Week 5 is here, and you already know what that means: waiver wire time. Matty and I have been going through the games, looking at usage, production, and roles, and at this point in the season we are starting to get a much clearer picture of who is actually worth chasing.
That’s really what we’re looking for with this list. We’re not going to give you a bunch of obvious names who are already rostered everywhere. We want the players who are still sitting on waiver wires and continue to give us reasons to pay attention.
By Week 5, some of these roles are becoming a little more trustworthy. We’re starting to see which players are earning consistent touches, which guys are becoming real parts of their offenses, and which early-season performances were more than just a one-week flash.
There are still going to be surprises. Depth charts change, injuries create opportunities, and college football can flip everything in a hurry. But now we have enough data to start being a little more aggressive with the players we believe in.
We went through the games, found the guys we like, and now we’re going to tell you who we’re actually trying to add this week.
Quarterbacks
Matthew: Landyn Locke (Sam Houston)
Rostered: 9%
Locke is still basically free in most C2C leagues, and I think he’s a really solid option if you need help at QB. This past week against Texas Tech wasn’t great from a fantasy standpoint, but that’s not really something I’m overreacting to. That was a tougher matchup, and it showed.
What I care more about is what this looks like moving forward. The schedule starts to ease up, and that should put him in a much better spot to produce consistently. He’s already shown he can get you around that 25-point range, and if that’s your floor from a waiver QB, you take that every time.
He doesn’t need to be a league-winner to have value. If you need a fill-in or you’re struggling at QB, this is an easy add where you’re just trying to stabilize the position and get usable production each week.
Kevin: Marcus Stokes (Memphis)
Rostered: 53%
I know Stokes is already rostered in 53% of leagues, but honestly, that number needs to be a lot closer to 100%. If he is somehow still available in your C2C league, he should be one of the first quarterbacks you are looking to add. Stokes was excellent again against UT Martin, completing 26 of 32 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns. He spread those touchdowns around to four different receivers, avoided turnovers, and continued to look completely comfortable running this Memphis offense.
At this point, this is not just one good game either. Through four starts, Stokes has thrown for 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns while completing over 71% of his passes. Memphis is also averaging over 500 yards of total offense, and that is exactly the kind of environment we want to chase in CFF.
The biggest thing for me is that this offense is giving him everything we want. Volume, efficiency, scoring opportunities, and a system that is going to keep putting pressure on defenses. He is playing his first FBS season after transferring from West Florida, but he has not looked overwhelmed at all. Memphis does have a bye before opening conference play against Charlotte, so some managers might overlook him this week because he is not giving you immediate production. I would use that to your advantage.
At 53% rostered, Stokes is more available than he should be. I am not treating him like a speculative add anymore. If he is on your waiver wire, go get him. He needs to be rostered in basically every C2C league.
Running Backs
Dear Readers,
If you’re looking to get a real head start in your dynasty, devy, or C2C leagues, consider joining either our Substack or the website. Both provide actionable, edge-driven content built to help you stay ahead of the field.
Substack is our most affordable option at just $7/month and gives you access to all of our written content.
For those who want everything in one place, the website offers three membership tiers ($8/$12/$16) and includes all written content plus exclusive tools, rankings, features, and community access.
However you choose to support us, we truly appreciate you being part of what we’re building and trusting us to help you win.
Be sure to check out Matty’s Substack as well!
