eases around Week 11, making him worth holding.
→ Despite rough recent play, hosts advise holding him given an easier schedule over the next 11 games.
↑ Weeks away from returning but drew hype as a standout rookie in camp; worth stashing given Saints' downfield-focused passing offense.
↑ One-week pickup replacement during Bengals bye, inspirational backstory, likely to be a starting WR catching from Joe Burrow.
→ Backup/1B role in a clicking running game, has value even without being the lead back.
↓ Also flagged as a potential sabotage drop/fade target alongside Hurts.
↑ Target share could increase against the Raiders due to Mack Hollins injury.
↑ Great scheme fit replacing Aaron Jones in Minnesota's run-heavy offense; coming off thumb injury with no reconditioning needed, 25-50% rostered.
↑ Best player on a 0-4 Texans team getting Tank Dell back; good matchup against a suspect Texans pass defense counterpart makes him a streaming option.
↑ Streamer option as Jacksonville's offense improves; good matchups upcoming before a bye in Week 7.
→ Frustrating after Keenan Allen's absence didn't translate to a big game, but hosts say don't give up on him.
↑ Was productive and called best RB on the team before ankle injury sent him to IR; add him now as he nears return, with Broncos potentially trading for a veteran back.
↑ More likely to have enduring value if Josh Allen plays more conservatively post-DJ Moore return; target share expected to rise.
↑ Strong chemistry with Kyler Murray as a reliable middle-of-field target; Justin Jefferson's return could open things up further.
↓ Shut-em-down candidate against Washington, factoring in London game logistics.
↑ Intriguing reported return to the Chiefs after injury; worth a modest FAAB bid given Mahomes' current form, even though impact may take time.
→ Loses shine after Joe Mixon signing, still a flex play/workmanlike runner against San Francisco this week.
↑ Team throwing the ball 40 times a game again, good for fantasy value despite hosts' distaste for the offense.
↑ Top WR pickup this week; good chemistry with Josh Allen's loose playstyle, flex play against the Rams.
↓ Jets defense allowed Bears to play keep-away, raising concern about his floor; shut-em-down candidate.
→ Signed after a mysterious long absence; not yet a must-add but could become relevant.
↑ Only 20 pass attempts but offense is clicking under Kevin Stefanski-like scheme; upside backup against Baltimore.
→ Still available in many leagues as a backup option, though hosts are skeptical he's found a fountain of youth.
→ High-floor backup option in one-QB leagues this week against the Jets.
→ Streaming option against Miami, his old team.
→ Actually on field more than Brock Bowers in a near two-TE offense, though not an immediate must-start this week.
→ Spot-start option against Washington while starting ahead of J.J. McCarthy.
→ Desperation play; best RB on Commanders until Rashad/Austin White is healthy.
↓ Low priority add; even Saquon Barkley hasn't been consistent, so expectations should be tempered despite Barkley's injury.
→ Likely starts against Atlanta's weakened defense (missing corner and pass rushers), making him a streaming consideration.