FantasyPros Staff | Mon, Sep 29th 2025, 5:39am EDT

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Pickups (Week 5)

Our analysts combine to provide rankings for weekly fantasy football waiver wire targets. We’ll help you prioritize your bids for the week ahead. Check out our full expert consensus fantasy football waiver wire rankings and all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 5.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings

Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Woody Marks (RB – HOU): 30% Rostered

Next Opponents: @BAL, BYE, @SEA
True Value: $35
Desperate Need: $50
Budget-Minded: $25

Analysis: Woody Marks may have just taken over the Houston backfield. With 17 carries for 69 yards and a score to go along with four receptions, 50 yards and another score, Marks had a heck of a fantasy performance against the Titans in Week 4. With Nick Chubb only managing 47 yards on 13 carries, it’s clear who the more efficient back was. Coming into the league, Marks was touted as potentially the best pass-catching back in this class. For the Titans to have given him 17 carries in a game they were winning the entire time is a sign of good things to come. It’s essential to note that the Texans’ offensive line didn’t become functional overnight; however, Houston’s run blocking was competent against the Titans in Week 4. Next week, Marks faces a Ravens defense allowing the most yards and fantasy points to the running back position. We listed Marks as a stash last week. Hopefully, you already have him rostered. If not, this might be a time to bid heavily for what could be a weekly starter moving forward.

Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN): 31% Rostered

Next Opponents: @ARI, @LV, NE
True Value: $6
Desperate Need: $10
Budget-Minded: $4

Analysis: In Weeks 2-3, Elic Ayomanor was the WR24 and WR27 in PPR scoring. He entered Week 4 with a 15.5% target share, a 24.6% air-yard share, a 15.6% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), 47 receiving yards per game and 1.74 yards per route run. He had two scores and two end-zone targets. In Week 4, Ayomanor led the Titans with a 26.9% target share and a modest 44 receiving yards. He is stepping up at the team’s No. 1 WR, as Calvin Ridley looks cooked. I’m not rushing to plug Ayomanor into a Flex spot against the Cardinals this week, but he has three nice matchups after that against Las Vegas, New England and Indianapolis that should land him in strong Flex territory.

Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): 32% Rostered

Next Opponents: @ARI, @LV, NE
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: After starting the year on injured reserve (IR) with an ankle injury, Tyjae Spears is eligible to return for Week 5. Considering the Titans were just shut out by the formerly winless Texans, they could really use an offensive spark. Spears could be that spark. Tony Pollard has dominated the Titans’ backfield this season with 94% of Tennessee’s running back touches. Head coach Brian Callahan discussed the Titans’ potential use of a committee backfield this offseason. This is likely still the plan, but it was hard to execute when Julius Chestnut was the running back behind Pollard. There is a chance that a committee on one of the worst teams in the league could be a mess for fantasy, but there is also a chance Spears could eventually take over the backfield. Even though he has dominated touches, Pollard has not been very effective with them. Spears is one of the few widely available backs who has a path to consistent fantasy production as the season goes on.

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR): 9% Rostered

Next Opponents: MIA, DAL, @NYJ
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Jalen Coker inches closer to returning to the lineup after beginning the season on IR. Now is the time to pick him up. Coker has a clear path to the No. 2 WR spot in a Carolina passing attack that desperately needs his presence. Xavier Legette is injured and, even when healthy, ineffective. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is also on the shelf. Carolina is hurting for pass-catchers in an offense that ranks third in neutral passing rate. Just as a PSA regarding Coker’s talent: In the six games last season in which he played at least 68% of the snaps and Bryce Young was the starting quarterback, Coker had an 18.3% target share, 55.7 receiving yards per game, 1.89 yards per route run and a 23.8% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. He averaged 11.4 PPR points per game with three top-36 weekly fantasy finishes (WR17, WR12, WR28). Coker could provide a boost to your fantasy squad just as the bye weeks are arriving.

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG): 49% Rostered

Next Opponents: @NO, PHI, @DEN
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: Entering Week 4, Wan’Dale Robinson had two red-zone targets this season. He had a 20% target share, averaging 74.3 receiving yards per game (2.28 yards per route run), with a 29.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Robinson had a quiet Week 4, with three grabs and 14 receiving yards against the Chargers, as Jaxson Dart only attempted 20 passes, but Robinson had a 25% target share and dropped a touchdown. Robinson should continue to provide viable Flex value moving forward, with the Giants’ passing volume flowing to Robinson and Darius Slayton now that Malik Nabers is likely done for the year with a torn ACL.

Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): 23% Rostered

Next Opponents: @NO, PHI, @DEN
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: What a debut for Jaxson Dart. Holding down the fort against a previously undefeated Chargers team is a heck of a challenge. Yet, Dart and company managed to come out victorious. What should have fantasy managers excited is that Dart was not afraid to run, especially in the red zone. His next few games present some tricky matchups, but Dart is a good streaming option next week against the Saints. The Giants seem to have some swagger for the first time in a while. Dart could be a useful fantasy starter for the rest of the season, although his passing outlook is somewhat diminished by the loss of star wide receiver Malik Nabers to a torn ACL.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 23% Rostered

Next Opponents: BYE, CLE, @CIN
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Every fantasy manager’s worst nightmare happened this weekend. Right before the early game in Dublin kicked off, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was ruled out with a knee injury. This injury was not new, and he had been expected to play. In Warren’s absence, Kenneth Gainwell was Pittsburgh’s primary back in a tough matchup against the Vikings. Well, it was supposed to be tough. Gainwell popped off for 134 total yards and two scores. This week, the Steelers are heading into their bye, and it is expected that Warren will probably be healthy for Week 6. However, Gainwell has now proven he can carry the load if necessary. If Warren’s injury lingers, Gainwell could be in line for more work.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Pickups (Week 5)