We are a quarter of the way through the 2023 NFL season, it’s October and the first set of bye weeks are here! The options for waiver wire Week 5 pickups will not include any players from the teams on bye this week, which are the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Each week, I’ll present players in different tiers of waiver wire adds. “Priority Adds” are players you should definitely be rostering. “Plug-Ins” are players you can start this week with some confidence. Lastly, “Stashes” are players who may not be producing now, but their value could significantly increase, whether by an injury ahead of them on the depth chart or playing their way into the starting lineup as the season progresses.
As always, the players below are rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 5 Pickups (2023)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Priority Adds:
C.J. Stroud (QB, Houston Texans) | 30.7% Rostered
A Houston Texan has made their way into the pickup list nearly every week, and the Week 5 waiver wire list is no exception! C.J. Stroud looks like the truth and should absolutely be rostered. Stroud has thrown for over 1,200 passing yards in his first four games as an NFL starter and has yet to throw an interception. The Texans take on the Atlanta Falcons this week, which, on paper, sounds great. However, the Falcons love to run the ball and are abysmally slow. Stroud is still a good play, but he could see fewer opportunities, just given his opponent’s style of play. He’s a great pivot if you’re trying to ride it out with the struggling Joe Burrow.
Romeo Doubs (WR, Green Bay Packers) | 33.9% Rostered
Romeo Doubs makes the move this week from a plug-in to a priority add off the waiver wire in Week 5. He has warranted it with his play thus far in the season. Doubs has seen a collective 25 targets over the last two weeks, and that can’t be ignored. Doubs still racked up nine receptions and 95 yards with the return of WR teammate Christian Watson. He’s topped 18 Points Per Reception (PPR) points in three of four contests. The Packers take on the Raiders, then have a bye week, followed by matchups with the Broncos and Vikings. We may have just entered “Romeo Doubs Month.”
Plug-ins
Jake Ferguson (TE, Dallas Cowboys) | 24.1% Rostered
Jake Ferguson finds himself right where we left him last week, only with a 5% increase in rostership. He remains a great plug-in to pick up off the waiver wire in Week 5. Doing his best 2022 Dalton Schultz impression, Ferguson has seven targets in his three of his four contests to date. This past week, he hauled in every single one for 77 yards. Ferguson is also seeing red zone targets, so it’s only a matter of time before he finds pay dirt more often.
Tyler Boyd (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) | 43.1% Rostered
This add is tenuous and could change pending an update about WR Tee Higgins missing time from a broken rib. It’s also tenuous that you can stomach the Cincinnati Bengals’ passing attack right now. It’s probably time to panic with this Bengals offense led by Joe Burrow, as they’re last in the NFL in offensive touchdowns. That said, when either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins has missed time in years past, Tyler Boyd has stepped up. Right now, the Bengals have to try and get the ball out very quickly, as Burrow clearly isn’t right with his calf injury. This could lend itself to Boyd doing work out of the slot where he primarily lines up. The Bengals take on the Arizona Cardinals, who have been surprisingly competitive all season but present a winnable matchup. If you have an iron stomach, you can start Boyd.
Stashes
Zach Charbonnet (RB, Seattle Seahawks) | 40.7% Rostered
Zach Charbonnet remains right here as a solid stash ahead of the Seahawks’ matchup with the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.” Charbonnet is 18th in the NFL in yards created per touch, with 3.47 yards. In limited work, that’s pretty impressive. He remains a top-tier stash, as his snaps have increased weekly. Should teammate Kenneth Walker be forced to miss any time, Charbonnet is a must-start. The Seahawks will be on bye in Week 5, so you’ll need the roster spot to hold onto him.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, N.Y. Giants) | 1.4% Rostered
Wan’Dale Robinson made his season debut last week after suffering a torn ACL last year in Week 11. In that game, Robinson saw 13 targets for nine catches and 100 yards before suffering the season-ending injury. He had looked to be well on his way to a breakout campaign over the back half of the season. Despite all the new faces in town, no one has taken over as a dominant force in this Giants passing attack. Robinson drew five targets on just nine routes ran last week. QB Daniel Jones seems to gravitate to Robinson when he’s on the field, and he is worth a spot on the end of your bench.
Thanks for reading my favorite fantasy football waiver wire Week 5 pickups. Looking for more fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley.
*Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj – USA TODAY Sports*