Waiver Favors: 2018 Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups

October 7, 2018

By Ha Kung Wong Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups

As I do every week over the last 6 years, I’m back to help with some waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article!

Here are a couple suggestions after Week 5 of the 2018 fantasy football season. You’re welcome.

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

D’Onta Foreman

RB – Houston Texans – 20% Owned

Lamar Miller has been less than inspiring in addition to fighting injury, while Alfred Blue has never been more than a complimentary back. Coach Bill O’Brien recently noted that rising stand out D’Onta Foreman is “on track” to return when first eligible in Week 7 from an Achilles injury that he sustained last November. He’s got a chance to grab control of the backfield in Houston, so he’s worth stashing a little early by RB-needy teams in 12-team leagues and deeper.

Mohamed Sanu

Mohamed Sanu – US News Photo

WR – Atlanta Falcons – 32% Owned

Sure, Julio Jones is top dog and rookie Calvin Ridley is much more exciting, but Mohamed Sanu is the overlooked reliable option in Atlanta. There always concern regarding volume, but check out what he’s done in the last 3 weeks:

Week 3 – 4 of 7 targets for 36 yards, a TD and a 2 point conversion
Week 4 – 6 of 9 targets for 111 yards
Week 5 – 4 of 7 targets for 73 yards and a TD

So, yeah, you could say that he’s involved with the offense. He’s probably being overlooked in your league, so if you need a WR4/Flex in 14-team leagues or deeper, go ahead and give him a look.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Marquez Valdes Scantling

WR – Green Bay Packers – 9% Owned

With Randall Cobb (hamstring) and Geronimo Allison (concussion/hamstring) out in Week 5, and Davante Adam fighting through a calf injury (though showing little to no effect from it), Marquez Valdes-Scantling was the next man up. And he didn’t disappoint with catching 7 of 10 targets for 68 yards and a TD. He was close to a second TD, but was called down on the 1 inch line. He’s perfect for the system, but it’s still unclear what his role will be once both Cobb and Allison return. But as long as both are out, you’re welcome to grab him as a WR4/Flex in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Chester Rogers

WR – Indianapolis Colts – 5% Owned

There’s not a lot to like in Indianapolis outside of Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, but perhaps Chester Rogers may be worth a look. We knew he would have a role when Hilton was out in Week 5, and he did catching 8 of 11 targets for 66 yards. But keep in mind that in Week 4 with Hilton, he still managed 8 of 11 targets for 85 yards and a 2 point conversion. So he clearly has Luck’s trust and is getting plenty of opportunity on a team with terrible defense. If you need a WR4/5/Flex in 14-team leagues or deeper, particularly PPR, give him a shot.

UPDATE

Wendell Smallwood

RB – Philadelphia Eagles – 7% Owned

Shockingly, what looked like an a minor knee injury for Jay Ajayi, where he even came back into the game, ended up being a torn ACL, now landing him on IR. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the most obvious substitute, Corey Clement, has missed two weeks with a quad strain, and Darren Sproles has been out with a perpetual hamstring injury. All that’s left is Smallwood and Josh Adams, who was just elevated from the practice squad recently. Smallwood is best short term pickup in 12-team leagues, but I’m OK with a speculative Clement (24% Owned) pickup in 12-team leagues in case he becomes healthy (and as of Monday, he’s at least practicing fully, so that’s a good sign) or Adams (0% Owned) pickup in deeper 16-team leagues in case he flashes some of his big-play ability from college.

Check back for UPDATEs for Monday Night Football!

And here’s who I’ve recommended in previous weeks that I still think deserve a look: