Fantasy Football: Week 5 Waiver Wire Pick-ups

By Staff Writer Ryan Gerrity @RyanGerrity:

This week on the waiver wire there are some old faces that I will bring back up because the next four weeks could be huge for him.  Other players are new to the waiver wire discussion this week and they all should continue their success so far in the fantasy football season.

1.  Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers      

Ryan Mathews is the starting running back for the Chargers, however Mathews is not separating himself from the rest of the running back corp.  More opportunities were given to the back up’s and who delivered? None other than Danny Woodhead who seems to always have an impact.  He only rushed for 32 yards, but he caught five balls for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Ryan Mathews is not producing, and Woodhead is, he is a definite waiver wire pick up this week.

2. Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers

If you have read some of my previous articles about the waiver wire pick ups, you will notice I said to pick up Ginn Jr. in week 3.  The Panthers and Cam Newton use the play action pass extremely well with Ted Ginn Jr. who has become the Panthers deep threat.  Ginn Jr. has had some big games this year, and four of the next five defenses they face have all allowed at least 8 touchdown passes this year.  Ted Ginn Jr. is only owned in 6.1% of ESPN Leagues! He is out there for the taking!

3. LaGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots

Blount ran for 64 yards and a touchdown this week in the win over the Atlanta Falcons.  Blount has led the team in rushing for the second week in a row, with Shane Vereen out until week 11, and Stevan Ridley is not the scoring machine we all expected.  Blount is producing as the “change of pace” back for the Patriots and his role should expand in the next coming weeks.

4. Rashad Jennings, RB, Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden is the most injury prone running back in the NFL, and he continues to prove why with a annoying hamstring injury.  Rashad Jennings rushed for 45 yards while replacing McFadden.  The more surprising statistic is the 8 catches for 71 yards that took place against the Redskins this past week.  Jennings looks good in the offense, especially out of the backfield and with the injury prone McFadden ahead of him, he will get playing time.

5. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears

Over the past two weeks Jeffery has caught 12 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown.  The Chicago Bears offense has a tendency of targeting Brandon Marshall, in return defenses favor his side of the field.  Which allows Jeffery more opportunities for one on one situation’s.  If he can continue to take advantage of the targets he is getting from Jay Cutler he will have a positive fantasy impact.