The waiver wire is rarely rich at the QB position. We are now in Week 5. By now, the surprise QB1s have already been added. The wire is left with mostly streamers and matchup plays, but there is one QB still out there in more than half of fantasy football leagues that I believe is an every-week set-it-and-forget-it QB1.
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Top QB Waiver Wire Targets in Week 5
More Waiver Wire Targets: RBs | WRs | TEs
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (46% Rostered)
For the second consecutive week, the top quarterback available is C.J. Stroud. The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft just posted his third consecutive game of over 20 fantasy points.
In a season where many of the top quarterbacks are struggling, Stroud has staked his claim as an every-week QB1. If you’re struggling with the consistency of someone like Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence, grab Stroud.
FAAB Recommendation: 6-8%
Which QBs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?
Should You Roster C.J. Stroud or Joe Burrow?
Imagine asking this question a month ago. I certainly can’t. Yet, here we are.
Through four weeks, Stroud has not only been the superior fantasy and real-life QB, it hasn’t even been remotely close. Stroud has been a solid back-end QB1, averaging 18.5 points per game.
Where’s Joe Burrow? High QB2? High QB3? If only it wasn’t that bad. Burrow is averaging 8.4 ppg. He is currently — quite literally — the single worst QB in fantasy football.
It goes without saying that Burrow’s calf injury is clearly hampering him. But do we have any reason to think it will improve?
Burrow’s history of elite performance keeps him on fantasy rosters. I cannot in good conscience call him a drop, but under no circumstances should he be starting in Week 5 or at any point until he proves worthy of doing so.
I wouldn’t go so far as to drop Burrow for Stroud, but I would absolutely pick Stroud up and start him over Burrow.
Should You Roster Sam Howell or Jordan Love?
It was an overall dismal performance for Jordan Love on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. He salvaged his fantasy day with a couple second-half touchdowns, but he did not play well.
As things currently stand, Love remains the QB4 in points per game at 22.1. Do I think that holds? Absolutely not. If anyone is valuing Love as a top-end QB1, trade him for a guy who can actually sustain that level of production.
MORE: Early Week 5 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
But is that guy Sam Howell? No.
Howell looked very good against the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown in an overtime loss. But he still has just five total touchdowns in four games.
I like Howell as a streamer for Justin Herbert managers this Thursday night against the Chicago Bears. However, if we’re talking about who the better fantasy QB is likely to be for the remainder of the season, it’s Love.