MIAMI, Oct. 1 (UPI) — Several Green Bay Packers pass catchers are among my fantasy football waiver priorities for Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season.
Other targets of mine include Geno Smith, Kareem Hunt, Rico Dowdle and Bucky Irving.
Players from the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are expected to be benched or waived as these teams are on a bye in Week 5. Check out my list of targets from waiver below if you need replacement options.
Injuries, stellar performances and other factors have allowed several players to earn a spot on fantasy football teams’ benches or perhaps even in starting lineups.
My waiver priorities each have an ownership percentage of 60% or less. My Quarterback of Week 5, go back, wide receiver And tight rankings are also available.
Here are my top players to add and my top players to drop for Week 5:
TEAM ADD ALL
QB | Geno Smith, Kirk Cousins; RB | Kareem Hunt, Rico Dowdle, Bucky Irving; WR | Romeo Doubs, Darnell Mooney; TE | Tucker Kraft; D/ST | the Denver Broncos; K | Dustin Hopkins
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco; RB | Tyler Allgeier, Trey Sermon; WR | Tyler Lockett, Dontayvion Wicks; TE | Cade Otton; D/ST | New England Patriots; K | Cairo Santos
TOP DROPS
QB | Will Levis; WR | Rashee Rice, Christian Watson; TE | Taysom Hill; D/ST | Tennessee Titans; K | Matt Prater
STRATEGIST
Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins are my top quarterbacks to target on the waiver wire. Smith has yet to throw multiple touchdown passes in a game this season, but is coming off career highs in completions (38), attempts (56) and passing yards (395) in the in Week 4. He also threw for 289 yards in Week 3 and 327 in Week 2.
The Seahawks currently have the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense in terms of yards and have recorded the most pass attempts through four weeks. They had the fifth-most total yards behind the Smith-led offense.
This week, the Seahawks will host a New York Giants team that has allowed at least two touchdown passes in three of their first four games. Smith should be a Top 10 pick in Week 5.
Cousins is another decent streaming option in Week 5. The Atlanta Falcons veteran failed to throw a touchdown in Week 4, but threw for at least 230 yards in each of his last three starts.
This week the Falcons will meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that I hope will be high scoring. Cousins can be plugged in as a low-end QB1 based on the expectation to throw for at least 250 yards and find the end zone multiple times.
TO COME BACK
Kareem Hunt, Rico Dowdle, and Bucky Irving are my top running backs to consider for Week 5 roster additions. Each of these players can be plugged into a flex spot or used as an RB2/RB3 in leagues counting at least 14 teams.
Each of these players likely needs a touchdown to provide major value, but they also offer high long-term upside potential.
Hunt dominated the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield workload in Week 4, throwing for 85 yards on 16 touches in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Chiefs coach Andy Reid cited “confidence” in Hunt when asked about that performance, an indication that his involvement in the offense should continue.
This week, the Chiefs face the New Orleans Saints, who allowed 156 scrimmage yards to Saquon Barkley in Week 3 and 154 scrimmage yards to Atlanta Falcons running backs in Week 2. Hunt should be used as an RB2 or flex play in the future. .
Dowdle scored his first touchdown of the season in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 4 win over the New York Giants. He also totaled a season-high 11 carries in the victory.
Dowdle continues to outpace fellow Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott in touches and should be considered a weekly game streamer, but has a tough matchup in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He should still be registered in all leagues.
Irving also scored his first touchdown in Week 4, when he accounted for 55 yards from scrimmage and a score on 11 touches in a Buccaneers victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
This week, Irving and the Buccaneers will face the Falcons. I expect him to hover around 10 carries each week, unless starter Rachaad White gets injured and misses time. Like Dowdle, he should feature in all leagues. He is a risky starter, but he has breakthrough potential over the period.
WIDE RECEIVER
Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks of the Green Bay Packers are among my top wide receiver targets. They likely each need a touchdown to provide WR3/WR2 value, but should have multiple scoring opportunities in what could be a high-scoring game in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Doubs has totaled at least three goals in three of its four appearances this season, including seven in Week 1 and eight in Week 4, but has failed to find the end zone. Wicks has scored three times in the last three weeks, but has failed to make a catch in two of his four appearances.
Both Wicks and Doubs are worth streaming in Week 5, when the Packers face a Rams defense that has allowed the second-most receiving scores — nearly two per game — to receivers wide so far this season. They have also given up the sixth-most fantasy points at the position.
They should both be in all leagues due to Watson’s absence.
TIGHT TOE
Like Wicks and Doubs, I expect Packers tight end Tucker Kraft to see additional looks due to Watson’s absence. Kraft scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 4, when he had six catches for a season-high 53 yards in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
This week, he’ll face a Rams defense that has allowed at least 34 yards to a tight end in each of their first four games. Like most tight ends, Kraft is a touchdown or bust option, but he should draw enough targets — including red zone looks — to warrant streaming consideration.
