This is a pivotal week for fantasy owners as the first quarter of the NFL ends and bye weeks begin. The quarterback position is going to be especially thin for Marcus Mariota and Derek Carr owners. However, there is no need to panic. Looking at the waiver wires, there is a lot of talent waiting to be picked up out there that can pick up the slack and get you through the bye week stretch. So, here are the best quarterbacks owners to grab off waivers right away.
Fantasy football, Week 5: Best players available at quarterback in waivers, free agency
These waiver pickups can get you through the bye week lull and may even pay off later in the season.
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Hint: Think Rookies
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (8 percent)
The switch is on at QB for Chicago and it only took four bad games from Mike Glennon to make it happen. Everyone could see this move happening since preseason. Frankly, it is shocking that this move took so long to happen. Trubisky was a stud in the preseason. He threw 36 passes for 364 and three touchdowns in the exhibition games. He walks into a tough matchup on the big stage for his first official NFL start. Division rivals Minnesota Vikings come to town with the 10th best defense in the league. Trubisky may be able to exploit the Vikings weaker secondary though. They are ranked 26th against the pass. Regardless, Trubisky is going to blossom sooner than later this season. He is worth picking up and stashing if the start against the Vikings is too risky this week.
DeShaun Watson, Houston Texans (84 percent)
Back-to-back great performances have shot up DeShaun Watson’s fantasy value, but he is still lingering on waivers in some leagues. It will not last long. Week 3 Watson completed 22 of 33 passes for 301 yards and rushed eight times for 41 yards against the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. He followed that showing up in Week 4 with 283 passing yards and 24 rushing yards, five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing. Watson only had three interceptions in that same span. He has some weapons back now as well. Making a case rookie-of-the-year, Watson faces Kansas City Sunday. The Chiefs defense is strong, but they gave up 220 yards and two touchdowns to Kirk Cousins last week. If Watson is sitting around in your league, get him, now!
Brian Hoyer, San Francisco 49ers (8 percent)
During bye weeks owners should really pay attention to who has the best matchup because a decent quarterback can play great against a bad defense. Hoyer faces the Indianapolis Colts, one the worst defenses in the league, Sunday. The Colts have allowed 300 plus passing yards or multiple touchdowns to every opposing quarterback this season. Hoyer is a great one-week filer and is readily available.
