Four weeks of NFL action are in the books, which means it’s time for owners everywhere to scour the waiver wire for the best Week 5 wide receiver pickups. Looking around the league shows that players like Kadarius Toney and Darnell Mooney have the best chance of positive production in the coming weeks.
Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups
Kadarius Toney, Darnell Mooney Highlight Fantasy Football Week 5 Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups
Kadarius Toney
Full disclosure: I did not like Kadarius Toney as a prospect. However, my opinion of Toney doesn’t really matter if the New York Giants are going to use him like this. With Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both sidelined, the rookie first-round pick went off to the tune of six receptions for 78 yards on nine targets.
This article comes out on Sunday, so it’s impossible for me to know if Shepard and/or Slayton will be back in the lineup next week. If one or both players misses time, Toney should be able to put up similar numbers against a subpar Dallas Cowboys defense in what should be a high-scoring game. Even if both players do come back, Toney could still be a decent play in deeper leagues. After all, the team wouldn’t have taken him in the first round if they weren’t planning on using him.
This Kadarius Toney guy is fun pic.twitter.com/BGNi4YcrUM
— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) October 3, 2021
Darnell Mooney
Darnell Mooney was one of the most discussed players in the fantasy football community throughout the offseason. Widely regarded as a potential breakout candidate, the former Day 3 pick finally lived up to the hype in Week 4. Showing a clear rapport with Justin Fields, the second-year pro went off to the tune of five receptions for 125 yards on seven targets.
If Dalton starts in Week 5, Mooney might not be the best play. Dalton is a much more conservative player, and Mooney does most of his damage down the field. However, it’s only a matter of time before Fields is the full-time starter, and there is a chance his impressive performance against the Lions earned him the QB1 job. Whenever Fields plays, Mooney has a good shot to be fantasy-relevant.
[pickup_prop id=”5918″]
Jamison Crowder
Jamison Crowder made his way onto this list a few weeks back, as the success of Braxton Berrios was enough for me to believe in Crowder when he finally made his way onto the field. Well, after one week, that faith was justified. During his 2021 debut, Crowder recorded seven receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown on nine targets.
Zach Wilson actually looked good in Week 4, and he seems to enjoy targeting the slot. This is a great combination for Crowder, as he has the chance to be a viable play against a very bad Atlanta Falcons defense.
JAMISON CROWDER TD AND IT'S A TIE GAME❗
(Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/IA6G0rWA5j
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 3, 2021
Redux: A.J. Green
A.J. Green would be higher on this list if I didn’t already include him as the headliner in last week’s article. Firmly established as a key part of this passing attack, Green finished Week 5 with five receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown on six targets. This marks the fourth straight week where he has recorded six targets, and when they’re Kyler Murray targets, they’re going to be pretty valuable for fantasy.
Murray and the Arizona Cardinals have arguably the best offense in football, and you’re going to want as many pieces of this offense as possible.
Honorable Mention: Kendrick Bourne
Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups
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