Well we are done with the first week of 2024 action, so time to finetune your roster with our Week 5 Waiver Wire pickups. Zach Wilson truthers rejoice, it turns out that all you need to do to become a top-12 fantasy quarterback in the NFL is to get drafted by the New York Jets, be awful for 2-3 years, leave, spend a couple of seasons as a back-up and then BOOM – QB1 time. That seems to be the path being tread by both of this week’s top waiver pickups at the quarterback position who sit as the QB4 and QB8 on the season after the first four weeks; let’s start this week’s waiver wire column at the top and with the play caller for one of only the two undefeated teams left heading into October…the Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold.
Rules for Selection & Order Priority
For a player to be considered to be added, they have to:
- Have an rostered % of 50% or under on ESPN
- Players below are listed by their roster %, not priority. Know your league settings. If there is a high-priority add, you’ll know.
Sam Darnold (MIN) 43.6% rostered
There was some debate in the off-season as to whether the veteran Darnold would get the start in Minnesota, or if the Vikings would thrust their first-round rookie draft pick J.J. McCarthy into the blinding lights of U.S. Bank Stadium from the get-go. As it transpired, McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus tear forced Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s hand, and with it has given the Vikings their best start to a season since 2016. Darnold leads the league in passing TDs with 11, has finished as a top-10 quarterback in each of the last three weeks, and sits 2nd in Y/A, behind only Brock Purdy. The former No.3 overall pick carved up the Green Bay Packers in Minnesota’s divisional win at Lambeau on Sunday – and will face a much sterner test against the New York Jets’ 5th ranked passing defense in London in week 5 – but he’s still the top QB pickup by a mile. If you’re labouring with Burrown, Lawrence or Cousins, go grab Darnold and enjoy his matinee performance at Tottenham this weekend.
Geno Smith (SEA) 29.1% rostered
Geno Smith learned to crawl so Sam Darnold could run. A full five years before Gang Green drafted Darnold in the first round, it was Geno Smith’s name being called from the lectern as the 39th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. Geno established himself as Seattle’s number one as soon as Russell Wilson left, and his shown (for the most part) why the Seahawks were wise to put their trust in him after trading away Mr. Unlimited. Smith has arguably the best wide receiver trio in the league in the form of messrs Metcalf, Smith-Njigba and Lockett – and with Kenneth Walker III leading the charge on the ground, it opens up plenty of holes for Geno to find one of his three main men through through the air. Geno leads the league in passing yards – putting up almost 400 on the road Detroit in last night’s MNF shootout. He only had 4 passing touchdowns on the year, but positive regression will come. He’s a solid start in week 5 against the Giants, and a potential season-long play.
Also Consider – Justin Fields (PIT) 33.9% rostered, Andy Dalton (CAR) 1.4% rostered
Rico Dowdle (DAL) 43.3% rostered
Why do you all keep doing this to me? For the fourth straight week, Mr. Rico Suave, Rick Smooth, aka: the Dallas Cowboys’ lead running back Rico Dowdle appears on this list. Seriously, what are we doing out there that Dowdle is still under 50% ownership? The 26-year old had his best game of the year last Thursday night against the Giants, finishing up with 46-yards on the ground, as well as a 15-yard reception for a score. Dowdle leads the Cowboys in every single measurable aside from rushing touchdowns – Ezekiel Elliot and Dak Prescott have one each. I am running out of stats and puns for Dowdle to put in this column every week, please go and pick him up – he’s a low end RB2 the rest of the way out and is worth a bench stash, if not a FLEX if larger leagues.
Kareem Hunt/ Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) 21.4/ 6.1% rostered
Turns out the answer in Kansas City was not Carson Steele…NEXT! Veteran rushed Kareem Hunt is the next man up for the 4-0 reigning Super Bowl champions and after Steele fumbled away his opportunity in the first-quarter at SoFi Stadium, it was Hunt who stepped in the rest of the way for KC en-route to an uninspiring 17-10 win over the Chargers. Back at the team who drafted him in 2017, Hunt looked relatively sharp despite approaching 30-years old and not having played for almost 10-months. His 69 rushing yards on 17 attempts will ensure he gets the start in week 5 at home to the Saints – but keep those eyes peeled for any breaking news regarding Clyde Edwards-Helaire. CEH has missed the start of the season due to a non-football illness, but is eligible to return as early as this week. As the veteran presence, he may have a role straight away and eventually lead this backfield. Hunt is the priority for this week, but CEH is a worthwhile stash – particularly if you can throw him in an IR slot.
Trey Sermon (IND) 0.8% rostered
When a guy like Trey Sermon appears on this list, you know somebody got hurt. Late in the fourth-quarter of Indianapolis’ 27-24 win over Pittsburgh, lead back Jonathan Taylor looked to be moving a little gingerly on what was later diagnosed as a high-ankle sprain. J.T. was pulled from the game after having already racked up 109-yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown, but fantasy managers (especially those with Taylor) should be alert to this latest ankle injury for the bell-cow back. Taylor has missed a number of games in the last few years, including the first-four of 2023, with ankle issues – were he to miss any time, Sermon in a must-add in all formats. The name may not be overly attractive, but the opportunity sure is. Anthony Richardson, the team’s QB and 2nd leading rusher, may also miss some time – with Flacco under centre, Sermon would be the main ball carrier for this offense.
Also Consider – Tyler Allgeier (ATL) 41.7% Justice Hill (BAL) 9.7% & Emanuel Wilson (GB) 8.9% rostered.
Xavier Legette (CAR) 25.0% rostered
After only two starts, Andy Dalton has completely revitalised this Carolina offense, and turned them into a team with multiple startable fantasy assets…there’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d ever write! Diontae Johnson remains the alpha receiver on this team – but with 10 targets and his first career touchdown against the Bengals on Sunday – Xavier Legette has emerged as the clear number two option for Andy Dalton, and possesses the athletic abilities to make some big plays for your fantasy team. Legette’s college production is well documented – 4 years of nothingness in South Carolina and then BOOM – 1255 yards on 71 receptions in his senior year, leading to a first round selection in the NFL draft. There is no doubting Legette’s athleticism, but question marks do hang over his footballing abilities. If you can snag him cheap, he’s a great stash with huge upside.
Dontayvion Wicks (GB) 9.5% rostered
Wick and his Green Bay team-mate Jayden Reed finished as the WR3 and WR2 respectively in week 4, as the Packers played catch-up after falling down heavily to the Minnesota Vikings in the first half. Reed had the higher yardage total (139) but it was Wicks who saw the most looks from Jordan Love (13) and also recorded multiple scores for the second time in his short career. With Love back under centre, I am looking to get my hands on any part of this Green Bay passing game, and with Christian Watson looking like a potential IR candidate after an ankle injury on Sunday – Wicks looks to be the most affordable way to get in on the action. His 13 targets on the week were behind only Nico Collins, Malik Nabers, Mike Evans and Wan’Dale Robinson (another waiver wire wonder) – he is and will be heavily involved in this offense moving forward. The Rams are next up for Love and co. and are currently ranked 30th against opposing wideouts for fantasy. Wicks is my number one waiver target this week, and he should be yours too.
Also Consider – Allen Lazard (NYJ) 40.5%, Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) 27.1% & Josh Downs (IND) 8.8% rostered.
Taysom Hill (NO) 27.2% rostered
Ah Taysom Hill, we meet again! The definitive touchdown vulture was back again to haunt the dreams of all Alvin Kamara owners at the weekend, as the QB/TE/RB hybrid powered his way into the end zone twice in the first half, giving the Saints their first lead of the day. Hill is a nuisance, but a very useful player for fantasy football. He has multiple touchdown upside every week, a claim that very few other tight ends in the league can lay claim to…especially this season! Hill did leave the game immediately after his second score with a rib injury, so that is something to monitor – but at this time there is no suggestion he is set to miss any time. Hill carries the risk of giving you a zero each week, but his TD upside is unmatched. He’s worth adding if you don’t have one of the handful of tight ends who have been useful so far this season.
Tucker Kraft (GB) 4.5% rostered
Remember earlier how I highlighted Jordan Love supported the WR2 and WR3 on the week…well he also did enough through the air to make Tucker Kraft the TE2 – and but for a fumble (easy Mark Sanchez), he would have outscored Taysom Hill and finished TE1. Kraft saw 9 targets in the defeat to the Vikings, tying with Travis Kelce for most at the tight end position in week 5. Kraft appears to have cemented himself as the pass-catching TE on this team at the expense of Luke Musgrave, and sits third in total receiving yards on the team through four weeks. The tight end landscape this year is a mess and Kraft appears to at least be getting enough opportunity to merit a roster spot, possibly even a start. Don’t blow any budget on him, but he could prove a useful addition to your squads – especially if your current TE is on bye this week.
Also Consider – Zach Ertz (WAS) 42.4% & Tyler Conklin (NYJ) 35.7% rostered
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
