• Jacksonville Jaguars operating again Tank Bigsby shines in Week 5: For the second straight week, Bigsby led the crew in speeding yards.
• Josh Downs retains catching passes: Downs has posted 20 receptions over the previous three weeks, tied for the fifth most amongst vast receivers.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!
Estimated Reading Time: 29 minutes
With Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season practically full, listed here are the important thing gamers to focus on on the fantasy soccer waiver wire. Here, we’ll cowl choices for smaller and deeper leagues and likewise spotlight the gamers to keep away from.
Jump to a place group:
QB | RB | WR | TE
Quarterback
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (Rostered in 44.8% of leagues on ESPN)
Williams has turned issues round in current weeks after a gradual begin. Against the Carolina Panthers this week, he accomplished 20 of his 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. His PFF general grade has improved in every of the previous three video games.
Williams has averaged 18.1 fantasy factors per recreation over the previous three weeks after averaging 8.3 throughout the primary two weeks. He’s at the moment a borderline fantasy starter, notably whereas some groups are on their bye week. While Williams is taken in practically half of ESPN leagues, and doubtless in a better share of leagues amongst these studying this, he’s nonetheless talked about for the fantasy managers who may have the ability to snag him.
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (45.1%)
Cousins is in a really comparable spot to Caleb Williams. He was drafted to be a high-end fantasy backup in single-quarterback leagues. He averaged 11.6 fantasy factors per recreation over the primary 4 weeks, which made him the Thirtieth-ranked fantasy quarterback. He graded higher in Week 4 than earlier within the season, however that didn’t result in fantasy manufacturing with no landing.
On Thursday Night Football in Week 5, Cousins set the Atlanta Falcons’ report for passing yards in a recreation. He is one other participant who will probably be taken in most leagues amongst these studying this, but when he’s accessible, he’s doubtless the highest possibility.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (34.5%)
Carr averaged 44.1 fantasy factors over the primary two weeks, with 443 yards and 5 touchdowns. He hasn’t been practically as productive over the previous two weeks, with 18.1 fantasy factors — the twenty ninth most on the place. That current lack of manufacturing led to Carr getting dropped in a number of leagues. Carr at the least graded properly final week in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons, however he didn’t throw any touchdowns, as all three of the Saints’ scores got here on the bottom. New Orleans performs tonight on Monday Night Football.
The predominant purpose to choose up Carr is that the Saints play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers subsequent week, and they’re permitting the second-most fantasy factors to quarterbacks. Carr has just a few extra nice matchups on the schedule, however he’s additionally the most suitable choice particularly for subsequent week.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (33.2%)
Lawrence joins Williams and Cousins as quarterbacks who had their greatest outing of the season in Week 5. Lawrence accomplished 28 of 34 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. He has averaged 18.5 PPR factors per recreation over the previous two weeks after a good Week 4. Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as Jacksonville’s clear prime vast receiver, which has helped Lawrence’s fantasy worth immensely.
Evan Engram, Lawrence’s lead tight finish, has missed time and may increase the offense as soon as he’s wholesome. Lawrence usually endures cold and hot streaks, and after he began the season chilly, this week could possibly be the beginning of a sizzling streak.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (29.7%)
Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2 that has brought about him to overlook the previous three video games. He is reportedly symptom-free. The Dolphins have their bye subsequent week and Tagovailoa should spend yet one more week on injured reserve, however he can return to the lineup in Week 8.
Tagovailoa was a top-10 quarterback in Week 1 and scored the ninth-most fantasy factors amongst quarterbacks final season. His schedule from Week 8 on is healthier than common, and he gained’t face a crew within the prime quarter of the league at stopping fantasy factors till Week 14. He might go proper again to being a fantasy starter upon his return.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (13.7%)
Jones is as much as 15.4 fantasy factors per recreation. which ranks twentieth amongst quarterbacks. His passing numbers had been up in current weeks with Malik Nabers enjoying properly, and with out Nabers in Week 5, he nonetheless threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, due to Darius Slayton stepping up.
Jones has been helped by his speeding capacity, as his 34 carries in the course of the season are the fifth most amongst quarterbacks. While he won’t be a top-12 fantasy quarterback this season, nearly each different quarterback who’s averaging at the least 15 fantasy factors per recreation is taken in at the least 30% of leagues. The one exception is Joe Flacco, who will return to a backup function as soon as Anthony Richardson is wholesome.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (3.9%)
Levis is off to a shaky begin to 2024, averaging 12.3 fantasy factors per recreation over the primary three weeks after which lacking most of Week 4 resulting from damage. In his protection, he has performed the three groups who’ve allowed the fewest fantasy factors to quarterbacks this season, plus a fourth above-average protection. He additionally has a brand new head coach with a brand new offensive system and two new vast receivers. Levis is coming off his bye week, which ought to have given him sufficient time to get better.
The predominant causes to choose up Levis are his chance to enhance and the Titans’ schedule over the ultimate third of the season.
From Week 12-17, the Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars twice, the Indianapolis Colts, the Washington Commanders, the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals. That provides them 4 video games in opposition to groups which have allowed the fourth-most fantasy factors to quarterbacks, together with the seventh- and 14th-most. That is a dream six-week stretch. If Levis hits his stride, he could possibly be a fantasy starter throughout that stretch.
Running Back
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (9.5%)
Bigsby led the Jaguars in speeding yards for a second straight week
Last week, Bigsby ran seven instances for 90 yards, powered by a 58-yard achieve, whereas Travis Etienne had a high-quality day with 11 carries for 50 yards.
