Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 6 (Fantasy Football)
Week 5 was the week of redemption and blowouts in the NFL. Teams like the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers said goodbye to their struggling season starts and opened a can of you-know-what against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Chicago Bears. Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with their backup QB, smacked the Dallas Cowboys in an upset no one expected.
So, what will Week 6 bring? One thing is for sure. There are four teams on bye: the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings.
That removes some major fantasy assets from lineups this week. Big sigh of relief if you are playing the Jahmyr Gibbs manager in your league. Lucky! But if you ARE the Jahmyr Gibbs manager or have anyone else on bye, keep reading to see who you can pick up to fill in for the week.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have been difficult to watch this season. This team, full of studs across all the skill positions, looked like a hot mess without their star RB Josh Jacobs. It is only right that, in their sweet rivalry unis, they found their way back to dominance. Jordan Love’s completion percentage was 81% against the Chicago Bears, rising from 73% the week before and just 53% the week before that. He and his receivers are adjusting and improving, which means you can snag him off waivers before your leaguemates are the wiser. Plus, Green Bay is about to face Dallas and Detroit in the next two weeks, a dream lineup for a fantasy QB.
Jordan Love in Week 5:
🧀 25-of-31
🧀 367 passing yards
🧀 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/CPCEhNB72d— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
I know we all have feelings about Aaron Rodgers. Try to put that aside. Rodgers has finished among the top 12 fantasy QBs for the last three weeks, and he is available in over 60% of leagues. Despite injuries that have taken out top receiving options and DK Metcalf disappointing all of us, Rodgers remains a more than viable fantasy streaming option. In a week without Joe Burrow and Jared Goff, it might be time to add him to your roster.
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
Woody Marks is one of my favorite pickups this week. He has been quietly delivering flex-quality fantasy outputs over the past four weeks as the RB2 on the Houston Texans. Now, with their RB1 David Montgomery week-to-week with a groin injury, Marks’ workload is bound to increase. With a win under their belt and their big trade confirmed, the Texans are motivated to get their season back on track. They can do that on the ground in their next two matchups against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Here we go again with a Philadelphia Eagles deep RB backup option for waivers. Last week, I mentioned Will Shipley because Saquon Barkley was week-to-week with a hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby found himself on IR. Now, Will Shipley is out with a foot injury, so Dameon Pierce is up. That being said, it is important to temper expectations with Pierce. He is on the board because he is literally the only RB option for the Eagles right now, but he is a stash or deep flex play until further notice.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
The RB situation for the Green Bay Packers has been something I have wanted to stay far, far away from this season, but I find myself encouraged this week. Is that a shock after they just embarrassed the Chicago Bears? Probably not. But I am not just looking back; I am looking forward. And what I see is a delicious matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense, which ranks 25th against the RB position. In what is expected to be a high-scoring game, MarShawn Lloyd should have goal-line opportunities. He ran in two TDs against the Bears, so I am betting on that momentum carrying over into Week 6, making Lloyd a solid flex option.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Recent news on rookie WR Germie Bernard has been positive all around. From earning the trust of Aaron Rodgers to receiving praise from HC Mike McCarthy himself, Bernard has seemingly proved himself worthy of a larger role in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. It certainly comes at an advantageous time for the young WR. Both Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are now out with injuries, leaving the team’s WR2 role in Bernard’s hands. He led the team in targets, going six of nine for 90 yards against the Colts, and he made a critical play along the sideline to help seal their victory. Bernard has incredible potential and needs to be picked up everywhere.
If there is any pick up I can tell you to make on waivers this week it’s Germie Bernard. Takes a while for Rodgers to trust his receivers but from speaking with him and watching from the sideline he LOVES this rookie. (And no Pittman and Wilson potentially) #steelers #FF
— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) October 12, 2026
Darius Cooper and Dontayvion Wicks, WRs, Philadelphia Eagles
In the absence of their star WR DeVonta Smith, Darius Cooper has just over 100 receiving yards and three TDs in the last two games. He has outscored both Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks in fantasy points in those games as well. The Philadelphia Eagles and Jalen Hurts have been struggling to begin the 2026 season, but Cooper and Wicks have managed fantasy relevance as solid flex plays. Cooper is more of a boom/bust option, whereas Wicks delivers more consistency with a low ceiling. What does your team need? Cooper is widely available, and Wicks is out there in just under 50% of leagues.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, Arizona Cardinals
In the trade heard ‘round the world, Marvin Harrison Jr. made his exit from the Arizona Cardinals and headed to the Houston Texans, leaving vacated targets for Kendrick Bourne to snatch up. We saw a glimpse of his larger role in the offense on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Bourne logged five catches on eight targets for 70 yards, delivering a decent flex performance, and Jacoby Brissett will likely need him again in their Week 6 matchup. The Rams defense ranks first against the TE position, which could mean nothing for someone like Trey McBride, but it could also be an opportunity for more targets to go to the WRs on this team. If you are WR- or flex-needy because of the bye week, he is available in most leagues.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
As I already mentioned, the Steelers have been hit with injuries to their receiving corps, opening up opportunities for players who have been out of the limelight so far this year. And therein enters TE Pat Freiermuth. He had a standout performance last week, with five receptions on seven targets for 44 yards and two TDs. He has now scored three TDs in the past two weeks and will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Their defense has not been particularly scary against the TE position, so he is someone you can target if you need a fill-in for the bye week.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee had a quiet start but really started to heat up in Week 3 in the absence of Puka Nacua. He has maintained a role over the past three weeks, even with Nacua back on the field. Higbee hauled in five catches on six targets for 83 yards against the Buffalo Bills, ranking among the top 10 TEs on the week. Going into Week 6, there will be plenty of targets to go around as the Rams play the defective Arizona Cardinals defense.
Team DST Waiver Rankings
New England Patriots, DST
The New England Patriots are an excellent pickup going into Week 6 against the New York Jets. They have been a tough matchup for QBs so far this year, allowing just 15 fantasy points to the position on average. With a struggling Geno Smith behind center, the Jets are going to have to get creative to get points on the board.
Indianapolis Colts, DST
Yeah, you read that right. The Indianapolis Colts defense made the list. It says less about the talent of the Colts defense and more about the ineptitude of the Titans offense. They are only 4% rostered, so they are out there if you need them.