Waiver Wire Week 5 2020 – Bye, Bye, Bye

Well, here we are, folks. We made it to Monday. A wild and eventful week, with games postponed or moved. And we can only speculate what is coming up in the next seven days. With that uncertainty in mind, the waiver wire could be vital at this point in the season. 

And, as we enter the portion of the season where the bye weeks take hold, it is always important to have fluidity in your line ups. COVID-affected games just add another dimension to consider! So, taking that to account, Murf has given us a very precise list of who to watch out for on this week’s waiver wire. Let’s have a look at who he’s chosen this time around. 

As always, these are players who are 30% owned or less according to ESPN.com.

Teams on Bye Weeks: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions

Quarterbacks

Teddy Bridgewater- Panthers 9.8% Owned @ATL Week 5

First up is a player who has made a massive difference in how the Panthers do things offensively this year. Christian McCaffrey’s Week 2 injury mirrored last season when Cam Newton went down around the same time in Carolina’s 2019 campaign. But Bridgewater’s presence has given Panthers fans hope, and the stats should back up his inclusion this week. His passing stats against the Cardinals were 26 completions on 37 attempts, with 276 yards and one touchdown. He also added 6 carries for 32 yards, including a scramble touchdown. Incidentally, his completion ratio has been 70% or above in three straight games.

His match up next week is a positive one, and could help him continue to maintain that percentage. Although they have yet to play their Week 4 game, the Falcons have already shown that they can be passed on, with decisive losses to the Cowboys and Bears’ air offense in two straight weeks.  

As Bridgewater is offering a safe floor for fantasy points, he could be great cover on this bye week, especially if there are more cancellations due to the Titans’ coronavirus problems spill into Week 5.

Justin Herbert- Chargers- 11.8% Owned @NO Week 5

Herbert played a phenomenal game against the Buccs this week, and nearly became the second person after Joe Burrow to start their career with 3 games of 300 passing yards. He finished the game with 290 yards in the air, with three touchdowns and 1 interception. Considering he was against such a potent defense, this was impressive. He also added an extra 14 yards on the ground with five carries.

Although the Hard Knocks footage is edited very well, he was shown to demonstrate some brilliant accuracy for someone so young, and he managed to show it off this week. Even after being thrust into the starting role after Tyrod’s injury, he is fitting in brilliantly, and he is putting up top 16 QB numbers. He is a great fit for any bye cover. Grab him while you can, he won’t be under 30% owned for long.

Running Backs

D’Earnest Johnson- Browns 0% Owned vs. IND Week 5

 After Nick Chubb went down with a knee injury, Kareem Hunt took on the lead back role against the Cowboys. But the Browns were quick to get their backups into the game. In the time he had, Johnson showed a level of production that a lead back would normally be making. 

He rushed 13 times for 95 yards which is a nice average of 7.2 yards per attempt. The Browns run 53% of the time for 5.9 yards a carry which is the same efficiency as their air yards. As we have seen this season already this Browns team can support 2RB starters. So if Chubb is out Johnson is a good filler for your RB needy team.

Justin Jackson- Chargers 8.8% Owned @ NO Week 5

We’ve gone for another LA Charger, this time in the Running Back position. It was a sore sight to see Austin Ekeler being carried off the field, and preliminary news before the MRI scan is that it could be a hamstring problem – which potentially means several weeks out. However, Jackson and Kelley took over the role between them after Ekeler’s departure. Jackson got 9 second half snaps and Kelley got 14, which suggests that there could be a committee forming in the Chargers backfield going forward. He ended up with 9 yards off 6 carries, and 12 yards from two receptions. It is likely that he will end up as number two back behind Kelley but should at least be owned as there will be opportunities for him coming up.

Chase Edmonds- Cardinals 25.4% Owned @NYJ Week 5

Edmonds is our third option this week, facing a Jets defense who collapsed against a beleagured Broncos team last Thursday. And, after Kenyan Drake went down injured late in the game against the Panthers, it is likely that he begins that game as lead back. He demonstrated that he could easily fit into this role after Drake’s departure, with 4 rushes for 16 yards, and catching 5 passes for 24 yards and a touchdown.

Edmonds already gets snaps week to week, but will take a big role if Drake misses time. I’d say he’s a Top 6 handcuff – and probably the best remaining that’s on the wavier wire in most leagues. 

Wire Receivers

Leviska Shenault- Jaguars 27.8% Owned @HOU Week 5

Shenault has become a bit of a favourite for Gardner Minshew. Over the last three games, he has been the second highest targeted receiver. In last week’s game, he saw 5 receptions for 86 yards, and added another carry for 5 yards. His usage in the running game provides an extra dimension for upside, but the key reason he’s here this week is his opponent. The Texans can not cover the deep ball, so this is a perfect chance for Shenault to see those targets in Week 5. He is a solid option for bye cover so, as we are heading into that bye week period, he is a great waiver choice.

Scotty Miller- Buccaneers 11.3% Owned @Bears Week 5

Miller is demonstrating why he belongs in the Bucs offense. This past Sunday he went 5 for 83 and a touchdown. And it looks like this could continue, based on the status of the other first-string Wide Receivers. Mike Evans looked to be actively playing through an injury against the Chargers. And, with Chris Godwin unlikely to be ready for Thursday, this gives him a chance to grab some more slice of the pie. Miller’s has already gone over 70 yards in 3 of the 4 games this year, and seems to have built a rapport with Brady early on. He is also the only Buccaneers Receiver to have played in every game and caught a pass this season. If Godwin is out on Thursday then Miller should see volume on Thursday Night.

Tee Higgins- Bengals 25% Owned @Bal Week 5

Higgins is becoming a very useful member of Joe Burrow’s offense, and has actually out-targeted AJ Green in the last two games. His statline in this game gave him 77 yards on 4 receptions, and even added in a rushing attempt of 13 yards. He was very close to picking up two scores in just this game alone so that, combined with how much action he is seeing, means he can produce. Having such an integral role in a high volume passing offense means he is likely a Wide Receiver 3 from here on out! If he’s on your waiver wire, then he provides short term and long term options. 

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz- Cowboys 29.9% Owned vs NYG Week 5

Tight Ends had a difficult Week 3, although Dalton Schultz for the Cowboys fared well. He continued this form into Week 4 and, as it stands, this matchup against the Giants might help maintain his status as a viable target for Dak. His 29.9% ownership keeps him barely inside this article, but he is still an eligible waiver wire entry – and a good one at that. On Sunday, his 8 targets led to 4 receptions, 72 yards and a touchdown.

Due to the Cowboys’ leaky defense, the offense are finding themselves regularly behind. This has led to a huge increase in passing volume. In fact, they have thrown on 69% of plays this season. Luckily, this week’s matchup with the Giants may favour that approach no matter what the game script. They are most certainly a team who can be passed on – and Schultz is likely to continue as a favourable option for Dak’s targets. 

Mo Alie-Cox- Colts 21.1% Owned @CLE Week 5

Yet again, Alie-Cox found the endzone, and seems to be a redzone favourite for Philip Rivers. This is the third week in a row where Mo has made 8 PPR points or more, and this looks to continue. His next two matches are against the Browns and the Bengals, which are favourable for Tight End production. If he continues to provide fantasy owners with a touchdown every week, it’s likely that his ownership will rise above 30%, so strike while you can.

Kickers

Joey Slye- Panthers 15.1% Owned @ATL Week 5

Slye has had some big shoes to step into after the Panthers released Graham Gano at the end of last season. But he has done his utmost to do it. Heading into Week 5, his average output is 9.5PPR points per game. Last week saw him go 1 for 2 in FG, but made 4 extra points. That missed field goal was also the first one he has missed so far this season (11 of 12 made). As such, Slye could actually be a great waiver pick up for players whose Kickers are faltering. And the way Atlanta play at the moment means this could be the ideal matchup for the Carolina Kicker. 

D/ST

Cleveland Browns- 14.5% Owned vs IND Week 5

The pickings for DSTs are slim for this week, but the Browns promise the best value this week. They terrorized the Cowboys O-Line this week and gave Dak no end of headaches. However, they come up against a tougher O-line to face in the Colts. If they can get just a fraction of their output from last week, then they will be onto a winner. But what is really working for the Browns D in this case is that Indianapolis are not a high scoring team. Their Wide Receiver depth chart is looking banged up so there are opportunities for good matchups in the secondary. 

Another DST you can look for is Arizona, who should be picked up if they are free on your league’s waiver wire. They face the Jets.

That’s all for the Waiver Wire this week. Thanks to Murf for his work into the waiver picks, they’re a bunch of good ones as always!

Remember to keep checking players’ and teams’ statuses throughout the week so you don’t get caught short by COVID effects. 5 Yard Rush wish all those affected by this virus a speedy recovery. 

Until next time, Rush Nation,

Keep Rushing!

Rob @CowsillRob and Pittsy @PittsyNFL