Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season. For your fantasy football teams, adding the right players off the waiver wire is absolutely crucial to your fantasy football success. Follow along with us all season long and we’ll help you make your way into the fantasy football playoffs.

What a week that Week 4 turned out to be. We still have the Monday Night game to go, but that doesn’t stop us from looking ahead to what’s on the waiver wire! We’ve had some injuries of sorts from Kenny Pickett with a knee injury, Tee Higgins, and Javonte Williams with a hip injury. Furthermore, Mike Evans and Pat Freiermuth were forced out of their games with hamstring injuries. This week’s waiver wire isn’t strong like the others, however, that doesn’t mean we don’t need help! Especially with bye weeks starting!

No matter our record, there are always areas to improve in. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 5 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. These players are listed in order of priority. Let’s get right into it with the top waiver wire pickups for your fantasy football teams as we head into Week 5!

Week 5 Teams on Bye Weeks

*For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS Fantasy.

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (40% Rostered)

Now, the Buccaneers are on bye Week 5 and we don’t know the status of Mike Evans quite yet. But, we can’t look past what Baker Mayfield has done for the season going over 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games. The Bucs take on the Detroit Lions in Week 6 and we could see Mayfield go over 20 fantasy points once again. He’s worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals (42% Rostered)

Murray should be rostered now in every league that has an IR spot. He is eligible to return this week but is viewed still to be a few weeks away. If he looks anything like his old self, we could have a league-winning quarterback on our hands.

Check if available: C.J. Stroud (68%). If Stroud is still available, he shouldn’t be. He needs to be rostered in all leagues.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos (3% Rostered)

Once Javonte Williams was out of the game it was a split backfield between Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin. However, for fantasy purposes, I prefer McLaughlin over Perine. McLaughlin had seven carries for 72 yards, along with three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown. He also showed good burst and speed on a screen pass from Russell Wilson. For as long as Williams is out, both running backs can be viewed as flex plays. McLaughlin is worth adding for up to 15% of your remaining FAAB.

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers (52% Rostered)

The running back landscape is a tough one this week, but Chuba Hubbard led Miles Sanders in carries 14 to 13. Sanders looks to still be recovering from his groin injury. On the other hand, Hubbard didn’t make a push to be the RB1 of this backfield (2.92 YPC), yet gained the most yards. He’s more of a bench depth add worth no more than 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens (8% Rostered)

This Ravens running back room needs a kickstart. Gus Edwards is okay, but there’s a 4.3-speedster rookie getting ready to come off injured reserve. He looked good in the preseason before getting hurt. If you stashed De’Von Achane before he came back, the same should be said for Mitchell. Speed can win. He’s worth adding for 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Check if available: Ezekiel Elliott (72%) and Tyjae Spears (69%). Both running backs didn’t do much for their respective teams. Elliott didn’t play well, but neither did Rhamandre Stevenson. Derrick Henry bounced back in a nice way, but Spears is just one injury away.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions (47% Rostered)

News broke late last week that Jameson Williams’s suspension has been reduced from six games to four. Williams coming back boosts this passing game up as the Lions have been leaning on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. Last season we saw some flashes of what Williams can do in this offense. We’re hoping for more of a fantasy-relevant season going forward with Williams before labeling him as a bust. He’s worth adding for 15% of your remaining FAAB.

Marvin Mims, WR, Denver Broncos (51% Rostered)

Although he only had two targets, Marvin Mims was second on the team in receiving yards with 47. He flashed his speed with a 48-yard catch, yet still isn’t getting enough for a player as a must-add. He’s worth adding for 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (47% Rostered)

If Tee Higgins is to miss time, Boyd will be an easy addition to your fantasy team. Boyd has 24 targets over his last three games but hasn’t gone over 52 yards in that span. They are short and sweet receptions, as that seems to help Joe Burrow who still doesn’t look like himself. This Bengals offense isn’t quite clicking yet, but Boyd could serve at best as a WR3. He’s worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals (5% Rostered)

I hate to say it but this Arizona Cardinals team is a fun one to watch. Here we thought there would not be much fantasy relevance, but this team is full of fighters. Over the last couple of weeks, Wilson has etched a little bit more from this offense. Including a 69-yard reception. This week in garbage time, Wilson shined scoring two touchdowns. Additionally, he caught all seven of his targets finishing with 76 yards on the day. He’s still behind Marquise Brown and maybe Zach Ertz, but is worth stashing. Wilson is worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Check if available: Quentin Johnston (69%). Now I can see his rostered percentage dropping as he caught only one of his three targets. However, he did drop a would-be touchdown giving him a better line for the week. Add him if anyone drops him.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears (58% Rostered)

Finally, we had a game where the Bears’ offense was clicking. DJ Moore popped and so did Cole Kmet. Kmet was second in receptions and yards finishing with seven catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll look to keep his momentum going in Week 5 against the Commanders. He’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Zach Ertz, TE, Arizona Cardinals (37% Rostered)

like I stated the first two weeks, Zach Ertz was an add, but a player I didn’t want to play in Week 3. Unlike most for Week 4, I was starting him over most. Ertz finished with six receptions on 10 targets for 53 yards. It was his second game with 10 targets and his third with eight or more. Although he still hasn’t topped 60 yards or hit pay dirt, it’s coming. Eventually, Ertz will score so don’t give up yet. He’s worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Check if available: Tyler Higbee (65%). He had a solid game Sunday on 11 targets. However, he only secured five catches for 64 yards. Cooper Kupp is set to come off the PUP list this week. Things could change with Kupp back in the mix, but the tight end landscape is a mess.

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