NFL Fantasy waiver wire pickups ahead of Week 5

Drafting a well-rounded Fantasy roster is only one step managers take in a quest for a championship. Another step is being savvy on the waiver wire throughout the year in order to pick up the players who are capable of helping the team reach its full potential. That could mean anything from adding a wide receiver to seeing a large target share or a running back set to take on an expanded role.

With that being said, here's a look at the best waiver wire pickups ahead of NFL kickoff in Week 5.

Joshua Dobbs, QB (Arizona Cardinals)

It's time to stop overlooking what Joshua Dobbs is doing in his first true stint as an NFL starter. The Arizona quarterback finished as the fifth-highest fantasy scorer at his position in Week 2 (25.2 points) before he led his squad to a huge upset of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Even when he was tasked with a nightmare matchup against the daunting San Francisco defense in Week 4, Dobbs still finished as a top-10 scoring quarterback.

Not only is Dobbs is a must-add player in superflex leagues, but he is a great player to stash on the bench as bye weeks are set to begin. The Cardinals signal caller will remain a threat to rack up yards on the ground and now faces a Bengals defense in Week 5 that has given up the fifth-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks this year. Dobbs' upside continues to grow.

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB (Denver Broncos)

There was a reason why Jaleel McLaughlin was touted as a favorite player of Broncos head coach Sean Payton throughout the preseason. The undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State showcased incredible burst and power when he took over for an injured Javonte Williams against the Chicago Bears. McLaughlin finished the game with 104 total yards and one touchdown on ten touches. It ended up being the 10th-best fantasy output of any ball carrier in Week 4.

Williams was diagnosed with a hip flexor and it is unclear how much time he will miss. McLaughlin proved on Sunday that he is ahead of veteran Samaje Perine in the backfield pecking order, which makes him the one worth prioritizing on the waiver wire before a matchup against the New York Jets. That's especially the case considering the Jets are tied for the fifth-most receptions allowed to opposing running backs.

Romeo Doubs, WR (Green Bay Packers)

It's surprising to see wide receiver Romeo Doubs rostered in less than 50% of ESPN fantasy football leagues through four weeks of action. After all, the second-year Packer has scored three touchdowns on the season and is coming off a game in which he hauled in nine of his team-high 13 targets for 95 yards. Doubs currently ranks as the WR16 in PPR scoring and can still be scooped up in this week's set of waiver wire claims.

The return of Christian Watson may scare some fantasy managers, but it is worth pointing out that Doubs played in 88% of the offensive snaps in Week 4. If anything, Watson's return should draw attention away from Doubs in the defensive secondary. The former Nevada standout has FLEX upside in Week 5 against a Raiders defense that has already allowed six touchdowns to opposing wideouts (T-most in NFL).

Jake Ferguson, TE (Dallas Cowboys)

Jake Ferguson has wasted no time filling in the hole left by Dalton Schultz, who departed for Houston in offseason free agency. Through four weeks of play, Ferguson ranks second on the Cowboys in targets (25) and third in receiving yards (147). Those are marks that rank among the top 12 tight ends in the NFL, too. Keep in mind Ferguson also leads the position in red zone targets (11), which proves his role on the offense is noteworthy.

That is the kind of production fantasy managers have to be searching for at a position that severely lacks depth. Ferguson could challenge for a top-five scoring finish at tight end as Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott trusts the second-year pro to be a safety valve in the passing attack. Grabbing a piece of an offense that ranks fourth in scoring (31.0 points per game) is never a bad idea.

Check out a few other Eagles stories as well.