It's important to start by saying you can't truly replace players like Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill in fantasy football. When they go down, your lineup is deeply impacted.
However, you need to move forward and find options that you can start in their place and feel a level of confidence.
Whether it's WRs that now have more opportunities due to Nabers and Hill going down, or great options on the waiver wire, there are players to target.
Roster percentages will reflect Yahoo Fantasy Sports league data, and we'll target players below 50%.
READ: Week 5 fantasy waiver wire
Waiver pickups to replace Malik Nabers, Tyreek Hill
Best WR adds with long-term fantasy value
Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (49% rostered)
This one is fairly obvious, but Wan'Dale Robinson should take over as the WR1 in this Giants offense. This is not ot say he'll produce on the same level as Nabers did or receive the same target share, but the volume will increase.
We've seen Robinson be great for fantasy, specifically in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. He caught 8 passes for 142 and a touchdown, but Russell Wilson was the quarterback.
Wilson attacked downfield for better or for worse, but it helped Robinson's fantasy value. While Jaxson Dart won't chuck it deep like Wilson, he ran a smoother and more consistent offense than Wilson.
Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos (24%)
This is not a WR that will give you consistency, but he has upside each week. Marvin Mims is coming off his best game of the season on MNF.
Bo Nix targeted Mims 6 times, and he caught all 6 of them for 69 yards. That by itself is a decent fantasy performance in PPR, but what put Mims over was his 16-yard rushing TD.
He's fast. 💨@marvindmims | 📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/QbDZqX0nWS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 30, 2025
Again, at this point in the season, the waiver wire is not littered with great options to replace Nabers or Hill, but Mims offers a decent ceiling in this Broncos offense. (Troy Franklin, 32%, also could be useful in PPR leagues.)
CHECK EVERY POSITION: Week 5 Fantasy Rankings
Week 5 WR streamers
If you need to strategize week-to-week with a barren waiver wire, target these names for this week:
Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys (4%)
While it certainly is not a long-term solution, you could get away with streaming him, at least until CeeDee Lamb returns.
In these past two weeks without Lamb, Tolbert was targeted 6 times in each game. The nice thing about having Dallas WRs is they're always involved in the game script.
The Dallas defense is so bad, and their offense is quite good; therefore, every game turns into an offensive shootout.
In Week 4, Tolbert went for 4 catches and 61 yards receiving, a solid day for PPR leagues that includes this catch that should help build his trust:
Still don't know HOW Jalen Tolbert made this catch. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jvkG9ymaAy
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 29, 2025
In Week 5, Dallas will take on the Jets in what should be another offense-driven game.
Josh Reynolds, Jets (0%)
Listen, getting advice to start a guy who has 2 catches on the year is understandably confusing. However, Josh Reynolds is the WR2 on this Jets team, and they play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5.
Remember what I just said about Dallas turning every game into an offensive track meet? Well, the Cowboys, as a result of this, allow the most fantasy points per game to the QB and WR positions.
Through 4 weeks, opposing WRs average 49 fantasy points against the Cowboys. Is Garrett Wilson going off for that 49 alone? Maybe...but probably not. Reynolds offers some legit upside this week. It's a dart throw, but in times like this, that's what you need.
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 5 Start-Sit | Week 5 Sleepers | Week 5 Busts