Waiver wire target
Waiver wire additions are one of the most fun, but frustrating guessing games in fantasy sports. A diamond in the rough that was added on waivers can oftentimes win people their fantasy football leagues, but a dud can lead to missed opportunities to get those sleepers. For this list, ESPN Points Per Reception (PPR) scoring will be used. ESPN’s rostered percentage will also be used. Here are four waiver wire targets at running back (RB) and wide receiver (WR) that fantasy football players should look into before Week Five.
Nyheim Hines (Indianapolis Colts – RB)
The Colts saw star running back Jonathan Taylor suffered an ankle injury in their Week Four loss to the division rival Tennessee Titans. There is a considerable chance that Taylor will miss their Week Five matchup on Thursday Night Football against the Denver Broncos due to the short week. Considering that Taylor has the fourth most carries in the NFL through Week Four (81), there are lots of touches to be had for Hines if Taylor does not play. Hines is currently rostered in 60.1% of ESPN leagues. In three of his first four games, Hines has caught at least four passes, making him a reasonable RB3/FLEX play if he is the lead man in the Colts’ backfield on Thursday night.
George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers – WR)
Pickens is rostered in just 37.6% of ESPN leagues, and although he has had a slow start to his rookie campaign in terms of production, a possible quarterback change in Pittsburgh could see him be a valuable waiver wire add moving forward. In their Week Four loss to the New York Jets, the Steelers subbed in rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett for Mitch Trubisky at halftime. Pickens had caught just two passes for 31 yards in the first half, but hauled in six passes for 71 yards after Pickett came in. It remains to be seen who starts at quarterback in Week Five for Pittsburgh, but if Pickett gets the nod, Pickens is definitely worth adding.
Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins – RB)
The Dolphins may choose to run the ball a little bit more in Week 5, as their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a scary injury in Week Four, and is confirmed to miss their Week Five game against the Jets. Mostert has out-touched fellow Miami running back Chase Edmonds 39-20 over the last three weeks. Mostert’s only concern is that he has yet to score a touchdown this season, severely hurting his production. That is a major reason why Mostert is only rostered in 53.3% of ESPN leagues. However the touches trend continues, Mostert could be a nice add as a RB3/FLEX in deeper leagues while Tagovailoa is out.
Romeo Doubs (Green Bay Packers – WR)
Doubs is also a rookie receiver who had a slow start to the 2022 season, though those fortunes have changed drastically over the last two weeks. Doubs scored 21.3 and 13.7 points in Weeks Three and Four respectively, and has hauled in at least five catches and a touchdown in each of those two contests. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has looked for Doubs more over the last two weeks, targeting him eight times each in Weeks Three and Four after targeting him eight times total through the first two weeks. Doubs has started to emerge as a viable WR3/FLEX start as his targets and production ontinue to increase. He is rostered in just 46.1% of ESPN leagues.
