Week 5 Utilization Report: Risers, Fallers, Waivers & More! (Fantasy Football)

Five weeks in, and the usage is pointing at a few guys nobody is excited about yet.

Dwain McFarland and Alex Cupps go through the Week 5 Utilization Report — snaps, routes, rush share, target share — and turn it into the specific moves to make this week, on waivers and in the trade market.

They start with the upgrades. It might finally be Bhayshul Tuten time, Jaylen Warren keeps climbing, and Rhamondre Stevenson gets a short-term bump. At receiver, Mike Evans is answering the age questions and Malik Nabers moves up again, plus the open question of whether Marvin Harrison Jr. becomes a real fantasy asset in Houston. And Isaiah Likely is pushing into high-end TE1 territory.

Then the downgrades. Cam Skattebo is sliding at running back, Jaylen Waddle is sliding at receiver, and they try to settle where we actually are with Josh Downs. Plus a fun one on what happens to anybody unlucky enough to face the Vikings defense.

The back half is the full tiered waiver roundup. Germie Bernard and Makai Lemon lead it. Then Kendre Miller, Raheim Sanders, Dameon Pierce and Emmett Johnson at running back, Ja’Kobi Lane and Omar Cooper Jr. coming off IR, Christian Kirk at receiver, Brenton Strange and Pat Freiermuth at tight end, and Jalon Daniels if you need a quarterback.

They close in the trade market: buy-low cases on Jeremiyah Love, Michael Wilson and DeVonta Smith, and sell-high looks at Denzel Boston and Jayden Daniels.

The Utilization Report is brought to you by Tenex.ai. Dwain’s Utilization Report and Cupps’ free and premium waiver pieces are both live on the site. Use promo code FFIL for 10% off FantasyLife+ Tier 2.

Topics in this video:

2026 fantasy football, week 6 waiver wire, utilization report, utilization score, snap share, route participation, trade targets, Bhayshul Tuten, Jaylen Warren, Rhamondre Stevenson, Mike Evans, Malik Nabers, Marvin Harrison Jr, Isaiah Likely, Cam Skattebo, Jaylen Waddle, Josh Downs, Vikings defense, Germie Bernard, Makai Lemon, Kendre Miller, Raheim Sanders, Dameon Pierce, Emmett Johnson, Ja’Kobi Lane, Omar Cooper Jr, Christian Kirk, Brenton Strange, Pat Freiermuth, Jalon Daniels, Jeremiyah Love, Michael Wilson, DeVonta Smith, Denzel Boston, Jayden Daniels

Timecodes:

00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:41 - Bhayshul Tuten
00:17:22 - Jaylen Warren
00:26:46 - Rhamondre Stevenson
00:30:06 - Mike Evans
00:39:22 - Malik Nabers
00:47:01 - Marvin Harrison Jr. in Houston
00:58:26 - Isaiah Likely
01:05:10 - Downgrade: Cam Skattebo
01:08:39 - Downgrade: Jaylen Waddle
01:14:00 - Where Are We With Josh Downs?
01:18:13 - Teams Facing the Vikings Defense
01:24:02 - Tier 1 Waivers: Germie Bernard
01:32:56 - Tier 1 Waivers: Makai Lemon
01:35:38 - Kendre Miller
01:35:38 - Short Term RB Adds
01:41:08 - Emmett Johnson
01:41:38 - Short Term WR Adds
01:43:27 - Brenton Strange
01:44:58 - Pat Freiermuth
01:48:00 - Jalon Daniels
01:48:54 - Buy Low: Jeremiyah Love
01:54:00 - Buy Low: Michael Wilson
01:56:53 - Buy Low: DeVonta Smith
01:57:25 - Sell High: Denzel Boston
02:01:29 - Sell High: Jayden Daniels
02:09:17 - Outro
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