Staying active on the waiver wire is an important way for season-long fantasy owners to improve their teams and get an edge on the competition. Shifts in opportunities for players due to injuries or performance cause value spikes that owners can take advantage of to fill in roster holes to build a championship lineup.
Each week, we will discuss waiver wire targets at each position to consider for both the week ahead and the rest of the fantasy season.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds
* Current roster % in home leagues is noted in parentheses (from FantasyPros)
Jaxson Dart, QB (New York Giants) (25%)
Giants fans have to be thrilled with the opening performance of first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart after an upset win over the Chargers. The game plan veered toward ball control and low-risk play-calling with the rookie under center. Dart still managed a top-12 fantasy finish at the position due to his legs. He rushed 10 times for 54 yards and a score.
Dart avoided any big mistakes with his arm while completing 13 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he also lost his best receiving option, Malik Nabers, to a torn ACL during the game.
The Giants travel to New Orleans in a matchup of bottom-dwelling squads that could easily turn into a highly competitive game. Running quarterbacks are the cheat code for fantasy football and Dart will need to continue using his legs to open up the offense without their best receiving weapon. He rushed more than 100 times in each of his three seasons at Ole Miss and amassed nearly 1500 yards with 12 touchdowns. The passing game should get better as he gets his feet wet, but that running ability keeps him in play as a fantasy option.
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Woody Marks, RB (Houston Texans) (32%)
The late-round pick out of USC broke out in a much-needed way for the disappointing Texans offense. Woody Marks rushed 17 times for 69 yards and a score. He added four catches for 50 yards and another touchdown through the air.
The Houston backfield desperately needed a spark with the injury to presumed starter Joe Mixon and veteran Nick Chubb not showing his past explosiveness after his latest season-ending injury. In addition, C.J. Stroud has yet to find the magic of his rookie campaign through the air, averaging just 208 yards and a touchdown per game.
Marks earned a season-high 56% snap rate in Week 4 and has far more pass-catching ability than his backfield mate Chubb. Look for the Texans to continue increasing his workload with a lot of questions on the timetable for Mixon’s return.
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Wan’Dale Robinson WR (New York Giants) (43%)
Fantasy value follows opportunity and the season-ending injury to superstar wideout Malik Nabers leaves a gaping chasm in the wide receiver targets for the Giants. Wan’Dale Robinson was the clear number two receiving target in New York with Russell Wilson through the first three weeks of the season, amassing 15 catches on 22 targets.
Jaxson Dart served as an emotional spark plug for the Giants offense in Week 4 with a surprising upset win over the Chargers, but most of the team’s offensive output came on the ground. Dart threw for just 111 yards and a single score on 20 attempts
The Giants have a great matchup in New Orleans this week and Dart should get more chances to put air under the football. Robinson showed his ceiling potential in Week 2 with eight catches for 142 yards and a score. He is an obvious pickup in most fantasy formats.
Darren Waller, TE (Miami Dolphins) (9%)
What a roller coaster of a career, and life, Darren Waller has gone through. After officially retiring in June 2024, Waller was traded to the Dolphins in the offseason and decided to keep playing. He made his Miami debut on Monday night and caught two touchdowns.
The tight end waiver wire is not exactly ripe for the picking. Other potential adds are the likes of Brenton Strange, Dalton Schultz, and Theo Johnson. Those guys are probably better consistent high-floor options that will likely see 4-6 low-value targets each game.
Waller is a complete wild card, but tight ends that catch touchdowns are generally valuable in fantasy football. Miami clearly has a plan to use him in the red zone and they also just lost Tyreek Hill. If you are looking for a dart throw option, Waller is a fun proposition at the end of a bench.
Arizona Cardinals, D/ST (27%)
Have the Arizona Cardinals been a standout defense for fantasy owners thus far in 2025? No.
Do the Cardinals get to play a team with a rookie quarterback and lackluster skill players that just got shut out last week? Yes.
The Titans travel west to Glendale this week after getting blanked by a strong Texans defense. Cam Ward was held to just 108 passing yards on 26 attempts and Tennessee managed a total of 175 yards on offense in the entire game.
Arizona did post three sacks last week against Sam Darnold and the Seahawks but has eight total sacks and four turnovers forced on the season. This may be a get-right game for Josh Sweat, Darius Robinson, and the Cardinals defense. They are worth a one-week flyer.
Pictured: Jaxson Dart
Photo Credit: Imagn
