Fantasy football is back! We bring you our weekly list of players who might be potential waiver wire busts or who have downside. Some of these players may appear in our waiver wire suggestions, but this list is designed to point out factors that could impact or limit their production.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice, Week 5: Hot players with potential downside
Fantasy football is back! So are injuries and now bye weeks, though, so you may be looking for a short-term fix or a long-term solution. There are some players who are hot on the waiver wire lists who could have some potential downside. We bring you the top-five list here.
Hannah Foslien
RB Bobby Rainey -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (owned in 42 percent of all leagues)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey has been a popular waiver wire pickup the past couple of weeks but hasn’t been a reliable target. After a disastrous start in Week 3 in which he fumbled twice early on, he was relegated to a nominal backup role in Week 4. Rainey carried the ball a mere four times for 2 yards and added one reception for 16 yards. Rainey should come with a buyer beware tag until his role becomes more defined or unless Doug Martin misses more time.
RB Ben Tate -- Cleveland Browns (owned in 66 percent of all leagues)
Cleveland Browns running back Ben Tate looks set to return after the bye, though no official word has yet been released. It's no wonder he is a popular look on the waiver wire considering how porous the Titans run defense has been this year. The Titans are giving up the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs and Trent Richardson hit them for a touchdown. Still, Tate is expected to get only about 15 carries on his return and can't stay healthy to save his life.
RB Jerick McKinnon -- Minnesota Vikings (owned in 17 percent of all leagues)
Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon finally got going with an 18-carry, 135-yard rushing performance, albeit against a weak Atlanta Falcons defense which is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. McKinnon added one reception for 17 yards and his talent clearly outshone that of Matt Asiata. Asiata still got more carries than McKinnon by a margin of 20-18, though, so McKinnon's role remains as a change-of-pace option for the time being. He is a threat to go the distance at any time and could continue to improve on his role, but the Vikings won't always face a giving run defense like Atlanta's.
QB Kyle Orton -- Buffalo Bills (owned in 1 percent of all leagues)
The Buffalo Bills have turned to veteran quarterback Kyle Orton after second-year QB EJ Manuel continued to struggle as the starter, and Orton is getting some action in fantasy. The journeyman quarterback could be a good bye week replacement but otherwise isn't a good option in standard leagues. Orton hasn't played more than five games in a season since 2011, and hasn't thrown double-digit touchdowns since 2010.
TE Dwayne Allen -- Indianapolis Colts (owned in 40 percent of all leagues)
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen has scored in every game but one this year, and only got three targets in the Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans. However, he took advantage of his limited opportunities. Allen likely will continue to split targets with fellow tight ends Coby Fleener and Jack Doyle, so it is unlikely his scoring potential continues. Fleener still has more targets than Allen at 19-15, and two touchdowns of his own. The Colts face Baltimore, Houston and Cincinnati in their next three games and they are all good defenses against tight ends -- particularly Baltimore, which is giving up the third-fewest points.
