As we get ready for Week 5 of the 2023 NFL Season, we enter our first critical period of the fantasy football season. Many fantasy managers will face their first serious roster decisions of the season. For managers who lost players to injury in Week 4, this may be their only chance to stay afloat. So let’s take a look at my Week 5 IDP Waiver Wire Targets for fantasy football.
* I will be using ESPN Fantasy Football Rostership & for this Week 5 Waiver Wire article. I will also attempt to give several options at each position, for varying league sizes. The dollar value next to the player’s name is the desired amount of FAAB with a $100 budget.
Defensive Linemen
Zaven Collins, Arizona Cardinals($15)
Week 5 Opponent: Bengals, Rostership: 22.5%
Collins has been a force to be reckoned with through the first month of the season. He has been all over the field and all over the box score. Through four games he has racked up 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass defenced. A solid stat line by any measure.
He has yet to be a full-time player and hasn’t cracked the 50% snap share in a game this season. As his playing time gets ramped up, look for him to explode on the field and shoot up linemen rankings.
Shallow League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Christian Wilkins, MIA (31.6% rostered), Harold Landry, TEN (27.1% rostered), Zaven Collins, ARI (22.% rostered)
Deeper League Options (10 to 25% Rostership): Derrick Brown, CAR (16.6% rostered), Aidan Hutchinson, DET (20.5% rostered), Quinnen Williams, NYJ (17.0% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 10% Rostership): Jonathon Cropper, DEN (6.8% rostered), Jarran Reed, SEA (5.5% rostered), Jonathan Greenard, HOU (1.3% rostered)
Linebackers
Micah McFadden, New York Giants($10)
Week 5 Opponent: Dolphins, Rostership: 4.3%
McFadden has recorded two 10-tackle games already this season while totalling 29 in four games. The sophomore has been shining in the Giants lineup and is making the best of his limited playing time. In four games this year, he is already halfway to his fantasy point total from the entire 2022 season. This is his breakout year.
With a season-high start percentage of 60%, he only has room for improvement. He transitions to a full-time player for the Giants and becomes a legitimate threat on defence.
Shallow League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Quay Walker, GB (47.4% rostered), Kyzir White, ARI (26.1% rostered), Cody Barton, WSH (27.8%)
Deeper League Options (10 to 25% Rostership): Jordan Hicks, MIN (16.3% rostered), Pete Werner, NO (15.7% rostered), Azeez Al-Shaair, TEN (10.1% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 10% Rostership): Micah McFadden, NYG (4.3% rostered), Kaden Elliss, ATL (6.8% rostered), Zach Cunningham, PHI (3.2% rostered)
Defensive Backs
Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers($5)
Week 5 Opponent: Cowboys, Rostership: 9.3%
Lenoir has also recorded two 10-tackle games so far this season, he has totalled 30 in his four games. He has a higher start rate than McFadden and is part of an elite 49ers defence that is loaded. Opponents simply cannot account for every member of this defence, which leaves Lenoir with one-on-one matchups in most cases.
He has been a shutdown defender through the first month of the NFL season. He is a bonafide star in the making on the NFL’s best defence.
Shallow League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Kamren Curl, WSH (32.2% rostered), Jessie Bates, ATL (27.9% rostered), Richie Grant, ATL (26.3%)
Deeper League Options (10 to 25% Rostership): Camryn Bynum, MIN (10.3% rostered), Julian Love, SEA (12.8% rostered), Dax Hill, CIN (20.0% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 10% Rostership): Julian Blackmon, IND (2.5% rostered), Deommodore Lenoir, SF (9.3% rostered), Brian Branch, DET (9.1% rostered)
If you like Fantasy Football 2023: Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets. Head over to our rankings page for a full breakdown.
