This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.
Week 5 of this season will best be remembered for the shuffling of the NFL schedule due to COVID-19, Dak Prescott's heartbreaking, season-ending injury and a few lesser known wide receivers coming out of the woodwork to post big games. Let's look at who to add as this should be an active week with some big bids.
Quarterback
PRIMARY TARGETS
Andy Dalton, DAL - Dalton is one of the tougher player's I've had to evaluate this season for the Waiver Wire. The Red Rifle is one of the more competent backup quarterbacks in the NFL and despite it seeming like he's been in the league forever, he's only 32. He's missed games in each of the last two seasons and did not play with a good offensive line in his last few seasons with the Bengals. The offensive line situation isn't good in Dallas, but there's a strong argument this is the best setup he's had with skill players. The record-setting pace Dak Prescott was on before he got injured Sunday was in part thanks to his teammates. In this system Dalton has the upside to be a top-12 player at the position for the rest of the season. He'll get reps in with the first team this week and the short-term schedule (ARI, at WAS, at PHI) isn't too daunting. Dak's fantasy managers will place a big bid on Dalton, so take a glance to see how much they have left if FAAB if you're serious about
Week 5 of this season will best be remembered for the shuffling of the NFL schedule due to COVID-19, Dak Prescott's heartbreaking, season-ending injury and a few lesser known wide receivers coming out of the woodwork to post big games. Let's look at who to add as this should be an active week with some big bids.
Quarterback
PRIMARY TARGETS
Andy Dalton, DAL - Dalton is one of the tougher player's I've had to evaluate this season for the Waiver Wire. The Red Rifle is one of the more competent backup quarterbacks in the NFL and despite it seeming like he's been in the league forever, he's only 32. He's missed games in each of the last two seasons and did not play with a good offensive line in his last few seasons with the Bengals. The offensive line situation isn't good in Dallas, but there's a strong argument this is the best setup he's had with skill players. The record-setting pace Dak Prescott was on before he got injured Sunday was in part thanks to his teammates. In this system Dalton has the upside to be a top-12 player at the position for the rest of the season. He'll get reps in with the first team this week and the short-term schedule (ARI, at WAS, at PHI) isn't too daunting. Dak's fantasy managers will place a big bid on Dalton, so take a glance to see how much they have left if FAAB if you're serious about acquiring Dalton. FAAB: $10-$25 (depending on your league format, go even higher)
SECONDARY TARGETS
Kirk Cousins, MIN - Teddy Bridgewater absolutely shredded the Falcons defense and racked up 258 passing yards at halftime Sunday. Unfortunately, the Falcons couldn't make a game of it otherwise he would have had an even bigger day. Cousins gets Atlanta next and it's at home. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen should have big games and Cousins appears to trust both implicitly. Just realize this is a one-week rental as the Vikings are on bye Week 7 and then have a tough matchup Week 8 against the Packers. FAAB: $4-$8
HAIL MARY
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA - This is just a reminder that we probably will see Tua take over as the Miami quarterback sooner than later. The Dolphins' upset of the 49ers likely delayed that timetable a week as Miami could be sniffing a wild card if it moves to 3-3 by beating the Jets this week. The next three games are much tougher and my guess is that's when we'll see Tua's debut. His cost is nothing now, but in a few weeks it'll be likely I'm writing about him with a decent-sized FAAB bid. FAAB: FCFS or $1
Kyle Allen, WAS - Allen will be the starter this week provided he's healthy enough to suit up Sunday. His value is limited to superflex/two-quarterback leagues but now that we're in bye week territory, he might be on your radar. FAAB: FCFS or $1
Running Back
PRIMARY TARGETS
Alexander Mattison, MIN - This could be a huge add for teams depending if Dalvin Cook is out and for how long. Mattison looked perfectly comfortable taking over for Cook on Sunday night, finishing with 20 carries for 112 yards and three catches for 24 yards. Mattison is in a great situation playing for a team that has a run-first philosophy, and the offensive line appeared to do a good job of run-blocking against Seattle. If Cook misses multiple weeks it almost makes sense to take that number of weeks and multiple it by the number below to get a true FAAB bid. There's also the chance that Cook only misses a week or no time at all. FAAB: $8-$16
HAIL MARY
Trenton Cannon, CAR - Cannon likely won't make a big splash this season, but it's worth noting he's the backup to Mike Davis now that Reggie Bonnafon is on practice squad IR. The Panthers have show a preference to use only one running back as a workhorse, so if anything happens to Davis, Cannon would be the next man up. FAAB: FCFS or $1
Wide Receiver
PRIMARY TARGETS
Chase Claypool, PIT - Claypool will be the unanimous choice for top add this week after his big game Sunday. It seems as if the Steelers had a gameplan to unleash him against the Eagles perhaps thinking Darius Slay would shadow JuJu Smith-Schuster most of the game. It didn't hurt that Diontae Johnson (back) left the game in the first quarter, and even if he returns this week it appears Claypool has a big role in this offense. The schedule works out nicely for him playing Cleveland, Tennessee and Dallas in three of his next four games, and Pittsburgh is already past its bye week. JuJu is still the top receiving option in this offense, but Claypool's upside was on full display Sunday. Don't hesitate to burn that top waiver priority pick. FAAB: $30-$60
Henry Ruggs, LV - Ruggs barely makes the cut this week as a player owned in 44 percent of Yahoo leagues. He made a huge impact in his return Sunday, catching two long passes for 118 yards and a score. The first wide receiver taken in this year's draft, Ruggs is the perfect weapon in this offense. Gruden and the Raiders want to utilize the run game with Josh Jacobs as much as possible and when the defense cheats up to close to the line of scrimmage Carr showed he can hit him with the deep ball. If Ruggs continue to see a minimal number of targets (three Sunday) he might be a hit-or-miss weekly option. The Raiders have a bye this week, so don't bid too big on him if you're looking for a starter this week. FAAB: $6-$12
Brandin Cooks, HOU - Cooks had a big game Sunday against the Jaguars, finishing with a 12-8-161-1 line and cementing himself as Deshaun Watson's second receiving target. It'll be interesting to see how the coaching change affects Cooks and whether he gets more than the five targets per game he averaged coming into Sunday's game. It's easy to forget before last season Cooks had four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In standard leagues, Ruggs is the preferred target while Cooks is the better option in full-point PPR formats. FAAB: $6-$12
Travis Fulgham, PHI - I'll be honest, Fulgham wasn't anywhere on my radar during the preseason even when I was looking at long shots for deeper formats. He lit up one of the better defenses in the league Sunday with a 13-10-152-1 line against the aforementioned Steelers. This makes two games in a row with a score and clearly he has a good rapport with Carson Wentz. The reason I'm tapping the brakes is teammates will return to the lineup as soon as this week and Greg Ward (5-4-26-1) still has a solid receiving role. This week they play the Ravens, which isn't a good matchup. FAAB: $5-$10
SECONDARY TARGETS
Denzel Mims, NYJ - Jamison Crowder is the top receiving option for the winless Jets, but that should change when Mims returns to the field. And that could be as soon as this week. He has the tools to be the No. 1 wide receiver and the sooner he gets on the field the sooner he'll get valuable in-game reps. FAAB: $3-$6
HAIL MARY
Jalen Reagor, PHI - Reagor is eligible to return Week 7, so now is the time to grab him before his price becomes inflated. Provided he's healthy, he'll have the opportunity to become the top receiving option for the Eagles. When you think of all the on-field success rookie wide receivers have had so far, remember that Reagor was the 21st pick, the third wide receiver to be drafted. FAAB: $2-$4
Tight End
SECONDARY TARGETS
Irv Smith, MIN - I really want to be higher on Smith after Sunday's breakout, but he has a low floor considering his production the first four weeks. Smith came into the game with only six targets and finished Sunday night's game with a 5-4-64 line. One of those grabs was highlight reel material as he had diving 23-yard grab early in the game. Hopefully, he can build on that performance as the Vikings look to use Kyle Rudolph in the blocking role. FAAB: $2-$4
Defense
SECONDARY TARGETS
Miami Dolphins - They play the visiting Jets, who likely will be led by Joe Flacco. The Dolphins have some playmakers on defense and are the top streaming team to use this week that is actually available. FAAB: $2-$4
Washington Football Team - The defense is markedly better than the offense, and Sunday's game against the Giants is a battle to determine the worst team in the NFC East. While the Giants put up numbers in Dallas, Washington is a much better team defensively. I prefer the Fins over the ... Washington team. FAAB: $2-$4
