2026 season · Week 5 pickups
Week 5 Waiver Wire Rankings and FAAB Bids
Ranked pickups for 10-team, 12-team, deep, superflex, TE-premium and dynasty leagues, with a FAAB bid range, the reason each player is rising and his next three matchups. Top 12-team adds: Malik Washington (19% (13–25%)), Mack Hollins (15% (11–20%)), Tyler Allgeier (14% (10–18%)).
Waiver wire rankings
Standard (12-team): players rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues, 12 teams, 6-man benches.
| Verdict | Why | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Malik WashingtonMIAWRInjury opening | Add | 19% (13–25%) | 28% | Target share 18% → 29% after Caleb Douglas's injury; next 3: CIN (8th vs WR), BYE, @NYJ (2nd vs WR) |
| 2 |  Mack HollinsQNEWRInjury opening | Add | 15% (11–20%) | 14% | Target share 14% → 21% after A.J. Brown's injury; next 3: LV, NYJ (2nd vs WR), @CHI (5th vs WR) |
| 3 |  Tyler AllgeierARIRBProjection value | Add | 14% (10–18%) | 28% | Projects 7.6 points per game; next 3: DET, @LAR (2nd vs RB), DEN |
| 4 |  Keon ColemanBUFWREfficiency spike | Add | 8% (6–10%) | 4% | Projects 8.7 points per game (recent points up 7.1 on flat usage: regression risk); next 3: @LAR, @LV, BYE |
| 5 |  Tre HarrisLACWRInjury opening | Add | 6% (4–8%) | 6% | Target share 11% → 19% after David Njoku's injury; next 3: DEN (6th vs WR), @KC (7th vs WR), BYE |
| 6 |  Brian RobinsonATLRBRole change | Add | 8% (6–10%) | 27% | Snap share 24% → 35%, carry share 22% → 32%: bigger role; next 3: BAL, CHI, SF (27th vs RB) |
| 7 |  George HolaniSEARBRole change | Add | 7% (5–9%) | 16% | Snap share 18% → 37%, carry share 12% → 19%: bigger role; next 3: SF (27th vs RB), @DEN, KC (6th vs RB) |
| 8 |  Deshaun WatsonCLEQBProjection value | Add | 6% (4–8%) | 9% | Projects 16.6 points per game; projected Week 5 starter (98% to start); next 3: @NYJ (4th vs QB), BAL, @TEN (7th vs QB) |
| 9 |  Kendre MillerNORBProjection value | Add | 5% (4–7%) | 16%▼1 | Projects 5.3 points per game; next 3: MIN (1st vs RB), @NYG (26th vs RB), PIT (7th vs RB) |
| 10 |  Ryan FlournoyDALWRRole change | Add | 3% (2–4%) | 5% | Snap share 55% → 70%, target share 13% → 16%: bigger role; next 3: TB (3rd vs WR), @GB (28th vs WR), @PHI |
| 11 |  Keaton MitchellLACRBRole change | Add | 3% (2–4%) | 18% | Snap share 21% → 38%, carry share 15% → 30%: bigger role; next 3: DEN, @KC (6th vs RB), BYE |
| 12 |  Ty JohnsonBUFRBProjection value | Add | 4% (3–5%) | 2% | Projects 5.1 points per game; next 3: @LAR (2nd vs RB), @LV, BYE |
| 13 |  Rashod BatemanBALWRProjection value | Add | 5% (4–7%) | 24% | Projects 7.9 points per game; next 3: @ATL, @CLE, CIN (8th vs WR) |
| 14 |  Tyquan ThorntonOKCWRUsage growth | Add | 2% (1–3%) | 1% | Target share 7% → 19% at steady snaps; next 3: BYE, LAC, @SEA (1st vs WR) |
| 15 |  Chris Rodriguez Jr.JAXRBProjection value | Add | 3% (2–4%) | 17% | Projects 4.9 points per game; next 3: PHI, HOU (3rd vs RB), BYE |
| 16 |  Samaje PerineCINRBProjection value | Add | 3% (2–4%) | 8% | Projects 4.8 points per game; next 3: @MIA (30th vs RB), BYE, @BAL |
| 17 |  Ted Hurst IIITBWRUsage decline | Add | 2% (1–3%) | 1% | Projects 7.3 points per game; next 3: @DAL (25th vs WR), PIT, @CAR |
| 18 |  Raheim SandersCLERBProjection value | Add | 2% (1–3%) | 1% | Projects 4.6 points per game; next 3: @NYJ (32nd vs RB), BAL, @TEN |
| 19 |  Malachi FieldsNYGWRProjection value | Add | 2% (1–3%) | 8% | Projects 7.2 points per game; next 3: @WAS, NO, @HOU (30th vs WR) |
| 20 |  Tyson BagentCHIQBInjury opening | Watch | $0 | 1% | Snap share 8% → 100% after Caleb Williams's injury; projected Week 5 starter (66% to start); next 3: @GB (27th vs QB), @ATL, NE (1st vs QB) |
| 21 |  Brenton StrangeJAXTEProjection value | Add | 1% | 17% | Projects 9.1 points per game; next 3: PHI (3rd vs TE), HOU, BYE |
| 22 |  Jaylen WrightMIARBProjection value | Add | 2% (1–3%) | 25%▼1 | Projects 4.6 points per game; next 3: CIN (28th vs RB), BYE, @NYJ (32nd vs RB) |
| 23 |  Athan KaliakmanisWASQBInjury opening | Watch | $0 | 0% | Snap share 5% → 84% after Jayden Daniels's injury; projected Week 5 starter (46% to start); next 3: NYG, @SF, BYE |
| 24 |  AJ BarnerSEATERole change | Add | 1% | 9% | Snap share 77% → 91%, target share 11% → 18%: bigger role; next 3: SF, @DEN, KC (27th vs TE) |
| 25 |  Justice HillBALRBProjection value | Add | 1% | 12% | Projects 4.5 points per game; next 3: @ATL, @CLE (4th vs RB), CIN (28th vs RB) |
| 26 |  Mitchell TinsleyCINWRBack from absence | Watch | $0 | 0% | Back in the lineup: 53% of snaps; next 3: @MIA (4th vs WR), BYE, @BAL |
| 27 |  Jalon DanielsTBQBRole change | Watch | $0 | 2% | Snap share 5% → 53%: bigger role; projected Week 5 starter (56% to start); next 3: @DAL (32nd vs QB), PIT, @CAR (26th vs QB) |
| 28 |  Cade OttonTBTEProjection value | Add | 1% | 3% | Projects 8.6 points per game; next 3: @DAL, PIT, @CAR (25th vs TE) |
| 29 | JAX D/STJAXDSTStreamer | Stream | $0–1% | 29% | 7.0 projected vs PHI (implied 18); next 3: PHI, HOU, BYE |
| 30 |  Oronde Gadsden IILACTEInjury opening | Add | 1% | 7% | Target share 12% → 17% after David Njoku's injury; next 3: DEN, @KC (27th vs TE), BYE |
Drop candidates
Usage fallers rostered in 40–85% of leagues who no longer project as 12-team starters. Short-term injuries are holds, not drops.
| Why | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  De'Von AchaneMIARBInjured | 49%▼1 | Injured (INJURY_RESERVE); next 3: CIN (28th vs RB), BYE, @NYJ (32nd vs RB) |
| 2 |  Brian Thomas Jr.JAXWRSmaller role | 67% | Snap share 63% → 50%: smaller role; next 3: PHI, HOU (30th vs WR), BYE |
| 3 |  Kyle PittsATLTESmaller role | 77%▼1 | Snap share 72% → 55%: smaller role; next 3: BAL (4th vs TE), CHI (6th vs TE), SF |
| 4 |  Dalton SchultzHOUTEUsage decline | 57%▼1 | Target share 20% → 10%; next 3: @TEN, @JAX, NYG |
| 5 |  Tyjae SpearsTENRBUsage decline | 41% | Target share 12% → 2%; next 3: HOU (3rd vs RB), @IND, CLE (4th vs RB) |
| 6 |  Woody MarksHOURBUsage decline | 52% | Target share 7% → 4%; next 3: @TEN, @JAX (5th vs RB), NYG (26th vs RB) |
| 7 |  Hunter HenryNETESmaller role | 43% | Snap share 78% → 67%: smaller role; next 3: LV, NYJ, @CHI (6th vs TE) |
| 8 |  Quentin JohnstonLACWRUsage decline | 52% | Target share 18% → 12%; next 3: DEN (6th vs WR), @KC (7th vs WR), BYE |
| 9 |  Jadarian PriceSEARBInjured | 83%▼1 | Injured (INJURY_RESERVE); next 3: SF (27th vs RB), @DEN, KC (6th vs RB) |
| 10 |  Alvin KamaraNORBSmaller role | 65%▼1 | Snap share 51% → 35%: smaller role; next 3: MIN (1st vs RB), @NYG (26th vs RB), PIT (7th vs RB) |
More: Usage risers · DST streamers · Kicker streamers · Injury report
RB Roulette, Week 5
Timeline and track record →One bench spot, one backup running back per kickoff window: add him before his game, drop him after. Picks by Running Back Roulette, our sister site.
Do this now: Add Kenny Gainwell (TB) before Thu 8:15 PM ET, behind Bucky Irving.
- Thursday Night
add by Thu 8:15 PM ETTBKenny Gainwellbehind Bucky Irving · 66% rostered - Sunday Morning (Intl)
add by Sun 9:30 AM ETPHIWill Shipleybehind Saquon Barkley · 1% rostered - Sunday Early
add by Sun 1:00 PM ETNETreVeyon Hendersonbehind Rhamondre Stevenson · 89% rostered - Sunday Late
add by Sun 4:05 PM ETDENRJ Harveybehind J.K. Dobbins · 71% rostered - Sunday Night
add by Sun 8:20 PM ETATLBrian Robinson Jr.behind Bijan Robinson · 27% rostered#6 on our board above - Monday Night
add by Mon 8:15 PM ETLARBlake Corumbehind Kyren Williams · 71% rostered
How this works
Values: our rest-of-season projections (points per game per format through Week 17, byes excluded). Replacement levels come from filling every team’s lineup and bench by projected points per game. Value over replacement counts starter points above the worst starter, plus a smaller weight for bench value (byes and injuries). Add score = value × P(available) + 0.5 × the usage riser score.
FAAB % = 100 × (1 − e−k × value / 100), with k = 0.55 (10-team), 0.75 (12-team) or 1.0 (deep), and a ×0.7–×1.3 range. Defenses and kickers are one-week streams worth 0–1%. Not backtested yet: ESPN rostered % history starts in Week 5 of 2026.
Sources: nflverse, ESPN rostered %, Fantasy Nerds add trendUpdated Tue, Oct 6, 2:39 PM ET
Frequently asked questions
How are the waiver wire rankings built?
Each player’s rest-of-season projection is compared with the replacement level for your league type (the worst starter and the best player usually left on waivers), multiplied by the chance he is still available (ESPN rostered %), plus a small bonus for rising usage. The list is rebuilt Tuesday morning and refreshed Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
How much FAAB should I bid?
The bid is a share of your season budget that grows with rest-of-season points over replacement, with diminishing returns: in a 12-team league about 14% for +20 points, 26% for +40 and 45% for +80. Deep leagues pay more for the same player because replacements are worse. Use the high end of the range in competitive leagues.
Why are superflex rankings so different?
A second QB slot means 24 starting quarterbacks in a 12-team league, so any starting QB on waivers is worth far more than in a one-QB league.
What counts as available?
Players rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues for 10-team leagues, under 35% for 12-team leagues and under 10% for deep leagues. Players on injured reserve are left out except in dynasty.