Every week, Bob Lung tracks those One Week Wonders to see if they maintain their consistency or not. This will help with your NFL Week 5 Waiver wire decisions!
The hunt for the next breakout star is a weekly fantasy football obsession. Yet, for every consistent producer, there are flash-in-the-pan performers who leave us wondering what just happened. These are the one-hit wonders. A look back at the first three weeks reveals a stark truth. Of the twelve players who initially exploded, only four managed another clutch performance. That is a paltry thirty-three percent consistency rate. This history lesson is crucial as we now sift through the Week 4 fallout. Our focus turns to the new names atop the list and what their surprise success means for your Week 5 waiver wire strategy. We will separate the potential pickups from the clear passers.
One-Week Wonders – Who Do We Trust? – 9/22/2025 – NFL Waiver Wire Week 5
NFL Waiver Wire Week 5
QB – Jaxson Dart – #11 overall – 20. 95 points
The New York Giants provided the week’s biggest shock, and rookie quarterback Jackson Dart was at the center of it. He finished seventh in total points, leading an upset over the Chargers. His final line was solid for a first start. He completed thirteen of twenty passes for one hundred and eleven yards and a touchdown. Crucially, he threw zero interceptions.
His legs provided the real fantasy boost, however. Dart ran the ball ten times for fifty-four yards and another touchdown. That rushing floor is what propelled him into the one-hit wonder spotlight. The victory, however, came with a devastating cost. The Giants lost top receiver Malik Nabers for the year. This injury changes everything for Dart’s outlook.
The remaining pass-catching corps features names like Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson. It is not an inspiring group. This points to a future filled with check-downs and reliance on players like Cam Skattebo. The upcoming schedule offers a brief window. A game against New Orleans could yield another clutch performance. But then the storm hits. The Giants face Philadelphia, Denver, and Philadelphia again in a brutal stretch.
If you pick him up for the New Orleans matchup, consider it a one-week rental. The smart move is to trade him after a potentially good game. The weeks that follow could be very ugly for this offense.
Week 5 NFL Fantasy Consistency Reports
RB – Kenneth Gainwell – #3 overall – 28.40 points
A surprise scratch of Jaylen Warren thrust Kenneth Gainwell into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting role. He did not disappoint fantasy managers who took the chance. Gainwell exploded for thirty-one point four fantasy points, finishing as the week’s number three running back.
This was not a complete anomaly. He has always been a solid backup. His profile suggests a player capable of handling the work. He typically sees around ten or eleven touches per game. Gainwell also contributes in the passing game, with multiple games of three catches and one six-catch outing. He finds the end zone with some regularity. This makes him a potentially useful flex player, especially in deeper leagues.
There are, however, factors to consider before investing your top waiver priority. The Steelers have a rookie, Kaleb Johnson, whom the team was excited about. He could earn more work as the season progresses. Most importantly, the Steelers have a bye in Week Five. This gives Warren two full weeks to recover from his injury.
If you own Warren, you must spend whatever it takes to secure Gainwell. His handcuff value is immense. For others, he remains a worthy Week 5 waiver wire target. He can provide immediate depth. Just be aware that his long-term starting status is uncertain once the team returns from its week off.
WR – Tutu Atwell – #16 overall – 15.30 points
The wide receiver position offered a classic one-hit wonder case this week. Tutu Atwell of the Los Angeles Rams secured that title with a single play. His entire production came from one catch that went for eighty-eight yards and a touchdown. He was the best of a thin group, with the next closest wide receiver finishing a distant twenty-fourth in points.
This is the very definition of a boom-or-bust performance. The Rams’ passing offense was prolific, leading to huge days for Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. Atwell, however, remains a secondary piece. His season totals are now a meager two catches for ninety-two yards and that one score. The targets simply are not consistently there for him. With a target monster like Nacua eating up opportunities, there are not enough leftovers for Atwell to be reliable. He is a capable backup who has filled in during injuries in the past.
For your Week 5 waiver wire plans, he is not a priority. He should only be considered in very deep leagues. The one scenario where he makes sense is if you are stashing a handcuff. If you own Puka Nacua or Davante Adams, adding Atwell as a deep bench stash is a defensible move. Otherwise, feel confident leaving him for another manager to make the mistake of starting.
TE – Tommy Tremble – #7 overall – 12.70 points
The Carolina Panthers’ tight end carousel continues to spin. Two weeks ago, it was Ja’Tavion Sanders who was the one-hit wonder. Now, with Sanders injured and inactive, backup Tommy Tremble stepped into the spotlight. Tremble finished fifth in tight end scoring with fifteen point two points. He caught five passes for forty-two yards and a touchdown.
The Panthers are constantly playing from behind. This forces them to throw the ball frequently. Bryce Young, their quarterback, has shown a clear affinity for targeting his tight ends. The team has stockpiled players at the position, and several have now scored. This makes Tremble an interesting short-term solution.
His upcoming matchup is very favorable. The Panthers face the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. If you are dealing with a bye week or an injury to a star like Tucker Kraft, Tremble is a perfect streaming target. He is not a guy you can trust week-to-week.
For a single Week 5 waiver wire addition to get you through a tough spot, however, he fits the bill perfectly. He should be widely available and will not cost much, making him a savvy, low-risk pickup for managers in a pinch.
The NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire is upon us! Spend your FAAB dollars wisely. Check in next week for Bob’s One-Week Wonders and find out who our winners are in week 5! Follow me on X, @bob_lung, for more football!
