Waiver Favors™: 2020 Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups
By Ha Kung Wong Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups
Twitter: @FBGarbageTime
As I do every year over the last 8 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article! And I’m assuming if you’re a returning reader, you won your fantasy football championship last year, so congratulations!But it’s a new year, so I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 5 of the 2020 fantasy football season. You’re welcome. Again.
As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
QB – Miami Dolphins – 20% Owned
Listen, I know that Tua will eventually be the starter for the Miami Dolphins. But until then, isn’t it fun to watch Ryan Fitzpatrick? Fitz-Magic returned in Week 5 completing 22 of 28 passes for a whopping 350 yards and 3 TDs in the Week 5 win over the 49ers. Sure, he’s not reliable, but he’s definitely got some upside as your backup bench QB in 14-team leagues or deeper and all two QB leagues, so long as he maintains his position with the Dolphins.
Derek Carr
QB – Las Vegas Raiders – 20% Owned
I wasn’t completely sold in Week 4, but Derek Carr now has back to back 300+ yard games, completing 22 of 31 passes for 347 yards, 3 TDs and an INT in Week 5. I’m still not a huge fan, but he’s done enough to be useful in fantasy and Henry Ruggs’ return really helps as well. He has a bye week coming up, but feel free to pick him up as a bye week fill in or backup in 14-team leagues or deeper and all two QB leagues.
Alexander Mattison
RB – Minnesota Vikings – 41% Owned
With Dalvin Cook leaving with a groin injury in the second half of Sunday Night Football, Alexander Mattison stepped in as the lead back and managed to rush 20 times for 112 yards. Even though he was one yard short of securing the win for his team at the end of the game, he still set a career high in yards. Cook did return for a play in the 3rd quarter, but now there are some rumblings that Cook may not play in Week 6, particularly with the Week 7 bye looming. So if you have Cook, time to pick up Mattison, who is also worth a pick up as a potential plug-and-play RB2/Flex in 10-team leagues or deeper in Week 6.
Andy Dalton
QB – Dallas Cowboys – 2% Owned
Poor Dak Prescott. He’s already going to get surgery on his ankle so he’s clearly out for the season. Good thing for the Cowboys that they had signed a viable backup in Andy Dalton, who managed to come in with 6:33 left in the 3rd quarter and complete 9 of 11 passes for 111 yards in a last second win over the Giants. Sure, a lot of those important passes were mostly Michael Gallup making amazing catches, but that just goes to show that he has a pretty strong cast of characters around him. You could do worse if you just lost Prescott or need a bench QB in 12-team leagues or deeper, or in any two QB leagues.
Henry Ruggs
WR – Las Vegas Raiders – 44% Owned
Because of his hamstring injury leading to two missed weeks, people might have forgotten about Henry Ruggs. Guess what, he’s now less that 50% owned and managed to catch 2 of 3 targets for 118 yards and a TD in his first game back from injury. Pretty impressive and critical in getting the surprise upset win over the reigning Super Bowl champions Chiefs. Don’t forget that Ruggs flashed in Week 1 catching 3 of 5 targets for 55 yards, so this isn’t completely out of nowhere. Pick him up in all 12-team leagues or deeper.
Mecole Hardman
WR – Kansas City Chiefs – 40% Owned
With Sammy Watkins injuring his hamstring in the second quarter of Week 5, and now looking like he’ll at least miss Week 6, Mecole Hardman could be in for bigger share of snaps and targets in a potent Kansas City Chiefs offense. Hardman has shown homerun potential in the past and has averaged over 4 targets per game over the last 3 weeks. We all know he only needs one to go to the house, so feel free to grab him if you were relying on Sammy Watkins, or if you need a bye week replacement in standard scoring 12-team leagues or deeper.
Preston Williams
WR – Miami Dolphins – 22% Owned
Many have long forgotten that Preston Williams was having a breakout season last year prior to a season ending injury. And that’s probably from his uninspiring production over his first 4 weeks. But in Week 5, Williams returned to form catching 4 of 5 targets for 106 yards and a TD against the 49ers. It’s only one game, but even without it, he was averaging over 4 targets over his last 4 games as well as catching a TD and a pair of 2-point conversions, so it’s not like Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t looking for him. He’s worth a stash as a WR3/4/Flex in 12-team leagues or deeper in hopes of returning to 2019 form.
Chase Claypool
WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 14% Owned
I already told you to pick up Chase Claypool two weeks ago, but for those who didn’t listen to me, this may be your last chance as Claypool caught 7 of a whopping 11 targets for 110 yards and 3 TDs along with a rushing TD. Yes, Diontae Johnson was out with a back injury, but Claypool was a clear cut WR1 today garnering a the most targets of anyone on the team. This is your last warning, y’all. Grab him in every 12-team league or deeper now or forever hold your peace.
Travis Fulgham
WR – Philadelphia Eagles – 2% Owned
Wow. Travis Fulgham ALMOST came out of nowhere in Week 5 with his ridiculous performance catching 10 of an insane 13 targets for 152 yards and a TD. Philly essentially has no viable receivers left on the field, but Fulgham did catch 2 of 3 targets for 57 yards and a TD in Week 4. Chances are, even if Philly gets healthy, Fulgham has done enough to have a role going forward. Seeing as how the Eagles are likely to be trailing a lot this year, opportunity could loom large, so go ahead and pick up Fulgham in all 12-team leagues or deeper.
Jimmy Graham
TE – Chicago Bears – 40% Owned
No, Jimmy Graham is not what he used to be when he was with the Saints. But he’s had consistent targets over the last 3 games with Nick Foles, including catching 3 of 5 targets for 33 yards and a TD in Week 5. He doesn’t have a ton of yards, but he does have 20 targets and 3 TDs over his last 3 games. If you’re desperate for a TE over a bye week, I’m not opposed to picking him up in 12-team leagues or deeper.
UPDATE for Monday Night Football
Check back for updates!
And here’s who I’ve recommended in previous weeks that I still think deserve a look:
10-Team Leagues
RBs – Mike Davis
12-Team Leagues
QBs – Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert, Gardner Minshew
RBs – Chase Edmonds, Devonta Freeman, Myles Gaskin, Damien Harris, Darrell Henderson, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley
WRs – Robby Anderson, Brandon Ayuik, Cole Beasley, Chase Claypool, Justin Jefferson, Tee Higgins
TEs – Mo Alie-Cox, Dalton Schultz, Robert Tonyan
14-Team Leagues
QBs – Nick Foles
RBs – Malcolm Brown, D’Ernest Johnson, Jerick McKinnon
WRs – Keelan Cole, Gabriel Davis, Alshon Jeffery, Scotty Miller, Tim Patrick, Laviska Shenault
TE – Drew Sample
16-Team Leagues
QBs – None
RB – Nyheim Hines (PPR), Dion Lewis, Benny Snell Jr., Jeff Wilson Jr.
WR – None
TE – None
Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!