Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 6 (Fantasy Football)
Week 5 was a perfect reminder never to underestimate the power of the waiver wire. With bye weeks kicking in and injuries piling up, fantasy managers were scrambling for replacements wherever they could find them. Those who took a chance on Rico Dowdle struck gold, as he exploded for over 30 fantasy points and finished as the week’s RB1. So, who’s next in line to tilt matchups in Week 6? Let’s dive into the top pickups that could spark your next win.
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Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
4
3
4
2
2
4
5
3
5
5
3
6
3
6
8
7
6
7
6
9
7
8
7
11
8
9
11
5
13
10
9
10
9
11
12
8
12
12
10
12
11
13
14
14
10
14
13
13
14
15
15
15
15
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers – Rico Dowdle? More like Rico WOWdle. The veteran back made the most of his first opportunity as Carolina’s lead runner, powering the Panthers to a thrilling win over the Dolphins. He erupted for 206 yards and a TD on 23 carries while adding three catches for 28 yards, finishing as the top-scoring RB in fantasy for Week 5. Dowdle ran with purpose and energy, looking every bit like a man on a mission.
Chuba Hubbard is expected to return soon, but it is hard to imagine the Panthers not keeping Dowdle heavily involved after a performance like that. If Hubbard misses another game as expected, Dowdle draws a juicy revenge matchup against the Cowboys, the same team that let him walk after his 1,000-yard season last year. Even if his window of opportunity is short, Dowdle’s immediate impact makes him a clear-cut top RB pickup for Week 6.
Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals – There was some uncertainty about who would step up in Arizona’s backfield after Trey Benson went down, but that question has been answered. Michael Carter took full advantage of his opportunity, rushing 18 times for 51 yards and a TD while catching all five of his targets for 22 yards. Emari Demercado nearly made a splash with a long run, but a costly fumble before the goal line sealed the Cardinals’ loss and likely his spot in the doghouse. With Demercado’s mistake opening the door even wider, Carter should have a firm grip on the lead role heading into Week 6 and beyond. He stands out as a priority pickup, even with a tougher matchup against the red-hot Colts ahead.
Hassan Haskins & Kimani Vidal, RBs, Los Angeles Chargers – Omarion Hampton’s promising rookie breakout hit a setback after he suffered an ankle injury in the Chargers’ Week 5 loss to the Commanders. What once looked like a fast-rising offense has now stumbled through back-to-back defeats while dealing with injuries to both the offensive line and their lead back. Hampton was seen in a walking boot after the game and has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games.
In his absence, Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal emerge as names to watch. The sample size from Week 5 is limited, but Haskins logged five offensive snaps to Vidal’s two. Haskins’ size gives him the edge for early-down and goal-line work, while Vidal profiles more as a change-of-pace and receiving option. Both are worth speculative adds ahead of a favorable matchup against a Dolphins defense that just allowed over 200 rushing yards to Rico Dowdle. With more clarity hopefully coming later in the week, fantasy managers will be watching closely and looking for signs of how this backfield will shape up before kickoff.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs – The Kansas City backfield has been one of the toughest to figure out this season, with inconsistent production across the board. While many were hoping for a Brashard Smith breakout in Week 5, it was Kareem Hunt who ended up leading the way in Monday night’s loss to the Jaguars. Hunt totaled seven carries for 49 yards and two TDs, adding one catch for eight yards.
Outside of his goal-line work, Hunt offers limited value at this stage of his career, but that role alone carries weight in an offense that scores as often as Kansas City’s. With bye weeks approaching, Hunt profiles as a TD-dependent, boom-or-bust option who could swing a matchup in your favor. With that said, he will face a tougher test in Week 6 against the Lions.
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints – Kendre Miller has quietly started to earn a larger role in the Saints’ backfield over the past two weeks. In Week 4, he turned 11 carries into 65 yards and a TD, then followed it up in Sunday’s win over the Giants with 10 carries for 41 yards. He has not been used much as a receiving option, and Alvin Kamara still handles most of the workload, but Miller’s recent usage is an encouraging sign.
A former highly regarded prospect, Miller’s development has been slowed by injuries since entering the league. Now in his third season, he is finally stringing together consistent opportunities and showing flashes of the talent that made him so intriguing coming out of college. Kamara’s presence limits Miller’s ceiling for now, but his increased involvement and the ongoing trade rumors surrounding Kamara make him a worthwhile stash. He will look to keep building momentum in Week 6 against the Patriots.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
5
7
4
4
8
5
5
5
11
1
6
8
3
15
7
9
4
9
8
7
15
8
9
10
14
4
10
14
6
10
11
13
12
6
12
6
9
16
13
15
7
14
14
11
10
12
15
12
13
13
16
16
16
11
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers – Even with Green Bay on bye in Week 5, Romeo Doubs’ Week 4 performance remains impossible to ignore. Facing the Cowboys, he caught six of eight targets for 58 yards and three TDs, further establishing himself as Green Bay’s WR1. His chemistry with Jordan Love, especially in the red zone, was on full display in prime time.
With Jayden Reed out for the season, Christian Watson still easing back from injury, and rookie Matthew Golden finding his footing, Doubs has been the steady presence this offense needs. His stat lines may look modest without TDs, but his consistent role and scoring upside make him a priority pickup. He will look to carry that momentum into Week 6 against the Bengals.
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers were so banged up heading into Thursday Night Football, they might as well have been called the 48ers. Yet somehow, Mac Jones and his cast of misfit toys pulled off a stunning upset over the Rams. One of the brightest spots in the win was the resurgence of veteran WR Kendrick Bourne. After several quiet seasons, Bourne came alive when his new team needed him most, hauling in ten of eleven targets for 142 yards and looking unguardable all night.
Bourne’s familiarity with Jones from their New England days clearly paid off, though his career has been marked by big flashes followed by inconsistency. Still, if Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings remain sidelined, Bourne could once again operate as the top target in Week 6. With a potential shootout looming against the Buccaneers, he is well worth consideration as a short-term fantasy play.
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders – Tre Tucker is quietly putting together an unexpected third-year breakout in Las Vegas. While Geno Smith has struggled with turnovers, he is consistently looking Tucker’s way. In Sunday’s loss to the Colts, Tucker caught four of six targets for 62 yards, bouncing back from a disappointing performance the previous week.
His production can be inconsistent, as he has had two games under 15 receiving yards this season, but his big-play ability is undeniable. With a favorable Week 6 matchup against the Tennessee Titans on deck, Tucker profiles as a volatile yet intriguing flex option capable of delivering a game-changing performance.
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos – Troy Franklin’s numbers may not always jump off the stat sheet, but his role in the Broncos’ offense has been steadily growing in his second season. In Week 5’s key win over the Eagles, Franklin caught three passes for 35 yards on five targets, marking the fourth time in five games he has seen at least five targets. While he may alternate with Marvin Mims for who has the bigger week, depending on game flow, Franklin has emerged as the clearer WR2 alongside Courtland Sutton.
That consistency makes him a higher-priority waiver option than many players who only post occasional boom games. Keep a close eye on Franklin as Denver enters a favorable three-game stretch against the Jets, Giants, and Cowboys over the next three weeks.
Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys – The WR position is thin and tricky to navigate on waivers this week, but one performance that deserves attention is Ryan Flournoy’s in Week 5. In Sunday’s decisive win over the Jets, Flournoy caught six of nine targets for 114 yards and added 10 yards on two carries. With the Jets focusing their coverage on George Pickens, Flournoy capitalized on open space to deliver a breakout performance.
With CeeDee Lamb sidelined due to an ankle injury and Kavontae Turpin potentially out as well, Flournoy could see a larger role in the offense. That said, this was his first career game over 41 receiving yards, so expectations should remain cautious until he proves it is repeatable. He will face his next test in Week 6 against the Panthers.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
4
3
3
4
3
4
4
5
6
5
6
6
5
6
5
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets – Haven’t been keeping tabs on the 0-5 Jets offense? Hard to blame you. But quietly, rookie TE Mason Taylor has begun to carve out a meaningful role. His usage and production have steadily climbed over the past three weeks, and Week 5 was his most impressive performance yet. Taylor hauled in nine of twelve targets for 67 yards in the loss to Dallas, marking his second straight game with more than 60 receiving yards.
It is becoming clear that Taylor is emerging as the No. 2 target in the offense behind Garrett Wilson, and with the Jets constantly playing from behind, his target volume should remain steady. For fantasy managers thin at TE, Taylor is an intriguing pickup with long-term upside, though a Week 6 matchup against Denver makes him more of a wait-and-see option than an automatic start.
AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks – Seattle’s offense has been one of the pleasant surprises this season, and a key part of that rise has been the emergence of second-year TE AJ Barner. Known early on for his red zone presence, Barner entered Week 5 with two TDs but limited overall production. That changed in Sunday’s narrow loss to the Buccaneers, where he caught all seven of his targets for 53 yards and two scores, showcasing his growing impact in the passing game.
At 6’6” and 251 pounds, Barner utilizes his massive frame to shield defenders and has clearly developed strong chemistry with Sam Darnold near the goal line. If his role continues to expand, he could quickly evolve from a TD-dependent flyer into a steady fantasy option. He is an intriguing stash heading into Week 6 as Seattle looks to bounce back against Jacksonville.
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants – Whenever a team makes a change at QB, it is worth keeping a close eye on who becomes the new favorite target. Two weeks into the Jaxson Dart era in New York, it is clear the rookie QB has developed a strong connection with his big, athletic TE, Theo Johnson. In Sunday’s loss to the Saints, Johnson caught six of seven targets for 33 yards and two TDs, following up a score from the previous week. When Dart gets near the end zone, Johnson is clearly his go-to option.
Outside of TDs, Johnson’s production remains modest, but his chemistry with Dart makes him a worthwhile speculative add for those in need at TE. He faces a tough Week 6 matchup against the Eagles, so he is best kept on benches for now, but his growing red zone role is worth monitoring.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
2
1
1
2
1
3
2
3
3
2
3
4
4
4
6
5
5
5
4
6
6
6
5
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DEF/ST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
3
1
2
4
1
3
3
6
2
2
4
2
5
8
5
3
7
5
6
5
8
6
7
8
4
9
8
7
10
7
9
9
11
4
10
11
6
11
11
10
9
10
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
Something I’ve never been afraid to do in fantasy is separate name value from opportunity.
What this means in Week 5: I have Rico Dowdle ranked as a top-20 RB and am starting him over a buuuunch of bigger named players.
I truly think he is going to smash this week.
— Joe Beldner (@JoeBeldner) October 4, 2025
Last week was a clear reminder of how quickly things can shift in fantasy football and how important the waiver wire can be when chaos sets in. Whether it was injuries, bye weeks, or unexpected week-winning performances like Rico Dowdle, Rachaad White, and Michael Carter, the managers who stayed active were the ones who came out ahead. As Week 6 approaches, the same kind of upside is out there. Stay sharp, trust your process, and be ready to pounce when opportunity strikes. Your next difference-maker could be just a waiver claim away.