Another week, another round of injuries in the NFL. (It never stops, does it?)
Perhaps the toughest part of seeing Lamar Jackson (ankle) or Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) go down is not knowing how badly they're
hurt. Both players exited Sunday's games early and didn't return. Their status for this week's game is unlikely to be determined by the time fantasy league waivers run.
Even if you don't have Jackson or Chase on your roster, there's still the specter of the bye week rearing its ugly head. Week 5 begins the run of two or more NFL teams not playing, with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs getting the week off.
Fantasy football players to add for Week 5
Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)
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RB Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (49% rostered)
Rookie Jadarian Price was unexpectedly put on injured reserve last week due to a chest injury, leaving Wilson as the top running back on the depth chart. He responded with an excellent outing against the Chargers, racking up 81 rushing yards and a TD on 21 carries and catching three passes for 39 more yards. Zack Charbonnet (knee) isn't quite ready to come off the PUP list, so it's Wilson's job for another week against the 49ers (Recommended FAAB bid: $11)
RB Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals (37% rostered)
Rookie Jeremiyah Love's surprising admission that the coaching staff is managing his workload may not sit well with fantasy managers. His persistent ankle issues may also be playing a role in Allgeier getting more snaps. Regardless, the numbers don't lie. Allgeier looked good against the Giants on his eight carries for 42 yards, 22 of them coming on a first-quarter TD burst. (FAAB bid: $9)
WR Dohnte Meyers, Cincinnati Bengals (1% rostered)
Chase still needs to clear the NFL's concussion protocol in order to play this week against the Dolphins. In addition, No. 2 wideout Tee Higgins also left Sunday's game early with an injury. That left Meyers as the top pass-catching option for QB Joe Burrow. The former CFL standout hauled in seven of his nine targets for 82 yards and will likely have a major role again on Sunday. (FAAB bid: $8)
WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills (5% rostered)
Coleman has been an enigma throughout his three NFL seasons. But after top receiver DJ Moore left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, Coleman rose to the occasion. He caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, producing the biggest fantasy game of his career. Do we dare believe he's turned a corner? (Or a safety? Or a linebacker?) (FAAB bid: $7)
RBs Will Shipley/Dameon Pierce, Philadelphia Eagles (2% rostered)
Saquon Barkley exited Sunday's game early with a hamstring injury and is week-to-week. Backup Tank Bigsby suffered an abdominal injury that landed him on IR. That leaves Shipley has the only healthy running back on the active roster. The Eagles will certainly add a couple players off the practice squad for Sunday's game at Jacksonville (Dameon Pierce, Jaydon Blue and Carson Steele are possibilities), but Shipley will likely garner most of the touches. (FAAB bid: $6. Backup bid: $2 on Pierce)
WR Darius Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles (0% rostered)
The Eagles were also without top receiver DeVonta Smith against the Rams. While the passing game continues to struggle overall, QB Jalen Hurts did connect with Cooper for a pair of touchdowns. He only caught three of seven targets overall for 33 yards, but the red zone looks are enough to warrant a modest bid, especially for fantasy managers who have Smith. (FAAB bid: $4)
WR Efton Chism III, New England Patriots (0% rostered)
Coach Mike Vrabel admitted he needs to find more playing time for Chism after he hauled in what proved to be the game-winning TD pass against Buffalo with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. That was one of only two receptions on the day for 42 yards. We'll see if Vrabel can be taken at his word. It's already a pretty crowded receiving room as it is in New England. (FAAB bid: $2)
QB Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (16% rostered)
Perhaps the best widely available quarterback this week, Brissett has an enticing matchup against the NFL's worst pass defense, the Detroit Lions. He only threw for 166 yards in a Week 4 loss to the Giants, but he did have a pair of TD passes. The three interceptions, on the other hand, were a problem. Consider him a bye-week stopgap. (FAAB bid: $2)
QB Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens (0% rostered)
If you have Jackson and his status remains unclear by the time waiver pickups are due, Huntley may be your best option. The Ravens play on Sunday night at Atlanta, so unless you're able to pivot to Michael Penix Jr., having Huntley and Jackson will give you the freedom to make a game-time decision if needed. (FAAB bid: $1)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 5
