We asked our writers to name their top waiver-wire targets at running back and wide receiver entering Week 5 of the 2018 fantasy football season. Here’s what they said.
All players are owned in 30% or less of Yahoo leagues.
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Who’s your top running back pickup of the week?
Ronald Jones (TB)
It is my expectation that Ronald Jones will lead the Bucs in touches and snaps coming out of their bye week. While he hasn’t shown much so far this season, the potential is there for him to be an every-down back on a pretty good offense. It would be better to add him now while no one is thinking about him, because his next two games are at the Falcons and home against the Browns, two teams that have given up the third and ninth most fantasy points to RBs this year, respectively. If you have the space on your bench, add him before his potential breakout.
Geoff Lambert – @geofflambert77
Ronald Jones is poised to take over the struggling Tampa Bay backfield coming out of the bye. Peyton Barber has proved ineffective and the rookie should be in line for an increased workload. The return of Jameis Winston under center and the strong receiving weapons the Buccaneers boast will provide plenty of light fronts for Jones to run against.
Justin Mackey
Corey Clement / Wendell Smallwood (PHI)
The top choices are Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement in light of Jay Ajayi tearing his ACL. The Eagles have mixed and matched backfield duties throughout Doug Pederson’s coaching tenure, so expect another committee. There’s still plenty of room for fantasy viability in a high-octane offense. Clement played more snaps (45) than Smallwood (29) when Ajayi sat out Week 3, but Smallwood scored a touchdown on one of three red-zone carries and has seen his snap rate increase in each of the last three games. Put in a claim or bid for both, giving Smallwood the slight preference because of better health.
Andrew Gould – @andrewgould4
With news that Jay Ajayi is out for the year, Philly’s backfield is up for grabs. Despite the Eagles’ early struggles on offense, this is a role you want to invest in. They have an elite offensive line and should start scoring more points as they get healthier. Clement has been struggling with a quad injury and has been outplayed by Smallwood thus far, but I’d give him the slight edge for now. Both are worth picking up as we see how this shakes out.
Scott Cedar – @scedar015
Alfred Morris (SF)
Thankfully, Matt Breida avoided a serious ankle injury and was diagnosed with a sprain. While that’s a positive, that injury could cause Breida to still miss some time, which would make Alfred Morris close to a full-time player. Morris generated 91 yards on 21 touches during San Francisco’s Week 5 loss to Arizona. Without Breida for a game or two, that’s the kind of workload we could see out of Morris, which would certainly make him a potential RB2 against Green Bay on Monday Night Football this week.
Jody Smith – @JodySmithNFL
Take Your Pick
There are five running backs owned in less than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues that shouldn’t be: Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, Ronald Jones, D’Onta Foreman, and Mike Davis. Smallwood and Clement both got interesting in a hurry with the news that Jay Ajayi will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, but they will likely share the workload relatively evenly, and Darren Sproles and Josh Adams could eventually factor in as well. Go for Smallwood, then Clement, if you’re looking for an upside RB you can immediately insert into your lineup. Another player you can immediately consider for your lineup is Davis, who is second in line for carries behind Chris Carson but is still a legit flex option in Week 6 given his favorable matchup with Oakland and how well the Seahawks are running the ball lately. Jones and Foreman will require a more patient approach, but they are the ones with the most long-term upside as young, talented backs who could eventually run away with their respective backfields.
Andrew Seifter – @andrew_seifter
Who’s your top wide receiver pickup of the week?
Taylor Gabriel (CHI)
Don’t forget about Taylor Gabriel just because his breakout preceded a Week 5 bye. Tampa Bay was admittedly the perfect matchup to spark a 114-yard, two-touchdown outburst, but he has garnered 24 targets in Chicago’s last three games. He leads the team in catches (22) and could receive plenty of attention from Mitchell Trubisky this weekend if Miami’s Xavien Howard shadows Allen Robinson.
Andrew Gould – @andrewgould4
Taylor Gabriel had a massive game in Chicago’s Week 4 win over Tampa Bay, but owners could be sleeping on him with the Bears on bye this past week. Gabriel has seen at least seven targets in his last three games and Matt Nagy’s offense will put his big-play potential to good use going forward. Don’t expect 100 yards and two touchdowns every week, but Gabriel is primed to be productive in an emerging offense.
Justin Mackey
Christian Kirk (ARI)
Second-round rookie Christian Kirk, not Larry Fitzgerald, has been Arizona’s best wide receiver through five games. Granted, Fitzgerald hasn’t been fully healthy, but Kirk is leading the Red Birds in targets (26), receptions (19), and receiving yards (234). He also caught his first NFL touchdown, a highlight-reel, 75-yard bomb from Josh Rosen on Arizona’s first offensive snap. The Cardinals have a tough task in Week 6, traveling to Minnesota, but Kirk is a full-time player who is going to put up solid weekly target and reception numbers. He needs to be added in all leagues.
Jody Smith – @JodySmithNFL
Ryan Grant (IND)
Andrew Luck is on pace for 784 pass attempts, which would be a new NFL record. By over 50 attempts. With T.Y. Hilton suffering from a hamstring injury (and we all know hamstrings linger), Grant is in line for a big target share over the next few weeks as the Colts’ top wide receiver. Donte Moncrief is also getting good volume, but all things being equal I’ll take the guy who isn’t catching passes from Blake Bortles.
Scott Cedar – @scedar015
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB)
As usual, there are a ton of interesting wide receivers available on the waiver wire this week in most leagues, so I’d recommend targeting the one with the highest-conceivable upside, and that’s Valdes-Scantling. If one of Randall Cobb or Geronimo Allison isn’t able to get cleared in time for next week’s game, Valdes-Scantling will be an upside WR3/flex option. And if both Cobb and Allison somehow remain out, Valdes-Scantling will push for WR2 value. If both Cobb and Allison are able to return this week, you can always move on from Valdes-Scantling and pick up someone like Christian Kirk, Taylor Gabriel, Donte Moncrief, Cameron Meredith, or Tre’Quan Smith.
Andrew Seifter – @andrew_seifter
Bonus: Who’s your top tight end pickup of the week?
Cameron Brate (TB)
Tight end is a Quentin Tarantino-esque gorefest right now. And yet, Cameron Brate is owned in just 31% of Yahoo Leagues (so yes, I’m slightly cheating here). With O.J. Howard out at least one-to-three more weeks, Brate has a much stronger floor and higher ceiling than any of the streaming options desperate owners are using. He gets plus matchups against Atlanta, Cleveland, and Cincinnati over the next three weeks. Brate has caught 15 touchdowns over the last two season with Jameis Winston at the helm, and Winston is set to start Week 6.
Eli Weiner – @eweinerfantasy
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