Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 5: Quarterback rankings

Week 4 of the 2017 regular season is just about coming to a close with the Monday Night Football game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wires late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.

We will be ranking the top five players likely to be available in your league at each of the four major positions. Some weeks there might not be five good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change and news arrives. The following ownership percentages come via CBS Sportsline entering Week 4.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (68 percent ownership)

We now have two weeks of evidence, and it’s becoming a trend: the change at offensive coordinator has saved Dalton’s season. After throwing four interceptions and no touchdowns in his first two games, Dalton is now 6-0 with Bill Lazor running the offense. On Sunday against the Browns, Dalton exploded for four touchdown passes, completing 25 of 30 passes for 286 yards. If he’s still available in your league, go get him. He’s at worst a top-notch No. 2 and can be started with confidence against most defenses.

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills (57)

It’s not spectacular, but one team in need of quarterback help, Taylor is proving himself to be a dependable point-producer. Taylor only threw one touchdown on Sunday in an upset win at Atlanta, but he now has five touchdowns against one pick this season, and he still contributes with his legs. He has topped 20 points in CBS scoring twice this season, so if the matchup is right, he can be effective as a bye-week fill-in or a streamer.

DeShaun Watson, Houston Texans (50)

Hard to believe Watson is only owned in half of CBS’ leagues. That will surely change after another monster performance on Sunday, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for another. It wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly for the rookie from Clemson, but it is happening and he is a legit every-week starter at this point. With the return of Will Fuller at wide receiver, Watson has targets all over the field and he is finding them. This is Cam Newton 2011, Part II.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (34)

It was easy to write off Goff’s huge game on Thursday night in Week 3 since it came against the 49ers. And while no one is confusing the Dallas defense with the 1975 Steelers, that was another impressive performance by the second-year QB, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He’s available in two-thirds of CBS leagues and if he’s going to produce in the 20s each week, he’s a viable starter going forward.

Josh McCown, New York Jets (7)

I know it seems crazy to list the Jets’ quarterback here, but the fact remains that McCown is producing at a decent level, and though he didn’t have a touchdown on Sunday, he did throw for 224 yards with just one pick against a very good Jacksonville secondary. Imagine what he might be able to do against a really bad defense. Well, we’re about to find out, as he takes on the Patriots and Browns over the next two weeks. Besides being two teams coached by Bill Belichick, the Pats and Browns are linked in their inability to stop the passing game in 2017. The Jets are actually on a winning streak and McCown is getting it done. He can help for sure in bye-week emergencies the next two weeks.

Fantasy football waiver wire advice: Running back rankings for Week 5