Scott Engel is in his 14th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for *Seahawks.com*. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and weekly *fantasy football rankings* at *RotoBaller.com*. Scott is also a host on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Scott was a top 10 player ranker for Week 2 on FantasyPros.

The challenges mount in Week 5 of fantasy football as four teams will be on byes. This is the first week of the season when fantasy leaguers must deal with certain players being unavailable. Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Chicago are all on byes in Week 5.

Entering an ideal lineup also becomes even harder when we consider major injuries to top quarterbacks and wide receivers that have further depleted fantasy options. Fantasy football wins in Week 5 will certainly be earned by well-informed and savvy lineup management.

We spotlight the best fantasy football free agent targets for Week 5, with analysis based on PPR formats. Players are presented in preferred order of adds at every position.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins must now replace Tyreek Hill in the passing game and should be comfortable promoting Washington to the No. 2 WR role alongside Jaylen Waddle. Now in his second pro season, he has already been targeted five times in two games so far this year. Now the receiving opportunities will naturally increase.

Washington should provide respectable receiving volume and he is slippery after the catch. He can be popped into lineups as an immediate streamer or injury replacement if needed.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers: We featured Doubs as a starting recommendation in our Week 4 Friday article, and hopefully you were moved to activate him. He caught three TD passes in Green Bay's tie with Dallas. Doubs will be a prime waiver pickup in leagues where he is still available, and he is a frequent TD target for Jordan Love. The Packers' WR caught eight TD passes in 2023.

Green Bay is on a bye this week, yet you should still prioritize Doubs as a free agent pickup. He might continue to be the top TD option in the Packers' passing game.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants: Rookie QB Jaxson Dart will have to lean on other pass-catchers with Malik Nabers out for the season. Wan'Dale Robinson could be his most trustworthy possession-type WR, but he is more widely rostered than Slayton, who is a pure downfield threat. Robinson should be added first among Giants WRs if he is available. Otherwise, Slayton is in his seventh season and has averaged 15 yards per reception over those campaigns, so he does carry some potential to deliver spike statistical outings.

Luke McCaffrey, Washington Commanders: With Terry McLaurin out and the Washington ground game not being dependable, the Commanders need another possible playmaker to step forward. McCaffery has caught TD passes in each of the last two games, and could see an increase in fantasy output if Jayden Daniels returns soon.

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans: In all four games this season, Ayomanor has drawn five-plus targets. He also caught TD passes in consecutive games in Weeks 2 and 3. At some point, the Tennessee passing game should improve, so stash Ayomanor as more of a possible contributor in the weeks ahead.

Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos: Denver isn't a fantasy resource for a reliable WR other than Courtland Sutton, as the passing game does involve multiple targets. Mims is a worthy add for bye week usage or depth, though. Mims caught all of his six targets for 69 yards and rushed for a 19-yard TD on Monday night. The Broncos have reportedly been looking to get Mims more involved in the offensive flow this season.

Other Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire WRs To Add: Matthew Golden, Troy Franklin, Jalen Tolbert, KaVonte Turpin, JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

Woody Marks, Houston Texans: Houston has continually been searching for a regularly reliable RB since the days of Arian Foster. Joe Mixon looked like he may have finally been able to fill the role last year, but he is out until further notice with a foot injury. In Week 4, Marks made his bid to take over as the most productive RB for Houston. The rookie fourth-round pick will likely be the most coveted waiver wire pickup in Week 5.

Marks totaled 119 yards and two TDs from scrimmage against Tennessee. He displayed some of his promise in the preseason, and he is a versatile threat as a runner and pass-catcher. Marks at least has instant appeal as a flex option or RB2 streamer.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaylen Warren might return from a knee injury after Pittsburgh's Week 5 bye. If he doesn't, though, Gainwell proved himself as a superb fantasy insurance play in Week 4. He totaled 134 yards from scrimmage and rushed for two TDs while catching six passes. If you roster Warren, Gainwell should be a top pickup for future instances where he may be pressed into heavier action for the Steelers.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints: In Week 4, Miller made his presence felt more in the New Orleans offense, and he might continue to see a decent amount of work sharing some time with Alvin Kamara. He rushed for 65 yards and a TD on 11 attempts. Miller could inject some needed life into a sagging New Orleans offense. He could also function as a quality streamer if he keeps seeing enough work.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets: Braelon Allen suffered a knee injury on Monday night, and Davis will now operate as the Jets' top alternative for Breece Hall. Checking in at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Davis can function as a goal-line option and short yardage runner who should complement Hall with enough possible work to merit an add for fantasy depth.

Other RBs to consider adding in Fantasy Football Week 5: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Zavier Scott, Ollie Gordon II, Sean Tucker, Kyle Monangai, Emari Demercado, Blake Corum, Justice Hill.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Quarterbacks

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants: The rookie won his first NFL start in Week 4. While he did lose Nabers for the rest of the year, Dart still flashed instant fantasy appeal with his mobility. He rushed for 54 yards and a TD on 10 attempts. Dart passed for just 111 yards and a TD, but there could be better passing totals ahead with some consistent bonus rushing output.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks: Darnold is riding a three-game winning streak, and he passed for two TDs in two of those outings. This season, the new Seahawks starting QB has displayed crisp decision-making, Darnold has not thrown an interception in three of four games played so far this season.

If you need a respectable QB option who may soon provide some higher-quality fantasy outings on occasion, add Darnold. He can be an adequate complement to the rest of a strong roster that needs a QB because of an injury loss.

Other Fantasy Football QBs to Add in NFL Week 5: Michael Penix Jr., Carson Wentz, Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel.

Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Tight Ends

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins: In Week 4 on Monday, Waller caught two TD passes in his Dolphins debut. It was his first NFL action in over a year, and he caught three of four targets. The two TDs make him instantly appealing at the thinnest position in fantasy football. And he might have to become a bigger part of the Miami passing game going forward with Hill out.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets: This rookie was drafted in many leagues in the late rounds. The Jets need a regular pass-catcher to emerge alongside Garrett Wilson, and Taylor can possibly fill that need. He was sent to free agency in many leagues after fantasy drafts, and should now be picked up after catching five passes on seven targets for 65 yards on Monday. More quality fantasy performances may be ahead in the near future.

More TEs to add on waivers in Week 5: Theo Johnson, AJ Barner (two TD receptions in the last three games).

Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Defenses To Stream

Arizona Cardinals (vs. Tennessee), Indianapolis Colts (vs. Las Vegas), New York Giants (vs. New Orleans), Minnesota Vikings (vs. Cleveland).