Fantasy Football: Week 5 Waiver Wire Report

Robert Tonyan has become a prime target of Aaron Rodgers. The former Indiana State tight end has been impressive.

By Craig Forrestal

I am so fed up with Joshua Kelley! I am going to drop him and add something speculative.

Cell Phone Dings.

ALERT: Austin Ekeler leaves game with injury.

I bet you are kicking yourself for dropping Joshua Kelley; aren’t you?

This year has shown that if nothing else you can’t predict the injuries.

Let us take a look at how you can make it through this week of busts, byes and the injured.

Week 5 Waiver Wire Report

Joshua Kelley/ RB/ LA Chargers: Kelley has come crashing back down to reality after a strong first 2 weeks. Kelley has lost fumbles in back-to-back weeks and has tallied 17 carries for 50 yards with 5 targets for 5 catches and 35 yards in those 2 games. Not great. His first 2 games were much better as he logged 35 carries for 124 yards and 1 TD. Now he is due for a BIG ROLE. The coaching staff likes Kelley and even with his growing pains, he should handle the 1A role in a committee with Justin Jackson. The schedule is ideal in October and November. Seriously, it is possibly the best run schedule in the league over that upcoming span. IF, and that is a big IF, he is still available grab him immediately. He is an RB2 with upside. Plus he handled all goal-line carries with Ekeler. Next 3: @ Saints, Jets and @ Dolphins
Justin Jackson/ RB/ LA Chargers: Justin Jackson is a super athletic RB that posted 4 straight 1000+ yard rushing seasons at Northwestern. For his college career, he added 848 receiving yards on 121 catches and 7 TDs. While he is not Austin Ekeler he will serve a role in Ekeler’s absence. If Kelley continues to struggle, then Jackson has shown the ability to play at the NFL level before and could take over the backfield. He averaged almost 7 YPC in 2019 and 2018 was good for just over 4 YPC. Expect Jackson to be productive when given touches. Jackson will give the offense the ability to still do some of the things they drew up exclusively for Ekeler. Next 3: @ Saints, Jets and @ Dolphins
Robert Tonyan/ TE/ Green Bay Packers: Yes, he goes on bye. However, he has caught 5 TDs from Aaron Rodgers in the last 3 weeks. And when 12 finds a toy he likes he uses it. Tonyan went to Indiana State as a QB and moved to WR before he transitioned to TE during the draft process in 2017. He is a natural athlete and is showing that his offseason training with George Kittle is paying off. Tonyan is making plays in an offense desperate for pass-catching playmakers. His snap count is there as well; he is playing around 60% of snaps over the last 3 games. Next 3: Bye, @ Buccaneers and @ Texans
D’Ernest Johnson/ RB/ Cleveland Browns: From the talent-rich Immokalee High School in Florida, Johnson went to South Florida where he showed a utility-like skill set as he supplemented Marlon Mack at South Florida. He finished as USF’s career leader in all-purpose yards (4,186), receptions by a running back (73), and receiving yards by a running back (909). Every year there is a feel-good story in the NFL and this year it might just be Johnson. After going undrafted, Johnson was fishing for Mahi Mahi in Key West with a friend. He needed a job to survive but he still dreamt of his day in the NFL. Here we are. With Nick Chubb expected to miss considerable time, the Browns run-heavy offense and Johnson’s performance Sunday (13 carries for 95 yards) I would expect him to stay involved. Next 3: Colts, @ Steelers and @ Bengals
Justin Herbert/ QB/ LA Chargers: Can we talk about Pep Hamilton for a minute and the job he has done as the QB Coach for the Chargers? Herbert has looked phenomenal filling in for Tyrod Taylor and makes it harder and harder for Anthony Lynn to go back to Taylor. Herbert has thrown for at least 290 yards in his 3 games and 1+ TDs. Next up is the Saints that aren’t exactly dominant against the pass. Next 3: @ Saints, Jets and @ Dolphins
Damien Harris/ RB/ New England Patriots: A 2019 3rd Round Pick by New England out of Alabama, Harris looks like he can be a workhorse for Bill Belichick. But as we know The Hoodie will rotate backs and attack with whatever back is the ‘hot hand’ making it tough to assess weekly. However, Harris went for 100 yards in his first NFL start in a game where the Chiefs knew the Patriots had to run the ball without Cam Newton. Harris also handled 17 carries which are a season-high for New England RBs. While James White has a total grasp of the pass-catching role, Harris can still be effective and fantasy-relevant. Next 3: Broncos, Bye, 49ers

Potential Waiver Wire Traps