Each week I'll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define "widely available" as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on Twitter @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here are my best bets off the waiver wire for Week 5:
ADD
— RB Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders (ESPN: 37%; Yahoo: 54%): Robinson will be activated off the non-football injury list this week, and has a realistic chance of playing against the Titans after he was shot twice in his right leg during an attempted robbery during training camp. Antonio Gibson has been solid — RB21 in standard and RB19 in PPR — but the Alabama rookie had surpassed him on the depth chart in the preseason before the shooting. He has a chance to see double-digit carries once he returns and could provide a boost to a struggling offense — the Commanders have scored 18 points the last two games after putting up 49 in the first two.
— QB Jared Goff, Lions (ESPN: 44%; Yahoo: 53%): Goff is the overall QB5 through four games. He's one of three quarterbacks with 1,100-plus passing yards and double-digit touchdowns this season — the others are Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. I'm sold after the former No. 1 overall draft pick was able to thrive despite missing several weapons against the Seahawks on Sunday. Those weapons should return soon and an elite offensive line will give Goff a shot at producing top-12 value going forward.
— WR George Pickens, Steelers (ESPN: 38%; Yahoo: 39%): The Kenny Pickett era officially began against the Jets and things were already trending in the right direction for Pickens — he finished with 102 yards on six receptions Sunday — who is tied with Diontae Johnson for the team-lead in targets the last two games with 15. Pickett is a more accurate downfield passer than Mitchell Trubisky and should be able to unlock the deep-ball artist.
— TE Tyler Conklin, Jets (ESPN: 39%; Yahoo: 42%): Conklin is the overall TE8 in PPR formats (TE9 in standard) through four games. At the position, he is seventh in targets (24), fifth in receptions (21) and has the ninth-most yards (190). Only Garrett Wilson tops Conklin's 15 percent target share for the Jets. A matchup with the blitz-heavy Dolphins this week could mean a boost in his already substantial (for a tight end) usage, making him a premium streaming option with some upside.
— RB Mike Boone, Broncos (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 3%): Javonte Williams tore multiple ligaments in his knee and is done for the year. Melvin Gordon has dealt with multiple injuries already this season and has four fumbles (most among running backs) in 45 touches in four games. Boone has been the primary passing-down back the past three weeks, so he is likely to at least have that role. Latavius Murray (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%) was just signed off the Saints' practice squad after he led them with 57 rushing yards on 11 carries and a TD in the London loss to the Vikings. Murray has the higher upside going forward, but probably won't help you this week since Denver plays on Thursday night.
— BONUS: WR Rondale Moore, Cardinals (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 18%): It didn't appear Moore had any sort of restrictions in his return — he played 86% of Arizona's snaps and ran a route on 94% of Kyler Murray's dropbacks. Greg Dortch (relegated to part-time player with Moore back) was fantasy's WR28 in standard formats (WR19 in PPR) in Moore's absence. The dynamic slot receiver should be able to match or exceed Dortch once he shakes off the rust.
— BONUS: QB Kenny Pickett, Steelers (ESPN: 4%; Yahoo: 6%): There was a lot to unpack in Pickett's NFL debut — good (two rushing TDs) and bad (three interceptions) — but there's also a lot of talent at the skill positions in Pittsburgh and the rookie signal-caller looked better equipped to utilize it than Mitchell Trubisky. If the offensive line can protect Pickett, he will at least have streaming value this season.
— BONUS: WR Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 47%): Jamison Crowder has a broken ankle and will be placed on injured reserve. Monitor McKenzie's progress this week — he's currently in the NFL's concussion protocol — but he's the overall WR30 in standard formats (WR34 in PPR) so far this season on the strength of scoring a TD in three of four games. Rookie Khalil Shakir (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%) would have flex appeal as Buffalo's slot receiver if McKenzie isn't able to go against the Steelers this week.
— BONUS: RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 19%): Cordarrelle Patterson was placed on injured reserve after having a procedure on his knee Monday morning. Patterson will miss at least the next four weeks. Allgeier is probably the best option in the short term, but Caleb Huntley (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%) took over as the early-down and goal-line back with Patterson banged up after the first quarter, leading to Huntley scoring a five-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Damien Williams (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 1%)is currently on injured reserve, but is eligible to return next week. Williams was the clear lead back for Atlanta in Week 1 before suffering a rib injury.
— BONUS: WR Michael Gallup, Cowboys (ESPN: 47%; Yahoo: 41%): Similar to Moore, Gallup played more than I expected, running a rout on 83% of Cooper Rush's dropbacks. He also had a TD as one of his two receptions. I'm not sure there's enough volume in this passing game for Rush to support both Gallup and CeeDee Lamb, but there will be once Dak Prescott returns under center.
— BONUS: QB Zach Wilson, Jets (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 10%): Wilson finished as the overall QB11 in his 2022 debut. Like the Steelers and Pickett, this offense is loaded with talent with Wilson likely to produce fantasy-relevant value if his offensive line can protect him.
— BONUS: WR Jameson Williams, Lions (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 27%): The dynamic rookie is eligible to return to practice this week after he suffered a torn ACL during January's College Football Playoff championship. There's a chance he returns to the field by the end of the month (early November at the latest). Williams is a stash candidate that could pay huge dividends in this explosive offense (felt weird writing that about the Lions).
— BONUS: WR Kadarius Toney, Giants (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 27%): The G-Men wide receiver room has been decimated. Toney and Wan'Dale Robinson (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 4%) could be the last men standing. Both are dynamic playmakers who could thrive in coach Brian Daboll's offense if they can stay healthy (and in Toney's case, stay in Daboll's good graces). Both receivers are speculative stash candidates if you have room at the end of your bench.
— BONUS: D/ST Jaguars (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 14%): Jacksonville is currently fifth in fantasy scoring. The Jags' next three opponents are very favorable: two home matchups with the Texans and Giants, and a road trip to Indianapolis (a team they shut out in Week 2).
— BONUS: D/ST Titans (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 9%): The Commanders are currently an offense to target while streaming defenses. Carson Wentz has thrown five interceptions this season and been sacked 17 times.
DROP
— RB Javonte Williams, Broncos: Williams was beginning to look like the superstar we all expected him to be before tearing the ACL and LCL in his right knee. He will miss the remainder of the season.
— QB Mitchell Trubisky, Steelers: Unless your fantasy league awards points for holding a clipboard, it's time to part ways with Trubisky.
— TE Mike Gesicki, Dolphins: A measly 10 targets this season and playing in fewer than 44% of Miami's offensive snaps in three of four games doesn't warrant a roster spot.
— WR Greg Dortch, Cardinals: Dortch only played in roughly one-third of Arizona's offensive snaps and had one catch for six yards with Rondale Moore active.
— TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Broncos: Okwuegbunam played a single snap against the Raiders and Greg Dulcich (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%) is nearing his return. The rookie has been on injured reserve but could practice this week and join the active roster soon thereafter.
