NFL fans are now one month into the season. Justin Herbert is the QB1 and Christian McCaffrey is still that dude. Nature is healing. While the mainstream players are crushing it, who are some players available on the waiver wire in Week 5 to help win fantasy football games?
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Waiver Wire Week 5
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB Denver Broncos
Fans are still waiting on official news for Javonte Williams. As it stands now, he has injured his hip flexor and isn’t expected to miss too much time. If he does miss Week 5, it’s better to get out in front of it and grab McLaughlin. He had some juice in Week 4 rushing for 104 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. With the desolate landscape of the running back position, McLaughlin will crack a lot of starting lineups even in a tough game against the New York Jets. McLaughlin is currently available in 99.5% of waiver wires Week 5.
Michael Wilson, WR Arizona Cardinals
This isn’t just chasing a big week in Week 4. Wilson has been heavily involved in the offense all season and is currently Josh Dobbs favorite target. He played 90% of the team’s snaps Week 1, but then took a slight step back in Week 2 and Week 3. After this performance, there’s no way the coaching staff can keep him on the sidelines. He caught all seven of his targets en route to two touchdowns and over 26 fantasy points. If fantasy squads lost Mike Williams and Tee Higgins, Wilson will be a capable fill in until Higgins returns. Wilson is available in 98.6% of leagues on ESPN.
Rashee Rice, WR Kansas City Chiefs
It’s not often that Patrick Mahomes has a down game. Even in this down game, Rice finished second on the team in receptions and had five targets. He has clearly surpassed Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney in the pecking order, and Mahomes won’t have many games with only one touchdown and 203 yards. Travis Kelce will continue to be the alpha on this team, but Rice could slot in nicely as the second option and be useful week to week for fantasy football. He is currently available in 89.1% of leagues on ESPN.
C.J. Stroud, QB Houston Texans
Please go pick up Stroud. For fantasy teams that drafted Joe Burrow thinking they were set, Stroud is now a bastion of hope. After a slow Week 1, Stroud has put up 20 or more fantasy points in three straight games. He continues to crush expectations and is currently on pace for over 5,100 passing yards in 2023. The Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t scare anyone off of Stroud, and he is a fringe QB1 for the rest of the season. Stroud is available in 69.3% of 1QB leagues on ESPN, despite being on this list last week.
Green Bay Packers D/ST
Another week, another option for streaming defenses. The Packers have the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5, and we’re all still waiting on Jimmy Garoppolo to clear concussion protocol. Even if he does, are the Raiders really a team to be afraid of? The Packers defense is available in 61.4% of leagues and is a strong option Week 5.
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