Fantasy football owners love — repeat, love — rookie running backs, and there are several among the top Week 6 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds. Emari Demercado shined in James Conner’s absence, Roschon Johnson might finally be getting his chance to take over in Chicago, and Tyjae Spears and Eric Gray both saw career highs in touches and yards. Are any league-winners? Maybe, maybe not — but that’s not going to stop fantasy owners from scooping them up in many leagues.
Our full waivers list below features more than just those rookie runners. We also have a few veteran RBs who might be just as valuable, (Justice Hill, D’Onta Foreman, Jeff Wilson Jr.), plus several WRs who are overdue to be picked up in the majority of leagues (Josh Reynolds, Josh Downs, Rashee Rice, Curtis Samuel). As always this time of year, we have some potential Week 6 streamers at QB (it’s rough), TE (it’s plentiful), and D/ST (it’s good enough). Our streaming suggestions can be found at the end of the list.
Johnson is going to command a top waiver claim — and deservedly so. He’s the type of guy who could take Chicago’s starting job and run with it, giving his owners massive production. Demercado is also worth a fairly high claim depending on what we hear about Conner’s knee injury. You can make a case for using a claim on Wilson Jr. and Spears, especially if you own Raheem Mostert/De’Von Achane or Derrick Henry, but given their middling ceilings, you don’t need to go there unless you’re desperate for an RB in a PPR league.
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The rest of this week’s top adds are better left for free agency or for those with low claims. Even if you really need a WR or bye-week fill-in at QB, TE, and D/ST, you’re better off saving your claim and being aggressive in free agency. The same applies to kickers, but that should go without saying.
WEEK 6 FANTASY: FAAB budget planner | Trade advice
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 6
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Roschon Johnson/D’Onta Foreman, RBs, Bears. Khalil Herbert (ankle) is expected to miss at least a couple of games, paving the way for Johnson to lead the Bears’ backfield. However, the talented rookie who’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry also exited early in Week 5 due to a concussion, so he’s no sure thing for Week 6 either. Because the Bears played on Thursday last week, we expect Johnson back and view him as the priority pickup, but savvy owners/deep-leaguers should also grab Foreman, who would likely be active and get the bulk of the carries if both Herbert and Johnson are out against the Vikings.
Emari Demercado, RB, Cardinals. Demercado quietly took over the primary handcuff role in Arizona a couple of weeks ago, and he made good on his first opportunity to shine after James Conner (knee) exited in the second quarter against Cincinnati. Demercado finished with 57 total yards and a touchdown on 11 touches, and he should be the primary back next week against the Rams if Conner remains out. It’s not a great matchup, but Demercado would merit a flex spot in 12-team leagues based on expected volume.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans. Spears has been in on around 50 percent of the Titans’ snaps all year, but he finally had the big breakout fantasy owners had been waiting for in Week 5. All told, he handled 11 touches (seven carries, four receptions) for 69 total yards and a TD. Derrick Henry is still the leader in this backfield (13 carries), but Spears is a valuable gadget player who’s capable of splitting out wide and sharing the field with Henry. He has a relatively mediocre ceiling as long as Henry is healthy, but Spears will still be a solid flex in PPR leagues during the byes, including next week against Baltimore.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Dolphins. Wilson Jr. (midsection, finger) has been on the IR all season, but he’s expected to have his practice window open this week, meaning he’ll have 21 days to get back on the field. After news of De’Von Achane’s knee injury broke, JWJ’s presence looms large in Miami’s explosive backfield. The veteran back averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored four TDs in eight games while splitting work with Raheem Mostert last year, and he’d likely be in for a similar role this season if Achane is out. Given Mostert’s shaky injury history, Wilson Jr. is a priority pickup. If he’s back for Week 6, he’d be a potential sleeper against a Carolina defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to RBs.
Justice Hill, RB, Ravens. Hill is finally healthy after battling a toe injury early in the season, and he showed his value against Pittsburgh. Despite seeing five fewer carries than Gus Edwards (12 to seven), Hill produced 32 rushing yards and his fourth rushing TD of the season. He also caught all four of his targets for 13 yards. The Ravens have a lot of competition for carries (especially when you factor in Lamar Jackson), but Hill has done enough to merit PPR flex consideration each week, including against Tennessee in Week 6.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
K.J. Osborn, WR, Vikings. Consider Osborn a handcuff for Justin Jefferson, who exited in the second half against Kansas City due to a hamstring injury. Osborn helped pick up the slack, finishing with five catches and 49 yards on nine targets (tied for a team high). If Jefferson remains out against the Bears’ porous pass defense next week, Osborn will be in play as a potential WR3/flex.
Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs. Rice had seen an uptick in snaps and targets over the past couple of weeks, and he got back in the end zone for the first time since Week 1 against the Vikings. He caught four-of-five targets for just 33 yards, but it’s clear Patrick Mahomes trusts the talented rookie in the red zone. With Travis Kelce (ankle) hurting and no one from the Chiefs’ wide receiver room stepping up, Rice is worth grabbing in all formats. He’ll be a legit WR3/flex next week against Denver’s porous defense.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts. Downs has been consistently involved in the Colts’ offense all year, but he broke out in Week 5 with six catches (six targets) for 97 yards. The undersized rookie is a tough cover for any defensive back, and while he doesn’t profile as a big red-zone threat, he’s always capable of piling up short catches and delivering in PPR formats. He’ll be a potential flex next week in a nice matchup against the Jags.
Josh Reynolds, WR, Lions. What’s it going to take for people to pick up Reynolds? He was undoubtedly helped by Amon-Ra St. Brown’s absence in Week 5, but he’s been producing virtually all year. He added another four catches for 76 yards and a TD to his resume against the Panthers, and even with Jameson Williams back, Reynolds should continue to be Detroit’s No. 2 wide receiver. He’s once again a WR3/flex next week against the Buccaneers.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Commanders. Samuel has scored in back-to-back weeks, and after his second-straight game with at least seven targets, he’s starting to look like the No. 2 receiver we all thought Jahan Dotson would be. Washington’s offense figures to be inconsistent, but Samuel is being used enough to merit a roster spot in deep leagues. Consider him a potential flex next week against Atlanta.
Logan Thomas, TE, Commanders. Thomas caught nine-of-11 targets for 77 yards and a score on Thursday, giving him at least eight targets and/or a TD in three of his four games this year. You can’t overlook that kind of production from a TE, and with a highly favorable Week 6 matchup against the Falcons on the horizon, Thomas profiles as a top stream with plenty of staying power.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans. Schultz scored on a trick play in Week 4, but he was all over the field in a much more conventional sense in Week 5, catching a team-high seven-of-10 targets for 65 yards and a score. As with Thomas, you can’t ignore that production, and even in a tough matchup next week against New Orleans, Schultz has low-end TE1 upside.
Eric Gray, RB, Giants. Gray looked the Giants’ lead back against Miami, rushing a team-high 12 times for 26 yards compared to nine carries and 21 yards for Matt Breida. It might not really matter with Saquon Barkley (ankle) likely back next week, but for now, Gray seems like the higher-upside handcuff. If Barkley is out next week, Gray has some deep-league flex appeal in a favorable rushing matchup against Buffalo.
Top fantasy QB streamers for Week 6
Gardner Minshew, Colts (@ Jaguars in Week 6). With Anthony Richardson (shoulder) once again looking questionable (at best) to suit up, Minshew has some streamer appeal in a statistically favorable matchup against a Jaguars’ defense that was just ripped up by Josh Allen. No one is going to confuse Minshew with Allen, so perhaps a better comparison would be C.J. Stroud, who threw for 280 yards and two scores against Jacksonville in Week 3. Either way, Minshew, who threw 44 times for 227 yards and a TD when he started in Week 3 and just completed 11-of-14 passes for 155 yards in a little over a half against Tennessee, has some upside with his improving weapons.
Joshua Dobbs, Cardinals (@ Rams). Most of the best Week 6 matchups for low-owned QBs go to guys you’d never want to start (Zach Wilson vs. Eagles, Desmond Ridder vs. Commanders, Mac Jones vs. Raiders, Bryce Young vs. Dolphins), so instead we’re suggesting Dobbs, whose matchup is merely average. Dobbs has performed well for fantasy owners this year thanks to his rushing ability (at least 41 yards in three games) and will likely continue to put up numbers in what could be a shootout.
Top fantasy TE streamers for Week 6
Zach Ertz, Cardinals (@ Rams in Week 6). Ertz has seen a steady stream of targets most games, and even when he didn’t last week, he scored a TD. The Rams entered Week 5 allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs, so when you put it all together, you have a high-floor streaming option, especially in PPR formats.
Tyler Conklin, Jets (vs. Eagles). The Eagles have been lit up by TEs most of the year, and Conklin has seen at least five targets in each of the past four games. That’s enough to make him a high-upside stream in Week 6.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (vs. Lions). Otton scored in his last game, and he had six targets in Week 2. He’s pretty inconsistent, but the Lions entered Week 5 allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to TEs, so Otton has more upside than usual.
Noah Fant, Seahawks (@ Bengals). Fant quietly produced 10 catches for 160 yards in Weeks 2-4 before Seattle’s bye, so against Cincinnati’s bottom-six fantasy TE defense, he has deep-league streamer appeal.
Hayden Hurst, Panthers (@ Dolphins). Hurst hasn’t done much since his big Week 1, but he’s still involved enough in Carolina’s offense to consider against a Dolphins’ defense that entered Week 5 in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to TEs.
Top fantasy defense streamers for Week 6
Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Colts in Week 6). Jacksonville has three takeaways in three-of-five games this season and two takeaways in four-of-five, and the Colts’ are still vulnerable to turnover-filled and/or high-sacks games with either Anthony Richarson (shoulder) or Gardner Minshew, especially on the road. You could do a lot worse than the Jags at home.
Minnesota Vikings (@ Bears). Chicago has scored plenty of points the past two weeks, but it’s still allowed at least three sacks in every game, at least two takeaways in four-of-five games, and D/ST touchdowns in three-of-five contests this season. Minnesota has shown a decent pass-rush at times this year, so consider the Vikings the ultimate boom-or-bust streamer in Week 6.
Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Patriots). The Patriots have turned it over at least twice in all but one game this year. Even Vegas’ subpar D/ST can take advantage of that at home.
Indianapolis Colts (@ Jaguars). The Colts have done a good job producing sacks and turnovers this year, and with Jacksonville entering Week 5 allowing the ninth-most fantasy points per game to D/STs, there’s some potential here if you need a streamer.
Houston Texans (vs. Saints). The Texans’ D/ST have been better than most realize this year, posting starting-caliber performances in Weeks 1 (Ravens), 3 (Jaguars), and 4 (Steelers). Last week notwithstanding, the Saints havn’t been an offensive juggernaut this year, so Houston has a decent floor against them at home.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. Commanders). The Falcons have improved on defense, and while they haven’t had a huge game yet, they have plenty of upside against a Washington team that’s allowed at least four sacks in every game this year.
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