Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here’s my NFL Week 5 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:
ADD
WR Jameson Williams, Lions (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 32%): Josh Reynolds is the overall WR27 in standard formats and is averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game in PPR. This is a glimpse at Williams potential now that his suspension has been reduced and he’s eligible to play this week. He’ll need to be worked back into the receiver rotation so be patient, but his first-round pedigree and dynamic ability gives him league-winning potential in a great offense.
QB CJ Stroud, Texans (ESPN: 32%; Yahoo: 47%): Stroud continues to lead a surprisingly high-volume attack for Houston. He’s tied for third in attempts (151), tied for eighth in completions (94), fourth in ing yards (1,212) and has yet to throw an interceptions through four games. Stroud is the overall QB9 in fantasy since Week 2.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 4%): Javonte Williams suffered a hip injury early in the second quarter against the Bears and didn’t play another down the rest of the way. Williams isn’t expected to miss much time, but McLaughlin, an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State, took over as the early-down back in Williams’ absence and was impressive — 104 total yards in 10 touches and a receiving touchdown.
WR Tyler Boyd, Bengals (ESPN: 43%; Yahoo: 37%): Tee Higgins could miss some time with a broken rib. Boyd possesses weekly WR3/flex upside as Higgins’ replacement, and would still receive a bump in value if Higgins decides to tough it out.
TE Logan Thomas, Commanders (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 6%): Thomas is eighth in fantasy points per game in standard formats and 10th in PPR. He’s missed a game and a half due to a concussion, but has received elite usage when he’s on the field.
BONUS: WR Joshua Palmer, Chargers (ESPN: 47%; Yahoo: 61%): Palmer led the team in targets (eight) and caught three es for a team-high 77 yards as Mike Williams’ primary replacement. He should be rostered in north of 90 percent of leagues going forward.
BONUS: QB Joshua Dobbs, Cardinals (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 5%): Dobbs is the overall QB6 since Week 2 and his last two games were against the Cowboys and 49ers. He’ll deserve streaming consideration and has value in superflex formats until Kyler Murray returns.
BONUS: WR Romeo Doubs, Packers (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 54%): Doubs set career highs in targets (13), receptions (nine) and receiving yards (95) against the Lions last Thursday night and this was with Christian Watson active. He’s the overall WR15 in standard formats (WR16 in PPR) through four games.
BONUS: QB Sam Howell, Commanders (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 18%): The terrible performance against the Bills looks like an outlier after Howell’s impressive game against the Eagles — 290 ing yards with 40 rushing yards and a TD. He’ll be a streaming option the next three games against the Bears, Falcons and Giants.
BONUS: WR Trey Palmer, Buccaneers (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%): Mike Evans suffered a hamstring injury against the Saints, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to go following Tampa Bay’s bye this week. If Evans does miss significant time, the speedy Palmer would be a primary target.
BONUS: RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (ESPN: 18%; Yahoo: 25%): Miles Sanders was limited with a groin injury and Hubbard outproduced him against the Vikings. He’ll find himself in a high-volume situation if Sanders ends up missing any time.
BONUS: TE Darnell Washington, Steelers (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%): Pat Freiermuth will likely miss 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Texans. Washington is essentially an extra offensive lineman who can create mismatches in the ing game. There’s not a lot of those running around.
BONUS: D/ST Lions (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 13%): Detroit developed a run defense and a rush in the off-season. The Lions face Bryce Young and a very bad offensive line at home on Sunday.
BONUS: D/ST Commanders (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 27%): Washington’s next three opponents are allowing the second-most (Giants), third-most (Bears) and 10th-most (Falcons) fantasy points to opposing defenses.
BONUS: D/ST Dolphins (ESPN: 61%; Yahoo: 49%): Miami faces the struggling Giants on Sunday and a rookie QB the following week. Daniel Jones has fumbled four times, thrown a league-high six interceptions and been sacked 22 times in four games.
DROP
RB Joshua Kelley, Chargers: Kelley is the overall RB44 in standard formats (RB49 in PPR) since Austin Ekeler was sidelined with an ankle injury.
WR Kadarius Toney, Chiefs: Toney has two-or-fewer receptions in three of four games.
RB Dalvin Cook, Jets: Cook has played fewer than 40 percent of New York’s snaps in three straight games and is only averaging 2.5 yards per carry.
WR Josh Reynolds, Lions: I’d only keep Reynolds in deeper standard formats with Williams ready to return.
RB Kareem Hunt, Browns: Hunt has only played 29 total snaps (21 percent) in two games back with Cleveland and has produced 25 rushing yards on 10 carries. This backfield belongs to Jerome Ford.
