With star WRs Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers out for the season, fantasy managers have major holes to fill, even before the start of bye weeks.
Season-ending injuries for a pair of star wide receivers, plus the first round of bye weeks, makes this a critically important time for fantasy football managers to fortify their rosters.
The devastating news that Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins and Malik Nabers of the Giants will miss the rest of the season with knee injuries will make wide receivers a top priority on the fantasy waiver wire heading into Week 5.
In addition, the Falcons, Bears, Packers and Steelers are off this week – depriving fantasy teams the services of WRs Rome Odunze (WR3 through four weeks) and DK Metcalf (WR17) among others. Running backs Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs will also be absent in fantasy lineups due to the bye.
Fantasy football players to add for Week 5
Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)
RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans (32% rostered)
Marks was one of our featured pickups last week, so hopefully you got him at a discount before his breakout game against the Titans. He tallied 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown, while adding four receptions for 50 yards and another score. Nick Chubb may still be the nominal starter, but Marks is set to go. (Recommended FAAB bid: $14)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (49%)
Although he had just three catches for 14 yards in Week 4, Robinson (who we first mentioned as a Week 3 pickup) stands to see the biggest increase in targets with Nabers out for the year. In deeper leagues, Darius Slayton (3% rostered) would be another potential pickup. Without Nabers, the Giants are also more likely to be playing from behind the rest of the way. (FAAB bid: $9)
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (40%)
Doubs won't be able to help you this week since the Packers are off. However, he has become QB Jordan Love's go-to receiver so far. He certainly boosted his fantasy stock on Sunday night with three TD receptions in Dallas – even though he's only averaging 3.3 receptions and 44.8 yards through four games. If you can wait a week, Doubs could be the best available option to replace Nabers' or Hill's production. (FAAB bid: $8)
RB Kendre MIller, New Orleans Saints (5%)
The oft-injured third-year back showed why he should still be in the fantasy conversation in Sunday's surprisingly close loss to the Bills. Recalling his huge outing in Week 18 last year (you do remember that, right?), Miller looked better than starter Alvin Kamara on the gound with 11 carries for 65 yards and a TD. With the Giants and Bears coming up in the next three weeks, he may have additional opportunities to shine. (FAAB bid: $7)
RB Justice HIll, Baltimore Ravens (4%)
With the Ravens playing catch-up against the Chiefs, Hill saw the field for a season-high 31 snaps. He caught a touchdown pass among his five receptions for 41 yards and added a 71-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to top off a fantastic fantasy performance that put him as the RB4 on the week. It's hard to see him duplicating those numbers as long as Derrick Henry remains healthy. But as far as backups go .... (FAAB bid: $6)
Justice Hill's second TD of the game goes for 71 yards 😤
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
BALvsKC on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxVpic.twitter.com/2hHWDudxbe
QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (43%)
If not for Dak Prescott's monster game on Sunday night, Stafford would have been the week's No. 1 fantasy quarterback on the strength of his 375-yard, 3-TD effort against the Colts. Having the top overall fantasy performer in Puka Nacua on the receiving end certainly helps Stafford's prospects going forward. If you need a streamer at QB, Stafford faces the 49ers this week. (FAAB bid: $6)
WR Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos (24%)
Looking for the hot hand? Mims fits the bill. He caught all six of his targets for 69 yards and scored on a 16-yard run against the hapless Bengals defense on Monday night. But don't be too quick to dismiss Mims' efforts because of the opposition. Denver lines up against the Eagles, Jets, Giants and Cowboys over the next four weeks – all of which are in the bottom half of fantasy defenses against wide receivers. (FAAB bid: $6)
WR Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (4%)
With Tyreek out for the season, Washington figures to see considerably more targets going forward. Jaylen Waddle is likely to take over the role as No. 1 receiver, but as defenses adjust to limit him, Washington should have more room to operate. He does have big-play ability – as evidenced by his 74-yard punt return touchdown in Week 2. (FAAB bid: $4)
TE Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (8%)
After missing all of last season and coming out of retirement, the veteran returned to the league with a bang on Monday night, catching a pair of touchdown passes. His presence as a legitimate receiving threat looms large for the Dolphins in the wake of Hill's injury since they got almost nothing out of the tight end over the first three weeks. (FAAB bid: $4)
QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (23%)
More of a long-term play than a weekly streaming option, Dart was both a fantasy winner and loser this week. Yes, his first NFL start was a successful one, but he lost his best weapon in Nabers. Dart's rushing ability (12 carries, 54 yards, TD vs. the Chargers) will give him a decent floor. But the rookie will be challenged to put up the passing numbers necessary to make him an every-week fantasy starter. (FAAB bid: $4)
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (23%)
Normally a player who rushed for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns (with six catches for another 35 yards) would put him at the top of the waiver wire options, not the bottom. However, Gainwell's performance in Ireland only came because starter Jaylen Warren was inactive. With Pittsburgh on bye this week, Warren is likely to be back at full strength for Week 6. Still, if you need depth at running back, Gainwell has shown he can produce if called upon. (FAAB bid: $3)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football NFL Week 5 best 11 waiver wire pickups
Category: General Sports