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If you thought that fantasy football would settle down in October, then you were sorely mistaken! Week 5 brought yet another wide variety of upsets, injuries, and surprises. As always, joining our famous waiver wire pickups list and our weekly fantasy football waiver wire columns by position, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages in fantasy football leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).
As a caveat, these prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, especially as some leagues have seen teams use all of their FAAB already. Each league values players differently, so context is king. These values provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player, with different categories of bids reflecting potential team-need situations.
By now you should have a clear idea of what FAAB runs in your league look like in terms of how many active managers you're contending with. Be sure you're monitoring the drops for those in desperate spots as bye weeks and injuries crunch their depth. Let's kick off my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 6 with the Chiefs, Dolphins, Rams, and Vikings heading into their bye.
- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG) - 9% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-4%
Jones rebounded from a rough Week 4 against Dallas by posting his best game of the season despite missing wideout Malik Nabers (concussion). Danny Dimes completed 23-of-34 passes for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns with a season-high 11 rushes for another 38 yards at Seattle.
Showing up like this down your star wide receiver and starting running back in a tough road venue to play in such as Seattle is impressive. We can’t crown him a suddenly consistent fantasy play now but it boosts the confidence. He’ll hopefully get Nabers back going into a generous matchup at home against Cincinnati’s QB1-kingmaker defense.
Daniel Jones NFL Ranks through Week 5:
- 12th in QBR
- 10th in Total Yards
- 9th in EPA
- 5th in Passing EPAPlaying better than anyone will give him credit for. pic.twitter.com/fd3PYiRRpw
— C (@CSmittyNY) October 7, 2024
Joe Flacco (QB, IND) - 8% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-3%
Flacco turns 40 in January, but he slung it like prime Joe in the pocket on Sunday, connecting on 33-of-44 attempts for 359 yards and a trio of TDs. He even scrambled for 22 yards as the Colts fell short of coming back against the Jaguars.
Anthony Richardson likely returns in Week 6 at Tennessee but plays a gritty game with plenty of contact that could create new injuries or exacerbate his current oblique/hip issue. If you’re in deeper waters, then keep Flacco stashed as long as A-Rich’s health is in question. He’s a QB1 threat whenever he gets the nod.
Drake Maye (QB, NE) - 3% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%
We’ve seen reports from ESPN’s Mike Reiss passing on that Jerod Mayo is considering a change at quarterback. Jacoby Brissett slogged through another game, passing for 160 yards on 18-of-34 passing without a touchdown or interception.
He did have a late TD erased as Ja'Lynn Polk couldn’t get his entire second foot inbounds, but that doesn’t change the poor passing outlook. Brissett hasn’t completed more than 19 passes in a game through five contests behind a horrid offensive line.
Will Mayo subject Maye to consistent pressure? The 2024 NFL Draft’s third overall pick has the athleticism to extend plays and elevate NE’s potency, but the risk-reward aspects are both high. Maybe they’ll wait until Week 7 against a soft Jacksonville D, but the winds appear to be shifting. This would help the Hunter Henrys of the world!
Opinion/analysis: Notable shift in Jerod Mayo's answers regarding the QB situation in his day-after-game video conference compared to past weeks. Mayo said last week the way the team won its only game was "unsustainable" and he seems to strongly be considering switching to Drake Maye.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 7, 2024
Jameis Winston (QB, CLE) - 0% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%
Do Cleveland fans want a quarterback change even more than New Englanders? Deshaun Watson took a step back against Washington’s defense, which has played better but is still vulnerable, and looked dejected, deflated, and disinterested. Watson managed 125 yards and a score on 15-of-28 passing with a season-low three rushes for 14 yards.
Winston could provide a Flacco-esque infusion of aggression that sparks this offense. The Browns are 1-4 and continue to earn their place in behavioral economics textbooks under the sunk-cost fallacy section.
Spencer Rattler (QB, NO) - 0% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%
Following an oblique injury to Derek Carr suffered late on Monday Night Football is a unique opportunity to face a Tampa Bay defense that funnels the action through the air. This writer hopes New Orleans would go with Rattler, who was the No. 3 emergency QB on MNF, over Jake Haener.
That said, Haener did run a 68.2% completion rate and 67:17 TD-to-INT ratio in three years at Fresno State. But Rattler got two years of SEC experience at South Carolina while Haener’s Mountain West time is far from the NFL level. Let’s see how Carr’s injury status develops.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Tank Bigsby (RB, JAC) - 23% rostered
FAAB Bid: 12-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%
Bigsby continues to rip off chunk plays when he sees the field, supplying Jacksonville with 129 total yards and two scores on 14 touches. He did fumble but it wasn’t lost. This makes two weeks in a row where he’s exploded as Travis Etienne Jr. had been sidelined with a shoulder issue.
Doug Pederson confirms that Travis Etienne suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday and *that's* why he didn't play much in the second half. "We didn't want to risk it," he said.
— #AskFFT (@daverichard) October 7, 2024
Lost in the applause is that Bigsby even registered his first catch of 2024, which he took for 28 yards downfield. His rookie campaign was so bad that many, myself included, had written him off. But he’s running like a man possessed with just over eight yards per carry!
Bigsby's not just benefitting from easy gaps either, as his 5.82 yards after contact per attempt is also astounding. FPDS charts him with 11 missed tackles forced and 0.32 MTF per attempt, which trails only Kenneth Walker III (0.38) and Jaleel McLaughlin (0.33) out of players with more than 30 rush attempts.
If head coach Doug Pederson insists that Bigsby is nothing more than a change-of-pace back when Etienne is healthy then that’ll stink, but bidders have to be prepared for that. That being said, Etienne is not 100% with this shoulder issue and could be formally rested for a spell to get right. Bigsby needs to be rostered in any case.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, NYG) - 23% rostered
FAAB Bid: 10-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-22%
Desperation Bid: 22-30%
Fantasy managers were shaken when Eric Gray was involved on the opening drive, but a goal-line fumble saw him cede most opportunities to Tracy. The rookie would gain 129 yards on 18 carries after showing flashes with the ball in limited duty over the last couple of weeks.
Devin Singletary may return from his groin injury in Week 6 but it’s clear that Tracy is ready when the need arises. It’s unlikely he outright leapfrogs a healthy Singletary in 2024 but averaging over seven yards per carry on this day cements him as a robust handcuff.
Jaylen Wright (RB, MIA) - 8% rostered
FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%
Wright and the Dolphins have a Week 6 bye, but this is a season-long game we play. Miami’s rookie RB hadn’t shown a lot in Weeks 2-4 after being a healthy inactive in Week 1 but stepped up for 86 yards on 13 carries at New England after De’Von Achane exited with a concussion.
Raheem Mostert still led the way with 19 carries for 80 yards and two catches for 18 yards, but we know Mike McDaniel is open to featuring multiple RBs. It’s difficult and perhaps impossible to fairly judge the Dolphins based on their games without Tua Tagovailoa, but keep an open mind.
Achane has only rushed for over 30 yards in a game once thus far and it's no guarantee to be cleared by Week 7. Wright could gain steam by the time Week 8 rolls around with Tua’s hopeful return to action. We aren’t asserting there’s an every-week role here but being a flex with big-play upside in Miami could be in the cards for Wright.
#Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright in Week 5:
- 87.9 overall grade
- 4.62 yards after contact per attempt
- 4 forced missed tacklesWright has forced 8 missed tackles in the last 2 weeks
The promising rookie has earned more reps moving forward
📈📈📈
📸(@MiamiDolphins)#GoFins pic.twitter.com/EUoqG7yxA7
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) October 7, 2024
Ty Chandler (RB, MIN) - 28% rostered
FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%
Chandler is another add facing a potential starting role via injury going into a Week 6 bye. Aaron Jones left the London game against the Jets due to his hip, which left Chandler to mop up with 14 carries and two catches. Unfortunately, he only totaled 39 yards while C.J. Ham vultured a rush TD.
Early indicators suggest Jones should be back for Week 7 at home against Detroit but getting ahead of this is wise in thinner leagues. Jones has been banged up before and Minnesota won’t take unnecessary risks at 5-0.
It would be nice if Chandler had more than a 3.5 YPC and a 40% success rate (per FPDS) but Minny’s defense keeps games close with rushing on the table. Be aware that Ham should mix in if Jones is out, but the avenue to 16-20 touches is present for Chandler.
Blake Corum (RB, LAR) - 17% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-8%
Kyren Williams remains a star who thrives on volume and consistent red-zone usage, but Corum finally ascended to the No. 2 role after sitting behind Ronnie Rivers in the first month. The rookie had two chances to punch in a touchdown but couldn’t convert. If something happens to Williams then a committee could form between Corum and Rivers, but this last week suggests Corum would be the 1A, if not the starter.
Ameer Abdullah (RB, LV) - 0% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%
Alexander Mattison got the start with Zamir White (groin) out for Week 5, though it led to little on the ground. His 15 carries yielded just 38 yards, but two catches for 23 yards as well as a two-point conversion helped smooth things over. For now, he’s the assumed starter.
But we must note that Ameer Abdullah eventually took over in the fourth quarter, playing all 22 snaps there per PFF’s Nathan Jahnke. Abdullah rushed for 42 yards and a TD on five carries (3-9-0 receiving), but the 10-year vet is known as a passing-down back, not a real grinder.
We can’t blame the Raiders for seeking a spark but it’s unlikely Abdullah provides that over the long run. Dylan Laube was active but didn’t see the field. He’s an intriguing long-term stash given his versatile skill set if Antonio Pierce ever gets him a path to reps.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, KC) - 40% rostered
FAAB Bid: 15-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-50%
Smith-Schuster entered Week 5 with just two catches on the season but became Patrick Mahomes’ go-to receiver against the Saints with seven catches for 130 yards. He also had a near-TD that got rattled around as he collected the ball and wound up becoming the viral Khalen Saunders interception.
Reports are swirling that Rashee Rice suffered a torn LCL and won’t return this season, but an extended absence seems inevitable no matter the details. The Chiefs are on bye next week but will need firepower to take down the 49ers on the road in Week 7. Perhaps they use the bye to ramp up Xavier Worthy's involvement, but this shows JuJu still has some juice left.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Week 5
- 28 routes (3rd on KC)
- 8 targets (2nd)
- 7 catches (2nd)
- 130 yards (most on KC)
- 20 fantasy points - WR13 on week— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 8, 2024
Josh Downs (WR, IND) - 40% rostered
FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-25%
Desperation Bid: 25-35%
Downs popped for nine catches on 12 targets, putting up a nice 69 yards as Joe Flacco’s possession slot man. The PPR ceiling will decrease when Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor are back on the field to even the run-pass split, but Downs’ starting role is notable regardless.
Fantasy Points Data Suite marked Downs as the first read on 11 of his 12 looks and while they weren’t sexy looks like the downfield shots to Alec Pierce, they get the job done in PPR formats. His outcomes range from high-end WR3 to low-end flex, but the overall starting viability isn’t in question.
Jalen Tolbert (WR, DAL) - 7% rostered
FAAB Bid: 8-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-15%
Desperation Bid: 15-20%
Tolbert had shown increased involvement to begin the season but was TD-dependent behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson as the No. 3 receiver. Cooks was placed on the injured reserve ahead of Week 5’s tilt with Pittsburgh due to a knee infection, which led to season-highs across the board for Tolbert (7-87-1, 10 targets).
Dallas continues to lean on its passing game, especially near the red zone, which Rico Dowdle’s late-game fumble should further solidify. They should need Tolbert and the other receivers early and often in a home game against Detroit next week before the Week 7 bye. If Tolbert shines during Cooks’ absence, then he could earn more consistent reps once the veteran returns, keeping him in fantasy circles down the stretch.
Tre Tucker (WR, LV) - 18% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%
Tucker couldn’t make it three weeks of production in a row with only 26 total yards on four touches in a loss to Denver. The Broncos are a stout defense but Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers still managed to have good days so it’s disappointing.
But this doesn’t erase his 12.9 half-PPR points in Week 4 or the 19.1 mark in Week 3. And the biggest story here is Davante Adams requesting a trade and dealing with a hamstring injury. If the Raiders make a deal, then Tucker gets a starting role the rest of the way. Even bad offenses generate points!
Ja'Lynn Polk (WR, NE) - 8% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%
Polk finished Week 5 with one measly 13-yard catch on six targets but nearly had a 12-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. But his entire foot didn’t clear the back boundary, so it was overturned, and his team-leading 32 routes and 95 air yards amounted to nothing.
Ja’Lynn Polk on instagram. pic.twitter.com/5Id5AQyD01
— Savage (@SavageSports_) October 7, 2024
If the Pats make a switch to Drake Maye, as is rumored, then Polk’s usage could suddenly yield a fantasy-relevant ceiling with Houston and Jacksonville games upcoming.
Xavier Hutchinson (WR, HOU) - % rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%
Many of us want to assume the best for Nico Collins’ hamstring injury but we have a job to do (Update: Collins is now considered "week-to-week"). If Collins cannot go in Week 6 then Hutchinson seemed to step into the three-wide sets with three late targets, running 24 total routes to Robert Woods’ eight and John Metchie III’s one, per FPDS.
Unfortunately, the Texans face a listless Patriots squad in Week 6 that is either trotting out Jacoby Brissett again or giving Drake Maye his first start. Either way, the Pats don’t figure to push the tempo or put a ton of points on the board. Houston could be sitting on a big league early with plenty of ball-control rushing in the second half.
But they have to get the insurmountable lead first and that’s where these reps can help, especially if Christian Gonzalez sticks to Tank Dell or Stefon Diggs. Be careful though, as a full week of planning could lead to more schemes for Metchie or Woods in a rotation versus a reliance on Hutchinson.
Jalen Coker (WR, CAR) - 0% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%
Desperation Bid: 2-3%
The Panthers showed early life against Chicago’s stout defense but quickly folded, losing by 26 as Xavier Legette exited with a shoulder injury. The rookie said he doesn’t expect to miss Week 6 versus Atlanta but testing on Monday could reveal an AC joint injury that requires rest.
In the meantime, Coker stepped into steady playing time and caught all four targets for 68 yards. Jonathan Mingo (2-37-0, five targets) continues to underwhelm, and Adam Thielen remains on IR with his hamstring injury. Atlanta’s defense is not Chicago’s so monitor Legette’s status throughout the week. If he’s fine then he, at 30% rostered, is a good pickup too.
#Panthers UDFA WR Jalen Coker put out some good tape.
Feel for the field ✅
Situational awareness ✅Gains leverage with his smooth route running and maintains.
Not an overly dynamic mover, but he showed good contact balance and an efficient approach to YAC opportunities. pic.twitter.com/6kvgvE9llK
— Ricky Raines (@rickyboboddy) October 7, 2024
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin (TE, NYJ) - 30% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%
Conklin saw a season-high nine targets and six receptions in Week 5, totaling 55 yards in a role that continues to grow. This man was nearly invisible with just one catch on two targets in each of Gang Green’s first two games but now has 23 targets over their last three.
Time to drop all my stats to recap today’s games!
Get caught up with this thread via @FantasyPtsData:
1. Tyler Conklin has 6+ targets each of the last 3 weeks
No other TE in the league has done that through today’s early games
(Jake Ferguson has a chance to join him tonight)
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) October 6, 2024
He still hasn’t found the end zone but the bar for TE relevancy is depressingly low, so we follow the volume. Players such as Conklin and Tampa Bay’s Cade Otton may not be exciting, but we have to temper expectations amidst this sad start for tight ends in ‘24.
Ask yourself if your personal preference and your league format are best.
Theo Johnson (TE, NYG) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 1-2%
Desperation Bid: 2-4%
After tallying three total catches across his first four games, Johnson emerged for a modest 5-48-0 line with Malik Nabers out due to a concussion. Perhaps it is as simple as he got additional looks with Nabers out, but Darius Slayton absorbed plenty of work.
In case Johnson has finally earned more routes and trust from Daniel Jones then don’t overlook the 6-foot-6 guy with starting reps! But Fantasy Points Data Suite did chart Johnson with only three first-read targets (out of his five total).
Only he, Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson had any among WR/TEs so that’s good, but Johnson still has to prove his involvement holds when Nabers is back. If it turns out that Slayton recedes and Johnson continues to build momentum alongside Nabers/Robinson then we could be cooking. It won’t be a gourmet meal but some are starved for any TE production! Ja’Tavion Sanders may also fit the bill with Tommy Tremble (concussion) possibly missing time.
*If you can gamble on Taysom Hill returning from his rib injury in Week 6 against Tampa Bay then give it a shot, but said injury may limit his rushing attempts for a spell.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Houston Texans Defense (at NE) - 41% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-5%
Not only do the Texans get a Patriots offense that looks like it was ripped out of the 1930s and dropped into modern times, but they’ve played ball worthy of DST attention regardless of matchup. They just forced Josh Allen into a horrible day of 9-for-30 passing and have the fourth-best DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) per FTN Data.
Philadelphia Eagles Defense (vs. CLE) - 35% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-5%
The Eagles haven’t played their best, generating just six sacks and a pair of interceptions over their first four games. But you don’t need your best when hosting Deshaun Watson and the Browns, who just surrendered seven sacks to Washington. They’ve given up multiple sacks in all five games thus far, with six or more in three games. Yikes!
Los Angeles Chargers Defense (at DEN) - 13% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%
The Chargers are slightly ahead of the Texans on the DVOA leaderboard, sitting at -15.2% to Houston’s -15.1% mark. (Negatives are good on defense!) LAC heads to Denver to take on Bo Nix and crew, who are on a three-game win streak. But they only mustered 10 points against a talented Jets defense, looking better against subpar units like TB and LV. One expects a rested and prepared Chargers defense to force Nix into tough corners.
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