Woody Marks and the Best Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

With injuries mounting and bye weeks beginning, the 2025 fantasy football season has reached a point where playing the waiver wire is a must.

If you need to make a long-term change at quarterback or desire a short-term fill-in at wide receiver, you won't need to look any further than the waiver wire to find suitable options ahead of Week 5. 

Just about every manager in any format can benefit from dipping into the free-agent pool and making some roster adjustments at this point in the campaign.

There are several standouts to target before the calendar flips to October. Read on for a look at them.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data taken prior to the weeks' Monday Night Football matchup. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 dollar starting budget.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (23 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

A new era in New York began on Sunday when Dart made and won his first NFL start. The rookie signal-caller notched a top-10 fantasy finish as well, putting up 19.8 points despite throwing for just 111 yards against a stingy Chargers defense.

His rushing ability—he picked up a cool 54 yards and a score on 10 totes in Week 4—greatly boosts his fantasy value going forward and makes him startable against the Saints this coming week. 

Cooper Rush, Baltimore Ravens (0 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Ravens were dealt a massive blow on Sunday when Lamar Jackson exited a blowout loss to the Chiefs with a hamstring injury.

While there's been "crickets" regarding updates around the star's status and potential absence, Rush still becomes a must-add in two-QB and superflex formats and even a decent speculative pickup in deeper one-QB leagues.

The 31-year-old backup completed 70 percent of his throws and avoided turnovers after taking over for Jackson and could put up some big numbers against the Texans next week.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (21 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Darnold may not be putting up the elite fantasy numbers he did in 2024, but he's starting to gain steam for the surging Seahawks.

He posted his first top-10 finish of 2025 last week and followed it up with a respectable QB16 showing in a 23-20 victory over the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football.

If you need a streaming option to get through a bye, Darnold is a fine choice. Expect some season-best numbers in what projects to be a high-scoring Week 5 clash with the Buccaneers. 

Running Back

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Houston Texans RB Woody Marks

Woody Marks, Houston Texans (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $25-35

Marks has surged all the way to the top of Houston's depth chart over the last month.

He rewarded the decision to have him lead the backfield in Week 4, turning in huge 27.9-fantasy point performance. It resulted in the Texans' first victory of 2025 and should cement his status as the team's new RB1.

While the eventual return of Joe Mixon puts a slight damper on Marks' rest-of-season outlook, he's still a solid addition after racking up a whopping 119 yards and two touchdowns on his 21 touches against the Titans.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (23 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $4-7

Gainwell drew a surprise start in Week 4 after it was revealed that Jaylen Warren wouldn't be able to give things a go in Dublin due a knee issue.

The backup answered the call with a monster 19-carry, 99-yard, two-touchdown outing against a tough Vikings front.

With Gainwell also chipping in 35 yards on six catches and locking in a top-three fantasy finish, he's now a must-add even with the Steelers going into a Week 5 bye.

The veteran has soundly stated his case for a larger share of the backfield work and should receive it even with Warren likely to return for a Week 6 clash with the Browns.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (35 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-6

Allgeier should have already been rostered in a far higher percentage of leagues due to his status as Bijan Robinson's handcuff.

Even with a Week 5 bye on the horizon, expect Allgeier to be a hot waiver commodity now that his standalone value is trending upwards following a 16-carry, 51-yard, one-touchdown showing against the Commanders.

If you can afford the roster spot and need some RB depth, make him a priority target.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (32 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-6

Spears can finally come off the IR and make his debut in Week 5 against the Cardinals. His potential return comes at an opportune time, as the Titans will be desperate for any sort of playmaking ability to emerge after being shut out by the Texans on Sunday.

Starting running back Tony Pollard only mustered 10.6 fantasy points in Week 4—a pedestrian amount that still marked his second-highest tally of 2025—so Spears should have ample opportunity to take control of this backfield.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (5 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Miller may still be behind Alvin Kamara in the New Orleans pecking order, but the gulf between the two backs is starting to shrink.

Miller just turned in his best performance of 2025 on Sunday, picking up 65 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

While his receiving work was non-existent and his snap share remained low, he's still worth an add as a handcuff with rising standalone value.

Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals (4 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Arizona backfield struggled in its first game of 2025 without James Conner.

With Trey Benson (10.4 fantasy points) failing to move the needle despite a backfield-high 13 touches, Demercado (10.1 fantasy points on four touches) could soon get more involved as the Cardinals try to find a spark.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (49 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $6-9

The Giants were dealt a crushing blow on Sunday when Malik Nabers went down with a non-contact knee injury that is feared to be a torn ACL.

With the sophomore phenom likely done for the season, someone will need to step in and soak up the near-11 targets Nabers was averaging over the first three games.

Robinson was already on the fantasy radar—especially in PPR formats—after a WR5 outing in Week 2, but he should start putting up far more consistent metrics after he failed to finish in the top 65 in each of the last two weeks.

He is a good bet to pile up receptions as Jaxson Dart's safety valve, while this next receiver could make up a portion of Nabers' field-stretching work.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants (2 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

Slayton is the next man up in Big Blue's receiving corps. With Nabers out of the picture, he'll likely see a huge increase in volume after logging just 12 targets over the first four weeks of 2025.

Slayton averaged nearly 20 fantasy points in his two appearances without Nabers in the lineup last year, making him a must-have for those desperate for WR help going into October.

Luke McCaffrey, Washington Commanders (1 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

McCaffrey may not be garnering a ton of targets or amassing many receptions, but he's starting to make the handful of looks he gets each week truly count.

The second-year wideout just capped off the latest of back-to-back top-30 finishes after finding paydirt for the second straight week.

An uptick in volume could be in the cards if McCaffrey continues this hot streak.

Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys (4 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Tolbert has been off the fantasy radar this year, but he's starting to heat up after generating six targets in each of the past two games.

The Cowboys wideout has improved his fantasy scoring output in each consecutive week since opener and just breeched double digits for first time this season.

Consider picking Tolbert up following a four-catch, 61-yard outing, as he has a strong chance to build on that performance against the Jets in Week 5.

Tight End

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Carolina Panthers TE Tommy Tremble

Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers (1 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Tremble has been with the Panthers since the 2021 season, but surprisingly never posted a top-10 fantasy finish until this week.

The veteran tight end was one of Carolina's lone bright spots in an ugly loss to the Patriots, recording a 5/42/1 line on eight targets that equated to 15.2 fantasy points and a TE5 finish.

Given the dearth of suitable streaming options at the position, managers could do worse than rolling the dice on Tremble turning in a repeat performance against a beatable Dolphins defense in Week 5.

Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers (3 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

With George Kittle stuck on the IR until Week 6 at the earliest, Tonges will be a serviceable fantasy option for desperate managers this coming week.

Tonges turned in a three-catch, 58-yard, one-touchdown line against the Jags on Sunday and has scoring-based top-10 upside in the Niners' upcoming clash with the Rams.

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (19 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

Schultz may not be the most exciting fantasy tight end, but he's a safe, steady streaming pickup who could get you through bye weeks and injuries.

He just recorded six targets for the second consecutive week and is a decent bet to garner a season high in looks if a tough Ravens secondary locks down Houston's receivers in Week 5.

D/ST

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Arizona Cardinals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (27), S Budda Baker (3) and S Jalen Thompson (34)

Arizona Cardinals (17 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

The Cardinals have a premium A+ matchup against the lowly Titans on tap.

Going against an offense that failed to put a single point on the board this past Sunday, Arizona is a fantastic bet to lead all D/ST units in scoring for Week 5. 

New England Patriots (39 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

New England is starting to heat up under head coach Mike Vrabel, holding the Panthers to just 13 points in Week 4 while also putting a punt return touchdown on the board.

The Pats have a tough AFC East matchup against the Bills ahead of them, but this unit is still worth deploying against a Josh Allen-led offense in wake of its latest performance.

Los Angeles Rams (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $0-1

The Rams are coming off a respectable showing against the red-hot Colts, becoming the first defense to limit Daniel Jones and Co. to fewer than 29 points.

L.A. sealed the 27-20 victory while recording two sacks and two interceptions, and things will only get easier against a slumping 49ers in Week 5.