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Last week I was 2 for 3 in streaming picks. Derek Carr was the one disappointment and I know just about everybody expected more from him. Still, he didn't kill you with 200 yards and 2 touchdowns to 1 interception. Both Alex Smith and Blake Bortles delivered good fantasy performances and if you rolled with them you should be satisfied. I hate to be boring, but I'll be rolling with those two again!
For this Week 5 waiver wire article, I will look at two QBs owned in 50 percent or less of Fleaflicker leagues, and another QB owned in 25 percent or less to account for the QB scarcity in 2QB leagues.
My deep pick this week is Michael Vick. If he's already owned your next best bets would be Kirk Cousins (15 percent owned in Fleaflicker Leagues) and Brandon Weeden (12 percent owned in Fleaflicker Leagues). I'm not super enthused about those guys, but it's slim pickings at the bottom. With guys like Cam Newton and Ryan Tannehill on bye, I don't think those two will kill you if you have to start them.
Standard League QB Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5
Alex Smith (KC) vs Bears
OWNED IN: 38% of Fleaflicker leagues
It hasn’t been pretty but outside of a matchup with the very elite Broncos defense, Alex Smith keeps delivering good fantasy performances. This past week he didn’t even score a touchdown but in typical Alex Smith fashion he didn’t have a turnover and added 25 rushing yards. The untypical part was that he threw for 386 yards, which was a career high. He won’t do that again but he will throw for a couple touchdowns against the Bears. I don’t fear the Bears at all, Smith makes a very good play here once again.
Blake Bortles (JAX) @ Buccaneers
OWNED IN: 31% percent of Fleaflicker Leagues
Much like Alex Smith, I wouldn’t say it’s been pretty but Blake Bortles has now provided three straight respectable fantasy weeks. During that span he has averaged 271 yards passing with 5 touchdowns to just 1 turnover. He has also run for 20+ yards in three of four games this season.
Against the Buccaneers there should be very little worry for Bortles. Sure he probably won’t be throwing as many passes as he threw against the Colts (50) but he will definitely have an easier time getting the ball to Allen Robinson this week. Bortles seems like a pretty safe bet for 15+ points.
Deeper League QB Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 5
Michael Vick (PIT) @ Chargers
OWNED IN: 19% percent of Fleaflicker Leagues
Vick’s first start with the Steelers wasn’t pretty, but I didn’t expect much. Being thrust into the starting role on a short week is incredibly tough. Especially so for Vick, who wasn’t signed until the end of August. Now he gets an extra long week as the Steelers play on Monday night. He’ll be more prepared and Josh McCown just threw for 350+ yards against this Chargers defense without an interception.
Vick isn’t nearly as fast as he used to be but he still likes to run when he can. He ran 9 times for 33 yards last week, you can probably expect a similar number this week. Knowing how often Vick likes to run, there is definitely a possibility for a rushing touchdown as well. As far as QBs that may be readily available in deeper leagues or 2QB leagues, Vick is your guy.
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