2026 NFL · Week 5 waivers
Week 5 waiver wire pickups
Players rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues, ranked by what our model projects for them this week plus credit for a rising role. Every pick comes with the numbers behind it.
Top adds
| # | Player | Wk 5 proj | Rostered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brenton Strange TE · JAX · PHI snaps 76% → 87% · target share 13.3% → 34.8% · TE1 on the depth chart |
9.8 | 22% |
| 2 | Malik Washington WR · MIA · CIN usage worth 12.2 pts/g but scoring 10.0: due for more |
10.7 | 30% |
| 3 | Case Keenum QB · CHI · @GB | 18.1 | 2% |
| 4 | Jacoby Brissett QB · ARI · DET good matchup vs DET · QB1 on the depth chart |
17.2 | 28% |
| 5 | Cade Otton TE · TB · @DAL target share 17.9% → 23.1% · TE1 on the depth chart |
8.2 | 3% |
| 6 | Mike Gesicki TE · CIN · @MIA snaps 42% → 62% · good matchup vs MIA · TE1 on the depth chart |
8.7 | 16% |
| 7 | Michael Mayer TE · LV · @NE | 8.3 | 15% |
| 8 | AJ Barner TE · SEA · SF TE1 on the depth chart |
7.8 | 7% |
| 9 | Keenan Allen WR · IND · @PIT | 8.8 | 40% |
| 10 | Dalton Schultz TE · HOU · @TEN TE1 on the depth chart |
8.1 | 49% |
| 11 | MarShawn Lloyd RB · GB · CHI snaps 31% → 55% · usage worth 9.7 pts/g but scoring 7.0: due for more · RB1 on the depth chart |
8.1 | 47% |
| 12 | Pat Freiermuth TE · PIT · IND | 8.0 | 20% |
| Player | Rostered | Proj |
|---|---|---|
| MarShawn Lloyd GB snaps 31% → 55% | 47% | 8.1 |
| Tyler Allgeier ARI | 33% | 7.9 |
| Brian Robinson ATL opportunity share 18.1% → 27.3% | 38% | 6.8 |
| Player | Rostered | Proj |
|---|---|---|
| Malik Washington MIA usage worth 12.2 pts/g but scoring 10.0: due for more | 30% | 10.7 |
| Keenan Allen IND | 40% | 8.8 |
| Keon Coleman BUF snaps 57% → 78% | 25% | 8.0 |
| Tre Harris LAC snaps 72% → 93% | 6% | 8.5 |
| Tre Tucker LV | 35% | 8.5 |
| Isaac TeSlaa DET snaps 64% → 82% | 2% | 7.7 |
| Dohnte Meyers CIN snaps 30% → 89% | 6% | 7.5 |
| Dontayvion Wicks PHI snaps 80% → 92% | 50% | 7.8 |
| Player | Rostered | Proj |
|---|---|---|
| Case Keenum CHI | 2% | 18.1 |
| Jacoby Brissett ARI good matchup vs DET | 28% | 17.2 |
| Aaron Rodgers PIT good matchup vs IND | 12% | 15.1 |
| Michael Penix Jr. ATL QB1 on the depth chart | 7% | 15.1 |
| C.J. Stroud HOU QB1 on the depth chart | 40% | 15.0 |
| Deshaun Watson CLE QB1 on the depth chart | 13% | 14.4 |
| Jordan Love GB QB1 on the depth chart | 50% | 14.5 |
| Geno Smith NYJ QB1 on the depth chart | 8% | 14.3 |
| Player | Rostered | Proj |
|---|---|---|
| Brenton Strange JAX snaps 76% → 87% | 22% | 9.8 |
| Cade Otton TB target share 17.9% → 23.1% | 3% | 8.2 |
| Mike Gesicki CIN snaps 42% → 62% | 16% | 8.7 |
| Michael Mayer LV | 15% | 8.3 |
| AJ Barner SEA TE1 on the depth chart | 7% | 7.8 |
| Dalton Schultz HOU TE1 on the depth chart | 49% | 8.1 |
| Pat Freiermuth PIT | 20% | 8.0 |
| Oronde Gadsden II LAC snaps 40% → 55% | 6% | 6.8 |
Hype check: getting added fastest
Biggest jumps in ESPN roster percentage this week, next to what our model projects. A big add with a small projection usually means news (an injury ahead of him) that hasn't shown up in his usage yet, so it's a bet on the role, not the numbers.
| Player | Added | Rostered | Wk 5 proj |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Shipley RB · PHI | +27.4% | 28% | 3.5 |
| Keon Coleman WR · BUF | +20.8% | 25% | 8.0 |
| Jacoby Brissett QB · ARI | +17.7% | 28% | 17.2 |
| Kirk Cousins QB · LV | +12.2% | 29% | 14.2 |
| Roman Wilson WR · PIT | +11.7% | 15% | 5.8 |
| Brian Robinson RB · ATL | +11.2% | 38% | 6.8 |
| Mike Gesicki TE · CIN | +6.9% | 16% | 8.7 |
| Aaron Rodgers QB · PIT | +5.8% | 12% | 15.1 |
| Dohnte Meyers WR · CIN | +5.5% | 6% | 7.5 |
| Brenton Strange TE · JAX | +5.2% | 22% | 9.8 |
Rostered % from ESPN leagues (updated 2026-10-07). Need a defense? See the D/ST rankings and streamers. Kickers: kicker rankings.
How the pickups are chosen
- Who's eligible
- Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends rostered in under 50% of ESPN leagues who aren't ruled out, and who project at least like a usable bench player this week.
- The ranking
- This week's projection from our weekly model (the same one behind the rankings), plus extra credit for a jump in opportunity share over the last two weeks and for players whose usage has been worth more points than they've scored.
- The reasons
- Snap share and target or opportunity share changes, expected fantasy points from usage, matchup, and depth chart role.