Week 5 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Lineup Options After NFL Injury Reports

Injuries are often the biggest enemy of fantasy football managers, and we've seen plenty of significant ones already in the 2025 NFL season. Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill were the latest superstars to go down for the season, but they weren't the first and will not be the last.

On top of a notable rash of early injuries, managers must now deal with bye weeks—the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers won't play in Week 5.

All of this means that many managers will have to rely on the waiver wire, perhaps heavily, to navigate the rest of the week.

Let's examine the latest off the Week 5 injury report and the top players likely to still be available on the wire. All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

Giants QB Jaxson Dart

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Justin Fields, New York Jets
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
7. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
8. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
10. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be out again this week with an ankle injury, while Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will be out with a hamstring injury.

In more positive news, it looks like Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) will return to face the Los Angeles Chargers.

Managers seeking a stopgap quarterback might want to consider New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart. The Mississippi product possesses some dual-threat upside and had both passing and rushing touchdowns in his regular-season debut.

This week, Dart will also face a New Orleans Saints defense that has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. He's still available in roughly 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

The list of other quarterbacks to consider on the wire this week includes Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa and Geno Smith.

Running Back

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon II

Top 10

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
3. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
4. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
5. Breece Hall, New York Jets
6. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
8. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
9. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
10. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out starting running back Bucky Irving with a foot sprain, while the Carolina Panthers have ruled out Chuba Hubbard with a calf injury.

Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder) is listed a doubtful. Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) remains on injured reserve but is eligible for activation and is listed as questionable.

Houston Texans rookie back Woody Marks probably isn't available in your league—he's rostered in 76 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues—but it's worth checking. He finally secured the lead role over Nick Chubb in Week 4 and flourished.

Marks finished with four catches, 119 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.

Tampa Bay's Rachaad White is a must-add if available, given Irving's injury. He's rostered in 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and 73 percent of ESPN leagues. Carolina's Rico Dowdle is rostered in 21 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II is a more realistic waiver target, rostered in only 26 percent of Yahoo leagues and 23 percent of ESPN leagues. He hasn't seen a significant workload behind De'Von Achane yet, but that could soon change.

With Hill out for the season, Miami may pivot to a more run-oriented offense. Gordon is a powerful back who should see plenty of short-yardage and goal-line work.

Kendre Miller and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are deeper sleepers worth considering in larger leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Titans WR Elic Ayomanor

Top 10

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
3. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
4. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
5. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
6. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
9. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
10. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Several notable receivers have already been ruled out for Week 5, including CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, KaVontae Turpin, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Alec Pierce, and Trey Palmer.

Titans wideout Calvin Ridley is questionable, as is Arizona Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch.

With Nabers out for the Giants, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton are both worth consideration. Robinson probably has the higher ceiling but is also rostered in more than 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Slayton, who has averaged three receptions over the last three games, carries more modest expectations but is still available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Tennessee Titans wideout Elic Ayomanor is also worth scooping up this week. The rookie is rapidly emerging as Cam Ward's favorite target. While his overall numbers (12 catches, 151 yards, 2 TDs) aren't great, Ayomanor is highly unlikely to draw a blank in any given week.

Ayomanor is still available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Marquise Brown are other receivers who may be available and who should have reasonable sleeper value in Week 5.

Tight End

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

Top 10

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
4. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
5. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
6. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
7. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
8. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
9. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers missed practice late in the week as he continues to deal with a knee injury. However, it appears that Las Vegas anticipates having Bowers in the lineup on Sunday.

With the Raiders playing in Sunday's 1 p.m. ET window, managers must be prepared to pivot in the early afternoon.

Taysom Hill is listed as questionable but remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has borderline top-10 potential this week and may still be available. While the Kansas City Chiefs will make for a tough matchup, Strange has caught six passes in each of his last two outings.

Strange is still available in roughly 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Jets rookie Mason Taylor is also worth consideration this week. He had a breakthrough five-catch, 65-yard game against the Dolphins in Week 4 and is looking at a reasonable matchup.

The Cowboys haven't been gashed by opposing tight ends, but they have surrendered 10 passing touchdowns through four weeks. Taylor is still available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Dalton Shultz and Darren Waller should also be solid sleeper plays this week.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.