Waiver Wire: Week 6
Here at Fighting Chance Fantasy, we will have a collective effort to bring some options to improve your team. Seth Quinn (@SethFQuinn) will cover quarterbacks, Michael Chasco (@ChascoFCF) will cover running backs, Matt Miles (@DirtyAirFC) will cover wide receivers, and Leo Grandio (@smooth1074) will cover the tight ends and defense streamers.
Quarterbacks (Seth Quinn)
Check to see if these quarterbacks are available to add first: Geno Smith 72% Rostered, Russell Wilson 58% Rostered, and Matthew Stafford 54% Rostered.
Sam Howell | Washington Commanders
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 11%
Sam Howell has been great so far this season in fantasy besides a stinker against the Bills. He has great weapons in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, and Logan Thomas along with Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson out of the backfield. With these weapons in Eric Bieniemy’s offense, Howell can continue to be a solid option for fantasy owners in need of a quarterback.
Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 9%
Baker Mayfield has been solid so far this season. He has great weapons with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and has Rachaad White out of the backfield. Coming off his bye week, he also has the added bonus of playing the rest of the season. He put up 22 fantasy points against the good Saints defense in Week 4, so it seems Mayfield can serve as at least a solid backup option that fantasy owners can appreciate.
Desmond Ridder | Atlanta Falcons
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: <1%
At 0.5% owned, Desmond Ridder is an interesting option for desperate fantasy managers. He’s had three stinkers and two 20+ fantasy weeks, so while he’s very hit or miss when he plays well, he puts up fantasy points. That makes him an interesting backup option for teams who need someone in a pinch. If the matchup is right, Ridder has an intriguing upside. If you can stomach his extremely low floor, then he’s worth at least considering as a backup quarterback on your fantasy team.
Running Backs (Michael Chasco)
Roschon Johnson | Bears
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 41%
The Bears expect Khalil Herbert to miss multiple weeks after suffering a high-ankle sprain last Thursday. The injury could open the door for rookie Roschon Johnson to be featured as a full-time player while Herbert works his way back into the lineup. Herbert is a candidate for the Injured Reserve, which would keep him out for at least four weeks of the season. Plenty of questions need to be answered, which leaves fantasy managers speculating how the touches will be distributed in Chicago. Could Johnson take the lead back role and fulfill his prophecy of being the Bears three-down back that was speculated in the preseason? Will Johnson be in a timeshare with veteran D'Onta Foreman, who has been inactive since Week 1?
Johnson has seen a consistent role in his Bears' offense all season, and managers would've broken the FAAB bank to acquire him if it wasn't for a concussion suffered last week. Fortunately for Johnson, the injury happened on Thursday Night Football (TNF), and he has a 10-day window to clear concussion protocol before Week 6 action. Green Bay tight end Luke Musgrave suffered a concussion on TNF and was able to return to action without missing any time. Of course, not all concussions are the same, so Johnson must be monitored before thrusting him into our lineups. If Johnson passes his cognitive test and returns to action, look for the rookie to be heavily involved as a runner and a pass catcher.
For those who play in deeper leagues and need a bye-week fill-in hopeful, Foreman could be added for a one-week-only option for Week 6. If Johnson were to be ruled out, Foreman would be a touchdown boom-or-bust RB2 option against the Vikings.
Emari Demercado | Cardinals
Yahoo Roster Ownership: 2%
Arizona placed James Conner on the Injured Reserve list earlier Tuesday, which will keep the veteran out until the Week 10 matchup against Atlanta. Next-man-up speculation has UDFA Emari Demercado in line for a more prominent role in the Cardinals offense. Demercado has seen his snap percentage rise from 5% in Week 1 to 77% in Week 5. The rookie running back filled in as the primary back after Conner left after six touches on Sunday. Demercado was the only back to get touches once Conner was ruled out of the game. How Demercado looks in a feature role is unknown, but worthy of some FAAB to find out.
Before the injury to Conner, Demercado had been carving out a role in the passing game. Demercado saw a big jump in route participation in Week 3 with 28% and 38% in Week 4. Demercado was also used in Long Down and Distance situations in the last three weeks at 89%, 71%, and 85%. Although the rookie isn't expected to receive a season-long role for Arizona, he will be one of the most popular speculative adds behind the Chicago backfield. The Cardinals could also mix Keaontay Ingram in the fold as he is recovering from a neck injury that kept him out of the lineup the previous two weeks. This is a situation to monitor as we get closer to Week 6 action.
Ezekiel Elliott | Patriots
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 44%
Team Volume is King is down badly with the disappointing start to Rhamondre Stevenson's season. Stevenson was one of the most efficient backs last season and came into this year as the best (if only) startable option in New England. Starting on a bad real-life football team doesn't correlate to bad statistical games for fantasy football. With Stevenson's role in the passing game, he was supposed to produce solid gold fantasy points as the Patriots were expected to be trailing late in games all year. Where did all the passing game work go? Stevenson hit rock bottom last week by not recording a single reception in the blowout loss to New Orleans.
Stevenson popped up on the injury list heading into Week 5 action with a thigh issue, which led to more work for veteran Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott saw a season-high snap percentage at 45% and rushing attempts at 44% last week. Some speculation has led some managers to believe Zeke is the new lead in New England. Even if that proves to be true, how startable is any Patriots player at the moment? It wouldn't hurt to put Elliott on your bench just in case you have a spot, however.
Chuba Hubbard | Panthers
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 32%
Week 6 waivers are full of speculative adds behind struggling starters. Chuba Hubbard continued to see an uptick in usage in Week 5, especially after starter Miles Sanders fumbled early in the game. Sanders played 17 of 22 snaps in the first quarter, according to TruMedia. After he fumbled, Sanders just played 15 of the final 43 offensive snaps for Carolina. It was the second fumble in five games for Sanders. Are the Panthers losing confidence in its prized free agent signing? Sanders was limited in the last two weeks in practices, and his groin issue seems to be lingering multiple weeks into the season.
The rushing distribution leads many to believe the Panthers are using a committee approach with Sanders, Hubbard, and Laviska Shenault. Hubbard led the way in Week 5 with nine carries for 35 yards, while Sanders finished with 32 yards on seven carries. Shenault surprised most with five carries for 27 yards. If this trend continues, expect Sanders to be an early down touchdown-dependent back in a bad offense. Hubbard could get an opportunity to be a lead back, but limited upside caps their ceilings as a flex play at best.
Kendre Miller | Saints
Yahoo Roster Ownership: 12%
Kendre Miller saw more action in Week 5 as Alvin Kamara's backup, and turned 12 carries into 37 yards while catching all four of his targets for 53 yards. It'll be interesting to see how New Orleans handles the return of Jamaal Williams to the lineup in the coming weeks. Miller could be a lottery ticket to stash for the future.
Jeff Wilson Jr. | Dolphins
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 27%
De'Von Achane has been the league winner for the last three weeks, but the rookie is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a knee injury. Jeff Wilson Jr. hasn't been active all season but could come off Injured Reserve soon. There's no guarantee Wilson will be active this week, but the injury to Achane may move up his timeline to help alongside Raheem Mostert.
Tyjae Spears | Titans
Yahoo Roster Ownership: 26%
Tyjae Spears has now out-snapped Derrick Henry in three of the five games this season. Spears continues to have a passing-game role for the Titans and has at least four targets in all but one game this year. Despite the usage, Spears' ownership remains low. After scoring a touchdown last week, will we see an uptick in adds? 26% is far too low for a player who plays a significant role in any offense.
Keaton Mitchell | Ravens
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 26%
Keaton Mitchell's window to be activated off the Injured Reserve opened last week but the Ravens decided to play it safe and keep him out another week. Justice Hill had a decent game last week for Baltimore but has limited week-to-week upside. Mitchell has a chance to help a beleaguered Ravens offense and poor running game down the road.
Wide Receivers (Matt Miles)
Check to see if these wide receivers are available to add first: Tank Dell 69% Rostered, Elijah Moore 53% Rostered, and Diontae Johnson 70% Rostered.
Curtis Samuel | Washington Commanders
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 18%
Defenses have keyed in on both Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin this season. Curtis Samuel has quietly been the beneficiary, yielding consistent WR2 numbers in the first 5 weeks of the season. His usage and target share with some friendly match-ups could yield a nice wide receiver Bye-week fill-in for the next several weeks. Snap him up before your league-mates notice.
K.J. Osborn | Minnesota Vikings
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 11%
If you are a Justin Jefferson manager, you will no doubt have your eye on K.J. Osborn. Osborn has shown flashes in the past and is in his fourth year in this offense. He is already being crowned the WR1 to replace Jefferson, so bid accordingly.
Josh Downs| Indianapolis Colts
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 9%
Josh Downs not only led the Colts in receiving and yards this week, but he also had career highs in both areas. The eye-opening part is that he accomplished this with both quarterbacks in this game. His last significant game this season was with Garner Minshew, presumably the starter for the foreseeable future. The arrow is pointing up for Downs.
Tight Ends (Leo Grandio)
Check to see if these running backs are available to add first: Cole Kmet 69% Rostered, David Njoku 59% Rostered, and Zach Ertz 50% Rostered.
Logan Thomas | Washington Commanders
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 15%
If you desperately need a tight end on your roster, you should be targeting Logan Thomas. The veteran tight end has always shown that he is more than capable of being a consistent fantasy contributor for fantasy managers in the past. The only thing that has slowed him down has been his battles with injuries. Well in Week 5, he illustrated he is over his recent concussion with his nine receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets performance. In Week 6, Thomas has a juicy match-up with the Atlanta Falcons who allows the fourth most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Thomas should be rostered in all league formats.
Dalton Schultz | Houston Texans
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 36%
Dalton Schultz is starting to heat up not only for the Texans but for fantasy managers as well. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was looking in Schultz’s direction early and often. Stroud targeted the veteran tight end 10 times in Week 5. Schultz converted those targets into seven receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. The only thing to be wary of is that Schultz will face a stingy Saints defense in Week 6 that allows the least amount of fantasy points to tight end this season, so he may not be too productive this week.
Jonnu Smith | Atlanta Falcons
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 16%
Even though Kyle Pitts finally had his best performance of the season, Jonnu Smith continued to be a solid contributor to the Falcons' offense. Smith was targeted seven times and brought in six receptions for 67 yards but did have a fumble. Next week he faces the Commanders who have defended tight ends well this season, and have only allowed one touchdown so far. If you are in a deeper league or in a tight end premium league, Smith should be available to add.
Chigoziem Okonkwo | Tennessee Titans
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 35%
The Chigoziem Okonkwo roller coaster season continues. Okonkwo has yet to reach 10 fantasy points in any game this season. Although this is more of a run-first offense, Okonkwo was targeted 10 times in Week 5 but was not very productive. With Treylon Burks still dealing with a knee injury Okonkwo should still be targeted until Burks returns. Hopefully, he can bring in more receptions to provide more production for fantasy managers. Okonkwo is another tight end to add in deeper league formats.
Gerald Everett | San Diego Chargers
Yahoo! Roster Ownership: 25%
With Gerald Everett coming off a bye, more than likely he will be available in your waiver wire. Before the bye, touchdown vulture Donald Parham Jr. suffered a wrist injury and he may miss time coming out of the bye. This could lead to Everett getting more targets moving forward in an explosive offense. Consider adding Everett in deeper 12-team PPR league formats.
Streaming Defense (Leo Grandio)
Kansas City Chiefs Defense has the pleasure of facing the Broncos on Thursday night Football.
New England Patriots Defense tangles with the Raiders in Week 6.
If you want to discuss this further or have any fantasy questions, you can reach us on X at @FCFantasySports.