As we roll into Week 5 we encounter the first big week of byes as the Panthers, Vikings, Jets and Dolphins are all off. We are also now a quarter of the way through the NFL season and with it we have seen some players continue to develop and exceed expectations, or see their role increased due to injury and become hot commodities on the waiver wire. In this addition of Waiver Flavor we take a look at what players were most added following Week 4.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, OAK – Carr finds himself as the most added quarterback coming out of Week 4 which is somewhat surprising given his subpar performance against a struggling Bears defense. Carr threw for just 196 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in Week 4 after exceeding 300 yards in each of the previous two weeks. In Week 5 Carr finds himself up against the Denver Broncos who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Blake Bortles, JAC – Bortles nearly doubles his ownership heading into Week 5 as he faces off against a poor Buccaneers defense. Bortles himself has been a solid fantasy quarterback over the past few weeks, throwing for 813 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. The Jaguars have some solid receiving options on their squad in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns who should be able to beat the Buccaneers secondary and make Bortles one of the better fantasy options in Week 5.
Andy Dalton, CIN – Dalton again finds himself as one of the most added players following Week 4 as he is coming off a performance where he threw for 321 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. Dalton could have been in for an even bigger day if not for the Bengals' four rushing touchdowns which I am sure frustrated Dalton's owners. Week 5 will be no picnic for Dalton as he welcomes in the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks and their Legion of Boom secondary to Cincinnati. While it’s rare to ever want to start a quarterback against the Seahawks, Dalton is certainly in a groove right now and Seattle is a bit more susceptible on the road than they are at home so Dalton could end up being more productive than most would expect.
Running Backs
Karlos Williams, BUF – Williams was the most added running back in Week 4 as well after LeSean McCoy was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately for Williams’ current owners, he apparently suffered a concussion during Week 4 and his status for Week 5 is in question. Williams extended his touchdown streak to four straight games against the Giants, and fantasy owners who started him last week were rewarded with solid production. If he is unable to play on Sunday, head coach Rex Ryan has said that Anthony “Boobie” Dixon will start in the backfield and would be a good add for anybody that was planning on having Williams in their backfield for Week 5.
Thomas Rawls, SEA – Rawls started in Week 4 with Marshawn Lynch sidelined with a hamstring injury, and while he struggled against the Lions he still finds himself in a good position in the Seahawks backfield with both Lynch and now Fred Jackson not practicing due to injury. Rawls blew up the scene in Week 3 when he came in for the injured Lynch to run for 104 yards on 16 carries. If Lynch and Jackson are unable to go on Sunday, Rawls will once again be the lead back against the Bengals. The Seahawks have considered moving on from Lynch in the past and they may want to see just what they have in the rookie out of Central Michigan, which may sway them to give him a bigger role even when Lynch gets healthy.
Ronnie Hillman, DEN – Hillman is coming off a big game against the Vikings where he rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Hillman’s big play came on a 72-yard touchdown run which flashed the explosiveness that Broncos starting running back C.J. Anderson has just not shown this season. Head coach Gary Kubiak went on record as saying both Hillman and Anderson are the team’s starting running backs, which bodes much better for Hillman than it does for Anderson in the long run. Hillman is also better in the passing game than Anderson in terms of being a receiver so the upside is certainly there going forward. Week 5 brings about a favorable fantasy matchup for Hillman as the Broncos face off against the Raiders.
Wide Receivers
Leonard Hankerson, ATL – Hankerson has seemingly taken over as the Falcons’ No.2 receiver this season and in Week 4 he lead the team with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Texans. Week 5 brings about a bit of a revenge game for Hankerson as the Falcons face off against the Redskins, whom Hankerson spent his first three NFL seasons with. The Redskins have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season and an extra motivated Hankerson will try to stick it to his former team in the high-powered Falcons passing attack, which should bode well for his output in Week 5.
Allen Hurns, JAC – Hurns turned in a stellar performance in Week 4, catching 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. Hurns leads the team with 15 targets but often finds himself as the No. 2 receiver behind Allen Robinson. The Jaguars will find themselves having to throw early and often if they want to stay in games, and a deep threat like Hurns should benefit greatly from Blake Bortles’ big arm. Week 5 brings about a matchup against the Buccaneers who have been fortunate to run up against some weak passing attacks and an injured Drew Brees over the last few weeks to give their secondary a break after they were torched for four touchdowns in Week 1. Bortles should be able to hit a few home run balls on Sunday with Hurns.
Ted Ginn Jr., CAR – The Panthers’ passing attack was non-existent on Sunday against the Buccaneers as Cam Newton attempted just 22 passes, but he did throw two touchdowns which both went to Ginn. Ginn has ranked second in targets this season behind Greg Olsen and has totaled 206 yards and three touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season. Ginn is averaging an impressive 17.2 yards per catch which gives you an idea of how they use him in the offense and Cam Newton certainly has the arm strength to throw down field where Ginn can use his top-end speed. The Panthers have a bye in Week 5 and then travel to Seattle to face the Legion of Boom, so Ginn is not likely a quality play until Week 7 against the Eagles.
Kamar Aiken, BAL – Aiken becomes the Ravens’ No.1 receiver after Steve Smith Sr. suffered small fractures in his back after a hit by a Steelers linebacker. Aiken wound up with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in Week 4 and finds himself with a favorable matchup in Week 5 against a Browns defense that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. It should be noted that Steve Smith is considered week-to-week at this point and his eventual return would render Aiken back to being Joe Flacco’s down field threat and No. 2 man behind Steve Smith Sr.
Tight Ends
Charles Clay, BUF – Clay had the biggest jump of anybody as we head into Week 5, as he saw his ownership rise from around 35 percent to almost 70 percent after catching nine passes for 111 yards in Week 4. Clay is benefiting greatly from offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s play style which heavily involves the tight end in his offense. With Sammy Watkins sidelined, Clay became Tyrod Taylor’s No. 1 receiving option. Watkins is expected to return in Week 5, but Clay finds himself with a very favorable matchup against the Titans who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Gary Barnidge, CLE – This should surprise few as Barnidge has turned in back-to-back great performances for the Browns, totaling 12 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks. The Browns and Barnidge draw a tough matchup in Week 5 against the Ravens who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, but Barnidge has developed great chemistry with Josh McCown and figures to be among his top targets if they hope to beat the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday.