Week 4 thinned out three backfields and two receiver rooms. Saquon Barkley hurt his hamstring and will miss Week 5, and Tank Bigsby is headed to injured reserve behind him. Seattle’s Jadarian Price is on IR with a chest injury. DJ Moore re-aggravated his shoulder, Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) is questionable and Tee Higgins has an adductor injury. Monday night added one name to the conversation: the Falcons beat the Saints 45-24 behind five rushing touchdowns, three of them from Brian Robinson Jr. Free Agent Triage reads this week’s waiver columns from FantasyPros, Yahoo, NFL.com, SI, The Big Lead, Bleacher Report, Fantasy Life and FantraxHQ, logs every name they recommend, then checks each one against usage, the injury report and the next three matchups.

Rankings are built for half-PPR, with PPR and standard notes where the format changes the call. Rostered percentages are Yahoo numbers, and where sources disagree we say so. FAAB bids assume a $100 budget. Every player listed is rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues, though Emanuel Wilson sits one point under the line.

1. Emanuel Wilson, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Rostered: 49% | FAAB: 9% | Next three: vs. SF, at DEN, vs. KC

The case: With Price out, Wilson started and took 21 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 39 yards and another score. That is 24 touches and 27 PPR points. Price is on IR through at least Week 7 according to The Big Lead, and FantasyPros says a minimum of three games. Zach Charbonnet is working back from his ACL tear and Joe Mixon just signed, so the workload will shrink.

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. NFL.com leads with him, and Yahoo, FantasyPros, SI and The Big Lead all list him. The rostered number is a close call. Yahoo, FantasyPros and The Big Lead have him at 49%, SI at 61% and Fantasy Life at 73%. Check your league before bidding. Suggested bids run from $6 (The Big Lead) to $12 (FantasyPros), so 9% splits it.

Prognosis: RB2 while Price is out. Expect the touches to fall once Charbonnet is healthy. In PPR he gains from the three catches. In standard he is a touchdown bet.

2. Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Rostered: 1% | FAAB: 9% | Next three: at JAX (London), vs. CAR, vs. DAL

The case: SI says Barkley’s hamstring injury does not look overly serious, but he is out for Week 5 and could miss more. Bigsby was the expected replacement and is headed to IR. Shipley had six carries for 23 yards in Week 4 and is the passing-down back, which makes him the healthy option. The Jaguars game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern in London.

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. Yahoo ranks him first overall at $9, and The Big Lead, FantasyPros, Bleacher Report and Fantasy Life all list him. His rostered rate runs from under 1% to 6% depending on the source, and Yahoo has 1%.

Prognosis: Starting RB2 for as long as Barkley is out, then a handcuff. He ranks behind Wilson because he has six carries of proof, not 24 touches. If Wilson is gone in your league, Shipley is your top add.

3. Keaton Mitchell, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Rostered: 35% | FAAB: 6% | Next three: vs. DEN, at KC, bye

The case: Mitchell out-touched Omarion Hampton 15 to 11 in Week 4, with 10 carries and 63 yards on 15 touches. The Chargers are running a three-man committee, and Mitchell has pulled ahead of Hampton in the last two weeks. Ladd McConkey aggravated a foot injury, which pushes more of the offense through the backfield.

Consensus check: Backed by Yahoo, The Big Lead and SI. Yahoo and The Big Lead have him at 35% and SI at 36%. Bids run from $4 to $9.

Prognosis: Flex in half-PPR and a timeshare back with a Week 7 bye. Keep the bid modest.

4. Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills

Rostered: 4% | FAAB: 5% | Next three: at LAR, at LV, bye

The case: Coleman caught six of seven targets for 116 yards and a touchdown after Moore left with the shoulder injury, and ran a route on 77.8% of dropbacks. Moore’s timeline is unclear. SI and Fantasy Life say it is not considered a long-term issue, while NFL.com expects multiple weeks. Buffalo plays at the Rams on Monday night.

Consensus check: Widely backed. NFL.com headlines its column with him, and Yahoo, FantasyPros, SI, The Big Lead and Bleacher Report list him. Yahoo, NFL.com and The Big Lead have him at 4%. SI shows 15% and Fantasy Life 28%, so those two are outliers. Bids run from $3 (Yahoo) to $7 (The Big Lead).

Prognosis: Flex while Moore sits, bench piece when he returns. Coleman never saw more than four targets in a game before this one, so do not pay for a breakout.

5. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Rostered: 29% | FAAB: 5% | Next three: at NO, bye, vs. IND

The case: Hockenson caught 13 of 13 targets for 119 yards against Miami with Justin Jefferson out. The Vikings are 4-0 and have a Week 6 bye.

Consensus check: Backed by The Big Lead, Bleacher Report, SI and Yahoo’s early waiver column. The rostered number splits widely: The Big Lead has 29%, Bleacher Report 30%, SI 40% and NFL.com 55%. At 55% he would be off this board, so confirm in your league.

Prognosis: Top-10 TE while Jefferson is out. When Jefferson returns, the target share drops. Pay for the next month.

6. Dohnte Meyers, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Rostered: 1% | FAAB: 4% | Next three: at MIA, bye, at BAL

The case: The undrafted rookie caught seven of nine targets for 82 yards with Chase and Higgins both hurt. Chase is questionable for Week 5 per SI, and Fantasy Life expects both receivers to stay out through the Week 6 bye.

Consensus check: Backed by Yahoo, NFL.com, The Big Lead and Fantasy Life. Yahoo has him at 1%, NFL.com and The Big Lead at 0%, and Fantasy Life at 5%. Bids run from $3 to $5.

Prognosis: One-week fill-in. If Chase plays, Meyers goes back to the bench. Check the Injury Report before kickoff.

7. Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Rostered: 7% | FAAB: 2% | Next three: at MIA, bye, at BAL

The case: Gesicki has a touchdown in three of four games, including three catches for 40 yards and a score in Week 4. He is the red-zone favorite, and his volume rises if Chase or Higgins sits.

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. Yahoo, NFL.com, FantasyPros, The Big Lead, Bleacher Report and SI list him. Yahoo, The Big Lead and Bleacher Report have him at 7%, NFL.com at 10% and SI at 16%.

Prognosis: Touchdown-dependent streamer. Meyers and Gesicki share a matchup and an injury situation, so adding both is a bet on the same outcome.

8. Tre’ Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Rostered: 9% | FAAB: 2% | Next three: vs. DEN, at KC, bye

The case: Harris has 13 catches for 209 yards on 21 targets through four games, and The Big Lead says he played every second-half snap in Week 4. McConkey’s foot injury could open more work.

Consensus check: Backed by Yahoo, NFL.com, The Big Lead, Bleacher Report and SI. Four sources have him at 9%, and SI shows 15%.

Prognosis: Flex only if McConkey sits. Otherwise a bench stash.

9. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: 10% | FAAB: 2% | Next three: vs. IND, at TB, vs. NO (France)

The case: Rodgers has thrown three touchdown passes in each of the last two games. Kansas City and Carolina are both on bye in Week 5, which leaves a lot of managers needing a quarterback. Bleacher Report has the Colts allowing 20.5 points per game to quarterbacks.

Consensus check: Widely backed by Yahoo, The Big Lead, Bleacher Report, SI, NFL.com and Fantasy Life. Yahoo, The Big Lead and Bleacher Report have him at 10%, NFL.com at 7% and SI at 14%.

Prognosis: A streamer who has produced QB1 weeks. He holds value in superflex. The format does not change the call.

10. Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins

Rostered: 31% | FAAB: 3% | Next three: vs. CIN, bye, at NYJ

The case: Washington caught five of five targets for 67 yards and led Miami in receptions and targets. The Dolphins are 0-4 and thin on volume.

Consensus check: Backed by Yahoo, NFL.com, SI and The Big Lead. Yahoo and The Big Lead have him at 31%, NFL.com at 28% and SI at 49%.

Prognosis: A PPR flex with a low ceiling. In half-PPR he is a bye-week fill-in, and in standard leagues you can skip him.

Just Missed the Cut

Kirk Cousins, QB, Raiders (17% to 23%): He threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns on 52 attempts against Kansas City and has 11 touchdowns through four games. SI shows 40%. Las Vegas is at New England next.

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Cardinals (28% to 37%): He is the preferred back on obvious passing downs and scored a 22-yard touchdown in Week 4. Detroit comes to Arizona next.

Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Falcons (29% to 31%): Three rushing touchdowns Monday night. See below.

Roman Wilson, WR, Steelers (3% to 8%): Six targets in each of his four games, and three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown in Week 4. Fantasy Life shows 21%. He is a deep-league flex.

Where the Doctor Disagrees

Shipley versus Wilson: Yahoo ranks Shipley first. Wilson has the 24-touch game and Price on IR through Week 7, so he goes first here. If Wilson is already taken, bid on Shipley.

Tyreek Hill: Yahoo suggests a $3 stash. Hill is unsigned, coming back from a major leg injury, and no source gives a firm return date. Rostered rates run from 22% to 49%. Pass.

Brian Robinson Jr.: The hat trick will drive bids. He scored three times on 62 yards, and FantasyPros calls him a handcuff with limited standalone value. Bijan Robinson ran for 145 yards and two scores on the same night. Add him only if you own Bijan.

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks: NFL.com leads its column with him, but NFL.com has him at 58% and The Big Lead at 61%. That is above our 50% cutoff, so he is not on this board. He is still working back from the ACL tear.

Safe to Drop

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Steelers: Fantasy Life and FantasyPros both say cut him. He had two catches for 15 yards on four targets, his second straight game under 20 yards, and his connection with Rodgers has not shown up. Roman Wilson is ahead of him in the pecking order.

Darren Waller, TE, Panthers: He was last week’s one-week stream and caught three passes for 36 yards. Carolina is on bye in Week 5, and Fantasy Life and FantasyPros both say drop him.

Tyquan Thornton, WR, Chiefs: He dislocated his ankle on a late touchdown catch against Las Vegas, and reports give no timeline. Drop him if you need the spot.

Don’t drop yet: Saquon Barkley, Rashee Rice and Ja’Marr Chase. SI says Barkley’s hamstring does not look overly serious, though he misses Week 5. Rice has a hamstring injury and his MRI result decides his timeline, and Kansas City’s Week 5 bye buys him time. Chase is questionable with a concussion, and Cincinnati’s Week 6 bye helps him as well.

Week 5 Waiver Wire Priority Board

Rank	Player	Pos/Team	Rostered	FAAB	Consensus	Prognosis
1	Emanuel Wilson	RB, SEA	49%	9%	Near-unanimous	While Price is out
2	Will Shipley	RB, PHI	1%	9%	Near-unanimous	While Barkley is out
3	Keaton Mitchell	RB, LAC	35%	6%	Backed	Timeshare flex
4	Keon Coleman	WR, BUF	4%	5%	Widely backed	While Moore sits
5	T.J. Hockenson	TE, MIN	29%	5%	Backed	While Jefferson sits
6	Dohnte Meyers	WR, CIN	1%	4%	Backed	One-week fill-in
7	Mike Gesicki	TE, CIN	7%	2%	Near-unanimous	TD-dependent streamer
8	Tre’ Harris	WR, LAC	9%	2%	Backed	If McConkey sits
9	Aaron Rodgers	QB, PIT	10%	2%	Widely backed	Streamer
10	Malik Washington	WR, MIA	31%	3%	Backed	PPR flex

Quick Answers

Who is the best Week 5 waiver wire pickup? Emanuel Wilson, if he is available in your league. He has 24 touches in his first start and Price is on IR through at least Week 7. If he is gone, take Will Shipley.

How much FAAB should I spend on Will Shipley? About 9% of a $100 budget. Bidding up to 12% is reasonable if Barkley is your starter and you have no other back.

Who is the best quarterback streamer with Kansas City and Carolina on bye? Aaron Rodgers at home against Indianapolis. Kirk Cousins at New England is the backup option.

About Free Agent Triage

Free Agent Triage publishes every Tuesday evening during the season, before most leagues run waivers. Check the Injury Report for status updates through the week, and Defensive Diagnosis for the five defenses to target. Last week’s column is here.