Home NFL Updated Fantasy Waiver Wire Week 5: Top pickups include Woody Marks, Jaxson Dart, Romeo Doubs, more

Updated Fantasy Waiver Wire Week 5: Top pickups include Woody Marks, Jaxson Dart, Romeo Doubs, more

NFL MrThanh · October 4, 2025 · Comments off

Updated Fantasy Waiver Wire Week 5: Top pickups include Woody Marks, Jaxson Dart, Romeo Doubs, more originally appeared on The Sporting News

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Week 5 of the NFL season starts a new chapter for fantasy football managers: bye weeks.

The teams on a bye include the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. There are plenty of prominent fantasy options on those teams, options you’ll need to replace in your lineups.

Keep reading for our Week 5 waiver wire report.

Best fantasy waiver wire pickups Week 5

NEW – Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers (31% rostered in Yahoo Fantasy leagues)

With the news that Chuba Hubbard will miss Week 5 due to a calf issue, the Panthers will look to Rico Dowdle to fill in that RB1 role.

Dowdle has shown his ability to be productive in fantasy if he is the starting RB. Last season in Dallas, he finished as the RB23 overall in his role.

This offensive situation won’t nearly be as ideal as the one he had as a Cowboy. After all, the Panthers’ offense has struggled to start this season. In the last 2 weeks, Hubbard was unable to score more than 10 fantasy points.

This is a short-term start, and even then, Dowdle does not offer a true ceiling. However, if you are in need, he should get a decent amount of volume. Rico Dowdle FAAB: 5%

Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (49%)

While Rachaad White is most likely rostered in any of your competitive leagues, there’s a good chance he’s still available.

Bucky Irving is dealing with a foot/ankle issue and is “gathering medical opinions.” That doesn’t sound amazing, and therefore, White may be the RB1 in this Bucs offense for Week 5.

White received double-digit touches in Week 4, and back in Week 3, he had 12 touches for 67 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

Even if Irving plays, because he’s banged up, you can expect White to still have a role in Week 5. Rachaad White FAAB: 5%

UPDATE (10/3, 1:30 p.m. ET): Bucky Irving will miss Week 5 with a foot sprain. White will take over as the RB1, but is expected to be in a committee with Sean Tucker.

Emari Demercado, RB, Arizona Cardinals (4%)

While Trey Benson severely out-touched Emari Demercado in Week 4, Demercado clearly will still be used as the RB2.

Demercado had 2 rushing attempts for 8 yards, but his fantasy points came from his receiving work (2 passes for 13 yards and a touchdown).

In Week 5, the Cardinals will face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the 3rd most PPR points per game to the RB position.

There should be plenty of work for Demercado to be a productive play, especially with bye weeks starting. Emari Demercado FAAB: 5%

UPDATE (10/1, 11:15 a.m. ET): Trey Benson is dealing with a knee injury he sustained at the end of Week 4 on TNF. He is questionable for Week 5; therefore, Demercado would take over an RB1 role against the Titans in Week 5.

Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins (8%)

It was an intriguing NFL return for Darren Waller on MNF. He was targeted 4 times by Tua Tagovailoa in their Week 4 win.

Waller was able to catch 3 passes for 27 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now, obviously, those two scores carried this fantasy performance, but there are still a couple of things to note from this game.

The first being Tyreek Hill, who went down with a gruesome leg injury; he will be out for the season. This frees up a huge chunk of targets that need to be spread out.

While Waller was only targeted 4 times, he had just a 28% snap share due to this being his first NFL action in years. We saw Jonnu Smith revive his career in this Dolphins offense last season.

Waller might be able to produce more than we think once he fully adapts back to the NFL. Darren Waller FAAB: 5%

SET YOUR LINEUPS: Week 5 fantasy rankings

NEW – Marvin Mims Jr. WR, Denver Broncos (24%)

There is no doubt that Marvin Mims Jr. is not someone who offers a ton of confidence in starting lineups. However, between the big game ability and the fact that bye weeks are here, he will be at least a consideration.

In Week 4, Mims had 6 catches for 69 yards, with one rushing score for 16 yards. He was targeted 6 times by Bo Nix and obviously had a 100% catch rate.

Week 5 is not a great matchup; they face the Philadelphia Eagles. Teams can be somewhat successful against the Eagles’ passing the ball, but it is still an overall tough defense to play against. Marvin Mims FAAB: 5%

Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers (40%)

We knew that in the absence of Jayden Reed that Jordan Love was going to need to find a new WR1 to trust in this offense.

A lot of people thought it would’ve been the exciting rookie out of Texas, Matthew Golden, but no, it seems to be Romeo Doubs.

Doubs was targeted 8 times in the SNF tie against the Dallas Cowboys. He caught 6 passes for 58 yards and 3 touchdowns. Now, there is no reason to believe this spike in TDs does not link to the Cowboys’ secondary being awful.

However, he led the team in targets, and that is more notable than a random 3-touchdown performance. Targets are much more predictable than touchdowns. Romeo Doubs FAAB: 15%

Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants (23%)

Jaxson Dart looked promising in his NFL debut from a quarterback standard, but he also looked like an excellent fantasy football threat.

Dart threw for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, but the real draw to him in fantasy is his rushing ability. He ran 10 times for 54 yards and added another TD on the ground.

The passing threat was average at best, but now Dart will be without Malik Nabers, arguably one of the best WRs in the NFL, for the rest of the season.

This could lead to more rushing from Dart, which makes him an excellent pick-up, especially with injuries and byes approaching. Jaxson Dart FAAB: 15%

Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans (30%)

We might’ve just witnessed his breakout game.

The rookie out of USC made a statement in the Texans’ shutout win over the Titans with 21 total touches for 119 scrimmage yards and 2 touchdowns. He was involved heavily in the passing game, and one of those TDs came through the air.

Move over, Nick Chubb?

We knew Marks was carving a role for himself; after all, he was an RB stash before this game. However, Mark played like the RB1 and gets Baltimore next week, which allows the most fantasy points per game to the position. Woody Marks FAAB: 15%

Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants (49%)

With the unfortunate injury to Malik Nabers, which looks to be season-ending, Wan’Dale Robinson seemingly becomes the WR1 in a young Giants offense.

Robinson did not see an influx of targets even with Nabers going down in the 1st half. Robinson finished the game with 3 catches off of 5 targets, for just 14 yards receiving.

This was an odd game; the Giants controlled the entire way against the undefeated Chargers. The game script for the Giants should favor the passing attack.

However, we’ve seen Robinson be an explosive WR in this offense, specifically against Dallas in Week 2. There should be more volume coming, and he’s a must-pick-up if available. Wan’Dale Robinson FAAB: 10%

Week 5 waiver wire streamers: Bye-week replacements to add

These one-week plays will help navigate the Week 5 fantasy players on bye and generally shouldn’t cost you more than a few percentage points of your FAAB budget.

QB Fantasy Streaming Pickups

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (18%)

Young’s fantasy performances have been up and down to start the season. In Week 5, Young will face the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the second-most points per game to the QB position.

TE Fantasy Streaming Pickups

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (19%)

Schultz has been anything but flashy; however, the volume has been somewhat consistent. He’ll take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5; they’ve allowed 15.9 fantasy points per game to the position.

Team Defense Fantasy Streaming Pickups

Arizona Cardinals D/ST (17%)

The Cardinals’ defense has offered consistent fantasy output. They’ll match up against Cam Ward and the struggling Tennessee offense in Week 5.

Kicker Fantasy Streaming Pickups

Matt Gay, Washington Commanders (17%)

Matt Gay had a rough start to the season, but picked it up in Week 3. In Week 5, he should find himself in a high-scoring game against the Chargers, which will make for plenty of opportunities.

Week 5 Fantasy Waiver Wire stashes and watch list

Quarterback waiver pickups to stash

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans (14%)
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (13%)

Cam Ward has struggled, but he still provides value as a stash if he starts to figure things out. Jake Browning was atrocious in Week 3, but it was against the Vikings’ tough defense. Browning has a much more favorable schedule upcoming.

Running Back waiver pickups to stash

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (28%)
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (4%)
Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (1%)
NEW- Trevor Etienne, Carolina Panthers (1%)

Blake Corum and Kendre Miller continue to be more involved in their respective offenses.

Davis is someone who should be stashed due to the injury to Braelon Allen, which could potentially land him on IR. Davis had 5 touches in the Week 4 loss, and should take over an RB2 role.

NEW- Etienne is certainly a stash with Hubbard dealing with his calf issue. While Dowdle is expected to be the starter until Hubbard can return, Etienne should get some work as well.

Wide Receiver waiver pickups to stash

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans (16%)
Kyle Williams, New England Patriots (3%)
Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars (1%)
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins (4%)
Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys (4%)
KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys (15%)

Jayden Higgins was all the buzz in the offseason, and now everyone has given up. There is still upside there. Parker Washington had 11 targets in Week 3, but Dyami Brown was injured. The Patriots are still in need of a WR to step up; Williams could absolutely be that guy.

Malik Washington is certainly someone to monitor now that Tyreek Hill is out for the season. Washington was slowly carving out a role for himself; this will boost that.

Jalen Tolbert would be a must-pick-up if KaVontae Turpin did not play for the Cowboys, and honestly, vice versa. Both of them sort of take away each other’s value and ceiling. With CeeDee Lamb still out, both are stashes and can be good plays; you just have to hope you start the right one that week.

Tight End waiver pickups to stash

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks (1%)
Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers (2%)

Barner continues to show he’s the TE1 in Seattle. If the volume increases, so will the production. Tonges becomes more interesting with Brock Purdy back and George Kittle still out.

MrThanh