Waiver Favors™: 2022 Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Week 5 Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I do every year over the last 10 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors™ article!  And I’m assuming if you’re reader right now, you’re in your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!

I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 5 of the 2022 fantasy football season that hopefully will keep your team running.  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.

Geno Smith

QB – Seattle Seahawks – 34% Owned

Geno Smith completed 16 of 25 attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns, adding 13 rushing yards in Week 4. Believe it or not, Smith is now averaging over 300 yards and almost 3 TDs over the last 3 games.  This is the best Smith has been EVER.  The Seahawks defense hasn’t been good, requiring Smith to air it out every week, which is great news for DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett owners.  It’s also great for folks who want to play Smith.  He should be owned in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

Geno Smith Passing Stats
Year Tm G Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Y/G Rate
2013 NYJ 16 247 443 55.8 3046 12 21 190.4 66.5
2014 NYJ 14 219 367 59.7 2525 13 13 180.4 77.5
2015 NYJ 1 27 42 64.3 265 2 1 265.0 87.9
2016 NYJ 2 8 14 57.1 126 1 1 63.0 81.2
2017 NYG 2 21 36 58.3 212 1 0 106.0 84.5
2018 LAC 5 1 4 25 8 0 0 1.6 39.6
2020 SEA 1 4 5 80 33 0 0 33.0 94.2
2021 SEA 4 65 95 68.4 702 5 1 175.5 103.0
2022 SEA 4 102 132 77.3 1037 6 2 259.3 108.0
Care 49 694 1138 61 7954 40 39 162.3 79.5
4 yr NYJ 33 501 866 57.9 5962 28 36 180.7 72.4
3 yr SEA 9 171 232 73.7 1772 11 3 196.9 105.7
1 yr LAC 5 1 4 25 8 0 0 1.6 39.6
1 yr NYG 2 21 36 58.3 212 1 0 106.0 84.5

Kenneth Walker

RB – Seattle Seahawks – 44% Owned

With Rashaad Penny going out in the 3rd quarter with a “serious” ankle injury that looks to sideline him for the rest of the season, Kenneth Walker stepped in and rushed 8 times for 88 yards and a TD.  Most of it was in a 69-yard TD run, but they all count the same. He was thought to be the starter coming into the season before the preseason and injury and is now likely to be the starter the rest of the year for the Seahawks.  Scoop him up in all 10-team leagues or deeper.

Eno Benjamin

RB – Arizona Cardinals – 10% Owned

Eno Benjamin was literally the last man standing in the Cardinals backfield as James Conner (ribs), Darrel Williams (knee) and Jonathan Ward (hamstring) all went out due to injury.  With the backfield to himself, Benjamin racked up 8 carries for 25 rush yards and a TD, adding 3 receptions on 4 targets for 28 receiving yards.  With all the injuries, Benjamin becomes a priority add for Conner owners, and nice speculative stash in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

George Pickens

WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 55% Owned

Kenny Pickett got his first start behind center for the Steelers and turns out George Pickens managed to catch 6 of 8 targets for 83 yards, leading all Steelers in receiving yards.  Over the last two weeks, in which Pickett has played, Pickens has 12 receptions for 185 total yards.  It’s safe to say he’s getting some attention in Pittsburgh and should be picked up in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

Alec Pierce

WR – Indianapolis Colts – 8% Owned

The Colts don’t look great on offense, but at least rookie Alec Pierce seems to be finding his footing.  In Week 4, Pierce managed to snag 4 of 6 targets for 80 yards and in Week 5, Pierce grabbed 8 of 9 targets for 81 yards, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and targets.  If nothing else, the Colts will definitely have to pass more with Jonathan Taylor injured, so Pierce may be a good stash in 14-team leagues or deeper.

Ben Skowronek

WR – Los Angeles Rams – 1% Owned

Allen Robinson is struggling pretty hard in LA and, outside of Cooper Kupp, it’s unclear where Matthew Stafford can throw the ball.  Ben Skowronek isn’t racking up many yards, but he’s getting plenty of targets catching 6 of 8 for 41 yards in Week 5 and is now averaging 4.8 targets per game.  If you need help in 16-team PPR leagues or deeper, feel free to speculate.

UPDATE for Monday Night Football

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

WR – Kansas City Chiefs – 37% Owned

Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught 6 of 8 targets for 90 yards in Week 5 tying Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster for the team lead in targets, but MVS managed to lead the team in receiving yards while Kelce caught the TDs. We initially thought that Smith-Schuster would be the largest beneficiary of Tyreek Hill’s departure (outside of Kelce), but Valdes-Scantling is trending up at a more significant rate, and has managed to remain healthy.  Feel free to pick him up in all 12-team leagues or deeper as a potential WR4/5/Flex.

Here our previous week’s waiver picks that we still think are worth a pickup:

10-Team Leagues

RB – Khalil Herbert (Patriots), Jeff Wilson Jr. (49ers)

12-Team Leagues

QB – Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers)

RB – Tyler Allgeier (Falcons), Mike Boone (Broncos), Alexander Mattison (Vikings)

WR – Jahan Dotson (Commanders), Devin Duvernay (Ravens), Josh Reynolds (Lions)

TE – Gerald Everett (Chargers)

14-Team Leagues

QB – Marcus Mariota (Falcons), Zach Wilson (Jets)

RB – Caleb Huntley (Falcons), J.D. McKissic (PPR)(Commanders)

WR – Noah Brown (Cowboys), Romeo Daubs (Packers), Corey Davis (Jets)

TE – Hayden Hurst (Bengals)

16-Team Leagues

QB – Cooper Rush (Cowboys), Jameis Winston (Saints) (watch the injury)

WR – DeAndre Carter (Chargers), Greg Dortch (Cardinals), Russell Gage (Buccaneers), Joshua Palmer (Chargers)

TE – Will Dissly (Seahwaks)

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!

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