Week 5 BYE hits hard with Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Atlanta off. Fantasy managers will pivot to replace key IDP starters. Adjust your lineup quickly!
Bye Week Blues
The bye week can be challenging, especially when you have key defensive players on the bench. Here’s a look at some of the top defensive talents who will be missing in action this week and how you can navigate the waiver wire to fill those gaps.
Atlanta Falcons
- Kaden Elliss: Steady LB2 production.
- Jessie Bates III: DB1 upside every week.
Green Bay Packers
- Rashan Gary: 4.5 sacks through 3 games.
- Edgerrin Cooper: Rookie LB flashing range.
- Quay Walker: 42 tackles in 4 games.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Payton Wilson: Rookie LB making splash plays.
- Juan Thornhill: Veteran safety depth.
- Patrick Queen: 24 tackles in 3 games.
That’s a ton of defensive firepower sitting on the bench this week. If you’ve been leaning on any of these names, you’ll need to pivot quickly — and that’s where the Week 5 waiver wire comes in.
Defensive Line
Leonard Williams — DL, Seahawks (18% rostered)
Williams has been disruptive up front, logging at least 4 tackles in three straight games and already piling up 2.5 sacks. His blend of tackle volume and pass rush production makes him a sneaky DL2/3 add in leagues that start multiple defensive linemen.
Week 5: vs. Buccaneers — Tampa’s offensive line has struggled in pass protection, giving Williams a strong chance to extend his sack streak.
Quinnen Williams — DL, Jets (36% rostered)
Williams remains the anchor of the Jets’ defensive line, playing heavy snaps and showing his usual disruptive presence. While the Jets’ slow start has limited his counting stats, he’s still averaging 4 tackles per game with splash upside in sacks and forced fumbles.
Week 5: vs. Cowboys — Dallas’ offensive line has been inconsistent in pass protection, giving Williams a strong chance to post another sack and push DL2 value.
Joey Bosa — DE, Bills (41% rostered)
Bosa hasn’t piled up tackles yet, but his disruptive impact is clear — forcing 3 fumbles in the first two weeks while logging a sack and multiple QB hits. He’s still playing a heavy snap share and remains a high upside DL2/3 in leagues that reward splash plays.
Week 5: vs. Patriots — New England’s offensive line has been shaky in pass protection, giving Bosa a strong chance to add to his sack and turnover totals.
Linebacker
Devin Lloyd — LB, Jaguars (42% rostered)
Lloyd has played 100% of snaps in all three games, wearing the green dot as Jacksonville’s defensive signal caller. While his raw tackle numbers are modest so far, the splash upside is real — he already has an interception and is trusted in every situation.
Week 5: vs. 49ers — San Francisco’s balanced offense should give Lloyd chances both in run support and coverage, making him a steady LB3 with LB2 upside.
Dee Winters — LB, 49ers (5% rostered)
Winters has played 100% of snaps in all three games, cementing himself as the 49ers’ every-down LB next to Fred Warner.
Week 5: @ Rams — Los Angeles funnels plenty of short completions and RB touches, which should keep Winters busy and make him a strong LB3 add in tackle heavy formats.
Christian Rozeboom — LB, Panthers (3% rostered)
Rozeboom has stepped right into a full-time role for Carolina, logging 100% of defensive snaps in all three games. He’s averaging 8 tackles per game, giving him a rock-solid LB3 floor in tackle-heavy formats. While he hasn’t flashed splash plays yet, his consistency makes him a strong BYE-week fill-in.
Week 5 Matchup: vs. New England — a run-heavy offense that should funnel plenty of tackle chances his way.
Azeez Al Shaair — LB, Texans (21% rostered)
Locked into a 100% snap share as Houston’s every down LB, Al Shaair is averaging 8+ tackles per game. He hasn’t hit splash plays yet, but the steady volume makes him a reliable LB3.
Week 5: vs. Ravens — Baltimore’s run heavy scheme should funnel plenty of tackle chances his way.
Defensive Backs
Dru Phillips — CB, Giants (6% rostered)
The rookie has been tested early and often, and he’s responded with 20 tackles and an interception in his first three games. His sticky coverage and willingness to tackle make him a sneaky DB streamer in leagues that reward passes defended.
Week 5: vs. Saints — New Orleans ranks top 10 in DB scoring allowed, making Phillips a strong shallow league streamer if you’re missing Jessie Bates III, Jaquan Brisker, or Juan Thornhill on BYE.
Daxton Hill — S, Bengals (27% rostered)
Hill has been an every down safety for Cincinnati, averaging nearly 7 tackles per game with a splash INT in Week 2. His solo tackle efficiency makes him especially valuable in shallow leagues where DBs are streamed.
Week 5: vs. Broncos — Denver’s short passing game funnels opportunities to safeties, giving Hill a solid DB2 streaming outlook.
Paulson Adebo — CB, Giants (29% rostered)
Adebo has been a tackle magnet through four weeks, averaging nearly 8 tackles per game with a 100% snap share. He’s notched at least one pass defended in three straight contests, giving him a steady floor and occasional splash upside.
Week 5: vs. Saints — New Orleans ranks top 10 in DB scoring allowed, making Adebo a strong streamer along with Phillips.
