Darren Waller Fantasy Outlook Still High Despite Tough Week 5 Matchup Against Bears

No tight end has accounted for a higher percentage of their team's targets in 2019 than Darren Waller, who has racked up 29 percent of the looks available in the Oakland Raiders offense.

With volume like that, even a nightmare matchup in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears isn't enough to take him out of consideration as a strong fantasy football option — especially since Tyrell Williams is considered a long shot to suit up.

Darren Waller has already done so much for the #Raiders. With injuries to wide receivers (including Tyrell Williams), Waller may be asked to do even more against the Bears . . . https://t.co/kE5XhskS9e #mercnews
— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) October 4, 2019

Waller has seen no fewer than seven targets in any of his four games in 2019, catching at least six passes in each. He has yet to post fewer than 12 PPR fantasy points in a game, and his 16.5 per game rank fifth at the position.

Making things even better for Waller, Williams is second on the team in targets with 24. Nobody else in Oakland has seen even 20. You're not going to find a safer bet for targets at the TE position than Waller in Week 5.

Yes, this is a brutal matchup, since the Bears have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and that's reflected on FanDuel Sportsbook, where the Raiders are 6.5-point underdogs. Relying on volume instead of efficiency, though, that's not a big deal for Waller. Yes, his touchdown upside may be limited, but playing from behind should just mean that the Raiders are forced to go more pass heavy than usual.

Post-2019 NFL single-season receptions leaders if "*" players keep up their current pace:
1. 02 Marvin Harrison - 143
2. 15 Antonio Brown - 136
2. 15 Julio Jones - 136
2. Keenan Allen 136*
2. Michael Thomas 136*
6. Darren Waller 132*
7. Cooper Kupp 131*
8. 14 Antonio Brown 129
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 5, 2019

One of the few tight ends that's worth locking in as an every-week starter this season, Waller sits at TE7 in our Week 5 fantasy football rankings.

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Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.