Free tool · No signup · Oct 6 – Oct 12

Week 5 waiver wire pickups

The widely available players worth a week 5 claim, ranked by matchup and value over replacement, with a suggested FAAB bid for each and the roster spots worth clearing.

Scoring

Week 5 · Oct 6 – Oct 12 · 20 ranked adds · byes: KC

#PlayerMatchupPriorityFAABWhy
1Jameson WilliamsWR · DET@ ARISmash spotstreamer6%Jameson Williams draws @ ARI (smash spot) and still projects 164 points on the season with 44 over replacement at WR.
2David MontgomeryRB · DET@ ARISmash spotspeculative4%Sits directly behind Jahmyr Gibbs with 68% of that workload transferring. Already a standalone starter — the rare handcuff you draft on merit.
3Jerry JeudyWR · CLE@ NYJSmash spotstreamer6%Jerry Jeudy draws @ NYJ (smash spot) and still projects 172 points on the season with 52 over replacement at WR.
4Tyler AllgeierRB · ATLvs BALNeutralspeculative4%Sits directly behind Bijan Robinson with 72% of that workload transferring. Allgeier has already been a 1,000-yard back when Bijan sat.
5Jaylen WrightRB · MIAvs CINSmash spotspeculative2%Sits directly behind De'Von Achane with 60% of that workload transferring. Miami's scheme inflates whoever gets the outside-zone carries.
6Rachaad WhiteRB · TB@ DALSmash spotspeculative2%Sits directly behind Bucky Irving with 70% of that workload transferring. White still holds passing-down work, so he has weekly standalone value.
7Deebo SamuelWR · WASvs NYGGood matchupspeculative3%Deebo Samuel draws vs NYG (good matchup) and still projects 140 points on the season with 20 over replacement at WR.
8David NjokuTE · CLE@ NYJSmash spotspeculative3%David Njoku draws @ NYJ (smash spot) and still projects 124 points on the season with 0 over replacement at TE.
9Cam SkatteboRB · NYG@ WASGood matchupspeculative3%Cam Skattebo draws @ WAS (good matchup) and still projects 142 points on the season with 20 over replacement at RB.
10Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG@ WASGood matchupspeculative3%Tyrone Tracy Jr. draws @ WAS (good matchup) and still projects 136 points on the season with 14 over replacement at RB.
11Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WASvs NYGGood matchupspeculative3%Brian Robinson Jr. draws vs NYG (good matchup) and still projects 122 points on the season with 0 over replacement at RB.
12Tucker KraftTE · GBvs CHINeutralspeculative1%Tucker Kraft draws vs CHI (neutral) and still projects 146 points on the season with 22 over replacement at TE.
13Will ShipleyRB · PHI@ JAXNightmarespeculative1%Sits directly behind Saquon Barkley with 62% of that workload transferring. Philadelphia's line makes any starter behind it startable.
14Rome OdunzeWR · CHI@ GBToughspeculative1%Rome Odunze draws @ GB (tough) and still projects 176 points on the season with 56 over replacement at WR.
15Aaron JonesRB · MIN@ NONeutralspeculative1%Aaron Jones draws @ NO (neutral) and still projects 158 points on the season with 36 over replacement at RB.
16Hunter HenryTE · NEvs LVGood matchupspeculative1%Hunter Henry draws vs LV (good matchup) and still projects 116 points on the season with -8 over replacement at TE.
17Jaylen WarrenRB · PITvs INDNeutralspeculative1%Jaylen Warren draws vs IND (neutral) and still projects 148 points on the season with 26 over replacement at RB.
18Jake FergusonTE · DALvs TBNeutralspeculative1%Jake Ferguson draws vs TB (neutral) and still projects 130 points on the season with 6 over replacement at TE.
19Drake MayeQB · NEvs LVGood matchupspeculative1%Drake Maye draws vs LV (good matchup) and still projects 296 points on the season with -14 over replacement at QB.
20DJ GiddensRB · IND@ PITNeutralspeculative1%Sits directly behind Jonathan Taylor with 66% of that workload transferring. Indianapolis leans run-first regardless of who is carrying.

Drop candidates for week 5

Rashee Rice WR · KC

KC is on bye in week 5 and he carries only 26 points over replacement — the roster spot is worth more than the hold.

Isiah Pacheco RB · KC

KC is on bye in week 5 and he carries only 30 points over replacement — the roster spot is worth more than the hold.

Justin Herbert QB · LAC

vs DEN is a nightmare draw and there is a better add above him at the same position.

Trevor Lawrence QB · JAX

vs PHI is a nightmare draw and there is a better add above him at the same position.

Brock Purdy QB · SF

@ SEA is a nightmare draw and there is a better add above him at the same position.

Najee Harris RB · LAC

vs DEN is a nightmare draw and there is a better add above him at the same position.

Planning week 5

Claims are decided before the matchup, so read this board on Tuesday and set your bid before you know how anyone else feels about the name. The score behind each player is the same one used all season — value over replacement adjusted for the defense he faces — which means a player can be a must-add in week 5 and a bench hold two weeks later without anything about him changing.

If a bye week is thinning your lineup, fill the hole from the drop list first: moving a player you were never going to start is cheaper than winning a bidding war.