Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups 2022: Fantasy Football Players You Need to Add

Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season featured some big performances from highly drafted names. A few widely available players also had huge showings thanks to matchups and injuries creating opportunities.

If you need help sorting through the events of the weekend, The Duel has you covered. Here are the top waiver wire pickups heading into Week 5 of the 2022 season.

Week 5 Waiver Wire

Note: Only players rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo! fantasy football leagues are eligible for this list.

1. George Pickens (39% Rostered)

George Pickens finally showed fantasy managers what he's capable of in Week 4. The rookie went off for 102 yards and six catches while earning a season-high eight targets in the process. Pickens' target share has improved each week, and the 29.7% mark he posted this past Sunday hints at how we could take over the Steelers' receiving corps if given the chance. Also working in Pickens' favor is the emergence of Kenny Pickett as Pittsburgh's potential starter moving forward. The 2022 draftees have a clear rapport already, as 71 of Pickens' 102 yards took place with Pickett in the second half. The Steelers will continue to trail and be forced to air it out, giving Pickens a clear path to fantasy relevancy.

2. Michael Gallup (41% Rostered)

Michael Gallup got his season off to a great start in Week 4, catching a touchdown and recording 24 yards in his 2022 debut. It was a nice first step after finally suiting up following a torn ACL suffered last season, and confirms he'll be a big part of the Cowboys' passing attack now that he's back. Managers will need to see more from Gallup before totally trusting him in lineups, but his situation is attractive. He's the clear No. 2 WR behind CeeDee Lamb, and he could surpass Dalton Schultz as the second-best passing weapon period if he stays healthy. And while Cooper Rush has been a nice fill-in starter, getting Dak Prescott back as soon as Week 5 will elevate Dallas' offense. Gallup is a strong depth piece at the very least that should be rostered.

3. Tyler Allgeier (17% Rostered)

Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson has been placed on injured reserve, knocking him out for at least the next four games. Tyler Allgeier is the obvious candidate to absorb most of Patterson's rushing work (14.5 attempts per game), making him a priority target. The rookie's snap share once again improved this past Sunday, and he responded by posting his best game of the season with 104 yards from scrimmage. He was incredibly effective on the ground -- 10 carries for 84 yards -- which shows he's more than up to the task of leading that area for the Falcons with Patterson sidelined. Atlanta ranks No. 6 in the league for most rushing attempts per game, so Allgeier needs to be added to rosters immediately given the opportunity that's now in front of him.

4. Mike Boone (2% Rostered)

Mike Boone is another RB who should benefit from a starter's injury. Javonte Williams is now out for the season, leaving behind a healthy 17.3 opportunities (11.8 attempts plus 5.5 targets) per game. Boone saw use in both areas this Sunday with Williams banged up and fellow RB Melvin Gordon struggling, as he recorded 3 rushes for 20 yards along with 3 targets, 1 reception and 9 yards. Though Gordon is the frontrunner for RB1 duties, he's had serious fumbling issues in 2022 that open the door for Boone to carve out a legit role. He's worth stashing at the very least and seeing how this committee shakes out in Williams' absence.

5. Rachaad White (27% Rostered)

The Buccaneers' comments about getting Rachaad White more involved came to fruition on Sunday. The rookie played his most offensive snaps (34) of the year in Week 4, and he stepped up in a big way with 5 receptions for 50 yards, plus 3 rushes for 6 yards and 1 TD. White vulturing a goal-line score from incumbent Leonard Fournette was a particularly notable development and could be a recurring theme moving forward as Tampa Bay looks to keep the veteran fresh. Fournette was able to finish as RB5 in PPR scoring last year due to the insane workload, so the potential for White is undeniable if the former misses any time. He won't be this widely available again after his Week 4 showing, so managers should pounce if he's on waivers.

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Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. 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.