Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember, your roster can always improve, and even if you don’t need a player, you still want to keep another manager from picking them up.
Welcome to Bye Weeks:
Week 5 Byes: Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers
Week 6 Byes: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (70.2% rostered in ESPN)
It was clear that the Seahawks felt the need to bolster their RB room when they brought in Joe Mixon this week. The team signed him, then Mixon failed the physical, and off he went. Rookie Jadarian Price is on IR, and Zach Charbonnet is not ready to play yet, although his practice window has been activated. Even when Charbonnet is ready to go, we can assume he will have a ramp-up period in usage, meaning that Wilson could be a great bet for at minimum a few weeks. George Holani is also dealing with a rib injury. Wilson is the only show in town this week against the Niners, and even though the upcoming matchups are far from easy, if he gets all the work, he could be started based on volume alone.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (49.7% rostered on ESPN)
It is odd to put Love here, but I think a lot of fantasy managers may have dropped him. He has a great run of matchups coming up against Dallas, Detroit, and Carolina, all teams that have allowed at least 20 fantasy points to the QB position. The Cowboys and Lions have allowed the two highest fantasy points, with 24 and 30. With no clear timeline for the return of Josh Jacobs, the team also has yet to figure out how to utilize the rushing attack. If you manage to grab him this week, he has a great matchup against Chicago.
Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (28.2% rostered in ESPN)
The Raiders have some potential high-scoring matchups coming up with games against the Bills, the Rams, and the Niners, and Cousins currently is tied with Brock Purdy for most touchdowns thrown (11). His fantasy points have increased every week, and in a year where injuries are knocking quarterbacks out left and right, he needs to be considered.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (11.6% rostered on ESPN)
After a rocky start to the season, Rodgers has been 100% startable in fantasy football. He was QB9 in Week 3 against the Bengals and QB6 in Week 4 against the Browns, and looking forward, the matchups look quite nice for him and the Steelers. There isn't an overwhelmingly tough matchup for quarterbacks, and two upcoming matchups are against the Ohio teams Rodgers has already excelled against. It might be time to consider Rodgers.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Jacoby Brissett (25.5%)