Here are my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire target, streaming option, or stash, the player must be available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues.
See If They're Available:
There are always a few players that don't technically make the cut here as a waiver wire option as they're available in under 60% of leagues, but these players should be on a roster. If they're not on a roster yet, they should be a higher priority than those listed as waiver wire targets below.
Darnell Mooney (WR - Atlanta Falcons)
Mooney shouldn't have been available going into this week and he certainly shouldn't be available after it. It was a career day of 9 for 105 and 2 TDs (31.5 points) on 16 targets and he still should've had more given multiple poor drops. That's four straight of 6+ targets with three of those four games going for 14+ points. He's owned in just 48% of leagues - that needs to be a lot higher.
Trey Sermon (RB - Indianapolis Colts)
With Jonathan Taylor sidelined in Week 5, Sermon stepped in as the lead back drawing 10 carries for 38 yards and a TD, adding another 6 catches (on 6 targets) for 25 yards. He wasn't anything exceptional, getting stopped at the goal line three times in the opening quarter, but he was a serviceable play as expected. With Taylor dealing with a "mild" high-ankle sprain (whatever that means), Sermon may be forced into the lead role once again next week against Tennessee and potentially for another game or two beyond that should Taylor struggle to return.
Ladd McConkey (WR - Los Angeles Chargers)
He may have found his way onto waivers in your league with the Chargers having had a Week 5 bye, so make sure to check if McConkey's available. If so, make sure he's picked up - he's provided rather stable production thus far and should only further distance himself as Herbert's go-to target as the rookie gets more involved in the offense.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
These are your players to target on waivers this week - these aren't typically supposed to be a one-week solution but rather a longer-term answer for your team.
Tank Bigsby (RB - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Bigsby continued his red-hot efficiency in 2024 with a career game in Week 5: 13 carries for 101 yards and 2 TDs, plus another 28 yards via the air.
He's forced the Jaguars' backfield into a true 1A/1B situation, topping Travis Etienne in snap share (40% to 39%), carries (13 to 6), and opportunities (14 to 13). Etienne will be the 1A, especially getting the valuable receiving work, but Bigbsy is playing his way into a definitive 1B role with the goal-line role (both carries inside the 10-yard-line in Week 5).
He should offer RB3/4 value down the stretch here in addition to top-12 upside should Travis Etienne go down.
Josh Downs (WR - Indianapolis Colts)
There's not much more that Josh Downs could've done through the first three games of his 2023 season:
3 catches for 22 yards (on 5 targets) for 5.2 points in Week 3
8 catches for 82 yards and a TD (on 9 targets) for 22.2 points in Week 4
9 catches for 69 yards (on 12 targets) for 15.9 points in Week 5
The volume, especially in terms of target share (leading the Colts in back-to-back weeks), has been exceptional, but there remains uncertainty as to how sustainable it will be with the Colts likely to transition back to Anthony Richardson (hip) from Joe Flacco next week.
For now, he should absolutely be rostered, but my preference would be to add him via waivers and immediately look to see if you can flip him for a more secure WR given Richardson's lack of volume to the WR position.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB - New York Giants)
Devin Singletary suffered a groin injury in Week 4, forcing him to miss a Week 5 game against the Seahawks, and that may have lost him his starting job.
Tyrone Tracy was exceptional in his first career start, drawing 18 carries for 129 yards (7.2 YPC). Singletary had gotten a ton of volume (56 carries, 10 catches) but hadn't been overly efficient through the first four weeks, averaging just 3.9 YPC and losing 2 fumbles, making the monster game from Tracy a potential point of pivot for the Giants' coaching staff at the RB position.
There's very little certainty about his role should Singletary return next week, but Tracy's upside is league-changing should he become the lead RB in New York.
Jalen Tolbert (WR - Dallas Cowboys)
Tolbert had already been on an upward trajectory in the Dallas Cowboys offense with back-to-back 13+ point performances in Week 2 and Week 3, but that trajectory took a massive uptick with WR Brandin Cooks (knee) being placed on IR after Week 4.
Thrust into the WR2 role, Tolbert delivered in a major way in Week 5, drawing a team-high 10 targets, converting for 7 catches, 87 yards, and a TD - 21.7 points, which currently stands as a top-12 finish on the week.
That type of volume and overall production shouldn't be a guarantee every week going forward, but the role of the WR2 in Dallas' offense should provide a rather stable floor for Tolbert as a short-term WR3/FLEX option.
Jaylen Wright (RB - Miami Dolphins)
De'Von Achane exited Week 5 in the opening quarter with a concussion, so it doesn't open anything up long-term for the Dolphins' RB room, but it may have opened up the exact opportunity for rookie Jaylen Wright to hit his stride and carve out a more notable role in the Dolphins' offense.
Wright had already seen his snap share increase from 24% in Week 2 to 47% in Week 4, but he was now able to piece it together on the stat sheet with 86 yards on 13 carries (6.6 YPC), leading the Dolphins on the ground.
Now, we likely will see De'Von Achane active next week given the Dolphins' bye. This could mean Wright may revert back to the RB3 role (behind Achane and Mostert) or we could see Wright in a truly expanded role given his emergence in Week 5. I wouldn't break the bank if in a FAAB league nor would I give up a notable player to pick up Wright, but if you have the roster space, he's worth a stash.
Ty Chandler (RB - Minnesota Vikings)
In a similar situation to Jaylen Wright (see above), the Vikings' lead RB, Aaron Jones, exited rather early in Week 5 with a hip injury and did not return, ceding the way for Ty Chandler to step into a very prominent role in the offense, leading the team in carries with a very distant separation between he (14) and the next-best RB (Myles Gaskin, 2).
Now, the efficiency wasn't anything notable, posting just 2.1 YPC and 9 yards via the receiving game, but a starting RB is a starting RB in the world of fantasy football and true lead backs are hard to come by.
Minnesota will have an additional week for Jones to get ready for their next game with a Week 6 bye upcoming, so it is yet to be seen if Chandler will get much, if any time, as the lead back. He's worth a stash heading into the bye if you have the roster space in the scenario that Jones were to miss a game or two.
Tutu Atwell (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Tyler Conklin (TE - New York Jets)
Colby Parkinson (TE - Los Angeles Rams)
Ray-Ray McCloud (WR - Atlanta Falcons)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These aren't the same as waiver wire targets. Yes, you are still getting these players off waivers, but these are purely the best options for this week and this week only. Players can be a streaming option and a waiver wire target, which means they're a solid option to play this upcoming week and potentially beyond.
Quarterbacks:
Derek Carr (vs TB)
Deshaun Watson (at PHI)
Daniel Jones (vs CIN)
Runningbacks:
Tyler Allgeier (at CAR)
Tank Bigsby (at CHI)
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (vs CIN) - if Devin Singletary is inactive
Wide Receivers:
Josh Downs (at TEN) - if Anthony Richardson is inactive
Jalen Tolbert (vs DET)
Michael Wilson (at GB)
Tight Ends:
Taysom Hill (vs TB) - if active
Tyler Conklin (vs BUF)
Zach Ertz (at BAL)
Defense/Special Teams:
Houston Texans (at NE)
Philadelphia Eagles (vs CLE)
Indianapolis Colts (at TEN)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have greater potential to be a solid option and likely end up being a waiver wire target sometime down the line. You won't see immediate value but these are the guys that possibly could go under the radar and see a notable role shortly.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB - Miami Dolphins)
All signs point towards Tua returning once first eligible from IR in Week 8. Unless you are fully set with a top QB, I'd recommend giving Tua a look as a stash ahead of his Week 6 bye if available in your league.
Jordan Whittington (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB - Kansas City Chiefs)
Tre Tucker (WR - Las Vegas Raiders)
Roschon Johnson (RB - Chicago Bears)