Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire targets, trade candidates and start or sit roster decisions based on PFF routes run

Opportunity is king in fantasy football, and chasing target volume has always been a winning strategy — especially in PPR leagues. PFF premium stats offers proprietary data that goes well beyond the box score, including routes run for every player from different alignments.

Click here for more PFF tools:

Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings

Targeting players who are running a high percentage of routes is a good strategy for identifying breakout candidates. This weekly report will look at the previous week's rate of routes run per dropback compared to larger samples to find running backs, wide receivers and tight ends who are garnering more or less opportunities in the passing game.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Rate of routes run per dropback | Weeks 1-4

Darnell Mooney is tied with Allen Robinson for a team-leading 23% target share, but he leads the team in routes run rate per dropback (95%). The second-year receiver is seeing alpha usage and needs to be rostered in all formats.

Mooney's 28.5% target share since Week 2 finally led to production in Week 4, as he went bonkers versus the Lions defense to the tune of five catches for 125 receiving yards on seven targets.

The same goes for Michael Pittman Jr., who is being featured heavily in the Colts offense. His 23% target share matches Mooney, but Pittman has done more with his opportunities. He has caught at least six balls in three straight weeks, and there’s no reason to think he will slow down anytime soon.

Rate of routes run per dropback | Week 4

Robert Woods’ 94% routes run rate per dropback marked a season-high. So even though he has struggled to put up top-tier fantasy production, being so involved in a high-powered passing offense is going to lead to a more consistent output. Just don't consider him a high-end WR2 with Cooper Kupp’s top-ranked 35% target share here to stay.

Related content for you: NFL Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: All league sizes & scoring types via Andrew Erickson

Curtis Samuel returned from injury in Week 4 but was on a pitch count. He ran a route on only 38% of team dropbacks (16 routes), yet he was targeted four times close to the line of scrimmage (-1.50 aDOT). He should see more looks with an increased snap share in Week 5.