When it comes to fantasy football, injuries can be detrimental to the season-long success of your fantasy squad and can leave you scrambling for plug-in starters, especially after another action-packed, injury-riddled week of football. Keep in mind that bye weeks are in full effect now (GB, PIT). This is why you will need to work the fantasy football waiver wire to grab high-upside players to help fill these empty roster spots and reduce that Sunday morning pre-kickoff panic.
If you’re looking to do just that, here are the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 6 that could help push your fantasy team in the right direction.
All players must be owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues to be included in the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups weekly column. All ownerships for waiver wire players will be provided and will reflect that of Tuesday morning.
QB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Matthew Stafford Fantasy Ownership (34.2%)
With Cooper Kupp back in the mix and the Rams’ commitment to throwing the ball, Matthew Stafford is a high-priority Week 6 waiver wire addition at just 34 percent ownership. His fantasy totals haven’t been dominant by any means averaging just 14.6 points and sitting as the QB17 but he’s thrown the ball at least 33 times in all five games thus far and now has Kupp to force-feed. It isn’t just Kupp, either, as both Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell were very much involved in the gameplan against the Eagles in Week 5.
For those QB-needy teams, Stafford is one of the best options under 50 percent ownership simply because you know he’s going to throw the ball and it makes it even better that Kupp will be on the receiving end of most of those throws now. Los Angeles has been competitive all season and the more zero-turnover games Stafford produces, the higher his fantasy totals will rise as the season progresses.
Sam Howell Fantasy Ownership (17.4%)
So, you know how Stafford’s value is from his passing attempts and how much he benefits from his weapons? It’s the same with Sam Howell, except he can use his legs more effectively. Howell’s ownership has floated in the teens all season and I don’t necessarily understand why. Sure, he’s inexperienced and many fantasy managers likely moved on after his rough Week 3 performance but he’s the QB14 and throws nearly just as much as Stafford. Howell’s attempted at least 29 passes in all five games –– including 41 and 51 across the last two games.
With how Washington’s defense has performed the majority of this season, Howell and the offense have played in negative game scripts. Luckily, the Commanders’ next two games feature the Falcons and Giants –– two defenses that rank bottom 12 in defensive DVOA through five games. We could be in for more 20-plus fantasy point performances, especially if his defense is unable to slow down these offenses.
Other options: Baker Mayfield (13.1%), Gardner Minshew (0.5%)
RB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Roschon Johnson Fantasy Ownership (37.0%)
With Khalil Herbert (ankle) looking at a multi-week absence, the Bears running back room is a big question mark but based on efficiency in limited touches, Roschon Johnson should claim the RB1 role. His ownership dropped a bit after he picked up a head injury last week but he is now a must-add on the waiver wire for Week 5.
The Bears’ offense is hard to gauge because of the D.J. Moore show last week but when Justin Fields is struggling, he can lean on the running game. Chicago has some rather favorable matchups approaching (MIN, LV, LAC) and Johnson has averaged an impressive 4.9 yards per carry on 25 total carries. Keep in mind that D’Onta Foreman (5.2%) has been a healthy scratch each week and will certainly be back in the mix now, too.
Emari Demercado Fantasy Ownership (0.4%)
Going with the theme of adding backups to injured starters, rookie RB Emari Demercado has some potential to do some damage in the Cardinals’ offense with James Conner (knee) likely going on injured reserve. Before Week 5, Demercado logged 35% of snaps because Keaontay Ingram (neck) had been sidelined, so his role was already starting to form.
Once Conner exited Week 5 in the second quarter, Demercado took over and totaled 11 touches for 57 total yards and a touchdown. Arizona claimed Tony Jones from waivers but Demercado seems to be the clear RB1 at the moment with some pass-catching and big-play upside.
Other options: Tyjae Spears (25.5%), Justice Hill (23.5%), Jeff Wilson Jr. (29.7%)
WR Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Rashee Rice Fantasy Ownership (23.4%)
Rashee Rice’s snaps have steadily increased as the season has progressed and in turn, so has his production. The rookie has yet to eclipse 60 receiving yards once this season due to Patrick Mahomes spreading the ball around but he has found the endzone twice and eclipsed double-digit fantasy points three times.
At just 23 percent ownership, he’s likely available in your league right now and is worth the stash because a breakout game is inevitable at this point. He’s caught 17 of his 24 targets so far this season and when opposing defenses take Travis Kelce away in the redzone, it seems that Rice has become one of Mahomes’ go-to options. Kansas City faces Denver twice in its next three games and I’d be willing to bet Rice gets open often against by far the worst defense in the league in terms of defensive DVOA (34.8%).
KJ Osborn Fantasy Ownership (21.6%)
Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is expected to go on injured reserve, leaving him sidelined for at least four games, although there is no timetable for his return, suggesting the injury may be worse than expected. Jefferson’s target share is going to have to spread out to other pass-catchers and K.J. Osborn figures to see a huge uptick. Rookie Jordan Addison will likely operate as WR1 and T.J. Hockenson will now assume the go-to target role but there are still plenty of targets to be had considering Jefferson averaged 10.6 per game.
Even while sharing the field with Jefferson, Osborn was still very much a part of the offensive gameplan –– totaling 26 targets across the first five games and finding the endzone twice. His snap counts have been there all season and at just under 22 percent ownership, he will be a very popular option in a Vikings offense that has attempted the most passes per game (40.8) this season.
Other options: Curtis Samuel (14.7%), Josh Downs (10.9%), Wan’Dale Robinson (6.1%)
TE Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Logan Thomas Fantasy Ownership (8.1%)
Sam Howell has grown to trust Logan Thomas this season, targeting him 25 times across four games. Thomas has always floated around the waiver wire as a solid streaming option the last few seasons and for good reason. In Week 5 where Howell threw 51 times, Thomas led the team in receptions (9), receiving yards (77) and targets (11) and should be able to build off that against opponents like the Falcons and Giants over the next two weeks.
The tight end position feels even weirder than normal this season but volume is key when determining who to add to your team, especially with bye weeks in full effect now. As I mentioned above, Washington finds itself in negative game scripts more often than not and that will only benefit Thomas more, especially as Howell gets more acclimated to the game at the NFL level.
Other options: Luke Musgrave (23.3%), Jonnu Smith (9.8%), Michael Mayer (1.5%)
