Doing your weekly waivers in fantasy football can be more stressful than performing life-saving surgery on a loved one without any professional tools or medical knowledge. While that might be a slight exaggeration, deciding which players to add off the waiver wire each week can be stressful.
Finding and adding the right guys in shallow leagues is simple, as there are plenty of appealing options, and the waiver wire is full of talent. Unfortunately, making your waiver wire claims in deeper leagues can be a massive pain in the neck.
However, I’m here to help by giving fantasy players eight waiver wire targets they should add in deeper leagues in Week 5.
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Deep League Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
All the players in this article are rostered in under 25% of ESPN leagues.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA): 22.2% Rostered
The Dolphins wrap up Week 4 as part of a doubleheader Monday night. Tagovailoa has averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game this season. However, the veteran has two passing touchdowns in back-to-back outings. More importantly, he has a fantasy-friendly schedule following Monday night’s matchup against the New York Jets. Tagovailoa faces the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers the next two weeks. Both defenses gave up at least 19.8 fantasy points to young quarterbacks in Week 4. Tagovailoa is an excellent streaming or bye-week replacement option in deeper leagues.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): 21.1% Rostered
Dart played well in his first career despite Malik Nabers suffering a season-ending knee injury, totaling 19.8 fantasy points. More importantly, the rookie made plays with his legs, totaling 10 attempts for 54 yards, a touchdown, and 11.4 fantasy points. Furthermore, he was solid in the air, totaling 111 passing yards on 20 attempts. By comparison, the Chargers gave up 166.5 passing yards on 34 attempts per game to Geno Smith and Bo Nix the previous two weeks. Dart is an excellent QB2 option because of his rushing abilities.
Kendre Miller (RB – NO): 5.6% Rostered
While Alvin Kamara remains the starter, Miller has played well in limited snaps this season. He averaged only 6.7 touches per game over the first three weeks but averaged 0.5 PPR fantasy points per touch. More importantly, Miller was outstanding in Week 4, totaling 11 rushing attempts for 65 yards, a touchdown, and 12.5 fantasy points. By comparison, Kamara had 15 rushing attempts for 70 yards, zero touchdowns, and 11.2 fantasy points against the Buffalo Bills. Miller could see enough volume moving forward to be a bye-week flex option.
Zavier Scott (RB – MIN): 0.5% Rostered
Finding running backs off the waiver wire has been a nightmare. However, fantasy players in deeper leagues should target Scott this week, with multiple starting running backs, including Bijan Robinson and Jaylen Warren, having their bye in Week 5. Scott was outstanding on Sunday, scoring 16.4 PPR fantasy points. More importantly, he was Minnesota’s passing-down running back, totaling six receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings face the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. Scott could see an uptick in snaps if Minnesota struggles to run the ball.
Darius Slayton (WR – NYG): 3.6% Rostered
Unfortunately, Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his season. Therefore, someone will have to step up for New York in the passing game. Jaxson Dart only had 20 pass attempts in his first career start. However, Slayton was a reliable target for the rookie, leading the Giants in receptions (three) and receiving yards (44), while seeing a 20% target share, scoring 7.4 PPR fantasy points. His big-play abilities make him an appealing cheap waiver wire target this week.
Luke McCaffrey (WR – WAS): 0.7% Rostered
Reportedly, Jayden Daniels is expected to play in Week 5 after missing the past two games with a knee injury. However, Terry McLaurin’s status for next week is more up in the air, which is good news for McCaffrey. The second-year pro has averaged 12.4 PPR fantasy points per game over the past two weeks, scoring two touchdowns. Both receiving scores have come after McLaurin left the Week 3 contest with a quad injury. McCaffrey is a potential flex option in deeper leagues until McLaurin is back in the lineup.
Isaiah Bond (WR – CLE): 0.4% Rostered
Fantasy players likely want to avoid starting any Browns besides Quinshon Judkins. However, Bond should be added off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues this week. The former Texas star signed with Cleveland late in the offseason. Yet, he stepped up on Sunday when Cedric Tillman left the game with a hamstring injury. Bond was the second-highest scoring Brown behind Judkins, totaling three receptions on six targets for a team-high 58 receiving yards and 8.8 PPR fantasy points. The rookie is worth stashing with Tillman potentially missing significant time.
Tommy Tremble (TE – CAR): 0.1% Rostered
Tremble is an appealing streaming option in Week 5 for fantasy players who need a bye week or injury replacement. The veteran had five receptions on eight targets for 42 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 15.2 PPR fantasy points on Sunday, with Ja’Tavion Sanders missing the game because of a high ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Carolina faces the Miami Dolphins in Week 5. They have surrendered six receptions for 71.3 receiving yards and 17.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the third-most over the first three weeks this season.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.