We cover the basics in our Weekly Waiver Wire Article. But Fantasy Alarm members are a different breed. Real sick individuals, like myself. We play in incredibly deep leagues and crazy formats, like the Scott Fish Bowl. We can’t help it. So we need to go DEEPER than just the basics. And that’s where the waiver wire streamers and stashes article comes in.

Here we get to the next layer of the waiver wire. We hit those “break glass in case of emergency” streamers for a desperate lineup decision. And we cover those deep sleeper stashes, to hold with only a hope and a prayer. As deep as you want to go, we will go. 

 

Best Fantasy Football Streamers and Stashes For Week 5

What is a Streamer?

A streamer is a player that you can actually start in your lineup currently. They might not be the flashiest players, but they won’t get you a zero. In deeper leagues with a lot of starting spots, you may need to call on them from time to time - especially when bye weeks and injuries come around.

What is a Stash?

The stashes are players that have appealing upside for one reason or another but aren’t reliable guys you can start now. Maybe they are injured, and you can put them in an IR spot. Maybe they are handcuffs that could have big upside if the starter gets hurt. Maybe they are rookies that need time to develop and carve out a role. Whatever it is, we want to keep an eye on them. And stash them on deep benches. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 5 Quarterback Streamers

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Yahoo: 16% | ESPN: 5% | Sleeper: 9% 

The Detroit Lions have been a shootout factory thus far. It’s yet to be seen if either of their two starting safeties will be activated off IR now that they are eligible, but that might not even move the needle immediately in the first game back. Jacoby Brissett isn’t always the most trustworthy, but now and again in one of these matchups he goes crazy. So it’s worth a stream if you are desperate or have bye weeks.

Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Yahoo: 2% | ESPN: 2% | Sleeper: 4% 

Say it with me, folks - “rushing upside”. That’s always been the cheat code at quarterback, and it’s even more true when looking for a stream. Daniels didn’t look completely lost last week but, more importantly, he ran eight times. 

 

NFL Week 5 Quarterback Stashes

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Yahoo: 9% | ESPN: 9% | Sleeper: 16% 

We mentioned this is the main article, but in most leagues where I have a second QB, that QB is Deshaun Watson. He’s looking more and more confident every week, and the only QB running the ball more than he is, is Josh Allen.

Michael Penix, Atlanta Falcons

Yahoo: 9% | ESPN: 6% | Sleeper: 13%   

Penix has been in this article virtually all year for us - especially when he was IR-eligible. The Falcons are clearly a totally different team with Penix at the helm, so he continues to be one of the better bench options. 

 

NFL Week 5 Running Back Streamers

Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Yahoo: 49% | ESPN: 50% | Sleeper: 62%

The Seahawks are making a lot of moves all at once here, trying to make things happen with Jadarian Price on IR. Zach Charbonnett is clearly not ready to rock right away, coming off IR with these moves. New back Joe Mixon and Robert Henry Jr. are going to need some time to learn the playbook here. So Emanuel Wilson is still on the menu for the short term. 

Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

Yahoo: 3% | ESPN: 2% | Sleeper: 5%

Obviously Ekeler isn’t super interesting as a “stash” at this stage in his career. But he knows all the plays from his time working with RB coach Anthony Lynn and company, so he was able to work right into the rotation right away. In fact, he kind of found his way to the top of the rotation as the game moved along, which is why we are okay throwing him right into lineups if we are desperate. 

Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers

Yahoo: 6% | ESPN: 6% | Sleeper: 11%

The Green Bay Packers had been running a three-man backfield which just became a two-man backfield with an injury to Chris Brooks. Following the injury, we saw Kaleb Johnson get the early-down and short-yardage work with MarShawn Lloyd on pass downs. In most cases, the “starting” back is the more consistent performer for fantasy so we like streaming Johnson here out of the two. Lloyd is still rostered in a lot of leagues anyway, so you don’t really have much of a choice. 

 

NFL Week 5 Running Back Stashes

Joe Mixon, Seattle Seahawks

Yahoo: 4% | ESPN: 9% | Sleeper: 18%

We mentioned this in the main article, but Joe Mixon might just flat-out be better than any running back currently on the Seattle Seahawks. It’s crazy how it sometimes works like that in the NFL, but we have to give ourselves a shot at upside, even if the floor is low. 

Tyler Goodson, Dallas Cowboys

Yahoo: 0% | ESPN: 0% | Sleeper: 0%

It seems the Cowboys have finally found a backup they like, as Goodson has actually managed to get on the field alongside Javonte Williams. The big workload for Williams is what makes Goodson an interesting handcuff. That increases the odds of Williams getting nicked up, plus they clearly aren’t afraid of giving one guy a lot of work. 

 

NFL Week 5 Wide Receiver Streamers

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo 31% | ESPN: 28% | Sleeper: 49%

Malik Washington is quietly on pace for like ~120 targets here. Are they the best quality targets? No. But it’s kind of hard not to have a decent floor with that level of volume. And the Dolphins are going to be on the wrong end of virtually all of these games, which means a lot of throwing. So Washington is one of the better floor streamers that is widely available. 

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

Yahoo: 5% | ESPN: 5% | Sleeper: 15%

We often preach that we need to give some of these young guys a little time to develop. So we’ll admit that we were a little quick to dismiss Keon Coleman. He’s actually been contributing some big plays here even with DJ Moore healthy, and now that DJ Moore could miss time with this shoulder issue, he’s in line to be a solid streamer. 

Efton Chism, New England Patriots

Yahoo 0% | ESPN: 0% | Sleeper: 0%

Look, he made the awesome one-handed catch. But we don’t chase that kind of thing. What we do chase, however, is usage. When AJ Brown went down, Mack Hollins became the split end playing a big snap share and being a go-to guy for Drake Maye. This week, when Mack Hollins went down, Chism became the split end and was clearly a go-to guy for Maye. In super deep leagues, this is a guy you can actually give a look.  

 

NFL Week 5 Wide Receiver Stashes

Tyreek Hill, Free Agent

Yahoo: 23% | ESPN: 29% | Sleeper: 55%

The ultimate stash because he’s not even on a team yet, and you have no idea when you’ll actually be able to use him or not. But we have to give ourselves a shot at upside.  

Jalen Royals, Kansas City Chiefs

Yahoo: 0% | ESPN: 0% | Sleeper: 0%

The Chiefs just had a ROUGH week, losing both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. The Thornton injury was especially gruesome, with the dislocated ankle. The Chiefs could sign some former guys like Tyreek Hill or Juju Smith-Schuster, but we’re interested to see if guys like Royals or rookie Cyrus Allen can play. Royals played over Allen last week, so we lean there. 

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys

Yahoo: 8% | ESPN: 5% | Sleeper: 10%

Flournoy is already consistently getting more targets than Jake Ferguson, which puts him on the radar in really deep leagues. But the real reason you stash here is as a handcuff to BOTH CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The odds of one of them getting nicked up at some point are better than some of the pure RB handcuffs.  

IR Spot Special:

Ja’Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens

Yahoo: 9% | ESPN: 9% | Sleeper: 27%

If you have the spot, might as well throw him in there. Rashod Bateman has recently fallen out of favor; the door is still open for Lane when he returns. It’s a broken wrist, which is easier to get back into the swing of things than a lower body soft tissue injury. 

 

NFL Week 5 Tight End Streamers

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

Yahoo: 7% | ESPN: 10% | Sleeper: 16%

There is always room for disappointment with Mike Gesicki. But the theory should be that if one of Tee Higgins or Ja'Marr Chase is out, he gets a boost in usage. With both of them potentially out and the Bengals with a smash matchup against Miami, Gesicki is on the streaming radar.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Yahoo: 30% | ESPN: 54% | Sleeper: 40%

Josh Oliver might not return all year, so T.J. Hockenson has a bit of a permanent boost there. Justin Jefferson might still be out as well, and the Saints aren’t a particularly formidable matchup on defense, as we just saw with the Falcons. 

Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins

Yahoo: 7% | ESPN: 2% | Sleeper: 6%

Dulcich has kind of floated back and forth between 50% and 70% route participations in his four games. That saw him have a game with seven targets; then he came right back last week and has zero. The Bengals are a premium matchup for tight ends, though, so if Dulcich is going to do anything, it should be this week - in theory. 

 

NFL Week 5 Tight End Stashes

Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders

Yahoo: 18% | ESPN: 4% | Sleeper: 13%

In his first game back from injury, Chig Okonkwo wasn’t fully unleashed. But it was promising to see him essentially run more routes and be more involved than any tight end has been in his absence. We are throwing Okonkwo back on benches to see what this role can grow to, especially with some of the wide receivers banged up over there.

 

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

Yahoo: 2% | ESPN: 2% | Sleeper: 6%

Here we go, the Zach Ertz game again. And this week speaks to how trustworthy he is of a target. Ertz only played 13 snaps in this game. But on those snaps, he ran 11 routes and got four targets. Obviously those plays were likely designed specifically for him, and it doesn’t mean that if he runs 40 routes he gets 15 targets, but four targets is already more than many of the starting tight ends in the league ever see. 

 

Matt Hibner, Baltimore Ravens

Yahoo: 0% | ESPN: 0% | Sleeper: 0%

If you are like me, you play in some pretty deep tight end premium, two tight end, or dynasty leagues. It’s rare that there is a “tight end handcuff” that could pop if the starting tight end gets hurt, but there are a couple of them out there, like Elijah Higgins in Arizona or Matt Hibner in Baltimore. If you play in that type of league, Hibner has already carved a small role out for himself, and we think he could pop in this scheme if Andrews were to go down.