Fantasy Football Week 5 prep: Top waiver targets and rankings at every position, plus top-150 overall

Monday’s game between the Raiders and Chargers was kind of a disappointment for everyone except Austin Ekeler. Just in case there were any questions about whether Ekeler is an elite Fantasy option — there shouldn’t be at this point — his current 16-game pace is 1,132 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 72 receptions, 564 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. And he hasn’t even been that good as a receiver, his best trait, yet. Yeah, he’s elite.

Derek Carr, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams left us with some more questions, and Justin Herbert probably had his worst overall game of the season, though that didn’t necessarily show up in the Fantasy score. I’m still optimistic about that whole crew, but if you were skeptical, they gave you some reason to be Monday. 

We’ll have to figure out what to make of all of them and the rest of the field for Week 5, amid another crowded injury report. We’ll have updates on all of the injuries you need to know about in tomorrow’s newsletter, but first, let’s set our expectations for Week 5 with a first look at the rankings for each position. Plus, we’ve got Jamey Eisenberg’s top waiver-wire targets for you today. 

For more on what will be another busy week on the injury front, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims join Jamey, Adam Aizer, and me on the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m., where we’ll be taking your questions live for an hour. If you’ve got any questions before then, as always, you can email me at Chris.Towers@CBSi.com with the subject line “#AskFFT” to be included this week — including in tomorrow’s trade mailbag. 

And here’s what we’ve got on tap in today’s newsletter: 

• ➕Top Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets
• 📈Week 5 Rankings📉

➕Top Week 5 Waiver Wire Targets

Injuries have created another couple of opportunities for waiver-wire targets to make a big impact. Here are Jamey Eisenberg’s top targets plus one more for each position — and you can read Jamey’s breakdown of the top targets at every position here: 

Jamey Eisenberg’s top targets

1. Damien Williams (16% rostered) — David Montgomery (knee) seems likely to miss upwards of a month, and could be out until the team’s Week 10 bye, so Williams is the first potential long-term starter on the wire who actually has a track record of being good. Williams will likely take on an every down role for the Bears against the Raiders and beyond and is a top-24 back for me this week and likely until Montgomery returns.. 
2. Samaje Perine (8%) — If Perine were to get the start for the Bengals in Week 5, I might like him even more than Williams for the week, considering he plays in a better offense. The problem is, Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday he views Joe Mixon (ankle) as more day to day than week to week. Of course, Taylor was overly optimistic publicly about Mixon’s foot injury all last season, so take that with a grain of salt. 
3. Laviska Shenault (60%) — With DJ Chark (ankle, IR) leaving Thursday’s game early, Shenault had his best game of the season, catching six of seven passes for 99 yards. 52 of those yards came on a broken play, and otherwise Shenault was still mostly used on short-area targets, however, I think there’s still a decent chance he’s the team’s top target moving forward, with Marvin Jones taking on some more of Chark’s deep role. Parker isn’t my top WR if you need a Week 5 starter, but he’s worth adding for the potential that he breaks out and becomes a start. He has that kind of talent. 
4. DeVante Parker (52%) — Parker came into the season with less hype than his other Dolphins teammates, but he’s been the best one of them so far with at least seven targets in all four games. With Will Fuller (hand) out for Week 5 at least, Parker isn’t a bad starting option if you need one.  
5. Jamison Crowder (31%) — All Crowder does when he’s healthy is earn targets, and he led the Jets with nine in his debut in Week 4. If you need a starter in PPR, he’s not a bad option at all. 

One (more) target for each position

• QB: Trey Lance (50%) — It’s no guarantee Lance actually starts, but if Jimmy Garoppolo‘s calf injury keeps him sidelined, Lance is going to be a starting-caliber Fantasy QB if he can even be decent as a passer, given his rushing ability. 
• RB: Brandon Bolden (6%) — Bolden has been the clear beneficiary of James White‘s (hip) absence, and he’s worth an add in PPR formats.  
• WR: Rashod Bateman (24%) — I’m not sure what to expect of Bateman when he returns from preseason groin injury, which could come any day now. The team’s first-round pick has plenty of upside, however, and if he does hit the ground running, this is your chance to get in ahead of the rush.
• TE: Tyler Conklin (32%) — Conklin was a disappointment if you started him in Week 4, but the process was sound. Despite being limited during practice, he played a season-high 85% snap share and was targeted six times. He has a healthy role in the offense right now and is one of the more interesting streamers at the position ahead of a great matchup.

📈Week 5 Rankings📉

Here’s where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 5 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath’s rankings right here:

Quarterbacks

1. Josh Allen @KC
2. Patrick Mahomes vs. BUF
3. Lamar Jackson vs. IND
4. Kyler Murray vs. SF
5. Jalen Hurts @CAR
6. Tom Brady vs. MIA
7. Justin Herbert vs. CLE
8. Dak Prescott vs. NYG
9. Matthew Stafford @SEA
10. Aaron Rodgers @CIN
11. Russell Wilson vs. LA
12. Derek Carr vs. CHI
13. Kirk Cousins vs. DET
14. Daniel Jones @DAL
15. Trey Lance @ARI
16. Sam Darnold vs. PHI
17. Joe Burrow vs. GB
18. Matt Ryan vs. NYJ
19. Taylor Heinicke vs. NO
20. Jared Goff @MIN
21. Zach Wilson @ATL
22. Ryan Tannehill @JAX
23. Mac Jones @HOU
24. Trevor Lawrence vs. TEN
25. Baker Mayfield @LAC
26. Jacoby Brissett @TB
27. Andy Dalton @LV
28. Ben Roethlisberger vs. DEN
29. Drew Lock @PIT
30. Carson Wentz @BAL
31. Jameis Winston @WAS
32. Davis Mills vs. NE

Running backs

1. Derrick Henry @JAX
2. Austin Ekeler vs. CLE
3. Dalvin Cook vs. DET
4. Aaron Jones @CIN
5. Najee Harris vs. DEN
6. D’Andre Swift @MIN
7. Saquon Barkley @DAL
8. Ezekiel Elliott vs. NYG
9. Alvin Kamara @WAS
10. James Robinson vs. TEN
11. Darrell Henderson @SEA
12. Chase Edmonds vs. SF
13. Josh Jacobs vs. CHI
14. Leonard Fournette vs. MIA
15. Jonathan Taylor @BAL
16. Antonio Gibson vs. NO
17. Nick Chubb @LAC
18. Mike Davis vs. NYJ
19. Kareem Hunt @LAC
20. Samaje Perine vs. GB
21. Cordarrelle Patterson vs. NYJ
22. Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. BUF
23. Damien Williams @LV
24. Chris Carson vs. LA
25. Damien Harris @HOU
26. Jamaal Williams @MIN
27. Miles Sanders @CAR
28. Melvin Gordon @PIT
29. Michael Carter @ATL
30. Chuba Hubbard vs. PHI
31. Trey Sermon @ARI
32. Tony Pollard vs. NYG
33. Nyheim Hines @BAL
34. Myles Gaskin @TB
35. Devin Singletary @KC
36. Javonte Williams @PIT
37. Alexander Mattison vs. DET
38. Latavius Murray vs. IND
39. James Conner vs. SF
40. Zack Moss @KC
41. Brandon Bolden @HOU
42. J.D. McKissic vs. NO
43. Kenyan Drake vs. CHI
44. Jeremy McNichols @JAX
45. Kenneth Gainwell @CAR
46. Mark Ingram vs. NE
47. David Johnson vs. NE
48. Ty Johnson @ATL
49. Le’Veon Bell vs. IND
50. Sony Michel @SEA
51. AJ Dillon @CIN
52. Ronald Jones vs. MIA
53. Royce Freeman vs. PHI
54. Malcolm Brown @TB
55. Darrel Williams vs. BUF
56. Phillip Lindsay vs. NE
57. Carlos Hyde vs. TEN
58. Alex Collins vs. LA
59. Peyton Barber @LV
60. Salvon Ahmed @TB

Wide receivers

1. Davante Adams @CIN
2. Tyreek Hill vs. BUF
3. Stefon Diggs @KC
4. Cooper Kupp @SEA
5. D.J. Moore vs. PHI
6. Justin Jefferson vs. DET
7. D.K. Metcalf vs. LA
8. Calvin Ridley vs. NYJ
9. Keenan Allen vs. CLE
10. Diontae Johnson vs. DEN
11. Terry McLaurin vs. NO
12. CeeDee Lamb vs. NYG
13. Deebo Samuel @ARI
14. Mike Williams vs. CLE
15. Chris Godwin vs. MIA
16. Tyler Lockett vs. LA
17. DeAndre Hopkins vs. SF
18. Amari Cooper vs. NYG
19. Brandin Cooks vs. NE
20. Ja’Marr Chase vs. GB
21. Mike Evans vs. MIA
22. Tyler Boyd vs. GB
23. Odell Beckham @LAC
24. Marquise Brown vs. IND
25. Antonio Brown vs. MIA
26. Kenny Golladay @DAL
27. Adam Thielen vs. DET
28. Jakobi Meyers @HOU
29. DeVonta Smith @CAR
30. DeVante Parker @TB
31. Courtland Sutton @PIT
32. Jaylen Waddle @TB
33. Robert Woods @SEA
34. Michael Pittman @BAL
35. Allen Robinson @LV
36. Cole Beasley @KC
37. Corey Davis @ATL
38. Emmanuel Sanders @KC
39. Darnell Mooney @LV
40. Jamison Crowder @ATL
41. Marvin Jones vs. TEN
42. Laviska Shenault vs. TEN
43. Hunter Renfrow vs. CHI
44. Sammy Watkins vs. IND
45. Robby Anderson vs. PHI
46. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DEN
47. Henry Ruggs @LV
48. AJ Green vs. SF
49. Brandon Aiyuk @ARI
50. Rondale Moore vs. SF
51. Tim Patrick @PIT
52. Mecole Hardman vs. BUF
53. Kadarius Toney @DAL
54. Christian Kirk vs. SF
55. Curtis Samuel vs. NO
56. Jalen Reagor @CAR
57. Nelson Agholor @HOU
58. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine @JAX
59. Zach Pascal @BAL
60. Collin Johnson @DAL

Tight ends

1. Travis Kelce vs. BUF
2. Darren Waller vs. CHI
3. George Kittle @ARI
4. T.J. Hockenson @MIN
5. Mark Andrews vs. IND
6. Kyle Pitts vs. NYJ
7. Noah Fant @PIT
8. Dalton Schultz vs. NYG
9. Tyler Higbee @SEA
10. Dallas Goedert @CAR
11. Mike Gesicki @TB
12. Tyler Conklin vs. DET
13. Dawson Knox @KC
14. Anthony Firkser @JAX
15. Evan Engram @DAL
16. Jonnu Smith @HOU
17. Jared Cook vs. CLE
18. Robert Tonyan @CIN
19. C.J. Uzomah vs. GB
20. Austin Hooper @LAC
21. Zach Ertz @CAR
22. Hunter Henry @HOU
23. Dan Arnold vs. TEN
24. Cole Kmet @LV
25. Blake Jarwin vs. NYG
26. Tommy Tremble vs. PHI
27. David Njoku @LAC
28. Cameron Brate vs. MIA
29. Mo Alie-Cox @BAL
30. Maxx Williams vs. SF

Top-150 Flex Rankings

1. Derrick Henry @JAX
2. Austin Ekeler vs. CLE
3. Davante Adams @CIN
4. Dalvin Cook vs. DET
5. Cooper Kupp @SEA
6. Aaron Jones @CIN
7. Travis Kelce vs. BUF
8. Tyreek Hill vs. BUF
9. Najee Harris vs. DEN
10. Stefon Diggs @KC
11. D.J. Moore vs. PHI
12. D’Andre Swift @MIN
13. Keenan Allen vs. CLE
14. Justin Jefferson vs. DET
15. Ezekiel Elliott vs. NYG
16. Alvin Kamara @WAS
17. Saquon Barkley @DAL
18. Calvin Ridley vs. NYJ
19. Darrell Henderson @SEA
20. James Robinson vs. TEN
21. Darren Waller vs. CHI
22. Diontae Johnson vs. DEN
23. Deebo Samuel @ARI
24. Terry McLaurin vs. NO
25. CeeDee Lamb vs. NYG
26. Chris Godwin vs. MIA
27. Chase Edmonds vs. SF
28. Tyler Lockett vs. LA
29. Brandin Cooks vs. NE
30. Mike Williams vs. CLE
31. D.K. Metcalf vs. LA
32. Mike Davis vs. NYJ
33. Leonard Fournette vs. MIA
34. Ja’Marr Chase vs. GB
35. DeAndre Hopkins vs. SF
36. Mike Evans vs. MIA
37. Jonathan Taylor @BAL
38. Antonio Gibson vs. NO
39. Nick Chubb @LAC
40. Kareem Hunt @LAC
41. Tyler Boyd vs. GB
42. Amari Cooper vs. NYG
43. Odell Beckham @LAC
44. Josh Jacobs vs. CHI
45. Samaje Perine vs. GB
46. Cordarrelle Patterson vs. NYJ
47. Antonio Brown vs. MIA
48. Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. BUF
49. Damien Williams @LV
50. Jakobi Meyers @HOU
51. Adam Thielen vs. DET
52. Kenny Golladay @DAL
53. Jaylen Waddle @TB
54. Robert Woods @SEA
55. Michael Pittman @BAL
56. George Kittle @ARI
57. Marquise Brown vs. IND
58. DeVonta Smith @CAR
59. Chris Carson vs. LA
60. T.J. Hockenson @MIN
61. Mark Andrews vs. IND
62. DeVante Parker @TB
63. Allen Robinson @LV
64. Cole Beasley @KC
65. Courtland Sutton @PIT
66. Corey Davis @ATL
67. Emmanuel Sanders @KC
68. Darnell Mooney @LV
69. Jamaal Williams @MIN
70. Jamison Crowder @ATL
71. Myles Gaskin @TB
72. Melvin Gordon @PIT
73. Marvin Jones vs. TEN
74. Michael Carter @ATL
75. Laviska Shenault vs. TEN
76. Kyle Pitts vs. NYJ
77. Chuba Hubbard vs. PHI
78. Trey Sermon @ARI
79. Tony Pollard vs. NYG
80. Hunter Renfrow vs. CHI
81. Sammy Watkins vs. IND
82. Miles Sanders @CAR
83. Damien Harris @HOU
84. Nyheim Hines @BAL
85. Robby Anderson vs. PHI
86. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DEN
87. Devin Singletary @KC
88. Javonte Williams @PIT
89. Mike Gesicki @TB
90. Noah Fant @PIT
91. AJ Green vs. SF
92. Henry Ruggs vs. CHI
93. Dalton Schultz vs. NYG
94. Alexander Mattison vs. DET
95. James Conner vs. SF
96. Brandon Aiyuk @ARI
97. Zack Moss @KC
98. Tyler Higbee @SEA
99. Rondale Moore vs. SF
100. Brandon Bolden @HOU
101. Curtis Samuel vs. NO
102. Dallas Goedert @CAR
103. Tim Patrick @PIT
104. Tyler Conklin vs. DET
105. J.D. McKissic vs. NO
106. Mecole Hardman vs. BUF
107. Kadarius Toney @DAL
108. Christian Kirk vs. SF
109. Latavius Murray vs. IND
110. Jeremy McNichols @JAX
111. Kenyan Drake vs. CHI
112. Dawson Knox @KC
113. Jalen Reagor @CAR
114. Nelson Agholor @HOU
115. Anthony Firkser @JAX
116. Evan Engram @DAL
117. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine @JAX
118. Kenneth Gainwell @CAR
119. Zach Pascal @BAL
120. Mark Ingram vs. NE
121. David Johnson vs. NE
122. Jonnu Smith @HOU
123. Jared Cook vs. CLE
124. Robert Tonyan @CIN
125. Collin Johnson @DAL
126. K.J. Osborn vs. DET
127. C.J. Uzomah vs. GB
128. Ty Johnson @ATL
129. Austin Hooper @LAC
130. Le’Veon Bell vs. IND
131. Terrace Marshall vs. PHI
132. Zach Ertz @CAR
133. Hunter Henry @HOU
134. Kendrick Bourne @HOU
135. Van Jefferson @SEA
136. Sony Michel @SEA
137. Dan Arnold vs. TEN
138. AJ Dillon @CIN
139. Demarcus Robinson vs. BUF
140. Cole Kmet @LV
141. Randall Cobb @CIN
142. Marquez Callaway @WAS
143. Ronald Jones vs. MIA
144. Blake Jarwin vs. NYG
145. Tommy Tremble vs. PHI
146. David Njoku @LAC
147. Chester Rogers @JAX
148. Tyron Johnson vs. TEN
149. Cameron Brate vs. MIA
150. Royce Freeman vs. PHI