FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire: Must-Have Players to Add to Your Roster (Ep. 1740)
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia), Derek "DBro" Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice
Overview
This episode dives deep into the top waiver wire pickups for Week 5 of the NFL fantasy football season, with a focus on navigating the emerging injuries, bye weeks, and surprise breakout players. Joe, Dbro, and Pat break down the best running back and wide receiver adds, discuss streamer options at quarterback and tight end, and provide actionable advice for fantasy managers trying to stay ahead of trends. The episode's tone is energetic, expert, and fun, with plenty of banter and strong opinions from the hosts.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Waiver Wire Add of the Week: Woody Marks (RB, Houston Texans)
- Context: Texans' backfield shifts as Marks emerges as the clear leader after a big game (17 carries, 69 yards, 1 rush TD; 4 catches, 1 receiving TD).
- Pat: "Maybe up to half of your budget is warranted if you need help. Even if he only gives flex value, that's valuable heading into bye weeks." (03:34)
- Stats: Played 56% snaps, out-snapped Nick Chubb, and led in carries and routes. Positive game script makes his dual-threat role even more impressive.
- DBro: "The spend on him starts at like 40, 45% and goes up to 60-65. He's the clear leader in the backfield." (05:39)
- Schedule Note: Bye in Week 6, tricky matchups ahead, but the schedule opens up after Denver with more winnable matchups.
- Outlook: Potential RB2, top-15 overall back if the role continues.
2. Running Back Rundown
Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers)
- Performance: 19 carries, 99 yards, 2 TDs, 6 receptions.
- DBro: "He's the clear handcuff. Caleb Johnson is in the doghouse. Gainwell is the backup or starter if Warren isn't healthy." (08:49)
- Pat: "Could turn into a 50/50 or 60/40 split with Warren. Valuable flex in bye weeks - not a must-add, but a solid stash." (10:06)
- FAAB Guidance: Low (6-8%) due to the bye week and uncertain long-term role.
Other Notable RBs
- Blake Corum (Rams): Remains a strong stash—should be rostered everywhere.
- Rashard Smith (Chiefs): "This could be the next Woody Marks." (12:11, Dbro). Explosive, getting limited snaps/touches, but the talent and opportunity could increase if KC moves away from Hunt/Pacheco.
3. **Emergence and Traps:
Xavier Scott (Vikings)**
- Pat: "I kind of think he's fool's gold... likely just a game-script blip, not a repeatable role." (13:52)
- Outlook: Avoid prioritizing him—with Aaron Jones due back soon, value is fleeting.
4. RB Drop Decisions
- Brian Robinson: Hold if possible, elite handcuff upside.
- Tank Bigsby (Eagles): Okay to drop—Eagles backfield a likely committee in event of injury, no clarity for handcuffs.
- General Advice: Prefer stashing handcuffs in clear situations (e.g., Corum) rather than messy committees.
5. Wide Receivers: Navigating Injury Fallout
Troy Franklin (Broncos)
- DBro (19:58): "If you can get him tossed in cheap into a trade, please do so… clear WR2 in Denver, 20% target share, great upcoming schedule for fantasy."
- Usage: Full-time role, solid target share, strong matchups in coming weeks.
Jalen Coker (Panthers)
- Pat: "They desperately need another pass catcher. Coker instantly becomes the #2 in an offense always playing catch-up." (21:38)
- Advice: Worth a speculative add, especially in WR needy teams—likely available for free or $1-2 FAAB.
Romeo Doubs (Packers)
- Pat: Low-level investment at best due to week-to-week target inconsistency and Packers' run-first tendencies. "He's going to be really hit and miss and really frustrating." (24:24)
- DBro: Frustrating to trust weekly; best as a low-cost fill-in or stash.
Jaden Higgins (Texans)
- DBro: "Talent's not the problem, it's the coaching staff… If you've got room, stash him; talent rises eventually." (28:17)
- Outlook: High-upside deep league stash.
Darius Slayton (Giants) vs. Jalen Tolbert (Cowboys)
- Slayton: "He got a crap ton of volume... He's not a Neighbors replacement, but he's the top option in the aftermath." (32:07, Dbro)
- Tolbert: More likely to disappear when CeeDee Lamb returns.
- Verdict: Prefer Slayton in all but the shallowest formats.
Isaiah Bond (Browns)
- DBro: 1–2% flyer, elite speed and talent, but passing offense is dusty—wait for QB change. (33:53)
- Pat: "If you want to take a bet on the talent, sure. But Joe Flacco isn’t supporting anyone right now." (34:48)
Drop Recommendations:
- Trey Tucker, Tyquan Thornton: Move on for more promising speculative adds (see Franklin, Coker, Slayton).
6. Quarterback, Tight End, and Defense Streamers
Quarterbacks
- Pat: Sam Darnold vs. Buccaneers — "Consistently in the top 15 since Week 1, even with lower passing volume." (38:24)
- DBro: Jackson Dart (Giants) vs. Saints — "QB9 for the week, rushing upside is real, floor is strong.” (39:07)
Tight Ends
- DBro: Dalton Schultz (Texans) vs. Baltimore — "PPR goodness over the last two games, top-12 tight end this week for me." (39:46)
- Pat: Theo Johnson (Giants) vs. Saints — "Maybe playable with Neighbors out; Saints aren’t a bad tight end matchup." (40:19)
Defenses
- Pat: Cleveland Browns vs. Vikings (in London). "Carson Wentz is a turnover and sack machine — fire up the Browns D." (41:17)
- DBro: Arizona Cardinals vs. Titans. "Cam Ward turning the ball over, giving up sacks; Arizona a sneaky good streamer." (41:48)
Kickers
- DBro: Spencer — "Kicker 1 in fantasy points per game. Double digits every game." (42:24)
- Pat: Chad Ryland (AZ Cardinals) — "Facing Titans, who give up 30 points per game: great kicker spot." (42:34)
7. Waiver Priorities – Top 5 Picks
Dbro's Top 5 (44:06)
- Woody Marks (RB, Texans)
- Troy Franklin (WR, Broncos)
- Jalen Coker (WR, Panthers)
- Jackson Dart (QB, Giants)
- Dalton Schultz (TE, Texans)
Pat's Top 5 (44:28)
- Woody Marks
- Tyjae Spears (RB, Titans) — notably under-rostered, eligible to come off IR, "unseen juice out of Tony Pollard—Spears could get real work soon."
- Jalen Coker
- Kyle Monangai (RB, Bears) — "Swift is dust, Monangai could take over after the bye."
- Sam Darnold (QB, Seahawks) for QB floor, or Jackson Dart for upside.
FAAB Guidance
- Woody Marks: Up to 50–65% if RB needy.
- Franklin/Coker/Smith: 5–10% depending on team needs.
- Spears/Monangai: Deep stash with upside; check for availability.
- Others: Under 5%, sneaky stashes.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Woody Marks:
- "If he keeps his 60% snap share in the backfield…Top 15 back moving forward, considering the role." — Dbro, (06:39)
- On the Chiefs backfield:
- "Kareem Hunt and Isaiah Pacheco are not it. Go add Rashard Smith, he's the guy. Like, instead of paying up for Kenneth Gainwell, I'd take the flyer on Smith." — Dbro, (12:27)
- On Packers WRs:
- "We're playing Russian roulette for which player this week goes off for Green Bay." — Dbro, (26:21)
- On Darius Slayton's outlook:
- "In those [two] games [without Neighbors], Darius Slayton was the unquestioned WR1. He got a 29% target share." — Dbro, (32:07)
- On the Browns' passing game:
- "Joe Flacco…not a rainmaker anymore. Drought conditions along the shores of Lake Erie." — Pat, (34:48)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Main Waiver Wire Add (Woody Marks): 03:34–07:09
- RBs Rapid Run-Down: 08:49–15:47
- WR Add Analysis (Franklin, Coker, Dobbs, etc.): 19:26–36:55
- Weekly Streamers (QB, TE, DEF, K): 38:24–43:11
- Top 5 Waiver Claims: 44:06–46:37
Summary Table: Top Week 5 Waiver Adds
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Roster % | Reason/Opportunity | FAAB Guidance | |------|------------------|----------|------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------| | 1 | Woody Marks | RB | Houston Texans | ~30% Yahoo | Now lead back, dual-threat, favorable upcoming schedule | 40–65% if RB-needy | | 2-3 | Troy Franklin | WR | Denver Broncos | 45% | Full-time WR2, steady targets & favorable schedule | 7–15% | | | Jalen Coker | WR | Carolina Panthers| 14% | Immediate #2 target on pass-heavy, weak-team offense | 3–10% | | 4 | Tyjae Spears | RB | Tennessee Titans | 35% | Explosive, Pollard inefficient, could carve larger role | 5–7% | | 5 | Rashard Smith | RB | Kansas City | 6% | Most explosive KC RB; Hunt+Pacheco struggling | 3–7% | | - | Slayton, Higgins, Bond | WR | Giants/other | <10% | Volume-based, deep or bye relief, upside stashes | 1–3% |
Final Takeaways
- Be proactive, not reactive: Stash high-upside players (Woody Marks, Franklin, Coker, Smith) before roles are fully clear—bye weeks amplify their value.
- Monitor drops: Players like Monangai or Spears could pop if the incumbent goes down or returns from IR; check weekly.
- Bye week survival: Utilize streamers at QB, TE, and DEF with favorable matchups (Darnold/Dart, Schultz/Johnson, Browns/Cardinals).
- Beware fool’s gold: Don’t chase fluky one-week performers (Xavier Scott, Trey Tucker).
- Prioritize roles, not just recent box scores: Look for ascending roles, not just last week’s outliers.
For specific waiver wire advice tailored to your own roster, use the tools at fantasypros.com/myplaybook or their app. The waiver conversation continues weekly, with live reactions and additional analysis every Tuesday at 3pm Eastern on YouTube.
Hosts:
- Joey P: @JoePisapia17
- Derek “DBro” Brown: @DBro_FFB
- Pat Fitzmaurice: @Fitz_FF