It might feel like we're still early in the 2025 NFL campaign, but it's already bye szn. The Bears, Falcons, Packers and Steelers are off in Week 5, while the Texans and Vikings won't play in Week 6. Make your waiver bids and adjust your lineups accordingly.
Unfortunately, the big long-term fantasy development of Sunday was the torn ACL suffered by Giants WR Malik Nabers. There's no easy way to replace him on your roster, and there's angst about two-time MVP Lamar Jackson's hamstring injury, too, although we don't know the severity as of this writing.
Here are my suggestions for Week 5, starting with my top 15 players to prioritize on the waiver wire, regardless of position.
The only rule here: Players must be rostered in less than 60 percent of NFL.com leagues to be eligible for the list.
| Waiver Wire Priority Rankings | Next Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1) RB Woody Marks, Texans | at Ravens |
| 2) WR Darius Slayton, Giants | at Saints |
| 3) TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles | vs. Broncos |
| 4) RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders | at Chargers |
| 5) TE Hunter Henry, Patriots | at Bills |
| 6) RB Kendre Miller, Saints | vs. Giants |
| 7) QB Matthew Stafford, Rams | vs. 49ers |
| 8) WR Romeo Doubs, Packers | Bye |
| 9) QB C.J. Stroud, Texans | at Ravens |
| 10) QB Jaxson Dart, Giants | at Saints |
| 11) RB Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers | Bye |
| 12) RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons | Bye |
| 13) WR Troy Franklin, Broncos | at Eagles |
| 14) WR Elic Ayomanor, Titans | at Cardinals |
| 15) WR Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys | at Jets |
And now, here are my top five waiver priorities by position:
QUARTERBACKS
ROSTERED: 32%
ROSTERED: 40%
ROSTERED: 17%
ROSTERED: 11%
ROSTERED: 9%
Takeaways:
- Matthew Stafford had been living in fantasy QB2 territory this season before slicing through the Colts' defense on Sunday. He's the No. 2 fantasy QB of Week 4 heading into Monday's doubleheader, thanks to his 375-yard three-TD afternoon. The Rams have a short week to get ready for a 49ers defense that, while sturdy, is nowhere near full strength because of injuries. Stafford is as strong a streaming option as there is at the position.
- C.J. Stroud broke out of his funk against the Titans and now draws a favorable matchup against a Ravens defense that is beat up and seemingly incapable of stopping anyone.
- Jaxson Dart didn't completely light the world on fire, but the No. 25 overall pick exceeded my expectations in his first career start by avoiding turnovers and not being afraid to make plays with his legs. While I'm still hesitant to recommend him as a fantasy starter (progress isn't always linear, especially for rookies), he should be high on your list of targets if you're looking for a streamer at quarterback. In Week 5, the Giants will visit the Saints, who have been one of the friendlier defenses to fantasy QBs this season. The loss of Malik Nabers takes a massive bite out of the New York offense, obviously, but Dart didn't shrivel without his WR1 for the entire second half against the Chargers.
RUNNING BACKS
ROSTERED: 7%
ROSTERED: 3%
ROSTERED: 0.3%
ROSTERED: 12%
ROSTERED: 14%
Takeaways:
- The Woody Marks train is leaving the station. Hop aboard while you can. A fourth-round pick out of USC, he led Houston's running backs in snaps for the first time in Week 4, with Nick Chubb moving into more of a complementary role, even though Chubb started the game. Marks also led the team's backs in rushes, rushing yards, rushing TDs, targets, catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs, finishing with 119 yards from scrimmage and two scores. I love everything about his matchup with the Ravens' Swiss cheese defense in Week 5. He'll be the most added player of the week.
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. hasn't had a breakout game yet, but he's now either led or tied for the Commanders' lead in carries in consecutive weeks. He averaged an eye-opening 8.4 yards per carry on Sunday (seven for 59). He's worth rostering in deeper leagues.
- Kendre Miller is still clearly the RB2 to Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, but Miller turned heads with his tough running against the Bills on Sunday. He had one of the best performances of his career, rushing 11 times for 65 yards (5.9 per) and a TD. The Saints have a chance to win their first game of the season with the Giants coming to town in Week 5, and Miller has made a case for a steadier role in the ground game. Furthermore, if the Saints were to deal Kamara before the trade deadline, you'd be glad you picked up Miller before he was the most targeted player on waivers.
WIDE RECEIVERS
ROSTERED: 0.3%
ROSTERED: 9%
ROSTERED: 18%
ROSTERED: 17%
ROSTERED: 0.6%
Takeaways:
- Darius Slayton appears to be the next man up as an outside receiver for the Giants, with Malik Nabers' electricity extinguished by injury. Of course, Slayton is not in the same hemisphere as Nabers when it comes to playmaking ability, but let's not forget Slayton does have seven career 100-yard games, including two last season. In fact, he averaged 11 targets, seven catches and 89.5 yards in the two games Nabers missed last season. I anticipate ups and downs for the Giants' offense with Jaxson Dart learning on the job in Year 1, but if you stream flex players in a deeper league, Slayton is the top receiver to target this week.
- The Packers are on bye in Week 5, but Romeo Doubs is still worth stashing on the roster coming off the biggest game of his career. It's clear he is Jordan Love's most-trusted wide receiver, as he just reeled in six catches for 58 yards and three TDs against the Cowboys. Green Bay will host a vulnerable Bengals defense coming off the bye in Week 6.
- So much for the Cowboys' offense losing steam due to CeeDee Lamb's injury. Dallas made a statement by dropping 40 points on the Packers, and Jalen Tolbert played 82 percent of the snaps in the team's first full game without its WR1. It didn't lead to a big fantasy output (four catches for 61 yards on six targets), but I imagine Jets head coach Aaron Glenn will gear his defense toward stopping George Pickens from going off in Week 5, which could lead to more opportunities for Tolbert.
- He didn't make my top five, but Browns rookie WR Isaiah Bond is a player to watch, especially if we learn Cedric Tillman will miss extended time with his hamstring injury. Bond has seen his targets increase with each week (season-high six in Week 4).
TIGHT ENDS
ROSTERED: 58%
ROSTERED: 59%
ROSTERED: 5%
ROSTERED: 53%
ROSTERED: 0.8%
Takeaways:
- If you happen to be in a league where Dallas Goedert became a forgotten man after missing time early due to injury, right that wrong and hit the waiver wire. Goedert has posted 10-plus points in all three of his games this season, including a season-high 19.7 on Sunday against the Buccaneers. It seems like he's one of the few pieces of the Eagles' passing game you can count on right now.
- Hunter Henry is the fantasy WR2 so far this season, people. He has three TD catches in the last two games. Put him on your roster.
- Brenton Strange has posted 10-plus fantasy points in consecutive games. He has a tough matchup against the Chiefs' defense in Week 5, but if you need a spot starter due to a bye-week situation, Strange is one of the better options at the position and looks to be no worse than a high-end TE2 long term.
DEFENSES
ROSTERED: 23%
ROSTERED: 31%
ROSTERED: 30%
ROSTERED: 3%
ROSTERED: 33%
Takeaways:
- The Colts' defense hit a snag when it ran into the Rams on Sunday, but I like its bounce-back chances with the Raiders on deck. No one has thrown more interceptions than Las Vegas' Geno Smith (seven), and Indy's D has posted two 13-point games in fantasy already this season.
- Through four games, no fantasy defense has ranked lower than eighth in points in the week where it has faced the Titans. Tennessee seems far from a breakthrough heading into its road trip to Arizona, which makes the Cardinals an enticing streaming option.
- If the Giants can keep Justin Herbert in check, they certainly could do the same (or better) against the Saints' Spencer Rattler in Week 5. New York's pass rush showed its potential while recording 12 QB hits against a Chargers team with injuries on the offensive line.
