6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Picks & Injury Replacement (Week 5)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 5.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Sam Darnold (QB – SEA) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9.4% Rostered)

While the veteran hasn’t been a fantasy star, Darnold has played well this season. He was awful in Week 1, totaling 5.4 fantasy points. Yet, the former USC star has been consistent over the past three weeks, averaging 251.7 passing yards, 1.7 touchdowns, and 16.2 fantasy points per game, totaling between 15.8 and 16.7 in every contest. Meanwhile, according to Fantasy Points Data, the Seahawks are the most run-heavy team in the NFL, as they are the only team with more rushing snaps (121) than pass snaps (111) this year.

However, Seattle will have to lean on the passing attack in Week 5, making Darnold an undervalued streaming option. The Buccaneers have an elite run defense, allowing only 3.3 yards per rushing attempt this season, including 2.3 to Saquon Barkley last week. Meanwhile, they have surrendered 208 passing yards, 1.5 touchdowns, and 18.8 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks despite facing three subpar quarterbacks this year. While he will likely have an interception or two, Darnold should have over 40 pass attempts this week for the first time in 2025.

Rico Dowdle (RB – CAR) vs. Miami Dolphins (28.7% Rostered)

Carolina will be without Chuba Hubbard against the Dolphins because of a calf injury that has kept him out of practice all week. While the rookie Trevor Etienne will get some work, Dowdle expects to take over as the featured running back. The veteran has seen an uptick in work lately, totaling 19 rushing attempts for 62 yards, a touchdown, and 14.8 PPR fantasy points over the past two weeks. More importantly, Dowdle was productive as the Dallas Cowboys starter last season, averaging 12.4 fantasy points per game.

Hopefully, Hubbard’s calf issue is only a one-week injury. Yet, Dowdle is a borderline must-start running back until Hubbard returns, especially this week. Miami has surrendered 24.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over the first month, the seventh-most in the NFL. They have given up 110 rushing yards per game to running backs, allowing at least 91 in every contest, including 112 or more in three outings. Don’t be surprised if Dowdle has over 100 rushing yards and 15 fantasy points without scoring a touchdown against the Dolphins.

Isaiah Davis (RB – NYJ) vs. Dallas Cowboys (4.1% Rostered)

The Jets want to run the ball at one of the highest rates in the league with Justin Fields under center. While Breece Hall has been the team’s lead running back, Braelon Allen had the role as the No. 2 guy in the backfield. Unfortunately, he suffered a significant knee injury in Week 4, knocking him out of the lineup for the next few months, making Davis the new backup. He hasn’t seen much work as the third running back, playing only 12 snaps per game this season.

Yet, the former South Dakota State star has been productive with limited touches. Davis has averaged 1.01 PPR fantasy points per touch this year, including 0.94 last week, replacing the injured Allen. More importantly, the Cowboys have had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. They have surrendered 25.9 fantasy points per game to running backs, the sixth-most in the league. Last week, Dallas gave up 157 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns, and 31.7 fantasy points to Josh Jacobs and 81 yards and 11.1 fantasy points to Emanuel Wilson.

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG) vs. New Orleans Saints (30.2% Rostered)

Unfortunately, the Giants lost Malik Nabers to a season-ending torn ACL in Week 4. The superstar wide receiver was the focal point of New York’s offense, accounting for a 28.2% target share and 32.3% of the team’s receiving yards over the first three weeks. While it will take a committee to replace Nabers’ production, Slayton will see a significant increase in targets with the superstar sidelined. The veteran had a quiet Week 1 performance against the Washington Commanders, totaling one target and zero PPR fantasy points in the loss.

However, Slayton has averaged 3.7 targets and 7.5 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, averaging 2.1 fantasy points per target. Meanwhile, the Saints have surrendered 33.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, slightly above the league average. However, they’ve struggled to slow down outside wide receivers. New Orleans surrendered an average of four receptions on six targets for 59.3 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 14.4 fantasy points per game to Keon Coleman, Tory Horton, Jauan Jennings, and Marvin Harrison Jr. this year.

Luke McCaffrey (WR – WAS) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (2.9% Rostered)

Injuries have played a significant role in fantasy football this season. Unfortunately, the Commanders won’t have Terry McLaurin for the second consecutive game on Sunday because of a quad injury. Therefore, McCaffrey will see an uptick in snaps and targets for the third straight game. After totaling 21 offensive snaps over the first two games, the former Rice star has played 21 snaps in back-to-back contests. More importantly, he has been a scoring machine with McLaurin out of the lineup. He has a receiving touchdown in back-to-back outings.

Despite only having three targets in both games, McCaffrey has averaged 2.5 receptions of 38.5 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 12.4 PPR fantasy points per game over the past two weeks. He has scored at least 10.1 fantasy points in both contests. Meanwhile, the Chargers have surrendered only 25.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. However, they have faced multiple subpar passing attacks this year. Don’t be surprised if McCaffrey finds the end zone and scores double-digit fantasy points for the third consecutive game.

Chig Okonkwo (TE – TEN) vs. Arizona Cardinals (16.2% Rostered)

Okonkwo is the TE23 over the first month, averaging 6.4 PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, that isn’t a surprise given how poorly the Titans’ passing attack has been. However, the former Maryland star has played a meaningful role in Tennessee’s pass attack, ranking third in targets (19) behind Elic Ayomanor (25) and Calvin Ridley (24). More importantly, Okonkwo played well when seeing enough volume. He has averaged 4.5 receptions for 50.5 receiving yards and 9.6 fantasy points per game in the two contests with more than four targets.

More importantly, the veteran is an excellent injury replacement or a streaming option because of his matchup. The Cardinals gave up only two receptions for 21 receiving yards and 4.1 fantasy points to the San Francisco 49ers’ tight ends without George Kittle in Week 3. However, Arizona has surrendered eight receptions for 78.3 receiving yards and 17.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends in their other three matchups against the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks this season, allowing 15.6 or more in every contest.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.