Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 5: Keon Coleman, Tank Bigsby Increased Roles?

Week 4 delivered more notable shifts to fantasy football, from breakout performances to injuries impacting roles. All of which provide angles for how to attack this week’s waiver wire.

Ahead of Week 5, we’ll discuss notable injuries, like Eagles RB Saquon Barkley and Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, and highlight free agents WR Tyreek Hill and RB Joe Mixon — who could become impact players. Plus, how should you navigate big-time fantasy outings from Raiders QB Kirk Cousins, Seahawks RB Emanuel Wilson, and Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson?  

Let’s look at Week 5’s waiver wire options for fantasy football, including QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, and D/ST streaming candidates.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

For Week 5’s edition of the waiver wire, we have a pair of veteran QBs, two RBs potentially bound for big roles in Week 5, and three wide receivers who come off notable outings. Plus, Week 4’s top-performing tight end for fantasy football is widely available in this week’s waiver wire.

For each waiver wire target, we’ll highlight their Week 5 matchup and projections on PrizePicks, followed by a fantasy football roster percentage via Yahoo Sports. Keep in mind each weekly positional ranking provided for Week 4 does not account for Monday Night Football between the Falcons and Saints.

Top Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

The big news at quarterback is the injury of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, who suffered an ankle injury and is undergoing an MRI on Monday. If Jackson misses more time, Ravens QB Tyler Huntley is the backup for Baltimore.

Elsewhere, Raiders QB Kirk Cousins maintained strong fantasy football production, while Giants QB Jameis Winston bounced back from Week 3’s struggles.

Raiders QB Kirk Cousins

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Patriots

Roster Percentage: 23%

In Sunday’s 30-27 loss vs. the Chiefs, Kirk Cousins had a season-high 52 passing attempts, leading to 365 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 INT, and 23.6 fantasy points (QB4).

With 82.8 fantasy points, Cousins is currently QB6 on the season, further supported by 20.7 fantasy points per game (QB9). Since Week 2, Cousins has logged 21.2, 22.2, and 23.6 fantasy point totals. His 22.9 FPPG since Raiders TE Brock Bowers returned to the lineup in Week 3 is especially telling.

It’s simply be time to buy into the Raiders’ offense led by strong play from Cousins. According to RBSDM, his 0.218 adjusted EPA per play (10th) and 52.5% success rate (third) sit in the top 10 among quarterbacks.

Make Kirk Cousins picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

Giants QB Jameis Winston

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Commanders

Roster Percentage: 4%

Jameis Winston took 87.9% of snaps in Week 2 when QB Jaxson Dart suffered his season-ending injury. Winston totaled only 111 passing yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, and 3.5 fantasy points (QB32) in that game, followed by 118 passing yards, 0 TDs, and 6.1 fantasy points (QB31) in Week 3.

In the Giants’ 36-24 win over the Cardinals in Week 4, Winston’s play provides hope for the remainder of the season. He still dealt with turnover issues with 2 INTs, but his 250 passing yards and 3 passing TDs helped generate 20.0 fantasy points (QB8). Most importantly, Winston’s 0.187 adjusted EPA per play (12th) actually showcased solid efficiency.

Winston likely won’t become a weekly starter, but he could be a nice stash or streaming option. He’s benefiting from throwing to WR Malik Nabers and TE Isaiah Likely, while the offensive line has a 53% pass block win rate (ninth) and 74% run block win rate (13th), per ESPN.

Predict More or Less for Jameis Winston’s pass yards on PrizePicks.

Other Week 5 QB Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett (vs. Lions): 16% roster percentage
• Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (vs. Colts): 10% roster percentage
• Browns QB Deshaun Watson (vs. Jets): 9% roster percentage
• Titans QB Cam Ward (vs. Texans): 9% roster percentage

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Top Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5 

If you’re lucky enough to have Seahawks RB Emanuel Wilson (49% roster rate) available in your league, he’s a must-add following his 27.0 fantasy points (RB5) in Week 4.

On Sunday, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley exited with a hamstring injury and will have testing on Monday. That turns our attention to Eagles RB Tank Bigsby. 

Plus, the Chargers are another team shaking up their usage, with RB Keaton Mitchell drawing attention on the waiver wire.

Eagles RB Tank Bigsby

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Jaguars

Roster Percentage: 28% 

After playing limited snaps in Week 2 due to a stinger, Saquon Barkley suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 24-20 loss vs. the Rams. If Saquon misses more time, Tank Bigsby is a clear target for this week’s waiver wire. 

Barkley played for only 4 snaps before exiting Sunday’s game. Bigsby stepped in and took 29 snaps and 19 rush snaps, leading to 14 rushing attempts for 55 rushing yards (3.9 YPC). Eagles RB Will Shipley also posted 29 snaps, but 19 of those were in the passing game, yielding 6 carries, 23 rushing yards, and 0 targets.

The Eagles’ offense struggled with only 172 total yards and 3.0 yards per play in the loss, limiting red zone opportunities. According to Pro Football Reference, Bigsby has taken 5 red zone carries compared to Shipley’s 6 on the season.

Bigsby will likely take most of the work on the ground, making him the waiver wire priority, but Shipley’s passing snaps and potential red zone work make him a potential stash for PPR leagues.

Make Tank Bigsby picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Broncos

Roster Percentage: 5% 

Do you remember that preseason hype about Chargers RB Omarion Hampton? He had an average draft position (ADP) of RB10 in PPR leagues, per FantasyPros, and Hampton has rewarded fantasy managers with only 11.2 FPPG (RB24).

While Hampton tallied 13.3 fantasy points (RB20) in Week 4 thanks to a touchdown, he had a season-low 11 touches compared to 17.3 per game over his first three games. Keaton Mitchell continues to push for more and more playing time, going from 4 touches in Week 1 to 15 touches on Sunday.

Mitchell even outsnapped Hampton with a 36.6% snap rate compared to Hampton’s 35.2% in the 30-23 loss vs. the Seahawks. Some of this was likely due to a negative game script, with Los Angeles trailing 27-6 in the third quarter. That forced the Bolts to air it out, and Mitchell gets most of the receiving work, proven by his 6 targets in Week 4. 

However, the Chargers are now 0-4, and plenty of negative game scripts could be ahead — including a 3.5-point underdog role for the spread vs. the Broncos in Week 5, per PrizePicks.

Lock in Keaton Mitchell picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

Other Week 5 RB Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Packers RB Kaleb Johnson (vs. Bears): 6% roster percentage
• Saints RB Kendre Miller (vs. Vikings): 15% roster percentage
• Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright (vs. Bengals): 31% roster percentage
• Raiders RB Mike Washington Jr. (vs. Patriots): 35% roster percentage
• Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (vs. Giants): 3% roster percentage
• Free Agent RB Joe Mixon: 2% roster percentage
• Giants RB Najee Harris (vs. Commanders): 6% roster percentage
• Eagles RB Will Shipley (vs. Jaguars): 1% roster percentage

Top Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase exited Sunday’s 22-17 loss vs. the Jaguars with a concussion, and WR Tee Higgins suffered an adductor injury late in the game. In the loss, WR Dohnte Meters stepped up with 7 catches for 82 receiving yards, providing a waiver wire target.

However, uncertainty surrounds Chase’s and Higgins’ status, meaning Meyers is not a top priority quite yet. Instead, Dolphins WR Malik Washington, Steelers WR Roman Wilson, and Bills WR Keon Coleman all draw attention.

Saints WR Jordyn Tyson is another player to watch. The rookie has yet to make his debut, with a hamstring injury keeping him out for a few more weeks. With that said, his current 51% roster rate could drop over the coming weeks, providing a potential stash for your fantasy football roster.

Dolphins WR Malik Washington

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Bengals

Roster Percentage: 31% 

Malik Washington is a weekly waiver wire target at this point. He continues to take the lion’s share of the Dolphins’ work, featuring team highs with 5 targets, 5 catches, and 67 receiving yards in Sunday’s 15-10 loss against the Vikings.

Washington’s 12.0 fantasy points (WR31) probably won’t carry your team to a win, but this marks back-to-back weeks with double-digit fantasy points. According to PlayerProfiler, his 27.1% target share ranks 11th among WRs, and that workload is further backed by an 84.4% snap share (13th) and 9 deep targets (first).

Make Malik Washington picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

Steelers WR Roman Wilson

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Colts

Roster Percentage: 3% 

Following two alarming performances to open the season, the Steelers’ offense has bounced back with 27.0 PPG over the last two games. Roman Wilson has been a major piece of the puzzle with 6.0 targets, 3.0 receptions, 67.0 receiving yards, and 1.0 receiving TD per game during the two-game span.

In Week 3, Wilson had 15.0 fantasy points (WR24), and he kept that production up by posting 16.4 points (WR16) vs. the Browns on Thursday Night Football. Frankly, Pittsburgh can’t ignore his 22.3 yards per catch over the last two weeks, and Wilson has a team-high 6.1 yards after the catch per reception, per Pro Football Focus. 

Lock in Roman Wilson picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

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Bills WR Keon Coleman

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Rams

Roster Percentage: 4% 

Keon Coleman has mainly been a boom or bust for fantasy during his career, either providing a big play or producing few fantasy points. He was a mixed bag over the first three weeks: 1.1 (WR104), 12.3 (WR28), and 4.7 (WR77) fantasy points.

However, Coleman should be on fantasy radars after his 7 targets, 6 catches, 116 receiving yards, 1 TD, and 23.6 fantasy points (WR9) in Week 4. Furthermore, Bills WR D.J. Moore aggravated his shoulder injury on Sunday, drawing concern for his availability going forward.

That injury led to Moore posting only a 39.0% snap share, and Coleman immediately took advantage of the increased role with a season-high 78.0% snap rate and 23.6 fantasy points.

Add Keon Coleman to your PrizePicks lineup for Week 5.

Other Week 5 WR Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Free Agent WR Tyreek Hill — Potential Chiefs reunion: 22% roster percentage
• Giants WR Malachi Fields (vs. Commanders): 7% roster percentage
• Chargers WR Tre Harris (vs. Broncos): 9% roster percentage
• Bengals WR Dohnte Meyers (vs. Dolphins): 1% roster percentage
• Jets WR Adonai Mitchell (vs. Browns): 29% roster percentage

Top Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

Ahead of Monday Night Football, Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson boasts the best fantasy performance of the week for tight ends. Paired with Vikings WR Justin Jefferson battling an ankle injury, Hockenson could deserve a roster spot.

Rounding out tight end targets for the waiver wire, Raiders TE Michael Mayer continues to offer value with Las Vegas regularly featuring 12 and 13 personnel. Bengals TE Mike Gesicki is now averaging 11.1 FPPG and could benefit from injuries to WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Saints

Roster Percentage: 29% 

Without WR Justin Jefferson in the lineup, the Vikings struggled with 4.7 yards per play in a 15-10 win over the Dolphins. WR Jordan Addison was expected to be the team’s top target, but he turned 6 targets into just 4 receptions for 52 yards. Plus, WR Jauan Jennings tallied 1 catch for 8 receiving yards despite a 94.9% snap share.

If Jefferson continues to miss time, this receiving corps isn’t trustworthy. However, T.J. Hockenson racked up 13 targets, 13 receptions, and 119 receiving yards to lead the receiving workload vs. the Dolphins. That led to 24.9 fantasy points, which leads all tight ends for Week 4 before Monday Night Football.

Hockenson has a 19.1% target share (11th) and 28.6% red zone target share (eighth) that generate clear potential for his fantasy football stock. Plus, PlayerProfiler gives him 49 unrealized air yards (ninth-most), suggesting positive regression could be ahead following Week 4’s breakout performance. 

Predict T.J. Hockenson stats on PrizePicks for NFL Week 5.

Other Week 5 TE Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Raiders TE Michael Mayer (vs. Patriots): 7% roster percentage
• Panthers TE Darren Waller (Bye): 33% roster percentage
• Bengals TE Mike Gesicki (vs. Dolphins): 7% roster percentage
• Rams TE Tyler Higbee (vs. Bills): 2% roster percentage
• Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden (vs. Broncos): 10% roster percentage

Top Defense (D/ST) Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5

Coming off strong performances, the Giants and Browns D/ST are potential streaming options for the waiver wire. Meanwhile, the Saints’ and Bengals’ units could take advantage of struggling offenses in the Vikings and Dolphins.

Giants Defense

Week 5 Matchup: vs. Commanders

Week 5 Total via PrizePicks: Giants vs. Commanders Over/Under – 43.5

Roster Percentage: 5% roster percentage 

This streaming option boils down to Commanders QB Jayden Daniels’ Week 5 status. He was a limited participant at all three practices before Week 4 but was ultimately ruled out. According to Tom Pelissero, the Commanders are “hopeful” he will start vs. the Giants in Week 5.

If Daniels cannot go, the Giants D/ST immediately becomes the top streaming option of the week. New York’s defense generated 3 turnovers and 14.0 fantasy points (D/ST1) in a 36-24 win over the Cardinals.

The Giants’ front seven is beginning to draw some serious hype, as rookie LB Arvell Reese comes off a breakout performance with 9 tackles, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs. Plus, EDGE Abdul Carter generated 6 pressures and 3 QB hits in the win.

Alongside Daniels, QB Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL in Week 4. Washington could be down to third-string QB Athan Kaliakmanis, and that helped the Colts D/ST post 8.0 fantasy points (D/ST5) in Sunday’s 30-13 win.

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Other Week 5 D/ST Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Browns D/ST (vs. Jets): 14% roster percentage
• Saints D/ST (vs. Vikings): 6% roster percentage
• Bengals D/ST (vs. Dolphins): 23% roster percentage

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Eagles RB Tank Bigsby, Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson, and more should be on your waiver wire radar due to injuries. Plus, Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell and Dolphins WR Malik Washington are intriguing options with potential prominent roles for the remainder of the 2026 fantasy football campaign.

Don’t wait until kickoff — make your NFL Week 5 picks on PrizePIcks now! You can make picks on the winner, spread, and over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks, now available in 36 states. With PrizePicks, just pick players and predict More or Less on their stats!

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