Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4 of the 2018 NFL season is in the books, and that means it’s time to look at waiver wire pickups. Most leagues’ waivers process on Wednesday, so this article will be posted every Tuesday. The percentages next to a player’s name explain what percentage of an FAAB budget should go toward that player in a 12-team PPR format.
[Also See: Week 5 Fantasy Football Trade Targets | Week 4 Recap]
Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles (JAC, 0-1%)
In games Leonard Fournette has missed since the start of last season, Blake Bortles has averaged 287.8 passing yards and 1.8 touchdowns for 24.85 fantasy points per game, well above the 18.67 points per game he has averaged when the star second-year running back is healthy. Matched up against a Swiss-cheese Kansas City defense this week, Bortles is a top streaming candidate and a daily fantasy football value play.
Andy Dalton (CIN, 0-1%)
Fresh off a 337-yard, three-touchdown affair in Atlanta, Andy Dalton now has three consecutive easy matchups, starting this week with the Miami Dolphins then following it up with games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. Dalton is on waivers in most leagues and can be a QB1 for the next few weeks.
Running Backs
Nyheim Hines (IND, 10-12%)
After a rough preseason, the North Carolina State product broke out in Week 4, totaling nine catches and finding the end zone twice in the Colts’ shootout against Houston. After playing fewer than 50 percent of the Colts’ snaps in the first two weeks, Nyheim Hines has played 73 and 69 percent the last two weeks. In an offense that is missing T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle due to injuries, Hines is a flex option in PPR and has Darren Sproles-esque upside.
Ronald Jones (TB, 4-6%)
I’ve been Ronald Jones’ No. 1 opposer all offseason, but he saw 10 carries in his first career regular season game. The incumbent Peyton Barber has struggled despite getting workhorse volume, so Tampa Bay’s second-round rookie could see more touches in coming weeks. Jones is a subpar pass-catcher behind a below average offensive line, but he’s worth a waiver wire pickup because he could become the Buccaneers’ starter sooner rather than later.
Names to monitor: Rod Smith (DAL), Corey Grant (JAC)
Wide Receivers
Taylor Gabriel (CHI, 2-4%)
With seven or more targets in three of four games this season, Taylor Gabriel has been an under-appreciated part of Chicago’s offense all season long. Gabriel exploded for 104 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, and is the undisputed No. 2 wide receiver with Anthony Miller injured.
Taywan Taylor (TEN, 2-4%)
Rishard Matthews’ release paved the way for second-year wideout Taywan Taylor to step into a starting role, and the Western Kentucky man delivered with seven catches for 77 yards in Week 4. The Titans threw 43 pass attempts in Week 4 after averaging only 27 in the three weeks prior, so don’t get too excited about Taylor’s nine targets, but the speedy Taylor is worth an add as Tennessee’s No. 2 wide receiver.
Keke Coutee (HOU, 2-4%)
Talk about coming out of nowhere. Fourth-round pick Keke Coutee saw 15 targets in Week 4 as the Texans No. 3 wide receiver, turning them into 11 receptions for 109 yards against Indianapolis. Coutee’s upside is capped because he will not overtake DeAndre Hopkins or Will Fuller on the target totem pole, but he is still the No. 3 wideout in an aggressive passing offense.
Courtland Sutton (DEN, 2-4%)
Widely viewed as one of the top wide receiver prospects in this year’s draft class, Courtland Sutton is Denver’s air yards leader through four games. Demaryius Thomas’ inefficiency could lead to Sutton emerging as Denver’s No. 2 wide receiver before the season’s end. More of a long-term flier than a short-term option, Sutton has immense upside and is available in most leagues.
Names to monitor: Christian Kirk (ARI), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB), Ryan Grant (IND), Chester Rogers (IND)
Tight Ends
Cameron Brate (TB, 2-4%)
O.J. Howard will be sidelined for a few weeks with an MCL injury, so Cameron Brate is the lone tight end in Tampa Bay. Brate had almost 600 yards last year and is startable as long as Howard is out.
Vance McDonald (PIT, 2-4%)
Vance McDonald’s snap share has increased every week this season as he makes his way back from injury. As the No. 1 tight end in a prolific offense, McDonald is firmly in the TE2 discussion with top-12 upside should he beat out Jesse James for the full-time job.
Jeff Heuerman (DEN, 0-1%)
With Jake Butt out for the year, Jeff Heuerman stepped into the starting tight end role for Denver and saw seven targets as the checkdown option for Case Keenum.
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