Week 6 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)

We are looking ahead to Week 6 and we have more injuries like those to RB Dalvin Cook and WR Keenan Allen as well as bye weeks for the Saints, Raiders, Seahawks, and Chargers. The Titans-Bills game is a go for tonight with no new positive tests, so for everyone who benched their starters in fear of this game being canceled, I am sorry. I will join you in your misery if you lost this week because of this move.

Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers Week 6 Waiver Wire episode for a full breakdown of these players, who you should target, and who you can drop to make room.

You should also check out the Week 5 Target Report and Injury Report to help you make decisions.

WRs

Chase Claypool, Steelers (Rostered: ESPN 9% / Yahoo 16%)
CLE, @TEN, @BAL
Week 5 vs PHI — 11 targets for 7/110/3 — 3/6/1 rushing

Tee Higgins, Bengals (Rostered: ESPN 42% / Yahoo 53%)
@IND, CLE, TEN, BYE
Week 5 @BAL — 8 targets for 4/62/0

Travis Fulgham, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 3%)
BAL, NYG, DAL, BYE
Week 5 @PIT — 13 targets for 10/152/1

Brandin Cooks, Texans (Rostered: ESPN 61% / Yahoo 44%)
@TEN, GB, BYE, @JAX
Week 5 vs JAX — 12 targets for 8/161/1

Mike Williams, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 35% / Yahoo 40%)
BYE, JAX, @DEN, LV
Week 5 @NO — 8 targets for 5/109/2

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Emmanuel Sanders, Saints (Rostered: ESPN 63% / Yahoo 67%)
BYE, CAR, @CHI, @TB
Week 5 vs LAC — 14 targets for 12/122/0

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (Rostered: ESPN 38% / Yahoo 40%)
@BUF, @DEN, NYJ
Week 5 vs LV — 3 targets for 2/50/0

Preston Williams, Dolphins (Rostered: ESPN 37% / Yahoo 22%)
NYJ, BYE, LAR, @ARI
Week 5 @SF — 5 targets for 4/106/1

Christian Kirk, Cardinals (Rostered: ESPN 42% / Yahoo 22%)
@DAL, SEA, BYE, MIA
Week 5 vs NYJ — 7 targets for 5/78/0

Henry Ruggs, Raiders (Rostered: ESPN 49% / Yahoo 44%)
BYE, TB, @CLE, @LAC
Week 5 @KC — 3 targets for 2/118/1

Laviska Shenault Jr., Jaguars (Rostered: ESPN 32% / Yahoo 34%)
DET, @LAC, BYE, HOU
Week 5 @HOU — 8 targets for 7/79/0

Tim Patrick, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 19% / Yahoo 17%)
@NE, KC, LAC,
Week 5 Bye / Week 4 @NYJ — 7 targets for 6/113/1

In case you missed it, Steelers WR Chase Claypool scored not one touchdown, but a whopping four total TDs with three receiving and also rushing one in. His counterpart, WR Diontae Johnson, went down early with a back injury after a big hit. How much of Claypool’s usage was due to an inept TE Eric Ebron and an injured Johnson will be interesting to learn as we move forward. Claypool should be added but don’t expect another four-touchdown performance. He did start this game and they planned on using him, which bodes well for his future usage.

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On the other side of the ball in that game- welcome to the NFL, undrafted free agent Travis Fulgham. He put on a show against the Steelers for Philadelphia, coming up clutch in big 3rd down conversions and scored a touchdown on ten receptions and 152 yards. Until Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson return, Fulgham will be another player to keep an eye on in the Eagles offense.

If, for some reason, Mike Williams, Emmanuel Sanders, or Mecole Hardman are available, they are worth a look to grab off the wire. They are rostered in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues but are becoming more involved in the offense. Williams is healthy and becoming the deep threat for QB Justin Herbert, Sanders is finally getting acclimated to the Saints offensive scheme, and Hardman may be a big beneficiary with Sammy Watkins sidelined with a hamstring injury. It’s worth noting that Williams and Sanders can’t help you in Week 6 as they are on bye.

There are some decent options that could be available this week at WR, depending on how deep your league is. It’s likely they are already rostered, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look, just in case.

RBs

Alexander Mattison, Vikings (Rostered: ESPN 41% / Yahoo 40%)
ATL, BYE, @GB, DET
Week 5 @SEA — 20/112/0 — 3 targets for 3/24/0

Damien Harris, Patriots (Rostered: ESPN 40% / Yahoo 54%)
DEN, SF, @BUF
Week 5 Bye / Week 4 @KC — 17/100/0

Justin Jackson, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 54% / Yahoo 44%)
BYE, JAX, @DEN, LV
15/71/0 — 6 targets for 5/23/0

D’Ernest Johnson, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 29% / Yahoo 41%)
@PIT, @CIN, LV, BYE
Week 5 vs IND — 8/32/0 — 1 target for 1/4/0

J.D. McKissic, Washington (Rostered: ESPN 15% / Yahoo 6%)
@NYG, DAL, BYE, NYG
Week 5 vs LAR — 1/3/0 — 6/46/0 on 8 targets

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Adrian Peterson, Lions (Rostered: ESPN 44% / Yahoo 55%)
@JAX, @ATL, IND
Week 5 Bye / Week 4 vs NO — 11/36/1

If you reached for backup RB Alexander Mattison and were able to hang onto to him throughout the numerous injuries, congratulations. We never like to celebrate injuries, but it seems inevitable every year that starter RB Dalvin Cook gets hurt. How long Mattison will retain the starting job is up in the air, but we are confident he is starting in Week 6. If he’s available, GRAB HIM, but it’s doubtful he’s floating on the wire. I bring this up to underscore the importance of holding onto backups if you are able.

The Patriots were scheduled to have their bye in Week 6 but COVID-19 positive tests forced New England to have its bye in Week 5. We only saw one game with RB Damien Harris, without Sony Michel, but he did rush 17 times for 100 yards. Out of all of the RBs that could be available, he is the name I would target. The Patriots are now past their bye week and Sony Michel is on the short-term IR. You may only get a few weeks out of him, but if you have running backs on a bye this week or next, Harris could be a good spot start until Michel returns.

Chargers Justin Jackson had 20 touches on Monday night vs the Saints. Rookie Joshua Kelley did well in Week 1 but has been lackluster in recent weeks. Despite Austin Ekeler going down to injury, Kelley scored just over four points in PPR and it was Jackson who saw a bulk of the work. Just keep in mind that the Chargers are on bye this week.

TEs

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (Rostered: ESPN 56% / Yahoo 72%)
ARI, @WSH, @PHI
Week 5 vs NYG — 3 targets for 1/6/0

Robert Tonyan, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 49% / Yahoo 71%)
@TB, @HOU, MIN
Week 5 Bye / Week 4 vs ATL — 6 targets for 6/98/3

Jimmy Graham, Bears (Rostered: ESPN 53% / Yahoo 40%)
@CAR, @LAR, NO
Week 5 vs TB — 5 targets for 3/33/1

Eric Ebron, Steelers (Rostered: ESPN 38% / Yahoo 53%)
CLE, @TEN, @BAL
Week 5 vs PHI — 6 targets for 5/43/0

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Austin Hooper, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 45% / Yahoo 55%)
@PIT, @CIN, LV, BYE
Week 5 vs IND — 10 targets for 5/57/0

Logan Thomas, Washington (Rostered: ESPN 12% / Yahoo 18%)
@NYG, DAL, BYE, NYG
4 targets for 1/4/0

Greg Olsen, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 31% / Yahoo 30%)
BYE, @ARI, SF, @BUF
1 target for 1/20/0

I just have one thing to say about the tight ends on the waiver wire. Gross.

Greg Olsen is the only player available in 70% of leagues, but had a very quiet game on Monday night. The Seahawks as a whole didn’t look quite like themselves in the first half of their matchup against the Vikings. If you are desperate, then he may be the best option aside from the Bears’ Jimmy Graham.

Another player not on this list is the Dalton Schultz. There are a lot of question marks with the Cowboys offense now that Dak Prescott is out for the season. However, don’t forget that backup QB Andy Dalton made TE Tyler Eifert an excellent fantasy tight end during their time in Cincinnati. If Schultz is available, he would be my first grab and higher percentage of FAAB to spend even with the risk it carries.

Remember to check out the Week 6 Waiver Wire episode for a full breakdown from Andy, Mike, and Jason plus D/ST and QB streamers for Week 6.