Week 5 Quarterback & Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups: It's Kenny Pickett Time!
Who are the top players to add on the waiver wire at the quarterback and tight end positions? One thing is for sure, Kenny Pickett will be the hottest waiver wire pickup heading into Week 5.
As Week 4 comes to an end tonight when the Los Angeles Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers, fantasy owners are scrambling to the waiver wire to add some depth to their respective rosters. We are about a quarter of the way through the fantasy football season and if you haven’t taken advantage of the waiver wire, you likely see your team name at the bottom of your league’s standings. Don’t panic. The season is still early and there are still plenty of viable options who are not only still widely available but who can also provide an immediate spark to your roster. Let’s examine the top quarterbacks and tight ends on the waiver wire this week.
Quarterbacks
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s an end to an era in Pittsburgh although that era only lasted three and a half games. Mitch Trubisky was replaced in the second half of the Steelers’ heartbreaking loss to the New York Jets yesterday by Kenny Pickett. Isn’t that the worst name in the world for a quarterback? Trubisky finished the day with 84 scoreless passing yards and one interception that deflected off Diontae Johnson’s hands into the hands of a defender. Although the interception wasn’t Trubisky’s fault, Mike Tomlin opted to go with the rookie quarterback to start the second half. Pickett definitely provided more energy than Trubisky and performed decently in his first NFL action. The youngster completed 10-of-13 passes for 120 passing yards while chipping in with six carries for 15 rushing yards and two goal-line touchdown runs. That being said, his only three incompletions all were intercepted. I guess that’s why his last name is Pickett. Still, despite the three turnovers in the second half (two on tipped balls that arguably weren’t his fault), the Steelers’ offense seemed to be moving at a better rhythm with Pickett under center. Pickett has some really strong weapons around him but the offensive line needs to step up and protect its young quarterback. This kid definitely has upside and if you need a quarterback, Pickett could be your guy. That said, I would not start him in Week 5 against Buffalo’s stout defense.
QB Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Geno is not getting the respect he deserves. We suggested him as a waiver wire pickup last week and he delivered with another strong outing against the Detroit Lions. Smith tallied 320 passing yards and and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Smith also added 49 yards on the ground and another trip to the end zone using he legs. This is the second consecutive week that Smith has torched opposing defenses for 320+ yards and two touchdowns. Smith seems to favor his tight ends in the red zone as his two touchdowns were thrown to Noah Fant and Will Dissly. But his top two receivers did the majority of the work in the passing game. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett combined for 240 receiving yards. Considering the weapons Smith has around him and Rashaad Penny’s breakout performance yesterday, Smith is a very intriguing quarterback on the waiver wire. That being said, fantasy owners should temper their expectations as Smith’s two huge outings came against putrid defenses. He will have a much tougher task in Week 5 when the Seahawks travel to New Orleans.
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Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
We recommended Conklin last week and he didn’t disappoint in his first week playing with quarterback Zach Wilson. After catching eight passes for 84 yards in Week 3, Conklin impressed yet again in Week 4 in New York’s come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Conklin saw five targets and secured three of them for 52 yards. Now that’s not anything to write home about but at this point, we’ve talked at nausium how shallow the tight end position is. This was the first week of the season that Conklin didn’t tally double-digit fantasy points in PPR leagues yet he is still available in approximately half of all fantasy leagues. Conklin has a Week 5 tilt on the horizon with a Miami Dolphins secondary that has struggled against opposing passing games. Not only should Conklin be added off the waiver wire but I think he’s emerged as a starting tight end in 12-team leagues.
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Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks
The tight end position can often feel like touchdown or bust. After the top five or six tight ends, all of them are essentially touchdown-dependant. For that reason, Will Dissly seems like a nice waiver wire candidate after producing his third touchdown in four games. The Seattle tight end hauled in all four of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in Seattle’s 48-45 victory over the Detroit Lions. It’s hard to trust Dissly, especially because fellow tight end Noah Fant also corralled a touchdown in this game and seems to be the TE1 in this offense. But Dissly is playing virtually the same number of snaps as Fant and has outproduced him significantly after four weeks of the season. Dissly is worth a speculative add due to his nose for the end zone and his upside. You never know when a player is going to break out and Dissly seems to have Geno Smith’s trust.
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