Fantasy football 2018: top 10 waiver wire Week 5 pickups

QB: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders defense is sixth in yards allowed, and their Week 4 performance against the Cleveland Browns serves as an example of the types of games they will likely find themselves in throughout the course of the 2018 season.

Say what you want about Derek Carr’s inconsistent ball placement and work under pressure, but when he turns it up, he absolutely turns it up. Carr’s play in the fourth quarter of the Raiders overtime victory against Cleveland was sublime, and he finally started hooking up with Amari Cooper for huge gains.

In Cooper, Jordy Nelson, and Jared Cook, Carr has an enviable triumvirate of explosive pass-catchers. He attempted 39 passes against Miami before tossing 58 darts against Cleveland, and he’s never dipped below 288 yards in a single passing game.

It’s hard to understand why Carr isn’t owned more in leagues, because the Raiders passing attack seems to be taking a high-volume approach. That bodes well for Carr’s numbers, even if he is up-and-down when it comes to quality. If the Raiders continue to prioritize Cooper, though, the “ups” should become more prominent, even if fantasy owners will likely have to swallow the several multiple-interception games that come with Carr’s gaudy yardage totals.