Week 5 waiver guide prioritizes trimming aging or injured backs, underperforming receivers, and tight ends while stressing not dropping elite talent. Joe Mixon's injury opens a cut window, Kaleb Johnson and other Steelers backs remain peripheral, and Calvin Ridley's Titans stretch keeps him a boom/bust option. Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers face depth questions behind their stars, while Isiah Pacheco’s usage hints at a sell-high window. Chubb and Woody Marks shape a potential backfield shift. The piece helps managers sharpen drops, adds, and roster balance for Week 5.

Week 5 waiver decisions hinge on injury news and opportunity. Malik Nabers appears to be out for the season with a torn ACL, reshaping the Giants’ receiving corps behind Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton as Jaxson Dart runs the offense. Several veterans—Ridley, Kupp, Njoku, Chubb—salt away modest Week 4 outputs that push fantasy managers toward smarter pickups and smarter drops. The picker tool weighs projections, schedule and bye weeks to guide who to chase and drop this week.

Key targets: Browns’ backfield depth with Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford, Raiders’ receiver/slot upside with Tre Tucker, and Giants’ pass-game pivots without Nabers. The analysis leans into opportunity plays, high-usage backs, and steady floor receivers to help you navigate a tricky Week 5 slate.