Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 6
It’s hard to believe we are already preparing for Week 6. Some big names went down with injuries on Sunday. That will make FullTime‘s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 6 more crucial than ever.
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Week 6 Byes: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers
K.J. Osborn (WR) Minnesota Vikings (15% FAAB) – Justin Jefferson exited Week 5 with a hamstring injury. The fantasy community is well aware of the myriad problems with hamstring ailments. If Jefferson missed time, Osborn would immediately be Minnesota’s No. 2 wideout. The Vikings currently rank second in the NFL in passing yards. Osborn has been a solid complimentary piece multiple times and would offer WR2/3 upside if thrust into a larger role for an extended time. UPDATE: Jefferson will go on IR. That means he’ll miss a minimum of four games. Osborn now becomes a priority add worth 10-15% FAAB.
Here’s The Athletic on #Vikings trying to replace Justin Jefferson (IR, hamstring).
I know this sounds crazy, but replacing JJeff with KJ Osborn is unlikely to go well. It’s time to feature Jordan Addison. pic.twitter.com/zwfqLFmuPJ
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 10, 2023
Jeffery Wilson (RB) Miami Dolphins (12%) – It’s important to be proactive in fantasy football. Wilson is set to be activated from the PUP list. That means he could return to action at any time. Meanwhile, De’Von Achane exited Sunday’s win with a knee injury. The Dolphins have long utilized a committee backfield. Also, Wilson was the favorite to lead the rotation just a couple of months ago. If Achane misses time, Wilson could find himself in a valuable role with a high-octane offense. Last season, in a near 50/50 split with Raheem Mostert, Wilson was just as effective. If one of Miami’s backs misses time, Wilson could prove to be a valuable stash. UPDATE: Achane will miss a month. This sends Wilson from “sneaky proactive add” to priority add ahead of Week 6. Wilson has RB2/3 value for at least four games.
#Breaking Drew Rosenhaus tells me his client, #Dolphins RB Jeff Wilson Jr., will be activated off the Injured Reserve list. His 21-Day practice window will open this week. More depth for a loaded running back room & historic offense through 5 weeks. #Finsup #NFL #nfltwitter pic.twitter.com/V8kOkAadd6
— Josh Moser (@TheMozKnowz) October 9, 2023
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB) Denver Broncos (10% FAAB) – McLaughlin was one of our top targets last week and he delivered. Javonte Williams is probably going to return in Week 6, so don’t go too crazy if McLaughlin is somehow still on the wire. However, the rookie has played very well and likely carved out a role. There was a rumor that the Broncos may be on the verge of “cleaning house,” so it’s possible McLaughlin could maintain a real role moving forward.
Justice Hill (RB) Baltimore Ravens (10% FAAB) – Hill led Baltimore’s running backs in snaps (39, 58%), yards per carry, and was the only back targeted on Sunday. Also, he got the red-zone score that proved to be Baltimore’s only touchdown. Gus Edwards will stay involved. However, Hill offers the most value in the passing game. Through four contests, Hill is averaging 9.8 fantasy points per game. That is more than Dameon Pierce, Miles Sanders, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
D’Onta Foreman (RB) Chicago Bears (8% FAAB) – Foreman has been absent since Week 2. However, that is about to change. Khalil Herbert will miss multiple weeks with a knee injury. Also, Roschon Johnson (15% FAAB) is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Foreman’s Week 6 outcomes range from RB1b in a committee to having an entire backfield to himself if Johnson isn’t cleared. Foreman is a priority add. However, don’t break the bank. Remember that this staff has made Foreman a healthy scratch in four consecutive games. And if Johnson is cleared, he is the best bet to lead this backfield.
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Commanders (8% FAAB) – Samuel has scored 18-plus points in back-to-back weeks. In fact, he’s topped double-digit points in three of Washington’s five games. His lowest PPR output was 6.2 points, so Samuel has been a consistent source of production. Samuel enters Week 6 as a top-35 fantasy wideout but is still available in a large number of fantasy leagues. With some rough bye weeks coming up in the next month, Samuel is worth a decent FAAB bid as a proactive addition to a fantasy receiving corps.
Emari Demercado (RB) Arizona Cardinals (10% FAAB) – Arizona’s backfield is banged up. Keaontay Ingram (7% FAAB) missed Week 5 and James Conner (knee) exited after 12 snaps. Demarcado was the Cardinals’ only healthy back and turned a 77% snap rate into 12.7 fantasy points. If we learn Conner will miss time, Demercado would become a top-3 priority add ahead of Arizona’s Week 6 trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Demercado is most likely a short-term solution. However, he is available in over 98% of fantasy leagues. Arizona also claimed Tony Jones (5% FAAB) off waivers. UPDATE: James Conner will miss at least four games. I’ve bumped up the proposed FAAB bids for all three Arizona backs. The most likely outcome is a frustrating committee, so proceed with caution.
Josh Downs (WR) Indianapolis Colts (6% FAAB) – Quietly, Downs has racked up 33 targets and 23 receptions for the Colts. He has recorded multiple receptions in each of Indy’s five contests. Also, Downs flashed some solid chemistry with QB Gardner Minshew. With Minshew under center for the next month, the Colts will rely more on the passing game. Downs is a top-45 fantasy wideout entering Week 6 and needs to be rostered in all leagues.
Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Commanders (6% FAAB) – In PPR scoring, Thomas is the TE7 in points per game. However, he is still widely available on the waiver wire. On Thursday, Thomas had a 79% snap share and led Washington with a 23% target share. He’s also found the end zone in two of his last three games. Subsequently, Thomas offers TE1 upside each week and is still available on a lot of waiver wires. Finally, the Commanders face an Atlanta defense in Week 6 that has ceded the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2023.
Chuba Hubbard (RB) Carolina Panthers (5% FAAB) – Miles Sanders has been a disappointment. Also, it looks like the Panthers are trending toward a committee backfield. Hubbard out-snapped and out-touched Sanders in Detroit. Hubbard also has eight red-zone carries this season, compared to six for Sanders. This backfield will be hard to handicap week to week. However, it is Hubbard who is trending up.
Tyjae Spears (RB) Tennessee Titans (5% FAAB) – When the Titans win, Derrick Henry averages 26 touches per game. However, Tennessee (2-3) is trailing, Henry dips to 15 touches. Meanwhile, Spears has played seven more snaps than Henry in those three defeats. The Titans are 3.5-point home underdogs this week and could be underdogs in won’t be clear favorites until they host Carolina in Week 12.
Gardner Minshew (QB) Indianapolis Colts (5% FAAB) – Anthony Richardson will miss multiple weeks with a sprained shoulder. Minshew is an accomplished downfield thrower with starting experience. In Week 3, Minshew threw for 227 yards and a touchdown in Indy’s 22-19 win over Baltimore. We’re penciling in Minshew for four starts. He has some bye-week replacement appeal. However, Superflex managers can bump up their bids significantly.
Robert Woods (WR) Houston Texans (5% FAAB) – Woods actually leads the Texans with 40 targets. That’s a top-20 figure through five games. Also, with Tank Dell in the concussion protocol, Woods will be on the WR3 radar in Week 6 as Houston hosts a New Orleans secondary allowing over 32 fantasy points per game to wideouts. Woods should be rostered in all formats. Also, John Metchie (1% FAAB) is worth a proactive minimal bid in deeper leagues.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) New York Giants (4% FAAB) – In the last two games, Robinson has usurped Parris Campbell as New York’s slot receiver. The Giants aren’t an offense to rely on. However, opportunity is everything. Robinson’s playing time makes him worth a minimal fantasy football waiver wire: Week 6 look.
Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2% FAAB) – No tight end has played a higher snap share than Cade Otton. The production hasn’t followed. However, Otton is playing 97% of Tampa’s snaps. Also, the Buccaneers emerge from their Week 5 bye with a scintillating schedule. Otton’s next two games come against the Lions and Falcons. Detroit and Atlanta are two of the league’s three worst teams in terms of surrendering fantasy points to tight ends.
Streaming Defense options: Saints at Texans, Rams vs. Cardinals, Jaguars vs. Colts, Raiders vs. Patriots
Lastly, after your fantasy football waiver wire: week 6 bids, make sure you mock in our Mock Draft World Championships. No better way to practice for the real thing.
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