Early fantasy football waiver wire adds for Week 5

NFL Week 4 is almost in the books so now is the time to start looking ahead to the Week 5 waiver wire! Whether your fantasy football team is 4-0, 0-4, or 1-2-1, you can always use a strong week on the waiver wire. After all, if you read last week’s waiver wire and were able to snag and start Justin Jefferson or Tee Higgins, you were nicely rewarded this week with strong performances.

With most of the games this week complete, here is an early look at 10 players — all under 50% rostered — who you should be targeting and working hard to get onto your fantasy team for Week 5 (percent rostered in Yahoo leagues).

RB Joshua Kelley/Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers (54%/5% rostered)

Austin Ekeler had to be carted off the field Sunday with what appears to be a serious hamstring injury. No update right now as to what the injury is or how long Ekeler might be out, but it seems like he’ll miss some time. We’ve seen the Chargers backfield operate with two running backs so now is the time to add those two running backs ASAP. Kelley carried the ball nine times for only seven yards against a stout Buccaneers defense but has been the No. 2 to Ekeler and will likely see the starting work with Ekeler out. Jackson had six carries for nine yards, along with two catches for 12 with Ekeler out. Both are certainly worth rostering.

RB Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams (37% rostered)

Welp, the Darrell Henderson hypetrain was fun while it lasted. Malcolm Brown seems back in the running back rotation for the Rams as he led the backfield in touches, carrying the ball eight times for 35 yards and catching five of six targets for 19 yards. Henderson carried the ball seven times for 21 yards and had only one catch. This offense continues to produce points which means both of these backs have fantasy value. Good luck picking which guy to start each week though.

RB Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (34% rostered)

While the starting job in Arizona still remains Kenyan Drake’s Edmonds has cut out a decent fantasy role for himself in the offense. In four games now Edmonds has seen at least three carries and two catches while scoring twice through the air. These obviously aren’t stellar numbers but that kind of work is good enough to roster in deeper leagues and play on a matchup basis. Kliff Kingsbury has also been very vocal with his praise towards Edmonds which bodes well moving forward.

RB D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns (1% rostered)

Nick Chubb got rolled up on against the Cowboys and left with a knee injury. He did leave the field under his own power but obviously his status moving forward has to be monitored. In Chubb’s absence, Kareem Hunt saw an increased workload (duh) but Johnson also saw time, carried the ball 13 times for 95 yards.

RB Reggie Bonnafon, Carolina Panthers (0% rostered)

Bonnafon carried the ball 10 times for 53 yards against the Cardinals, and added two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown. As the Panthers continue to figure out their offense without Christian McCaffrey, they might have stumbled upon something with both Bonnafon and Mike Davis—who also had a big Sunday—on the field. If Bonnafon continues to see almost as many carries as Davis, he’s well worth rostering for as long as CMC is out.

WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (33% rostered)

Like I said at the top, hats off to those who already rostered and started Higgins as he caught four of his seven targets for 77 yards against the Jaguars. He seems to have emerged as the No. 2 receiver alongside Tyler Boyd and replacing A.J. Green. The lowest number of attempts Joe Burrow has thrown so far this season is THIRTY SIX which means the Bengals are going to be throwing the ball a lot and Higgins seeing a reliably large share of that is great for fantasy managers.

WR Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints (27% rostered)

I’m putting Smith on this list because you can’t not when someone catches four balls for 54 yards and two touchdowns in a week. However, there’s a little skepticism here as Michael Thomas is expected to make his return to the offense for Week 5 which will seriously cap Smith’s ceiling. That being said, Smith is the Saints deep threat and could break off a big play any given week. He’s worth rostering, especially if the Saints decide to sit Thomas for Week 5 to give him even more time to recover (the Saints bye is Week 6).

WR Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos (1% rostered)

Jerry Jeudy did make is presence felt when he moss’d Pierre Desir for a touchdown Thursday night, but it was Patrick who made the Broncos passing game go. Patrick finished with six catches on seven tankers for 113 yards and a touchdown. This is coming off his Week 3 performance when he caught four balls for 43 yards and another touchdown. His Week 5 matchup against the Patriots isn’t an easy one, but you can’t ignore his growing role in Denver’s passing game with Brett Rypien under center.

WR Isaiah Ford, Miami Dolphins (1% rostered)

Ford saw TEN targets Sunday against the Seahawks, but only caught four for 48 yards. Still, Ford has now seen nine plus targets in two out of the first four weeks which is a number not to scoff at. It’s clear Ford is doing something right as he’s emerged as Miami’s second most targeted receiver behind just DeVante Parker. As long as Ryan Fitzpatrick is at the helm, the Dolphins will be throwing themselves to stay in games and that means Ford offers some solid upside if he continues to see these targets.

TE Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (52% rostered)

Slightly over my 50% limit but now is the last time I get to tell you to add Schultz. Since taking over the starting tight end gig in Week 1, Schultz is averaging eight targets, five catches, 69 yards and almost a touchdown a game. Those are elite tight end numbers. This Cowboys offense knows how to score and with Schultz being an active member, he’s well worth rostering.