Every week, I help you patch up those lineup holes that still exist after waivers have already run in your fantasy football league earlier in the week. Most of the players featured here are still available in many leagues and can be added and popped into lineups now. To best reflect true percentages of players rostered in competitive leagues, I use CBSSports.com as a reference platform.
With four teams on a bye and injuries creating so much fantasy unrest, it seems like free agency browsing and obsessing doesn’t stop until 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. This is your guide to finding who can still be picked up and activated, with the analysis leaning to PPR formats.
Josh Downs, WR, IND (50%): In his second game of the season last week, Downs caught eight passes on nine targets for 82 yards and a TD. Anthony Richardson’s inconsistent passing might cap his upside a bit more, but Downs has the third-best WR/CB grade of any WR on Pro Football Focus for Week 5 in his matchup against the Jacksonville corners. His grade of 90.7 qualifies as “Excellent.”
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, NYG (53%): What else does he have to do to be taken off free agency in more than half of all leagues? Well, maybe crack the 75-yard mark, which Robinson has yet to do this season. Still, he has caught 18 passes on 22 targets in the past two games. Robinson does get a tough draw against the Seattle secondary this week, but with Malik Nabers (concussion) possibly out, at least respectable PPR totals should be attainable.
Antonio Gibson, RB, NE (60%): He might be available in some leagues that are less than ultra-competitive. We heard Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo voice his concerns about Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling issues, possibly benching him in favor of Gibson, and Miami ranks 29th in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to RBs.
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Tank Bigsby, RB, JAX (41%): Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. are both dealing with shoulder injuries. Bigsby has been limited at practices, so keep an eye on his situation leading up to kickoff. He’s already logged two games of 70-plus rushing yards and, if he goes, he’s looking at another upside opportunity against the Colts, the lowest-ranked rushing defense in the AFC.
Xavier Legette, WR, CAR (49%): The rookie popped onto the fantasy radar with six receptions on 10 targets for 66 yards and a TD in Week 4. Andy Dalton has sparked the Carolina offense, and Legette is a quality streaming option. Chicago is sixth in FPPG allowed to WRs, but Dalton should still be able to move the ball effectively enough to position Legette for lineup consideration.
Jalen Tolbert, WR, DAL (8%): With Brandin Cooks out, Tolbert is ready for a larger role in the Dallas passing game. Pittsburgh’s defense is obviously a concern, yet you cannot always steer clear of a player because of a matchup when searching for injury or bye week replacements. Tolbert already has a nine-target game this season, and as a higher priority WR for Dak Prescott this week, he should get starting consideration.
Keon Coleman, WR, BUF (62%): Coleman might be on the free agency list in some leagues because he seems to have developed a niche as mostly a downfield contested-catch target. Buffalo’s 2024 second-round pick has not topped 55 receiving yards in a game yet and has only registered one TD catch (Week 3). In a possible high-scoring game against Houston, in a spot where the Bills want to bounce back, Josh Allen may make it a point to help his first-year WR progress more quickly. And with Buffalo leading receiver Khalil Shakir out with an ankle injury, there’s a good chance Allen looks Coleman’s way more than he has in the previous four games.
Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR (43%): Older fantasy managers will remember comedian Rodney Dangerfield, and younger ones should look him up on YouTube. Atwell is the Dangerfield of fantasy WRs. He gets “no respect” despite 93 and 82-yard outings the past two weeks, respectively. Atwell is a trusted playmaker for Matthew Stafford in key spots when other Rams WRs are missing in action. He has the sixth-best WR/CB matchup grade on PFF this week (86.5 — Excellent).
Jeremy McNichols, RB, WAS (49%): Brian Robinson Jr. missed the first two practices of the week. If he is out or limited, McNichols can function as a fantasy lineup plugger. He may play a complementary role to Austin Ekeler if Robinson cannot play. Last week, McNichols averaged 8.5 yards per carry and rushed for two TDs.
Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ (57%): Minnesota has the lowest-ranked pass defense in the NFL after four weeks. The Jets want to put a bad home loss behind them and make a statement against the undefeated Vikings. Lazard is obviously a favorite TD target for Aaron Rodgers.
Tyler Conklin, TE, NYJ (43%): He faces his former team in Week 5, and the Vikings rank 28th in FFPG allowed to TEs. So many of us are struggling to find decent production at TE, so take the shot on Conklin providing it this week.
Jordan Whittington, WR, LAR (17%): I prefer Atwell among Rams WRs. This rookie, however, caught six passes on eight targets for 62 yards last week and Stafford may opt to go to him often again this week.
Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI (52%): His reign as a potential new lead RB for the Bears was very short-lived, as D’Andre Swift decided to not let that role slip away. Johnson did rush for a TD last week, though, and Carolina’s rush defense ranks 29th in the NFL. Consider the second-year man if you are digging deep for an option at RB.
Samaje Perine, RB, KC (28%): Kareem Hunt appears to be the lead guy in the Kansas City backfield for now. Perine should still have a role as a receiving RB and can get occasional goal-line chances.
Erick All Jr., TE, CIN (8%): Those who are scrambling for a desperation TE option may want to add and start All. He has caught four passes in each of the past three weeks, and Baltimore allows the second-most FFPG to TEs. Hey, starting All should be better than getting a zero, and the promising rookie could potentially boost his production with a TD catch, which is always possible for a TE near the goal line.
Tyler Goodson, RB IND (1%): Trey Sermon is the expected starter for the Colts with Jonathan Taylor out this week. Goodson might operate as the change of pace back and could handle passing downs. He could be the type of RB you add just to avoid a zero while hoping for a surprise outing.
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Putting JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, KC, 6%) on any fantasy list is not easy for me, yet he does have to be monitored with Rashee Rice out. His Week 5 PFF WR/CB matchup grade is 15.7 against the New Orleans corners on PFF, which rates as “Poor”. He should obviously not be started, yet should be monitored along with Justin Watson (4%).
Also keep a fantasy eye on Jets WR Mike Williams (29%), who may soon emerge as more of a contributor for New York if it does not complete a deal for Davante Adams.
Injury Option: Devin Singletary’s groin injury has put his availability for Week 5 in question. If he cannot play, Giants rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (21%) is the projected starting replacement. The Seattle defense is more vulnerable to the run even if it gets some injured players back.
Add, But Don’t Start: Tre Tucker (WR, LV, 42%) is not a recommended option against the Denver secondary, but his value and production should rise if and when Davante Adams is traded.
(Top photo of Antonio Gibson: Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
