Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 5

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Trey Lance, 49ers

Lance finally got an opportunity to lead the 49ers' offense Sunday after Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a calf contusion that prevented him from playing in the second half.

Despite some standard rookie struggles early on, the first-rounder settled in and completed 50% of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Lance also added another 41 yards on the ground. The result was more than 20 fantasy points essentially accrued in one half. That's a sign of what's to come if Kyle Shanahan sticks with his rookie passer.

Garoppolo said postgame that he hopes his injury sidelines him for just a couple of weeks. However, the diagnosis was much more optimistic Monday, with Shanahan saying there's still a chance Garoppolo will play in Week 5. The veteran quarterback is being re-evaluated Wednesday.

Fantasy managers would love to see Lance start with a game plan tailored to him and a full week of first-team practice reps to prepare. Unfortunately, we might not see that come to fruition yet, so keep your FAB bids in check.

Whether his launch date is this Sunday or later in the season, Lance offers top-12 fantasy upside due to his dual-threat abilities and should be rostered everywhere.

Sam Darnold, Panthers

Darnold has occupied a feature spot in our waiver wire column for three straight weeks now, so there isn't much left to say about him.

The former Jet has found a home in Carolina and is currently the fantasy QB5 overall on the season.

He's topped 300 passing yards in each of his last three outings and shouldn't have a problem moving the ball against an Eagles unit that's given up eight touchdown passes over the last two weeks.

With the Eagles, Vikings, Giants, and Falcons on the schedule across the next month, you can continue using Darnold as a low-end QB1.

Streaming options: Daniel Jones at DAL (31% rostered), Justin Fields at LV (41% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. NO (10% rostered), Mac Jones at HOU (17% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Zach Wilson at ATL (9% rostered), Jared Goff at MIN (13% rostered), Carson Wentz at BAL (12% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at TB (3% rostered), Drew Lock at PIT (1% rostered)

2QB/Superflex long-term stashes: Taysom Hill (2% rostered), Cam Newton (1% rostered)

Running backs

Damien Williams/Khalil Herbert, Bears

Things are up in the air with the Bears' backfield at the moment. Starter David Montgomery hyperextended his knee Sunday and is likely to miss some time, although the team believes he avoided season-ending issues.

Immediate backup Williams stepped up in his absence with 70 yards from scrimmage and a score on 10 touches in the win over the Lions.

Williams also left the game late with a thigh bruise, but there's no sign of concern at the moment that it'll affect his availability for Week 5.

You may remember Williams from his brief time as the Chiefs starter, including during their Super Bowl run in 2019 when he flashed his skills as a runner and pass-catcher with a nose for the end zone. He'll be an RB2 for however long Montgomery is out.

With Montgomery and Williams both getting dinged up, you should consider stashing Herbert - a sixth-round rookie capable of handling the load if thrust into a starting role. He averaged 15 touches a game during his final year at Virginia Tech.

Samaje Perine/Chris Evans, Bengals

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor disputed reports Joe Mixon is week-to-week with an ankle sprain. Instead, he suggested it's more of a day-to-day injury.

That might be true, but it's also important to remember Taylor has a history of downplaying an injury's severity, including calling Mixon day-to-day late last season before ruling him out for the year.

We may not get another update until practice reports come out later in the week, so Perine needs to be picked up and stashed for now.

If Mixon misses time, Perine would be a fantasy RB3 as the early-down workhorse with the rookie Evans mixing in as a pass-catcher.

Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles

Struggling in the opening month and facing an even tougher stretch of opponents ahead, Miles Sanders was among the players we suggested as sell candidates last week.

His 10-touch, 47-yard outing Sunday didn't do much to restore his fantasy stock.

While injuries and absences on the Eagles' offensive line didn't help Sanders' cause, rookie teammate Gainwell overcame it with 89 yards from scrimmage on nine touches, including a score, versus the Chiefs.

In fact, Gainwell has tallied six more fantasy points than Sanders on the season, despite being on the wrong side of a 65%-35% snap split.

We're not implying Gainwell is on the verge of stealing the starting job, but his opportunities might grow if this continues. Even in his current role, Gainwell warrants consideration as an RB3/flex.

Alex Collins, Seahawks

We highlighted Collins on this list after Week 3 when it was reported Chris Carson sat out for a portion of the second half with a hamstring issue.

It seemed as though the crisis was averted when Carson didn't appear on the injury report last week.

However, he found himself in a full-blown committee with Collins in Week 4.

Not only did Collins come close to Carson's snap share, but he also outproduced him on the day.

And with Rashaad Penny on injured reserve yet again, Collins has solidified himself as the No. 2 back in Seattle.

Whether this is a sign of things to come or simply the Seahawks' way of lightening Carson's load while he recovers from an injury, the bottom line is Collins should be on your roster until we find out.

Latavius Murray is close to the 50% cut-off mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: J.D. McKissic vs. NO (39% rostered), Brandon Bolden at HOU (2% rostered), Darrel Williams vs. BUF (9% rostered), Jeremy McNichols at JAX (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Mark Ingram vs. NE (37% rostered), Giovani Bernard vs. MIA (18% rostered), David Johnson vs. NE (33% rostered) Malcolm Brown at TB (6% rostered), Rodney Smith vs. PHI (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Peyton Barber vs. CHI (37% rostered), Marlon Mack at BAL (13% rostered), Jaret Patterson vs. NO (1% rostered), Ty Johnson at ATL (7% rostered), Salvon Ahmed at TB (1% rostered), Justin Jackson vs. CLE (4% rostered), Larry Rountree vs. CLE (6% rostered), Wayne Gallman at DAL (1% rostered), Le'Veon Bell vs. IND (23% rostered)

Injured reserve stashes: Darrynton Evans (3% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. (1% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. (20% rostered)

Wide receivers

Darnell Mooney, Bears

It was great to see a glimpse of the Bears' future, with Justin Fields throwing beautiful balls downfield to Mooney.

The 24-year-old wideout racked up his first 100-yard game as a pro with 125 yards on five catches and another 10 yards on the ground.

It's easy to forget that Mooney is a fifth-round pick in his second NFL season, but his talent continues to shine through.

Fields can help make him a household name, assuming Chicago's coaching staff doesn't foolishly go back to low-ceiling veteran Andy Dalton.

DeVante Parker, Dolphins

Parker is no stranger to the waiver wire column this season. He's begun the year by posting four quality stat lines with 4-81-0, 5-42-0, 4-42-0, and 4-77-1.

The threat of Will Fuller has been temporarily removed once again, with the free-agent addition dealing with a broken finger.

That should lock Parker in as a WR3/flex in fantasy, even with backup Jacoby Brissett under center.

Mecole Hardman, Tim Patrick, and Curtis Samuel are close to the 50% cut-off mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Long-term upside stashes: Rashod Bateman vs. IND (25% rostered),Elijah Moore at ATL (21% rostered), Josh Gordon vs. BUF (32% rostered)

Flex options: A.J. Green vs. SF (24% rostered), Hunter Renfrow vs. CHI (26% rostered), Bryan Edwards vs. CHI (19% rostered)

Risky flex options: Marquez Callaway at WAS (35% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at HOU (3% rostered), Kadarius Toney at DAL (3% rostered), Jamison Crowder at ATL (20% rostered), Randall Cobb at CIN (6% rostered), Kalif Raymond at MIN (1% rostered), Jalen Reagor at CAR (21% rostered), Van Jefferson at SEA (5% rostered), Nelson Agholor at HOU (38% rostered), Sammy Watkins vs. IND (22% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Zach Pascal at BAL (23% rostered), Josh Reynolds at JAX (0% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at JAX (10% rostered), Chester Rogers at JAX (1% rostered), James Washington vs. DEN (1% rostered), DeSean Jackson at SEA (9% rostered), Cedrick Wilson vs. NYG (1% rostered), Deonte Harris at WAS (9% rostered), Quez Watkins at CAR (2% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. DET (18% rostered), Quintez Cephus at MIN (16% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown at MIN (3% rostered), Terrace Marshall vs. PHI (14% rostered), Freddie Swain vs. LAR (0% rostered), Rashard Higgins at LAC (0% rostered)

Deep bench stashes: Keelan Cole at ATL (0% rostered), James Proche vs. IND (0% rostered), David Moore at PIT (0% rostered), Kendall Hinton at PIT (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys

Schultz is beginning to emerge as the best fantasy asset in Dallas' tight end room.

He's topped 45 yards in three of the Cowboys' first four games this year, including 12 catches, 138 yards, and three touchdowns over their last two outings.

Finding a reliable fantasy starter at tight end can be tough for anyone who didn't spend up for a high-end option in the draft, but Schultz should be a priority add for those stuck in streaming purgatory.

Dawson Knox and Jared Cook are close to the 50% cut-off mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Evan Engram at DAL (34% rostered), Hunter Henry at HOU (42% rostered), Jonnu Smith at HOU (48% rostered), Cameron Brate vs. MIA (18% rostered), Gerald Everett vs. LAR (45% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. DET (13% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Zach Ertz at CAR (26% rostered), Cole Kmet at LV (28% rostered), C.J. Uzomah vs. GB (2% rostered), Mo Alie-Cox at BAL (1% rostered), Maxx Williams vs. SF (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Juwan Johnson at WAS (13% rostered), Pat Freiermuth vs. DEN (9% rostered), Dan Arnold vs. TEN (3% rostered), Ricky Seals-Jones vs. NO (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 5 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Packers DEF (37% rostered), Raiders DEF (12% rostered), Colts DEF (49% rostered), Dolphins DEF (24% rostered)