Fantasy Football 2014: Week 5 Waiver Claims

As the first quarter of the 2014 season comes to a close only two teams remain unbeaten, the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals. So, if your fantasy season isn’t going exactly according to plan, rest assured that you’re not the only one. Before I get into the new pick-ups, I just wanted to give quick updates on some previous pick-ups that are still available in way too many leagues:

Standout Players From Week 3 Waiver Claims: 

Brian Quick, WR, Rams (NFL: 8% ESPN:14.8% ) Still top dog in St. Louis.

Andrew Hawkins, WR, Browns (NFL: 19.6% ESPN: 12.9%) Averaging 7 rec for 81 yds/game.  

Larry Donnell, TE, Giants  (NFL: 19.4% ESPN: 26.7%) top 10 TE, get him while you can.

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs (NFL: 36.2%)(36.9%) Still Alex Smith’s favorite target not named Jamaal Charles.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns (NFL: 12.4% ESPN: 5.6%) took snaps ahead of Terrance West in practice, could start if Ben Tate isn’t ready.

Standouts Players From Week 4 Waiver Claims: 

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings (NFL: 0.6% ESPN: 0.8%) Matt Asiata isn’t going away, but McKinnon looked good and will continue to get work.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens (NFL: 7.8% ESPN:14.8%) Still stuck behind Forsett, but the arrow is trending upwards.

Just wanted to get those names back out there as they continue to produce, and are still criminally available. The talent pool for this week’s pick-ups is also a little smaller with 6 teams coming off byes. Now, without further ado, on to some new names:

Brandon Oliver, RB, Chargers: (0.2% NFL)(0.6% on ESPN) After not being expected to do much, Oliver split the workload almost evenly with Donald Brown, who continues to struggle. Oliver had 5 more yards than Brown on one less carry and they both had 4 catches for comparable yardage. It’s a tough match-up against a stingy Jets run defense this week, but that could just mean more touches for the more explosive Oliver.

Darrin Reaves, RB, Panthers: (0.1% on NFL)(0.1% on ESPN) With the rest of the Carolina back field banged up Reaves will prepare like the starter this week. There’s talk of adding a veteran back to the mix, but depending on who it is and how quickly that happen Reaves should still be in for a big workload in a decent match-up against the Bears. If you’re looking for a one week fill-in I think he could be worth a shot (assuming he gets the start.) UPDATE: The Panthers signed former Browns RB Chris Ogbonnaya and as of this writing are expecting Fozzy Whittaker to be ready for Sunday as well. You may not have any idea who either of those guys are, but just know that they’ll be the guys taking snaps away from Reaves, if you really have to start a Panthers running back this week I guess I’d still go with Reaves just because he’s got the most big play potential and in a 3 way time share of not very good RB’s that’s what you’re hoping for, the one big play that makes it worth it.

Andre Williams, RB, Giants: (36.9% on NFL)(30.2% on ESPN) This is mostly a handcuff notice. Williams ran hard in junk time and will take over the starting job in what is suddenly a good looking Giants offense. Rashad Jennings has never had more than 163 carries in a season and he’s already at 81 this year. So if you own Jennings, or want to spite your league’s Jennings owner, grab Williams. Also worth noting, the Falcons just allowed nearly 200 rushing yards to the Vikings which included productive days for both Matt Asiata and Jerrick McKinnon, it’s not unthinkable that Williams gets fantasy relevant work this week.

Eddie Royal, WR, Chargers: (9.8% on NFL)(28.1% on ESPN) No one seems to benefit more from the Chargers lack of a run game than Royal who now has two consecutive games with 2 TDs. I’m not expecting the streak to extend to 3, but it should be another fine performance against a Jets team that shuts down the run, but struggles mightily against the pass.

Louis Murphy, WR, Buccaneers: (0% on NFL)(0% on ESPN) Signed on Tuesday, leads the team in targets, receptions and yards on Sunday. Honestly, he wouldn’t be noteworthy except for the fact that Mike Evans is going to miss a few weeks after leaving the game against the Steelers with a groin injury. Assuming Mike Glennon keeps the starting job at least one more week, he clearly had a connection with Murphy and #2 WR’s tend to have big games against the Saints (just ask Terrance Williams.)

John Brown, WR, Cardinals: (5.9% on NFL)(3.9% on ESPN) he’s been making plays since training camp and it doesn’t look like that’s going to stop any time soon. The Cardinals next 4 games are against Denver, Washington, Oakland and Philadelphia. It’s possible that the Cardinals realized Larry Fitzgerald is still on the team over the bye week, but Brown has looked like a perfect fit for a Bruce Arians offense that likes to push the ball downfield.

Doug Baldwin, WR Seahawks: (31.1% on NFL)(15.9% on ESPN) This one’s all about the match-up, the Seahawks are team that will take what the defense gives them, and most week’s that’s Marshawn Lynch dragging defenders into the end zone. But with the Redskins playing well against the run and completely vulnerable through the air, I like Russell Wilson to turn to Baldwin early and often…that said Wilson does spread the ball around Washington has struggled enough that it could be Ricardo Lockette or Jermaine Kearse who goes off.

Jace Amaro, TE, Jets: (0.8% on NFL)(1.3% on ESPN) If Larry Donnell, Travis Kelce and Owen Daniels have already been claimed in your league, take a look at Jace Amaro. The rookie TE seems to expand his role in the offense every week, going from 3 rec for 14 yards in the first two weeks of the season to 8 rec for 112 yards in these last two games. Geno Smith trusts him, and the Jets offense promotes the success of a pass catching TE.

One to Watch:

Denard Robinson, RB, Jaguars: (0.2% on NFL)(0.6% on ESPN) I’m not quite read to pick him up outside of crazy deep leagues, but Toby Gerhart has not proven to be the workhorse we thought he’d be, as he split touches nearly down the middle with Robinson. I’d like to see those touches equate to more yards first, but if Bortles gets the Jags offense rolling and Gerhart continues to struggle Robinson could have some real relevance.

Streaming Defense of the Week:

Philadelphia Eagles: (14.4% on NFL)(8.2% on ESPN) If you grabbed San Diego last week, or they’re still available, I think it’s safe to roll with them again this week against a turnover prone Jets offense. If not, take a look at the Eagles at home this week against the Rams. The defense playing the Rams has scored a touchdown in 2 out of 3 games, and as long as Darren Sproles is the return man, this Special teams unit has a chance to score. (It might be asking too much after a 3 TD game for the special teams last week, but a nice match-up nonetheless.)

Streaming QB of the Week:

Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars: (4.4% on NFL)(4.6% on NFL) It will be the rookie’s home debut as a starter and he’ll be up against a Pittsburgh defense that has been vulnerable to the pass without Ike Taylor. In addition, young pass rushers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier have been banged up and the way the Steelers offense has been playing, the Jaguars are likely to be down and throwing. (And I know this blew up in my face with Kirk Cousins last week, but if you picked up Eli Manning last week he’s got another nice match-up with Atlanta this week.)