Fantasy Football 2016: Early Week 5 Waiver-Wire Pickups, Add/Drop

Week 5 figures to be one of the more difficult for fantasy football owners as a number of top scorers rest up on their bye. But the waiver wire still has several options for owners who either didn’t plan ahead or are reeling from season-ending injuries to their starters or backups.

Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle, and Jacksonville will all have their byes in Week 5, leaving fantasy owners short at almost every single position.

With that in mind, and to help make your decisions prior to Week 5 easier, here are our early waive-wire picks following the first wave of games. Keep in mind, others can emerge and injuries will likely happen later in Week 4, but give these guys a close look.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Signed four days ago after New Orleans unceremoniously dropped him, Spiller had an immediate impact in Week 4. He capped a seven-play, 92-yard drive with an eight-yard reception in the second quarter. But he’s just the latest addition in a major backfield vacuum in Seattle since Marshawn Lynch left. Spiller’s owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues, meaning most believed he would replicate his last year with New Orleans. Spiller may have a long-term impact, but Christine Michael should still take the bulk of the carries.

C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Houston Texans

Fiedorowicz garnered five targets halfway through the second quarter in Week 4, two-better than his previous career-high for a game. Temper expectations here unless your roster is in dire need of a tight end. Fiedorowicz got all those targets because Tennessee managed to control receiver DeAndre Hopkins, something that won’t happen on a consistent basis.

Eddie Royal, WR, Chicago Bears

Quarterback Brian Hoyer found Royal more times in the first half of Week 4 (five targets) then he did in all of Week 3’s loss to Dallas. The issue here is whether Royal will be effective once Jay Cutler comes back or not. When Cutler was under center Royal earned six targets in two straight games, making him a reasonable WR3 or FLEX2 on your roster. Royal’s available in 89 percent of Yahoo and 90.1 of ESPN leagues.

Others to monitor/consider: DeAndre Washington, RB, Oakland Raiders; Chris Thompson, RB, Washington Redskins; Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo Bills; Anquan Boldin, WR, Detroit Lions