If you’re one of the few fantasy football owners who hasn’t been bitten by the injury bug, give thanks to the fantasy gods, because this season’s injuries have been brutal. In addition to navigating injuries, fantasy owners also have to find replacements for players on the Lions and the Saints, who have Week 6 byes. But not to worry. Each week I break down top waiver-wire targets to help your fantasy team navigate injuries, suspensions, running-back committees and probably some relationship problems along the way. I highlight players who are owned in fewer than 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues. I also recommend an auction price (in parentheses) for each player for leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget system (which I highly recommend, by the way). All recommendations are made based on a $100 FAAB budget. Injuries to Offensive Players This Season There have been so many injuries to major fantasy contributors this season that I had to make a chart this week. The following list is not exhaustive; I’m highlighting only injuries to offensive position players this season. (There are 55 as of writing.) For updates, check out our NFL Injury Report. Notable Week 5 NFL Injuries Brandin Cooks , WR, Los Angeles Rams (concussion): Questionable , WR, Los Angeles Rams (concussion): Questionable Cooper Kupp , WR, Los Angeles Rams (concussion): Questionable , WR, Los Angeles Rams (concussion): Questionable Corey Grant , RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (foot): Injured Reserve , RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (foot): Injured Reserve George Kittle , TE, San Francisco 49ers (knee): Questionable , TE, San Francisco 49ers (knee): Questionable Kerryon Johnson , RB, Detroit Lions (ankle): Probable , RB, Detroit Lions (ankle): Probable Matt Breida , RB, San Francisco 49ers (ankle): Questionable , RB, San Francisco 49ers (ankle): Questionable Matt Ryan , QB, Atlanta Falcons (foot): Probable , QB, Atlanta Falcons (foot): Probable Saquon Barkley , RB, New York Giants (back): Probable , RB, New York Giants (back): Probable Ted Ginn Jr. , WR, New Orleans Saints (knee): Questionable , WR, New Orleans Saints (knee): Questionable Tyler Kroft, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (foot): Questionable It’s Cuffing Season In life there are few absolute certainties: Death, taxes and fantasy football injuries. In this section, I highlight players to target on waivers when top players inevitably get hurt or suspended. Alfred Morris, RB, San Francisco 49ers ($20) Matt Breida suffered a sprained ankle against the Cardinals this past week, resulting in increased usage for Morris. Morris rushed 18 times for 61 yards and added three receptions for 30 yards on five targets. Despite his timeshare with Breida, Morris ranks 15th in the NFL in carries (62) and 10th in red-zone rush attempts (12). He’s a borderline RB2 option in Week 6 and could offer extended value if Breida misses time due to injury. Wendell Smallwood, RB, Philadelphia Eagles ($10) The Eagles backfield is old and ailing, and Smallwood is likely the team’s healthiest, most reliable running back option: Jay Ajayi reportedly tore his ACL. Corey Clement was active this past week but did not play against the Vikings. And Darren Sproles has missed four straight games due to a hamstring injury. Smallwood has carved a role for himself as the Eagles’ pass-catching running back, earning increased usage and two total touchdowns over the past three weeks. He’s a good flex option for fantasy managers looking for short-term help due to injuries or bye weeks. Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($7) O.J. Howard is out for the next few weeks as he recovers from a sprained MCL. But even once Howard returns, he could suffer a decline in production due to his knee injury. Brate should absorb a large share of Howard’s target volume. Before the Buccaneers’ bye last week, Brate scored receiving touchdowns in two consecutive games against the Steelers and Bears. With injuries to 11 starting tight ends so far this season, Brate offers excellent replacement value with season-long upside. Top Streaming Quarterback Options Each week, I highlight top quarterback streaming options for Late Round QB-truthers. These quarterbacks are week-to-week options and are not necessarily viable long term. And after recommending Blake Bortles each of the past three weeks, his five-turnover performance against the Chiefs definitely deserves this Gollum gif: Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($4) The Ryan Fitzpatrick era has fizzled out in Tampa Bay, leaving “Lin-sanity”-style mayhem in its wake. Now, it’s Winston’s turn to lead the dynamic Buccaneers offense. He draws a dream matchup against the lowly Falcons defense in his first start of 2018. Atlanta ranks 30th in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA and is coming off a 41-17 thrashing in Pittsburgh. The Buccaneers are even worse than the Falcons, ranking dead-last in defensive DVOA while allowing a staggering 358.0 passing yards per game. Neither team has run the ball effectively this season, which suggests that this matchup could turn into a passing shootout. Winston boasts top-10 median and ceiling projections among quarterbacks and is a high-priority streaming target this week. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears ($2) The Bears were on bye last week, so it’s possible that some fantasy players have already forgotten Trubisky’s Week 4 masterpiece performance when he went 19-of-26 for 354 yards, threw for six touchdowns and added 53 yards rushing against the Bucs. Trubisky has an advantageous matchup in Week 6 against the Dolphins , who are averaging only 52 offensive plays per game (31st in the NFL). The second-year quarterback was one of our top breakout candidates this season, and he has shown statistical improvement in Matt Nagy’s new offensive scheme. Trubisky’s rushing upside keeps his fantasy floor high, but he also proved in Week 4 that he’s capable of posting big passing numbers with the right defensive matchup. He’s a strong streaming candidate for Week 6. Buy and Hold The following players with season-long upside deserve immediate roster consideration. Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts ($30) After his breakout 9-63-2 receiving performance against in Week 4, Hines once again saw high usage in Week 5. He rushed 15 times for 45 yards and caught seven passes for 45 yards on nine targets. Hines is currently RB15 in PPR formats and averages 5.8 receptions per game, which ranks sixth among running backs. He also leads the Colts in red-zone rushing attempts. With T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle nursing injuries, Hines has separated himself as the Colts’ No. 1 offensive playmaker. He is a must-own player in all formats. Keke Coutee, WR, Houston Texans ($17) The Texans rookie slot receiver followed up his 11-109-0 receiving line from Week 4 with another big game against the Cowboys. Coutee snared six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. That brings his target total to 22 in two games since returning from a hamstring injury. Bruce Ellington was recently placed on Injured Reserve, paving the way for Coutee to earn starters’ snaps for the foreseeable future. The former Red Raider speedster is no flash in the pan — he’s the real deal. Consider spending up to secure him on your roster this week. Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals ($14) Kirk posted a 3-85-1 receiving line on four targets for the Cardinals this past week. He’s taken advantage of increased target volume due to Larry Fitzgerald’s nagging hamstring injury. Kirk leads the Cardinals in receptions (19) and receiving yards (234) and is second with 24 targets, while trailing only Calvin Ridley and Saquon Barkley for receiving yards among rookies. The Cardinals offense is pedestrian at best, but Kirk has solidified himself as one of Arizona’s top-three offensive weapons. Considering Kirk’s target volume and rapport with newly installed starting quarterback Josh Rosen, his season-long outlook makes him a viable flex candidate. Taylor Gabriel, WR, Chicago Bears ($8) With Anthony Miller sidelined due to a separated shoulder, Gabriel posted his best receiving line of the season in Week 4 (before the Bears’ bye), catching seven passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His recent explosion is no accident: Gabriel is averaging 7.3 targets per game this season for the Bears. As Trubisky continues to improve each week, Gabriel’s stock should continue to rise. Stash him on your bench as a streaming flex option down the stretch. >> Sign up for The Action Network’s daily newsletter to get the smartest NFL conversation delivered into your inbox each morning. The Watch List Every week, I highlight players who should be on your watch list — players to monitor who aren’t necessarily worth an add this week but who could develop into viable season-long options. Current ESPN ownership percentage for each player is in parentheses.<doc-sep>David Richard/Associated Press It was one of those weeks in the NFL. Some things happened that simply could not be predicted. For example, the New York Jets are usually on the wrong end of eye-catching statistical numbers, but this time their long-ordinary ground game put on a spectacular showing. Isaiah Crowell rushed for 219 yards on 15 attempts, and his 14.6 yards per carry set an NFL record for any running back with 15 or more carries. Bilal Powell added 99 yards for good measure, and the Jets rushed for 323 yards in total. Crowell and Powell are owned by 77 and 56 percent of fantasy owners, respectively, but how many fantasy GMs had him in the lineup? Neither one is a typical waiver-wire pickup since they are owned by more than 50 percent of fantasy owners, but in leagues where they are unclaimed, fantasy owners should jump on them. In this piece, we offer an early look at players to pick up off the waiver wire and a few players to drop. We consider players who are owned by less than 50 percent of Yahoo Fantasy Leagues. Our recommendations are based on a 12-team, standard-scoring league. Videos you might like Waiver-wire pickups Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (37 percent) Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (15 percent) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (36 percent) Running backs Alfred Blue, Houston Texans (14 percent) Mike Davis, Seattle Seahawks (19 percent) LeGarrette Blount, Detroit Lions (12 percent) Wide receivers Robby Anderson, New York Jets (34 percent) Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons (32 percent) KeKe Coutee, Houston Texans (33 percent) Tight ends Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers (25 percent) C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (26 percent) QB Baker Mayfield I'll admit to feeling the Browns had erred in making Mayfield the No. 1 draft pick last spring. However, Mayfield is starting to make the most of his opportunities, as he is averaging 318.5 passing yards in his first two starts, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. More than his numbers, he led the Browns on a potential game-winning drive against the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter (missed the field goal attempt), and then helped them get the win in the extra session. As long as Mayfield doesn't suffer a nosedive, the schedule looks like a smorgasbord of vulnerable opponents. The Browns have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers coming up, and Mayfield could put big numbers on the board. Rick Scuteri/Associated Press RB Mike Davis The Seahawks are playing hard every week, and they pushed the undefeated Los Angeles Rams to the limit in Week 5. If Seattle is going to have a productive year, it's almost certain to be the result of solid play on offense. This team used to be dominant on defense, but that is no longer the case. Russell Wilson is obviously the centerpiece, but Mike Davis is going to be a factor. The 5'9", 217-pound running back ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4 against Arizona, and he had 68 rushing yards and another touchdown in the close loss to the Rams. Davis knows how to keep opponents from getting a good shot at him and doesn't go down easily, and he can hurt opponents with his second effort. WR Robby Anderson While Crowell was the star for the Jets, Robby Anderson is a potential big-play threat. He has caught 11 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns so far, including a 76-yard touchdown against the Broncos. Anderson has game-changing speed, and now that Sam Darnold has connected with him on one big play, he is likely to come back to him quite a bit from this point forward. Earlier in the year, Darnold was looking for the powerful Quincy Enunwa as his first option, but now he is reading the field better and finding additional receivers who can make big plays. Look for Anderson to become a key offensive factor for Darnold and the Jets for the foreseeable future. TE Jesse James Based on his 20.7 yards per catch, Jesse James is worthy of consideration. The fact that he has caught 12 of 13 targets is another check mark in his favor. James has caught six passes of 20 yards or more, but he has just one TD. That figure is likely to change because of how difficult James is to cover for 60 minutes. Fantasy drops QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles Wentz is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, but he is still feeling his way and the Eagles are not scoring the way they did a year ago. The 2017 season was magical, and it appears it's not going to repeat itself. Too many other quarterbacks are producing at a better level this year. Dropping Wentz or trading him is recommended at this time. RB Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals Bernard is no longer the featured performer in the Cincinnati backfield, as he sprained his MCL this weekend and Joe Mixon has asserted himself after returning from a knee injury. Mixon is coming off a game in which he had 22 carries for 93 yards against the Miami Dolphins. He also caught three passes and got into the end zone on one of those receptions. While Bernard has speed and ability, it seems Mixon is the better fantasy option for the Bengals moving forward. Mixon's previous knee problem does not appear to be an issue at this point. Bernard has been dropped by 5,351 Yahoo fantasy owners and picked up by just 121. WR Chris Hogan, New England Patriots Hogan is a fine route runner who leaves it all on the field every week, but the Patriots now have better receiving options to consider. In addition to tight end Rob Gronkowski—who has not hit his best form to this point in the season—the Patriots have Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman. Gordon has spectacular athletic ability when he is in the lineup, and Edelman is Tom Brady's best receiver. That makes Hogan an afterthought and just another guy most of the time. Unless you can trade him in your league, it is time to part company with Hogan. He was dropped by 1,816 in Yahoo fantasy leagues. TE Ricky Seals-Jones, Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals rank dead last in yards gained per game and 31st in passing yards per game, and it is not likely to get much better very quickly with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen learning on the job. It will take him the better part of the season to get comfortable, and it may not be until December or the 2019 season that the Cardinals start to play better football. That makes Seals-Jones a liability on your fantasy team. Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald are likely to be Rosen's top targets, so we recommend that Seals-Jones is put on waivers and released. Seals-Jones has been dropped by 4,099 Yahoo fantasy owners and claimed by just 117.<doc-sep>
By Matt Citak As we have learned through the first five weeks of the NFL season, fantasy football can be rather cruel. If you drafted Aaron Rodgers and Julio Jones, you likely thought your team would cruise to the league championship. Yet, five weeks into the season, two of the league’s biggest and most talented stars have yet to put up the numbers we’ve come to expect from them. While several fantasy stars have underperformed, many contributors have fallen victim to the injury bug. Those injuries vary from minor ailments to season-ending blows, and team owners have been forced to turn to the waiver wire to replace our fantasy starters. Whether you’re looking for an injury replacement or a bye-week fill-in, or being proactive and shoring up your bench just in case, I am here to guide you through the top players to target this week. With that said, here are your top waiver wire adds heading into Week 6. QB Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Winston will have to earn your trust before you throw him into your starting lineup, but his upside is hard to ignore. The Buccaneers boast one of the league’s most talented group of pass-catchers, with Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin, Adam Humphries and Cameron Brate (with O.J. Howard returning in a few weeks as well). The fourth-year QB still has the potential to be one of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, and will have a chance to get his season going against a Falcons defense that would struggle to stop a JV team. Winston is a great bye week streaming option, and could quickly become a reliable QB1. RB Alfred Morris, San Francisco 49ers Morris entered Week 4 in a timeshare with Matt Breida in the 49ers offense, but a sprained ankle suffered by Breida should open the door for Morris to become the team’s featured back. The veteran managed to gain 91 yards on 21 total touches in Week 5, and should continue to receive all of the team’s goal line carries. The 49ers offense doesn’t have the highest of ceilings with C.J. Beathard under center, but Morris should see a ton of volume while Breida is out, making him a solid flex play over the next few weeks. RB Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles Clement has averaged a solid 4.1 yards per carry on 27 touches, adding eight receptions for 73 yards. But he should see his playing time increase significantly after Jay Ajayi suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 5. Before you attempt to add Clement, it’s important to keep in mind that Philadelphia has used a running-back-by-committee approach all season, which is unlikely to change now that Ajayi is done for the year. Clement should receive more touches, but isn’t looking at a 20+ touches per game. He should be a priority add, but keep your expectations in check when it comes to the Philly backfield. RB Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts The Colts’ backfield has been just as frustrating to figure out as Philadelphia’s (if not more). As a team, Indy has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, ranking them towards the bottom in the NFL. Despite the team’s struggles to run the ball, Hines has separated himself from the rest of the pack thanks to his pass-catching abilities. The rookie back is averaging only 3.0 ypc, but has racked up 29 receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns through the first five games of the season. The Colts are likely to be playing from behind in most weeks, meaning Hines should see a ton of playing time and receive ample opportunity to catch balls out of the backfield. The Colts offense is difficult to trust, but Hines is one of the more reliable options in PPR leagues. Stream your local games LIVE on CBS All Access across devices. Start your free trial now! WR Keke Coutee, Houston Texans For the second consecutive week, Coutee played an important role in the Texans offense. Going up against the Cowboys on Sunday night, the rookie reeled in six of seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. That came a week after catching 11 of 15 targets for 109 yards. But what made his performance in Week 5 so significant is that, unlike in Week 4, Will Fuller was on the field for almost the entire game, and yet Coutee still put up solid numbers.