Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 5

Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 5. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

We are a month into the season and injuries are starting to pile up. We are fresh off of the biggest waiver wire run of the season and there are even more players that remain up in the air for Week 5. Though we would all prefer our lineups to be 100 percent healthy, savvy fantasy players will have a backup plan at the ready.

Last week, this article featured pivot plays that included Geno Smith, Jamaal Williams, and Noah Fant. Pivot plays are not always going to hit but if you can be ahead of the curve, it increases your chances of finding an impact player. 

Additionally, we had some chaos last week with Alvin Kamara being a late-minute injury scratch in the early London game. It caused a stir on fantasy Twitter and I found out many fantasy players wouldn’t allow him to be swapped out of the lineup. We have another London game this week, so try to set an early alarm to avoid that repeating!

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• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

If QBs Jameis Winston, Daniel Jones, and Mac Jones can't play, you can pivot to:

Ryan Tannehill has found himself on a lot of waiver wires after a slow start and a down 2021 season. If you find yourself in need of a streaming option this week, whether it be from injury or down performance from your starter (looking at you Matthew Stafford), you can stream Tannehill against the Commanders. So far this season, Washington has allowed 21.17 fantasy PPG to QBs – the seventh-most in the NFL. They are a defense to stream against.

Teddy Bridgewater is another option in play with Tua Tagovailoa out this week. While we are all hoping for a speedy recovery, Teddy steps in and now has the wealth of talent around him. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle always have a chance to take one the distance which only raises Bridgewater’s ceiling. The best part is, unlike many backup options, Bridgewater brings a proven track record. He is a strong pivot option this week.

If you have to go even deeper, Bailey Zappe is in play this week against the Lions, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs this season. Not only that, but they just allow the most points to opposing offenses. They also have the league's highest-scoring offense, meaning that teams have to throw to keep up with them. The best offenses in a week are the Lions and whoever is playing the Lions. That makes Zappe, as unproven as he is, a streaming option in Week 5. 

Week 5 Running Back Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football

If RBs Alvin Kamara, D’Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, and David Montgomery can't play, you can pivot to:

Travis Etienne is not going to be available off the waiver wire, but if you have been stashing him on your bench, you have a natural pivot option. He faces the Houston Texans this week, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to RBs after struggling mightily against the position all last season. Etienne also split touches with James Robinson last week. He is a strong pivot option.

Caleb Huntley is an option with Cordarrelle Patterson on the IR. Huntley carried the ball 10 times, tying Tyler Allgeier for the team lead on the Falcons. He rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown – as he was the back seeing the goal-line usage. It's a tough matchup, but he has a chance to score a TD, which is enough to keep him in play.

Kenneth Walker is in play if Rashaad Penny sits. Penny has been super effective as a runner and is coming off a huge Week 4. Walker is not Penny, but he is a prospect that brought a ton of hype all draft season long. It would be his first time getting a large workload in the NFL as well. He would be a pivot option that brings an unknown floor, but a high upside.

Mark Ingram II was untouched last week by Latavius Murray, who now is a member of the Denver Broncos. Ingram saw 10 carries and three targets, finishing with 43 yards. Murray and Taysom Hill scored the rushing touchdown for the Saints. Ingram does not bring much upside anymore, but with Murray now gone, he should see enough work to warrant starting if you are in a pinch. The hope would be he scores a touchdown.

Rex Burkhead has lost the starting gig to Dameon Pierce, but Burkhead continues to have a role in the passing game. He racked up five catches on five targets last week for 39 yards and a score. He is not a player you want to trust each week, but if you are diving deeper, the pass game usage makes him an option. 

Week 5 Wide Receiver Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football

If WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown, Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, Rashod Bateman, Isaiah McKenzie, and Jahan Dotson can't play, you can pivot to:

George Pickens may already be rostered, but whether you elevate him from the wire or your bench, he is an option this week. Last week, he saw a team-high five targets from Kenny Pickett and continues to see more work than Chase Claypool. Pickens is a superb talent who just needs the opportunity. Not only can he be a pivot option this week, but he also has breakout upside moving forward.

Tyler Boyd is an option in a great matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Boyd has seen at least five targets in three of the four games and the Ravens have allowed the most fantasy PPG to WRs this season. It also doesn’t hurt that in two games against them last season, Joe Burrow threw for nearly 1,000 yards and seven scores. Boyd is a pivot play if you are in need of a receiver.

Michael Gallup is a receiver I prefer to take a wait-and-see approach with if possible, but if you need an injury pivot, he is an option. Last week, he played the third most snaps among Cowboys receivers and scored a touchdown on one of his three targets. The Rams have also allowed the second most fantasy PPG to receivers this season.

DeVante Parker only saw two targets last week without Mac Jones but he caught a touchdown. That was coming after his monster Week 3 performance, which also included a touchdown. He is certainly a deeper option with Bailey Zappe, but the Lions' defense is the best to stream against in the NFL. They have allowed the eighth-most fantasy PPG to receivers (40.35).

Khalil Shakir is the Bills' starting slot receiver with Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder getting injured last week. Shakir made a name for himself in the preseason and will now get an opportunity to be the Bills' starting slot receiver. The Steelers have allowed the sixth most fantasy PPG to receivers (40.75). Shakir is a streaming option in one of the league's best offenses.

I refuse to give up on Kadarius Toney and to a lesser extent Wan’Dale Robinson. Both returned to practice this week, giving them a chance to suit up in London against the Packers. The only reason they are not higher is that they remain up in the air for this matchup. Toney brings a ton of upside but he just cannot get on the field. The Giants are a very receiver-needy team now and can offer lots of volume if either suit up.

Tight End Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football

If TEs Kyle Pitts and Dawson Knox can't play, you can pivot to:

Cameron Brate has had 14 targets in the past two weeks. He also gets the Falcons this week, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends (19.18). Tom Brady also has torched the Falcons in recent years. There should be a lot of production on the Bucs this week, and with his recent volume, Brate is the top tight end pivot option.

Robert Tonyan has been up and down usage-wise this season. He has two games with five or more targets and two games with two or fewer targets. He did catch a touchdown last week and continues to be a red zone option for Aaron Rodgers. When it comes to streaming tight ends, a touchdown is really all you are hoping for, so Tonyan is a pivot option.

Hunter Henry is as well just because of the matchup. Henry saw a season-high four targets last week. The Lions are in the top 10 in fantasy PPG allowed to tight ends, and they are allowing the most points to opposing offenses. Henry is in play solely because of the matchup. 

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.

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