Week 4's injury wave reshaped the waiver board, so this week is about replacing the backs and receivers that went down on Sunday.

📝 News & Notes

Saquon Barkley got tests on his hamstring Monday after exiting in the first quarter against the Rams, and while NFL Network reported the injury does not look overly serious, coach Nick Sirianni said he will not have real answers until Wednesday. Barkley could miss Week 5 against Jacksonville, but it is far from a lock.
My take: with Tank Bigsby now on IR after core surgery, Will Shipley inherits the Eagles carries, but treat him as a one-week flier at best since Barkley's hamstring may not even cost him Sunday.

Jayden Daniels is trending back, with coach Dan Quinn saying Monday he wants the quarterback (elbow) to get a full practice week and start Sunday against the Giants. Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is still day to day.
My take: a healthy Daniels brings the whole Washington offense back onto the radar. McLaurin and Diggs still the top two guys but I’m calling an Antonio Williams breakout coming soon.

Joe Mixon is expected to sign with the Seahawks, per Jordan Schultz, bringing in a veteran body behind Emanuel Wilson, who just handled 21 carries in Week 4.
My take: I am not sweating this one for Wilson managers. Mixon has not played all year and at this stage of his career he looks like depth, so Wilson stays the back to own in Seattle.

Elsewhere: Ladd McConkey (foot) is week to week, Rashee Rice (hamstring) is getting an MRI but Kansas City is on bye anyway, Marcus Mariota was diagnosed with a sprained MCL, and Jeremiyah Love is now nursing a separate ankle issue in Arizona.

📝 Waiver Wire Report

The injuries this weekend gutted backfields again, so the top of the board

Running Backs

Emanuel Wilson (SEA) is the top add of the week after taking over the Seattle backfield for 21-81-1 with Jadarian Price on IR. Seattle is adding Joe Mixon, but that reads as depth more than a real threat, and Wilson profiles as a flex with RB2 upside while the job is his. FAAB: 15-25%.

Will Shipley (PHI) is a fine short-term grab now that Tank Bigsby is on IR, but his value is capped: it likely lasts only as long as Saquon Barkley sits, and Barkley's hamstring may not even cost him Week 5. Stash him if you have the bench room, but do not break the bank. FAAB: 10-18%.

Tyler Allgeier (ARI) was the Cardinals' goal-line back, turning 10 touches into 49 yards and a score while taking red zone work from Jeremiyah Love, who is dealing with an ankle issue. Touchdown-dependent, but the role doesn’t appear to be going away. FAAB: 8-12%.

Wide Receivers

Keon Coleman (BUF) is rostered in just 4% of leagues and caught six of seven targets for 116 yards and a touchdown once DJ Moore (shoulder) went down. He is volatile, but he is cautiously startable any week Moore sits. FAAB: 15-25%.

Antonio Williams (WSH) led the Commanders with eight targets in Terry McLaurin's absence and had a long touchdown wiped out by a penalty. The rookie is a sneaky play while McLaurin is banged up. FAAB: 6-10%.

Dohnte Meyers (CIN) is barely rostered and just posted 7-82 while the Bengals shuffled through injuries, and he projects as the clear WR3 with Ja'Marr Chase (concussion), Tee Higgins (groin) and Andrei Iosivas (IR) all out or banged up. If Cincinnati stays shorthanded, Joe Burrow's volume makes him a sneaky play. FAAB: 4-8%.

Roman Wilson (PIT) has quietly gone for 134 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games on a steady six targets a week. The Steelers have a lot of mouths to feed, but the production is hard to ignore if you are desperate. FAAB: 3-6%.

Darius Cooper (PHI) was the lone spark in Philadelphia's ugly Sunday, catching three balls for 33 yards and two touchdowns, and with DeVonta Smith (hamstring) facing multiple weeks out the rookie could see steady snaps. FAAB: 3-6%.

Tight Ends

Brenton Strange (JAX) posted 7-95 against Cincinnati and has at least two catches in every game, giving him a far better floor than the usual touchdown-or-bust streamer. FAAB: 10-15%.

Mike Gesicki (CIN) is rostered in under 10% of leagues and has gone 16.3, 0, 11.2 and 11.5 fantasy points over four weeks. With Ja'Marr Chase (concussion), Tee Higgins (groin) and Andrei Iosivas (IR) all banged up or out, he is the safest pass catcher left for Joe Burrow. FAAB: 6-12%.

Michael Mayer (LV) caught eight passes for 82 yards on Sunday as Kirk Cousins threw for 365, and he is a sneaky bye-week fill even behind Brock Bowers in a pass-heavy Raiders attack. FAAB: 3-6%.

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud (HOU) is rostered in only 37% of leagues despite averaging better than 285 passing yards a game, and with Nico Collins back and the Titans, Jaguars and Giants up next, he is a confident start in all formats. With Kansas City and Carolina on bye, he is a clean plug for Mahomes managers. FAAB: 2-4%.

Jameis Winston (NYG) fired three touchdowns filling in for Jaxson Dart (out for the season) and now holds the Giants job, with a Week 5 date against Washington. He is a superflex priority and a live one-week streamer so long as he has the job. FAAB: 1-2%.

🎥 New Interview: Betting is Broken

I sat down with BetOpenly founder Gino Donati for a wide-ranging conversation on how Betting is Broken, on building an ideal peer-to-peer sports book, why better prices alone have not won over retail bettors, how parlays work when you can be the house, and advice for people getting into sports betting / trading. Watch, listen, or read:

🎁 FFin60 Sign-up Offers

The best sign-up offers live right now on the prediction market platforms we track. Grab them while they last:

Interested in advertising with us? Email [email protected].

Forwarded this email? Join our mailing list.