Week 5 of the 2017 regular season is just about coming to a close with the Monday Night game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wires late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.
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We will be ranking the top five players likely to be available in your league at each of the four major positions. Some weeks there might not be five good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change and news arrives. The following ownership percentages come via CBS Sportsline entering Week 5.
Jaron Brown, Arizona Cardinals (50 percent ownership)
Here are Carson Palmer’s pass attempts, game-by-game: 48, 36, 48, 51, 44. Even with all the mouths to feed in the passing game — and you can add John Brown (40 percent owned) to the list of available receivers — Palmer is keeping everyone fed. Jaron Brown had six targets on Sunday, giving him 35 over four games. They won’t all be duds like Sunday in Philadelphia — the Cardinals always struggle in 1 p.m. East Coast games — so expect both Browns to continue to post solid numbers.
Mike Wallace, Baltimore Ravens (47)
It’s not pretty in Baltimore, but Wallace is suddenly getting it done to the tune of back-to-back double-digit scoring weeks. In Week 4, it was about volume, as he turned 10 targets into a 6-55-1 line. On Sunday, there were only three targets and no touchdowns, but he caught all three for 133 yards. If you need a bye-week fill-in, and the Ravens opponent struggles with outside receivers, Wallace is worth a look.
The Eagles have faced a lot of tough cover men this season, which has really hampered Alshon Jeffery’s effectiveness. It has opened the door for Agholor and Torrey Smith (12 percent owned) to soak up targets and rack up touchdowns. Keep these guys in mind with games against Denver and the Giants still on the schedule.
Ricardo Louis, Cleveland Browns (0)
Kenny Britt is as good as gone in Cleveland and it’s Louis, not Rashard Higgins, who has filled the void. Louis had five receptions for the second straight week, with a total of 135 yards over those games, and if the more accurate Kevin Hogan becomes the starter over DeShone Kizer, Louis has a chance to put up much bigger numbers going forward.
Roger Lewis, New York Giants (0)
It’s Misery at the Meadowlands, with Odell Beckham Jr. almost certainly out for the season with a broken ankle. Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard also left Sunday’s game with ankle injuries. Lewis is the next man up, and he at least turned his only reception into a 29-yard touchdown. Lewis has no choice but to become an asset here, and he’s worth a stash to see if he’s up to the challenge.
