MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 08: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins catches a touchdown pass against the New York Giants in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on October 8, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
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Things continue to change constantly across the fantasy football landscape. Week 4 was no different with Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill suffering season-ending knee injuries. In addition to players seeing increased fantasy value because of injuries, others could see their stock plummet because of a declining role or disappointing performance. Here are the top Week 5 fantasy football risers and fallers to keep in mind for your waiver wire claims, lineup decisions, and long-term roster strategy.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Risers
1. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders
After three muted yardage totals, Jeanty exploded for 138 rushing yards and one touchdown against the Bears in Week 4. He also had two receiving touchdowns. Jeanty has received at least 17 rushing attempts in three of the last four games and is a RB1 in fantasy moving forward.
2. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Hill’s gruesome injury on Monday leaves Waddle as the top wide receiver for the Dolphins. In the one career game that Hill missed as a member of the Dolphins, Waddle caught eight of nine targets for 142 yards and one touchdown. Waddle is at least a WR2 in fantasy moving forward and will have WR1 upside, depending on his matchups.
3. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
In his first game without CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Pickens exploded for eight receptions, 134 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers. He was targeted a season-high 11 times. With Lamb possibly sidelined for multiple games, Pickens has WR1 upside in his new leading role.
Week 5 Fantasy Football Fallers
1. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ offense is in shambles with Joe Burrow (toe) out. Over the last two games, they have scored a total of 13 points. In those two losses, Higgins totaled four receptions for 47 yards. With Burrow possibly out for the season, Higgins looks like an unreliable fantasy option moving forward.
2. Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Hunter has not finished with more than 42 receiving yards in a game this season. He has also caught three or fewer passes in each of the last three games. He entered the NFL with plenty of hype, but with his time being split between offense and defense, his upside in fantasy is limited.
3. Nick Chubb, RB, Houston Texans
Fellow Texans running back Woody Marks had 17 carries, four receptions, 119 total yards, and two touchdowns against the Titans in Week 4, while Chubb only turned 13 carries and two receptions into 62 total yards. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 Draft, Marks could be the future at the position for the Texans, while the veteran Chubb could continue to see his role decline. Don’t drop Chubb yet, but he should be benched in most fantasy leagues.
Takeaway
A combination of injuries and leading roles have resulted in the fantasy values of Jeanty, Waddle, and Pickens being on the rise. The same can’t be said for Higgins, Hunter, and Chubb, who have seen their fantasy values fall to the point where it’s difficult to feel good about starting them on a weekly basis. Staying ahead of these trends is key to winning matchups — check out our Week 5 Fantasy Football Sleepers article for more fantasy football insights.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikebarner/2025/10/01/week-5-fantasy-football-risers-fallers/
