Somewhere, a fantasy manager with an 0-5 record is staring proudly at $94 of remaining FAAB. Congratulations on your fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, your league doesn’t pay interest. At 1-4, you’re technically better off, the same way being chased by one bear is preferable to being chased by two. Stop hoarding imaginary money and drop the lottery tickets that need six more weeks to cash. ...

Woody Marks of the Houston Texans rushes for yards during the fourth quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 11, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/TNS

Somewhere, a fantasy manager with an 0-5 record is staring proudly at $94 of remaining FAAB.

Congratulations on your fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, your league doesn’t pay interest.

At 1-4, you’re technically better off, the same way being chased by one bear is preferable to being chased by two.

Stop hoarding imaginary money and drop the lottery tickets that need six more weeks to cash.

If you keep dreaming about what that bench stash might do in December, you might be eliminated by Halloween.

Forget building the perfect roster for the stretch run. You need to win this week, then the next. A .500 record can sneak you into the playoffs, where nobody asks how you got there.

Spend aggressively on players inheriting real volume. Trade a star to a contender if the return fills multiple starting spots, but demand legitimate starters, not a sampler platter of their disappointments. Cut stashes with no immediate path to playing time and quit worshipping preseason rankings.

Give me the receiver running routes on nearly every dropback, the backup inheriting goal-line work and the defense facing a quarterback who treats the football like a souvenir.

With Cincinnati, Miami, Detroit and Minnesota on bye this week, even healthy teams need replacements.

Use the FAAB, play the matchups and embrace streaming.

At this point, desperation isn’t reckless. Standing pat is.

Priority targets

— RB Woody Marks, Texans (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 54%): Marks took over after David Montgomery suffered a groin injury Sunday, turning 19 touches into 85 yards from scrimmage, including four receptions on four targets. Montgomery is considered week-to-week, and coach DeMeco Ryans said Marks “will carry the load” while he’s sidelined, solidifying his immediate fantasy value. Jacksonville presents a difficult Week 6 rushing matchup, but Marks’ projected workload and receiving involvement make him a legitimate RB2 with upside for as long as Montgomery is out.

— QB Jordan Love, Packers (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 75%): Love shredded Chicago for 367 passing yards Sunday and has completed 77% of his passes over the last two games, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt with four touchdowns. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden give him explosive options at multiple levels, and his improving efficiency makes him more than a streaming option. Dallas visits Lambeau Field this week before Green Bay faces Detroit, giving Love an attractive two-game runway for managers replacing injured quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson or Caleb Williams.

— WR Germie Bernard, Steelers (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 1%): Pittsburgh’s second-round rookie caught six of nine targets for 80 yards Sunday while running 28 routes, matching DK Metcalf for the team lead, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Michael Pittman Jr. is on IR with a foot injury, Roman Wilson is expected to miss multiple weeks with a finger injury and Ben Skowronek also exited against Indianapolis. That’s a substantial concentration of vacated routes and targets in an offense where Aaron Rodgers has thrown three TDs in three consecutive games. Bernard has an immediate path to WR3/flex volume against Tampa Bay, with enough talent to retain a meaningful role when the receiving corps gets healthier.

— TE Brenton Strange, Jaguars (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 32%): Strange has caught 14 of 16 targets for 163 yards over the last two games, commanding a team-high 26.2% target share during that stretch, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s the sort of involvement worth chasing at tight end, particularly with Trevor Lawrence increasingly using him as a reliable intermediate option while Brian Thomas Jr. struggles. Houston isn’t an especially inviting matchup, and Jacksonville has a Week 7 bye, but Strange’s volume gives him sustainable TE1 potential beyond one favorable opponent.

— D/ST 49ers (ESPN: 36%; Yahoo: 26%): San Francisco generated five sacks, four takeaways and a defensive TD against Seattle, with emerging youngsters Gracen Halton and Renardo Green helping fuel a defense that’s thriving without Nick Bosa. The star pass rusher is targeting a Week 6 return from a calf injury, and adding him to this surging young core could transform the 49ers from a matchup-dependent streamer into an every-week fantasy starter. Jayden Daniels presents a challenging matchup this week, but San Francisco’s ability to manufacture sacks and turnovers makes this a defense worth acquiring before its ceiling climbs even higher.

Other top targets

— QB C.J. Stroud, Texans (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 63%): Stroud completed 26 of 34 passes for 261 yards and a TD against Tennessee while adding a rushing score, giving him consecutive games of at least 260 passing yards after throwing for 347 against Dallas. Houston’s acquisition of his former Ohio State teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. gives him another potentially explosive weapon opposite Nico Collins, with their established chemistry offering hope of reviving Harrison’s disappointing career. Stroud has yet to throw an interception this season, and his improving efficiency and upgraded receiving corps make him an appealing QB1 streamer despite a challenging Week 6 matchup against Jacksonville.

— QB Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 27%): Apparently, nobody told the 42-year-old Rodgers that he’s supposed to be declining. He’s thrown three TDs in three consecutive games while averaging more than 275 passing yards during that stretch — he’s the overall QB3 since Week 3. Pittsburgh’s receiver injuries complicate the equation, but his chemistry with Pat Freiermuth and Jaylen Warren gives him reliable alternatives as the Steelers prepare to face Tampa Bay. He’s a legitimate short-term QB1 for managers dealing with uncertainty at the position.

— WR Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 7%): Bourne caught five of eight targets for 70 yards against Detroit, providing encouraging evidence that Marvin Harrison Jr.’s trade to Houston has opened a meaningful role in Arizona’s passing attack. Trey McBride and Michael Wilson remain the primary options, but eight targets are difficult to ignore in an offense frequently forced into elevated passing volume. Bourne offers immediate PPR flex appeal against the Rams, particularly for managers who need reliable routes rather than another speculative bench stash.

— WR Keenan Allen, Colts (ESPN: 37%; Yahoo: 31%): Allen returned from a groin injury and immediately drew nine targets, catching five for 45 yards despite playing only 32 of Indianapolis’ 71 offensive snaps. He had a 20.4% target share and 26% first-read share entering the game, reinforcing how heavily Daniel Jones still relies on the veteran. Alec Pierce’s heel injury keeps additional opportunities available, and Tennessee offers a favorable Week 6 matchup. Allen lacks much explosive-play upside at this stage, but his short-area involvement gives him a useful PPR floor when healthy.

— WR Khalil Shakir, Bills (ESPN: 63%; Yahoo: 51%): Shakir caught all three targets for 80 yards against the Rams, including a 57-yard catch-and-run in overtime before James Cook lost a fumble on the very next play. He has 10 receptions for 162 yards over his last two games, and his established chemistry with Josh Allen makes him too valuable to leave on waivers in PPR leagues. The target volume can fluctuate in Buffalo’s run-heavy offense, but Shakir’s reliability underneath and ability to generate yards after the catch give him a sustainable flex profile with occasional WR3 upside.

— WR Keon Coleman, Bills (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 41%): Coleman caught only one pass for seven yards Monday, but it went for a TD, giving him seven catches for 123 yards and two scores over his last two games. His size and contested-catch ability make him a natural red-zone weapon for Josh Allen, creating meaningful weekly upside even without commanding a large target share. DJ Moore’s eventual return could squeeze his opportunities, making Coleman a more volatile flex option than Shakir, but the connection to Allen is too valuable to ignore.

— WR Christian Kirk, 49ers (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 2%): Kirk remains on injured reserve, so this is a speculative longer-term addition rather than help for an immediate Week 6 lineup. Deebo Samuel’s hamstring injury adds another opening in an already depleted receiving corps, potentially creating substantial slot and intermediate opportunities once Kirk is healthy enough to return. He has an established history of earning targets in that role, but managers fighting for weekly survival should prioritize active receivers until San Francisco provides a clearer return timetable.

— WR Brandin Cooks, 49ers (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%): Cooks caught only one pass against Seattle, but it went for a TD, and Samuel’s hamstring injury could elevate his playing time considerably. San Francisco is already missing Ricky Pearsall and several other receivers, leaving Mike Evans as the most established healthy target while Cooks competes for additional routes. His vertical speed and Brock Purdy’s ability to attack defensive coverage mistakes create occasional big-play upside, although the limited target history makes him a deep-league, TD-dependent flex candidate.

— WR Tre Tucker, Raiders (ESPN: 32%; Yahoo: 36%): Tucker has caught at least four passes in four consecutive games, giving him 19 receptions for 274 yards through five weeks while averaging 14.4 yards per catch. The explosive 119-yard performance against the Chargers remains his only game above 44 receiving yards, illustrating how dependent his ceiling is on downfield connections. Brock Bowers dominates the short and intermediate passing game, but Buffalo presents another opportunity for Tucker to capitalize on aggressive passing volume if Las Vegas falls behind.

— WR DeMario Douglas, Patriots (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 2%): Douglas erupted for four catches, 65 yards and two TDs against Las Vegas, benefiting from a depleted receiving corps and Drake Maye’s four-TD passing performance. The caution is that Douglas entered Sunday without a receiving TD and has only 22 targets through five games, so expecting this scoring efficiency to continue would be fantasy malpractice. Still, his ability to separate underneath and generate yards after the catch gives him a path to useful PPR production if New England’s injuries continue concentrating opportunities.

— RB Kendre Miller, Saints (ESPN: 12%; Yahoo: 7%): Miller led New Orleans with 10 carries for 30 yards and a TD against Minnesota, while Alvin Kamara managed only three carries for 12 yards. At 31, Kamara appears to be losing his trademark explosiveness, with mounting wear and injuries further diminishing his effectiveness and potentially accelerating the transition toward Miller. The Giants are next, and Miller’s expanding workload and goal-line opportunities give him flex appeal.

— RB Dameon Pierce, Eagles (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 2%): Philadelphia’s backfield is approaching emergency-room capacity, with Saquon Barkley battling a hamstring injury, Tank Bigsby on IR and Will Shipley suffering a partial tear of his plantar fascia. Pierce managed only 14 yards on 11 carries against Jacksonville, but 13 total touches after Shipley’s departure are considerably more important than his efficiency against a difficult run defense. If Barkley remains sidelined, Pierce could inherit enough early-down and goal-line opportunities against Carolina to become a volume-driven RB2/flex option, although Philadelphia’s battered offensive line limits the upside.

— RB Mike Washington Jr., Raiders (ESPN: 28%; Yahoo: 42%): Ashton Jeanty has played through an ankle injury since the preseason and is now battling plantar fasciitis, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over his last four games while his receiving production has salvaged his fantasy value. Washington has flashed more explosiveness, including 54 rushing yards and a TD against New Orleans, although his two touches Sunday underscore Jeanty’s grip on the backfield. If Las Vegas decides its banged-up starter needs fewer snaps or time off, Washington could quickly graduate from premium handcuff to legitimate flex option, and an expanded role as the season progresses wouldn’t surprise me.

— RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Browns (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%): Quinshon Judkins left Sunday’s loss to the Jets wearing a walking boot, while fellow backup Raheim Sanders suffered a hip injury, potentially leaving McLaughlin with a much larger workload against Baltimore. McLaughlin didn’t record a carry Sunday, but his 28-yard TD run against Pittsburgh the previous week demonstrated the burst that makes him intriguing when opportunities materialize. Dylan Sampson’s potential return from IR complicates the depth chart, so McLaughlin is an injury-contingent claim whose value could change dramatically with Cleveland’s next practice report.

— RB Emmett Johnson, Chiefs (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 24%): Johnson has produced 56 rushing yards on 16 carries and 74 receiving yards on five catches through four games, showing occasional passing-game utility without establishing consistent rushing volume. Kansas City’s Week 5 bye gave the rookie another opportunity to develop within the offense, but he remains a complementary piece rather than a reliable weekly starter. His receiving ability and potential for a larger role if the backfield suffers injuries make him an appealing deep-league stash, particularly for managers who can afford to prioritize upside over immediate production.

— RB Jonah Coleman, Broncos (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 30%): Coleman remains on short-term IR with a high-ankle sprain and isn’t eligible to return until Week 7, making him a speculative stash rather than a solution to this week’s lineup problems. The rookie demonstrated his potential before the injury, turning 10 carries into 39 yards and a TD against Jacksonville while adding three receptions. Denver still has J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey competing for touches, but Coleman’s power and receiving ability could eventually create a meaningful role if the backfield reshuffles. Managers with an open IR spot can get ahead of his return without sacrificing immediate roster flexibility.

— TE Hunter Henry, Patriots (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 52%): Henry caught three passes for 44 yards and a TD against Las Vegas after producing five catches for 62 yards against Buffalo the previous week. His 10 targets across those two games aren’t overwhelming, but Maye’s growing command of the offense and New England’s injuries at receiver create a reliable path to intermediate and red-zone opportunities. Henry is a reasonable TE1 streamer against the Jets, with a stronger floor than the more TD-dependent options available.

— TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 15%): Freiermuth caught five of seven targets for 44 yards and two TDs against Indianapolis, giving him three TDs over his last two games and four through five weeks. He ran 27 routes on 38 Pittsburgh dropbacks Sunday, and injuries to Pittman, Wilson and Skowronek should further concentrate Rodgers’ middle-of-the-field targets. Freiermuth’s red-zone involvement gives him a realistic TE1 ceiling against Tampa Bay, even if the touchdown rate inevitably cools.

— TE Darren Waller, Panthers (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 16%): Waller returns from Carolina’s bye after compiling eight catches for 87 yards on 14 targets over his previous two games. He’s already demonstrated scoring upside with a two-TD performance in Week 2, and Carolina’s offense has shown a willingness to feature him near the goal line.

— TE Tyler Higbee, Rams (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 4%): Higbee caught five of six targets for 83 yards Monday, giving him 18 receptions for 212 yards and a TD on 23 targets over his last three games. The veteran looks rejuvenated and has reestablished himself as one of Matthew Stafford’s most trusted intermediate targets, particularly with injuries thinning the Rams’ tight end rotation. As the overall TE5 since Week 3, Higbee has moved beyond desperation streaming into legitimate weekly TE1 consideration.

— TE Chig Okonkwo, Commanders (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 16%): Okonkwo caught four of six targets for 60 yards against the Giants, leading Washington in targets during Jayden Daniels’ return to the lineup. The quarterback-tight end connection has had limited time to develop this season, but Sunday’s usage suggests Okonkwo can become a dependable intermediate target while the Commanders navigate injuries at receiver. San Francisco is a difficult Week 6 matchup, though the potential for six-plus targets gives him streaming appeal in PPR leagues.

— D/ST Chiefs (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 24%): Kansas City returns from its bye to face a Chargers offense that has committed an NFL-high 13 turnovers through five games while allowing sacks on 10.6% of its dropbacks, the league’s second-highest rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Justin Herbert added an interception and a lost fumble against Denver, bringing his personal turnover total to nine this season. The Chiefs haven’t generated overwhelming fantasy production themselves, but Los Angeles’ combination of poor protection, negative game scripts and turnover problems makes this one of Week 6’s strongest streaming matchups.

— D/ST Colts (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 4%): Indianapolis’ defense has been dreadful against capable offenses, but Tennessee isn’t remotely close to qualifying for that category. The Titans managed only three points and 187 total yards against Houston, with Cam Ward throwing for 170 yards, taking four sacks and committing an interception. The Colts have enough pass-rushing talent to exploit an offense that consistently falls behind the chains, making them a matchup-driven stream despite their otherwise alarming defensive numbers.

— D/ST Saints (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 5%): New Orleans’ defense salvaged some fantasy value against Minnesota with an 87-yard fumble-return TD, even as the offense continued putting the unit in difficult situations. The Week 6 matchup against Jameis Winston offers the familiar combination of turnover opportunities and potential disaster: Winston has thrown three TDs in consecutive games but remains vulnerable to sacks and aggressive defensive looks. There’s legitimate boom-or-bust streaming appeal here, although the Giants’ improving passing attack gives this play a considerably lower floor than Kansas City or Indianapolis.

Drop candidates

— QB Justin Herbert, Chargers: Herbert managed only 121 passing yards against Denver and committed two more turnovers, bringing his season total to seven interceptions and two lost fumbles. Los Angeles is 0-5, the offensive line is once again depleted and struggling, and injuries at receiver have made Mike McDaniel’s passing game increasingly dysfunctional. With Kansas City next, Herbert is expendable in standard one-QB leagues if Love, Rodgers or another productive streamer is available, although his long-term talent still warrants a hold in deeper formats.

— WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars: Thomas was shut out against Philadelphia, leaving him with just nine receptions for 105 yards and one TD through five games. His declining involvement is especially troubling because Jacksonville’s offense has been winning while players such as Parker Washington and Brenton Strange command more reliable opportunities. The former first-round pick still possesses tremendous physical upside, but in shallow leagues, managers chasing immediate points no longer have to treat his draft pedigree as a reason to keep waiting.

— RB Rico Dowdle, Steelers: Dowdle missed his third consecutive game with a toe injury Sunday while Jaylen Warren erupted for 188 yards from scrimmage and two TDs against Indianapolis. Warren’s expanded workload and explosive production have strengthened his claim to the featured role, making Dowdle’s eventual return more likely to produce a frustrating committee than a reliable fantasy starter. In shallow leagues, an injured complementary back without a clear path to weekly volume is an easy roster spot to reclaim.

— WR Jordan Addison, Vikings: Addison missed Sunday’s victory over New Orleans with a hamstring injury and now heads into Minnesota’s Week 6 bye without offering any immediate help. He has 11 catches for 163 yards and one TD through four appearances, respectable enough to retain some upside but hardly irreplaceable production. His talent still warrants patience in deeper leagues, but managers with losing records and limited bench space can justify moving on for a healthy receiver with a clearer Week 6 workload.

— RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars: Rodriguez has gone from eight carries and a TD in Week 3 to six carries and a TD in Week 4 to just two carries for five yards against Philadelphia. Bhayshul Tuten’s involvement and Jacksonville’s rotating backfield leave Rodriguez dependent on occasional short-yardage scoring opportunities rather than a dependable share of the offense. That lack of volume makes him expendable in ordinary PPR leagues, even if his physical running style preserves some TD-dependent value in deeper formats.

More online

Need help setting your lineup? Look for Eddie Brown’s weekly Fantasy Football Start/Sit Guide at sandiegouniontribune.com before the first NFL game each week, typically on Thursdays, with matchup-by-matchup advice on who to start, sit and stream.