Week 5 Waiver Wire: The 8 Best Claims
Season: 2026 | Every player here is rostered in fewer than 35% of leagues. Each gets the STM waiver score out of 100: the points his touches and targets should score (45%), his floor, the median of his last four games (40%), and his share of the team's work (15%), each ranked against every running back, receiver and tight end. Tested on 2024 and 2025, the weekly top 10 averaged about 10 PPR points a game over the next three.1. Darius Cooper (WR, PHI): 87
Smith hurt: 22% → 90% snaps. Rostered in 9% of leagues. Expected points 88, floor 84, usage 91 (50 is an average starter-level role). Spend big. Week 5 WR board →2. Dohnte Meyers (WR, CIN): 84
Chase hurt: 30% → 89% snaps. Rostered in 11% of leagues. Expected points 82, floor 91, usage 69 (50 is an average starter-level role). Spend big. Week 5 WR board →3. Michael Mayer (TE, LV): 76
10 looks, up from 4.7 a game. Rostered in 18% of leagues. Expected points 72, floor 79, usage 82 (50 is an average starter-level role). Spend big. Week 5 TE board →4. Darren Waller (TE, CAR): 70
53% snaps, 6 targets. Rostered in 21% of leagues. Expected points 73, floor 66, usage 73 (50 is an average starter-level role). Claim. Week 5 TE board →5. Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN): 70
Snaps 35% → 51% → 62%. Rostered in 25% of leagues. Expected points 59, floor 86, usage 58 (50 is an average starter-level role). Claim. Week 5 TE board →6. Tyquan Thornton (WR, KC): 69
8 looks, up from 2.3 a game. Rostered in 1% of leagues. Expected points 73, floor 67, usage 63 (50 is an average starter-level role). Claim. Week 5 WR board →7. Emanuel Wilson (RB, SEA): 68
25 touches, up from 11.0 a game. Rostered in 82% of leagues. Expected points 86, floor 49, usage 64 (50 is an average starter-level role). Claim. Week 5 RB board →8. Ollie Gordon II (RB, MIA): 66
56% snaps, 11 touches. Rostered in 74% of leagues. Expected points 68, floor 61, usage 72 (50 is an average starter-level role). Claim. Week 5 RB board →How to read this
A next man up is worth the most while the starter is out; a steady riser keeps the role. Points follow looks by about a week.