Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (27) runs for a touchdown against Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

There are still a few games left to be played before the NFL's Week 4 action comes to a close. Nonetheless, many fantasy football managers will already be looking ahead to Week 5 as they look to improve their fantasy teams.

The NFL calendar is moving to a critical point in Week 5. Bye weeks are set to begin, forcing many fantasy footballers to search for streamers and replacements for players who will be inactive next week.

Of course, injuries will also continue to affect fantasy strategy for many managers. A few more key players – most notably, New York Giants star Malik Nabers – are dealing with potential long-term maladies that could keep them out of action moving forward.

There appear to be plenty of quality players available on the waiver wire. There are a handful of running backs who could provide quality depth and flex appeal for fantasy managers, while a couple of pass-game weapons seeing new opportunities could also be worth scooping up.

Here's a look at the five players to target on the waiver wire ahead of fantasy football Week 5.

Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire targets

Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues)

Jaylen Warren was a surprise inactive for the Steelers in their Dublin game against the Vikings. That opened the door for Gainwell to serve as the team's lead back, and he did not disappoint.

Gainwell led the Steelers in both carries (19) and receptions (6). He turned those 25 touches into 134 yards and two touchdowns while averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry against a well-coached Brian Flores defense.

Will Gainwell continue to see this type of workload? Warren's absence doesn't seem likely to be long-term, especially since the Steelers are on bye next week. Even so, it's worth scooping the veteran Gainwell given how productive he has been during his first year in Arthur Smith's offense.

Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans (Rostered in 29% of Yahoo leagues)

The Texans finally got their offense going in Week 4 after a slow start to the season. Marks played a big part in their success, leading the team in carries (17) over Nick Chubb (13) while also tying Nico Collins for the team lead in receptions (4).

Marks – a fourth-round rookie out of USC – racked up 119 total yards and two touchdowns thanks to his sizable workload. If the 24-year-old can maintain that type of volume, he should end up being the back to own in Houston, with Chubb lacking burst and the timetable for Joe Mixon's return from lingering foot and ankle injuries remaining unclear.

Kendre Miller, RB, Saints (Rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues)

Alvin Kamara remains New Orleans' backfield leader, but like Marks in Houston, Miller is starting to eat into the veteran's workload.

Miller had 11 carries in the Saints' 31-19 loss to the Saints and turned them into 65 yards and a touchdown. The 23-year-old demonstrated great power and contact balance on his 18-yard score, which may encourage Kellen Moore to lean more heavily on the 6-0, 220-pound back as a red-zone runner moving forward.

Even if not, Miller should continue to get enough touches to remain fantasy relevant as the Saints look to keep the 30-year-old Kamara fresh throughout the season.

Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants (Rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues)

Dart may not have been perfect in his debut as a starter, but he led the Giants to a 21-18 upset of the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. He threw for 111 yards and a touchdown while completing 13 of 20 passes, but more importantly, he racked up 54 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Dart figures to continue to lean on his mobility as his rookie season progresses, which will give him a high, week-to-week floor in fantasy football. So, if you're looking for a backup quarterback with upside, Dart could be worth a flier.

Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Giants (Rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues)

The one pall hanging over the Giants' win over the Chargers was the injury to Malik Nabers. New York's No. 1 receiver had to be carted off after suffering a significant-looking knee injury. It's believed the 22-year-old has suffered a torn ACL, which would end his season.

Nabers' injury will create a target void in New York's offense, as he had a team-high 35 through four weeks. Robinson is second on the team over that span with 27, so he could end up becoming Dart's No. 1 target with Nabers sidelined.

Robinson and Dart showed decent chemistry Sunday, as the quarterback targeted the 24-year-old five times, which was tied for the team lead with Theo Johnson. Robinson's target share should make him a high-floor flex in PPR leagues, and his ceiling could rise as Dart continues to improve.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football waiver wire Week 5: 5 players to pick up

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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