Welcome to the Week 6 waiver wire watch!
The month of October is underway and another weekend of NFL action is mostly in the books. We still have the Monday night matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars to get to, but it’s not too early to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for next week.
We’ll go over some Week 5 performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 6 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max.
Week 6 byes: Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks (22.6%)
The Seahawks came out on the losing end of a 38-35 barnburner against the Buccaneers on Sunday, but Darnold put on a show in what was his most explosive game with the team so far. The veteran traded haymakers with fellow 2018 draftee Baker Mayfield all afternoon, going 28-34 for 341 yards with four touchdowns and an unfortunate interception in the fourth that eventually led to a walk-off field goal for Tampa Bay.
His 135.4 passing rating was the third-highest among starting QB’s by the end of Sunday’s late window and despite the loss, Seahawks fans have to be excited about the rapport that he’s establishing with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Fantasy managers have to be excited about this too and he has a strong chance at being a top-10 fantasy QB for a second straight year.
Week 6 matchup: @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers (3.9%)
With Brock Purdy missing his third game in four weeks, Jones once again stepped up for the 49ers in their 26-23 overtime victory over the Rams on Thursday and may have triggered a QB controversy in the process. The fifth-year veteran completed 67.3% of his passes in the primetime NFC West showdown, racking up 342 yards and two touchdowns in the process. He’s been solid for San Francisco in his three starts and it is reflected by his metrics, boasting a total EPA of 18.37% and a success rate of 53.79%.
We’ll have to wait and see what Purdy’s status is ahead of next week’s road matchup against the Bucs, but there is some belief that Kyle Shanahan should ride the hot hand and start Jones for the foreseeable future. Even if he doesn’t get the nod in Tampa, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to snag him and have him on your roster.
Week 6 matchup: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers (44.4%)
Chuba Hubbard was sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins with a calf injury, so what did the backup Dowdle do? Oh, just post the best fantasy performance of the week to help the Panthers erase a 17-point deficit for a 27-24 win. No big deal.
Dowdle ran all over the Miami defense on Sunday, taking 23 carries for 206 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, also adding an additional three receptions for 28 receiving yards through the air for good measure. He was already getting enough touches to be a solid handcuff for Hubbard and one would think he earned himself more carries in the coming weeks regardless of when the Panthers starter is able to return. Running back-needy managers need to submit a bid ASAP before it’s too late.
Week 6 matchup: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals (44.9%)
The Cardinals absolutely melted down in the fourth quarter in their 22-21 loss on Sunday, dropping their third straight game in the process. But it did get a productive outing from Carter, who recorded 51 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, and a touchdown in the loss. The injuries to James Conner and Trey Benson opened the door for Carter to have 18 carries on Sunday and it looks like the fifth-year veteran will handle RB1 duties in Arizona for the foreseeable future. Like the aforementioned Dowdle, submit a bid before it’s too late.
Week 6 matchup: @ Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco 49ers (3.9%)
With so many offensive players injured, the 49ers had no choice but to rely on Bourne against the Rams on Thursday and he sure as heck delivered in the NFC West matchup. 10 receptions for 142 yards were his final stat line in the primetime showdown as he effectively stepped up as San Fran’s top pass-catcher while Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings were sidelined for the game.
The 30-year-old veteran has 132 routes run on the season through five games and Thursday marked the first game where he actually commanded a high target share. It remains to be seen what his usage will be once their injured stars begin returning to the lineup, but at least fantasy managers know that he’s capable of turning in a start-worthy performance.
Week 6 matchup: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys (0.7%)
Arguably the biggest surprise performance of Sunday’s slate came in the Cowboys’ 37-22 road victory over the Jets with Flournoy stepping up for the offense. The second-year wideout came out of nowhere to lead the offense in receiving, hauling in six of nine targets for 114 yards and added an additional 10 rushing yards on the ground. He had just five receptions for 35 yards total for the year prior to Dallas’ Week 5 trip to MetLife Stadium and his numbers against the Jets actually exceeded what he put up for the entirety of his rookie campaign last season.
The Cowboy offense is proving to be one of the more explosive units in the entire league and that’s even with CeeDee Lamb being out for the last few weeks. Flournoy is one of a number of players who could have their named called on any given week and with a rostership of less than 1%, he’ll be available for the taking.
Week 6 matchup: @ Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
AJ Barner, TE Seattle Seahawks (1.5%)
The aforementioned Seahawks-Bucs game saw several players on both sides ball out and Barner continued the tear that he’s been on for the past few weeks. The second-year tight end caught all seven of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns on the day, leading all fantasy TE’s for the week with 17.3 points in standard leagues and 24.3 points in PPR formats.
Barner is becoming a go-to option for Darnold, especially in the red zone and he currently finds himself tied with Dallas Goedert for most touchdowns for tight ends this season at four. The secret about him is getting out and there will be a mad dash for managers to claim him off the waiver wire in the coming weeks, so get him while you can.
Week 6 matchup: @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins (57.8%)
The Dolphins are a mess and a coaching change may be on the horizon soon, but at least the Waller comeback tour is going well. The Pro Bowl tight end had five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 27-24 loss to the Panthers on Sunday and it could be argued that his lack of targets in the second half was part of the reason why Miami blew a 17-point lead.
He already has three touchdowns in just two games played this season and one figures that Tua Tagovailoa will keep turning to him, especially with Tyreek Hill done for the year. Being rostered in roughly 58% of leagues, time is quickly running out for managers to be able to claim him off the waiver wire. May the odds be in your favor.
Week 6 matchup: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m. ET
