Week 5 ended with a trade that reshapes an offense, a starting running back in a walking boot and a Texans backfield that changed hands in the middle of a game. It also sets up the season’s first four-team bye. The Bengals, Lions, Dolphins and Vikings are all off in Week 6, so Ja’Marr Chase, Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane and Justin Jefferson managers need help from the wire this week. Below we start with what changed, then the adds by position and the DFS angles.
The Headline Move: Harrison Joins C.J. Stroud
Arizona traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston on Sunday. The Texans sent 2027 second- and sixth-round picks and got Harrison plus a 2027 seventh back. DeMeco Ryans confirmed the deal after Houston’s 26-3 win in Tennessee. The No. 4 pick of the 2024 draft had only five catches on 12 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown through four games in Arizona.
For fantasy, a weak start in Arizona doesn’t count against Harrison as much as it looks. Twelve targets in four games was a usage problem, not a talent problem. He now reunites with Stroud, his Ohio State teammate. If Harrison was dropped in your league, add him. If you already roster him, hold him. Just don’t count on a full route tree in his first game: the Texans play Jacksonville at Wembley in Week 6, which means a new playbook and a flight to London.
The trade also opens a role in Arizona. Kendrick Bourne caught five of eight targets for 70 yards against Detroit. He now looks like the No. 2 receiver behind Michael Wilson in an offense that throws a lot.
WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
- Woody Marks, HOU (priority 1, 25-35% of FAAB). David Montgomery left in the second quarter with a groin injury, and Ryans said afterward that he may miss some time. Marks took over: 15 carries plus steady work as a receiver, and he was the only Houston back to touch the ball after Montgomery left. Marks is rostered in roughly half of leagues. If he’s there, make him your top claim. In a four-bye week, a likely lead back is worth going over budget for.
- MarShawn Lloyd, GB (priority 2, 10-15%). He scored twice on 10 carries in the rout of Chicago, and he split the snaps almost evenly with Pierre Strong Jr. The efficiency wasn’t great. What makes him worth the claim is the setup: Chris Brooks is on IR, Kaleb Johnson’s role is shrinking, and Dallas is next.
- Dameon Pierce, PHI (priority 3, 5-8%). Saquon Barkley is week-to-week with a hamstring injury and Will Shipley missed Sunday with a foot injury. That left Pierce to play 48 snaps in the loss to Jacksonville. He got only 14 yards on 11 carries, so this claim is about volume, not talent. Carolina is next, and in a week this thin a back with double-digit touches is worth starting.
- Jaleel McLaughlin, CLE (speculative, 1-3%). Quinshon Judkins was seen in a walking boot on his right foot after the 17-12 loss to the Jets. Raheim Sanders left the game with a hip injury. If both miss time, McLaughlin is Cleveland’s only healthy back for Baltimore. Bid small and watch the reports from midweek practices.
Wide Receivers
- Germie Bernard, PIT (priority 1, 8-12%). With Michael Pittman Jr. out for multiple weeks with a foot injury, the rookie stepped into a full-time role and caught six of nine targets for 80 yards. Very few players on waivers get every-down snaps, and Bernard is rostered in low single-digit percentages. Tampa Bay is next.
- Kendrick Bourne, ARI (priority 2, 3-5%). His role now has a path to more targets, as covered above. In PPR he’s a fill-in for bye weeks, not a long-term starter.
- Marvin Harrison Jr., HOU (if available). Claim him in any league where he was dropped, but keep him out of Week 6 lineups until we see his snap share.
Quarterback and Tight End
- Aaron Rodgers, PIT. He has thrown three touchdowns in three straight games. Rodgers is a usable streamer against Tampa Bay for anyone losing Joe Burrow or another bye-week starter.
- Pat Freiermuth, PIT. He’s Pittsburgh’s main option near the goal line, and Tampa Bay is next. That makes him the best TE streamer for teams missing T.J. Hockenson or another bye-week tight end.
Drop and Stash Calls
Don’t drop Montgomery. Groin injuries vary a lot, and no timeline has been given. Hold him in an IR slot or on your bench. The exception is a shallow league where you need the roster spot for Marks. Stash Jordyn Tyson in New Orleans if your bench can carry him. He’s on IR with a hamstring injury and isn’t expected back before Week 7 at the earliest. When bye weeks hit this hard, drop the players you’d never start, like a third quarterback or your backup defense, before you cut upside.
DFS PLAYS
Value Plays Ahead of Their Price
- Woody Marks vs. JAX. Salaries were mostly set before Montgomery got hurt, so Marks is likely priced as a backup. A back who was the only option in the backfield and also caught passes is the clearest value play on the slate. If Montgomery is ruled out, Marks belongs in cash games.
- Germie Bernard vs. TB. He’s a rookie priced near the minimum with a full-time role and nine targets in his first game in that role. That type of value lets you pay up at running back.
- Christian Watson vs. DAL. Jordan Love hit him for two long touchdowns against Chicago. Watson’s price follows his production, which jumps around, but this was a play-action passing game that worked, and it carries into a good matchup.
Situations to Avoid
- Cleveland’s backfield vs. BAL. With Judkins in a boot and Sanders hurt, nobody knows how the carries will split, and the offense stalled in a 17-12 loss to the Jets. Avoid this one until Friday’s injury report clears things up.
- Harrison in his Houston debut. A new playbook and an international trip in the same week mean a limited first-week role. For DFS, wait a week. In season-long, hold him on your bench.
Injuries That Opened Roles
Three backfields changed this week: Houston (Montgomery’s groin), Philadelphia (Barkley and Shipley) and Cleveland (Judkins and Sanders). On top of that, Pittsburgh’s receiver group lost Pittman. With four teams on bye and fewer games on the main slate, cheap players taking over vacated snaps matter more than usual. Marks and Bernard are the two clearest examples, and they’re the cheap players to build lineups around.
See today's NFL lines on DFS Lines, each one set against the player's last ten games.