Week 4 gave us another reminder that the best waiver-wire additions aren’t always the players with the biggest fantasy scores. Injuries opened several major roles across the league, while a few younger players finally received the type of workloads we’ve been waiting to see.
This week I’m paying particularly close attention to what happened after those injuries. Snap shares, touches, routes, and changes to the depth chart can tell us considerably more about what Week 5 could look like than simply chasing Sunday’s box scores.
These are my top waiver-wire targets entering Week 5.
Emanuel Wilson, RB (SEA)
Rostered: 49%
Emanuel Wilson is my favorite running back addition of the week after Seattle finally gave him an opportunity to control the backfield. With Jadarian Price on injured reserve and Zach Charbonnet unavailable, Wilson handled 21 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown while catching three of four targets for another 39 yards and a score. That’s 120 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 24 touches, with Wilson accounting for 75% of the touches between himself and George Holani. Holani finished with seven carries and one reception, primarily working behind Wilson while mixing into passing situations.
This also wasn’t Wilson’s first productive game when given volume. He rushed for 92 yards on 21 carries in Week 2 and has now handled 51 carries over his past three games. I’m not treating him like he permanently owns Seattle’s backfield because Charbonnet has returned to practice and Price can eventually return from injured reserve. That’s the risk here. But I’m also not passing on a running back who just handled 24 touches in one of the league’s better offensive environments because another player could eventually return. Wilson showed us Seattle is comfortable using him as its early-down workhorse, and the receiving involvement was an unexpected bonus. As long as Charbonnet remains unavailable or limited, Wilson has legitimate weekly starting upside.
Jacoby Brissett, QB (ARI)
Rostered: 13%
Jacoby Brissett isn’t going to be the most exciting quarterback on waivers, but the volume Arizona has been giving him makes him interesting for managers streaming the position. Brissett completed 21 of 35 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in Week 4 while adding 18 rushing yards. The three interceptions obviously hurt, but we’ve already seen considerably more ceiling from him this season. One week earlier against San Francisco, Brissett completed 38 of 52 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns while adding another rushing score.
That’s what interests me more than the ugly Week 4 efficiency. Brissett has attempted at least 35 passes in three of Arizona’s four games, including 52 attempts in Week 3, and this offense has enough receiving talent to turn that volume into useful fantasy production. Michael Wilson has commanded 30 targets over the past two games, while Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride give Brissett additional weapons. He’s still going to have games like Sunday where the turnovers make him difficult to trust, so I’m not treating him as an every-week QB1. But if you’re streaming quarterback or need a replacement during the upcoming bye weeks, the combination of passing volume and occasional rushing production gives Brissett a usable fantasy ceiling.
Will Shipley, RB (PHI)
Rostered: 1%
Will Shipley is one of the most important speculative additions of Week 5 because Philadelphia’s backfield could look completely different by Sunday. Saquon Barkley injured his hamstring on the second series against Los Angeles and didn’t return, leaving Tank Bigsby and Shipley to handle the remaining backfield work. Bigsby handled most of the rushing volume with 14 carries for 55 yards, while Shipley finished with six carries for 23 yards. Both backs remained involved after Barkley’s departure rather than Philadelphia simply handing every backfield snap to Bigsby.
Then Bigsby left late with an injury of his own. That’s especially important because he entered Week 4 already dealing with an abdomen issue. We still need the practice reports before projecting exactly what Philadelphia’s backfield will look like, and Barkley was seen walking normally after the game, so I’m not assuming either player will definitely miss Week 5. But that’s exactly why Shipley belongs on the waiver radar now. If Barkley sits and Bigsby is limited or unavailable, Shipley could go from six carries to suddenly handling a significant portion of one of the NFL’s most valuable backfields. Even if Bigsby plays, Shipley should remain involved if Barkley is unavailable. I’m adding him now rather than waiting for the injury report to potentially make his opportunity obvious.
Keon Coleman, WR (BUF)
Rostered: 4%
Keon Coleman finally gave us the type of breakout performance we’ve been waiting for, catching six of seven targets for 116 yards and a touchdown against New England. He entered Week 4 with only 101 receiving yards through three games, meaning Coleman more than doubled his season receiving total in one afternoon. The timing couldn’t have been better for his fantasy value either, with DJ Moore aggravating his pre-existing shoulder injury and leaving the game.
Moore’s injury is what makes this more than simply chasing one big box score. Buffalo has rotated its receivers enough through the first month that projecting consistent weekly volume has been difficult, but removing Moore from that rotation would immediately create more routes and targets. Coleman has the size and downfield ability to create fantasy production without needing 10 targets every week, and now we have evidence he can capitalize when the volume increases. I’m not automatically treating one breakout as proof Coleman has become an every-week fantasy starter. What I’m betting on is the possibility that Week 4 becomes the beginning of a larger role, especially if Moore misses time. Coleman should be rostered while we find out.
Antonio Williams, WR (WAS)
Rostered: 6%
Antonio Williams is considerably more interesting to me after what happened with Washington’s receiver room in Week 4. He caught only three passes for 21 yards, so there isn’t much in the box score that’s going to attract fantasy managers. The eight targets are the reason I’m paying attention. Williams entered the week with only 11 targets all season and then nearly matched that total in one afternoon, finishing second on Washington in targets behind Stefon Diggs’ nine.
That’s exactly the type of waiver player I’m willing to get ahead of rather than waiting for the breakout game. Williams has nine receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown through four weeks, and his season-long snap share remains relatively low because he hasn’t been a full-time receiver. That obviously creates risk. But eight targets show us there is a path toward considerably more involvement if Washington continues needing him. I’m not putting Williams directly into starting lineups based on three catches for 21 yards. He’s a stash where we’re betting on the opportunity continuing to expand. If the snaps and routes follow the Week 4 target increase, he could become much more expensive on waivers a week from now.
Mike Gesicki, TE (CIN)
Rostered: 8%
Mike Gesicki is exactly the type of tight end I’m willing to stream when injuries start consolidating a passing offense. He caught three of five targets for 40 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville, giving him 11 receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns through four games. The five targets don’t look overwhelming considering Joe Burrow attempted 54 passes, but Gesicki led Cincinnati’s tight ends in snaps and continued showing that he has a meaningful role around the end zone.
The injury situation is what could make that role considerably more valuable. Ja’Marr Chase left Week 4 with a concussion, while Tee Higgins suffered an abductor injury after trying to return to the game. Cincinnati was already dealing with additional injuries at receiver, so there’s a realistic scenario where the Bengals enter Week 5 needing Gesicki to become a larger part of the passing game. I’m not expecting him to suddenly command Chase-level volume, and the crowded tight end rotation prevents me from viewing him as a locked-in TE1. But three touchdowns through four games combined with the possibility of additional targets is enough to make Gesicki one of my preferred streaming tight ends this week.
T.J. Hockenson, TE (MIN)
Rostered: 42%
T.J. Hockenson shouldn’t still be sitting on the waiver wire after what happened in Week 4. He entered Sunday with only nine receptions for 76 yards through three games before exploding for 13 catches and 119 yards against Miami. Hockenson caught all 13 of his targets and actually had an opportunity to add a touchdown before intentionally going down at the five-yard line late in the game. He now has 22 receptions for 195 yards on the season, meaning the majority of his production came in one afternoon.
The box score is obviously going to get everyone’s attention, but the usage change is what makes me comfortable chasing it. Josh Oliver’s absence opened considerably more playing time, and Hockenson’s route participation climbed to 79.1% in Week 4. He also played 88.1% of Minnesota’s single-tight-end early-down snaps after sitting at only 32.1% over the first two weeks. Justin Jefferson being unavailable undoubtedly helped create 13 targets, so I’m not projecting anything close to that every week. I don’t need to. If Hockenson continues running routes at this rate, he’s back in the weekly TE1 conversation and needs to be rostered essentially everywhere.
Roman Wilson, WR (PIT)
Rostered: 3%
Roman Wilson is starting to become more than a deep-league stash. He caught three of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland, averaging 24.7 yards per reception and finding the end zone for the second consecutive week. Six targets aren’t enough for me to automatically call him a weekly fantasy starter, but the explosive production is beginning to force Pittsburgh to keep him involved.
The more interesting part is what’s happening with Pittsburgh’s receiver rotation. The Steelers have changed their usage almost every week, and Wilson has started earning opportunities alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman continues to have value because of his blocking and role in heavier personnel, so I’m not expecting Wilson to suddenly become a 90% snap player. That’s also why I’m trying to add Wilson before that happens. He’s already producing explosive plays and touchdowns without a completely secure role. Wilson did briefly leave late in Week 4 after appearing to land awkwardly, so his practice status needs to be monitored this week. Assuming that doesn’t develop into anything significant, the combination of six targets, 74 yards, and consecutive games with a touchdown is enough for me to roster him now rather than wait for the snap share to fully catch up.
Tyreek Hill, WR (FA)
Rostered: 25%
Tyreek Hill is completely different from everyone else on this list because we’re not adding him based on a Week 4 role. We’re adding him because there is a legitimate chance his fantasy situation changes within days. Hill remains a free agent, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus said negotiations are beginning with multiple teams and that a signing could happen within the next few days. Kansas City is expected to feature prominently in those discussions, although there is no agreement and I’m not treating a Chiefs reunion as something that has already happened.
This is purely an upside stash. Hill is coming off the major knee injury he suffered last season, so even after he signs, we’re going to need information about his conditioning, health, and how quickly his new team plans to use him. But the waiver wire is about acquiring upside before everyone knows exactly what the role looks like. If Hill signs with Kansas City or another quality passing offense and is physically ready to contribute, his roster percentage is going to explode immediately. I’m not dropping a useful weekly starter for him, but if I have a bench spot available, I’d rather roster Hill now and see where he lands than try to win the waiver claim after the signing becomes official.
Dallas Cowboys DEF
Rostered: 22%
Dallas is one of my preferred defensive streaming options for Week 5 because Tampa Bay’s offense is dealing with one of the biggest quarterback downgrades in football. The Cowboys get the Buccaneers at home Thursday night, and Baker Mayfield’s dislocated right thumb is expected to keep him unavailable for at least three weeks. That leaves Jalon Daniels in line to make his second NFL start after throwing one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 55 rushing yards against Green Bay in Week 4.
That’s the type of matchup I’m willing to attack with a streaming defense. Dallas hasn’t been consistent enough defensively for me to view the Cowboys as a unit I’m holding regardless of opponent, but we don’t need them to suddenly become an elite real-life defense. We need sacks, turnovers, and a favorable game script. Daniels will be making only his second NFL start, his first on the road, and he’ll be doing it on a short week. The Cowboys’ offense should also be capable of putting Tampa Bay into more obvious passing situations if it establishes an early lead. I’m not looking at Dallas as a season-long D/ST solution, but for managers streaming the position, this is exactly the type of one-week matchup I’m targeting.
Honorable Waiver Wire Mentions
- Kirk Cousins QB (LV) – 20% rostered
- Tyler Allgeier RB (ARI) – 32% rostered
- Jaylen Wright RB (MIA) – 29% rostered
- Keaton Mitchell RB (LAC) – 27% rostered
- Kendre Miller RB (NO) – 16% rostered
- Kaleb Johnson RB (GB) – 6% rostered
- Malik Washington WR (MIA) -30% rostered
- Chris Bell WR (MIA) – 7% rostered
- Tre Harris WR (LAC) – 7% rostered
- Dohnte Meyeres WR (CIN) – 1% rostered
- Brenton Strange TE (JAX) – 22% rostered
- Tyler Higbee TE (LAR) – 2% rostered
- New Orleans Saints DEF – 27% rostered
- Cincinnati Bengals DEF 7% rostered
- Matt Gay K (LV) – 4% rostered
