Pro football is already entering week five. Does time pass or what? Fantasy rosters have been shaken from coast to coast with injured players and those that are performing well below expectations. Clearly, replacements are needed. Fortunately, there is one place managers can go for this needed information and it won’t cost a subscription to ESPN Plus to get it. That place is right here! Let’s dive right in with this fantasy football waivers week five edition!

Running Backs

Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs, 5.9% Owned

There was a time, quite recently in fact, that no running backs in the Chief offense were fantasy worthy. Times do change quickly and that is the case this week in Kansas City. Clyde Edwards-Helaire found his footing Sunday with 102 yards rushing and a gaudy 7.29 yards per rush. He wasn’t the only running back that stepped up this past weekend, however.

Without doubt, Darrel Williams came up big against Philadelphia as well. Williams rushed 10 times for 42 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he caught both of his targets for another 16 yards. This was by far Williams’ best performance of the season. The Kansas City offense is explosive enough for two RBs to be fantasy worthy, even with Buffalo next up. The key is the availability that Williams has. If running back is a position of need, Williams is certainly worthy of a waiver claim.

Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans, 2% Owned

Another surprising backfield that has two runners fantasy relevant, especially in PPR, is Tennessee. We all know the worth of Derrick Henry. However, Jeremy McNichols arrived like a super nova this Sunday. That was a matter of necessity with almost no healthy receivers on the roster. That again may be the case this coming week. If so, McNichols carries huge fantasy value against Jacksonville, one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Against the Jets, McNichols had a ridiculous 12 targets, resulting in eight receptions for 74 yards. McNichols finished with 16 fantasy points. Showing that he isn’t a one week wonder, McNichols scored a touchdown against Indianapolis the previous Sunday. Keep an eye on the status of the Titans’ wide receivers. If they have health issues again, McNichols is at the top of the fantasy football waivers week five edition.

Damien Williams, Chicago Bears, 10.2% Owned

Of course, injuries are a unfortunate reality in pro football. David Montgomery injured his knee against the Lions. It is expected that the injury isn’t a severe one, but it may keep him out of this week’s matchup with Raiders. If that is in fact the case, managers need to get Damien Williams on their roster as soon as physically possible.

Williams took over after the injury to Montgomery and he ran all over the Lions’ defense, finishing with 55 yards on eight carries. In addition, Williams scored a touchdown and averaged an outstanding 6.9 yards per carry. He also caught two passes for 15 yards. It can’t be overemphasized enough- if Montgomery is out, don’t delay on getting Williams on the roster. You can thank me next week.

Wide Receivers

Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers, 13.6% Owned

It took a bit of time for Randall Cobb to live up to his week one waiver recommendation. However, that day has come. Against the Steelers, Cobb caught five of his six targets for 69 yards. Clearly, those stats won’t overwhelm anyone. His two touchdowns, on the other hand, certainly stand out. He and Aaron Rodgers appear to finally be in synch.

Without question, Sunday was the best day that Cobb has had since rejoining the Packers. Someone has to help take coverage away from superstar receiver Davante Adams and that player is Cobb. That should especially be true with injuries a factor in the Packer receiving core. Rodgers should be able to move the ball against the Bengals this Sunday and Cobb will be a big part of the offense. If receiver is a problem on the roster, this fantasy football waiver week five edition can help solve the problem.

Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots, 26.8% Owned

This next recommendation has more to do with the upcoming opponent than anything that happened this past weekend. Nelson Agholor had an very average game against Tampa Bay Sunday night with only three catches in five targets for 55 yards. He also had one carry for four yards. We all know that the Bucs have a strong defense and the weather sure didn’t help the Patriots’ offense, either.

Fortunately, neither of those issues will be a factor this coming Sunday. New England heads to Houston to take on the Texans. One clear adjective that describes Houston is they are terrible in every possible facet of the game. Their performance against the Bills was especially putrid as they were run out of the building 40-0. The game will be in pristine conditions and the Patriot offense will be on full display.

Expect Agholor to mirror his week one output of seven targets, a touchdown and 18 fantasy points. Agholor receives a high recommendation on this fantasy football waivers week five edition. Get him off the wire and into your lineup this week.

Other Wide Receiver to Keep an Eye On:

Kadarius Toney, New York Giants, 3.2 percent owned, had nine targets this weekend against New Orleans. The Cowboys defense is up next. If fellow receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton miss more time with injuries, Toney will again be heavily involved in the passing game.

Tight Ends

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills, 20% Owned

The waiver wire for tight ends is usually bare by the time October rolls around. However, that is not the case this season with Dawson Knox leading the way. His targets have increased with each game since week two and Know has four touchdowns in his past three games. Week four was his big coming out party, though, as he had two scores against the Texans.

Additionally, Knox sent season highs with eight targets and five catches. Anyone that had the fortune of starting him Sunday received 20 fantasy points from Knox. The Chiefs are up next and their defense isn’t as fearsome as some might have thought coming into the season. They can be exploited and Knox should post top numbers once again. He is absolutely a leader on this fantasy football waivers week five edition.

Dalton Shultz, Dallas Cowboys, 21.6% Owned

Surprisingly, Knox isn’t the only tight end bargain on the wire this week. All fantasy managers that have a need at the position, and who doesn’t, should cast their eyes on Dalton Schultz. All Schultz has done the past two weeks is post fantasy totals of 26 and 17 points. Even more impressive, Schultz has three touchdowns in that span.

The Cowboys offense is flying high and Schultz is along for the ride. He has six catches in three of the four Dallas games. Take away the dude Schultz put up against the Chargers in week two and he would be a top five tight end in all formats. The Giants are the next opponent for the Cowboys and they don’t have the defense they have had in the past. Another huge game is in the cards for the offense. Get Schultz onto the roster without further delay.

Other tight end to keep an eye on:

Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals, 3.1 percent owned, has had two solid games in the last three. He caught all five targets Sunday for 66 yards and a TD. He is widely available and could be a huge addition this week.

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 29.4% Owned

Of all the veteran quarterbacks, none received a bigger brush off than Matt Ryan. True, Ryan is getting up there in age and he lost one of his biggest targets during the offseason in Julio Jones. In a week one loss to Philadelphia, the naysayers looked correct as Ryan only threw for 164 yards and no TDs. Any manager that started him in that game was horrified to find Ryan only scored 16.5 fantasy points.

However, Ryan was quick to reverse his fortunes since then. He has scored over 40 fantasy points in two of the last three weeks and he scored 32.5 in the other game. Ryan lit up vaunted Washington defense with four touchdowns Sunday to go along with 283 yards. Add it all up and Ryan scored a mind boggling 49 points in that game. Fantasy managers can definitely use that. The best news is left for last though, as the Jets next come to Atlanta. Anyone having QB issues need to react quickly to this fantasy football waivers week five edition and get Ryan on their roster.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 32.5% Owned

Another ignored veteran quarterback that turned in a spectacular game Sunday was none other than Danny Dimes himself, Daniel Jones. Turning in one of his biggest games of his career against the Saints, Jones passed for 402 yards and two TDs. Additionally, Jones ran the ball four times for another 27 yards. All of those stats added up to a massive 54 fantasy point showing for Jones Sunday.

Best of all, Jones has clearly demonstrated that he can complete passes at a high rate. Jones has averaged right around a 70 percent completion rate the past three games. He also chocked up 41 fantasy points against Washington in week two. The Cowboys are up next and while Dallas is playing better on defense, they are not top tier by any stretch. Jones should have another big game and is well worth a waiver claim.

Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers, 18.3% Owned

Case in point of why Jones is a quality add this week is the performance of Sam Darnold against that same Dallas defense. Even though the Cowboys won the game, Darnold showed up big for the Panthers. Darnold accounted for four touchdowns Sunday, two by air and he also ran in two scores. He has scored 36 or more fantasy points in every game this season.

However, Sunday was Darnold’s true coming out party. He completed 26 of 39 passes for 301 yards and also ran the ball six times for 32 yards and the two scores. The math shows that Darnold scored truly mind blowing 51 fantasy points. The Eagles are up next and they have surrendered over 40 points in their past two games. Another big day should be in store for Darnold, making him a near must add this week.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football waivers week five edition! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for all the latest NFL and sports news!

Go play the greatest and latest in sports gambling at https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy. Wall street meets sports gambling in this innovative app. Simbull brings the fun of being able to play for the long term by purchasing, selling, and trading stocks of your teams. When your teams win you win a payout. When they lose you DON’T! The value of your teams’ share is all that matters and it’s easy to use. Just download the Simbull app on your play store and use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for a $10 deposit bonus of at least $10 or more. Join the fun of investing in your team for the long haul where the sportsbook edge is put back into your hands as the player. For the latest and most fun in sports gambling download Simbull and again use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for your $10 deposit bonus today! https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy