NFL Waiver Wire Week 6: Top Selections and Pickups to Target

We are now into the main part of the season where playoff dreams start to become a reality and others will start to fade.

Week 6 makes things considerably more difficult, with Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami and Minnesota all on bye. That takes several genuine fantasy starters out of our line-ups, and managers who haven’t prepared for those absences could find themselves scrambling for replacements.

The important thing this week is not to confuse opportunity with ability. Just because a running back suddenly plays 75% of the snaps doesn’t mean he’s going to produce RB1 numbers, particularly if he’s averaging barely a yard per carry. Equally, there are receivers available whose underlying involvement suggests they could become useful fantasy options beyond a single week.

All statistical data used throughout this article comes from FantasyPoints Data, including advanced rushing and receiving metrics, route participation, target shares, snap counts and expected fantasy points. We’ll focus on players rostered in fewer than 45% of leagues wherever possible, with PPR scoring as our baseline. FAAB recommendations are based on a $100 budget, although percentages work equally well in dollar-based leagues.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: Approximately 35% | FAAB: 3-5%

Aaron Rodgers probably isn’t the quarterback fantasy managers were expecting to be targeting in October, but three consecutive games with multiple passing touchdowns have made him a perfectly reasonable streaming option. Through five games, Rodgers has thrown for 1,234 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game.

There are still efficiency concerns. His completion percentage over expected sits at -2.7%, and his fantasy production is heavily dependent on passing touchdowns rather than rushing contributions. However, Pittsburgh’s injuries at wide receiver have forced the passing game to become more concentrated around its remaining offensive weapons, and Rodgers continues to deliver enough scoring opportunities to remain relevant.

The Steelers travel to Tampa Bay in Week 6, and Rodgers offers a reasonable replacement for managers losing Joe Burrow to the bye week. He isn’t somebody I’m particularly interested in holding beyond the short term in standard single-quarterback leagues, but there is enough here to consider him a borderline QB1 streaming option.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Rostered: League-dependent, check availability | FAAB: 3-5%

Jordan Love is worth checking for in leagues where managers have been rotating quarterbacks. Through five games, Love has thrown for 1,408 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game. His -0.6% completion percentage over expected isn’t particularly concerning, and the passing production has remained respectable despite the Packers’ willingness to use multiple running backs.

Green Bay hosts Dallas in Week 6, which makes this an attractive opportunity to target the passing game. The Cowboys have also demonstrated a willingness to play at an aggressive passing rate themselves, recording a 14.8% pass rate over expected in Week 5. That creates the possibility of a game where both sides are forced to continue throwing rather than protecting an early lead.

Love offers a better combination of passing production and longer-term value than most widely available quarterbacks. If he’s somehow available in your league, he would be my preference over Rodgers.

Running Backs

Woody Marks, Houston Texans

Rostered: Above 45% in some formats | FAAB: 15-25%

Woody Marks is the first running back I’d be checking for this week, particularly following David Montgomery’s groin injury. The Texans have an immediate opportunity available in their backfield, and Marks’ involvement had already been increasing before Montgomery’s latest setback.

Through five games, Marks has played 52.1% of Houston’s offensive snaps, accounting for 36.8% of the team’s rushing attempts. Those numbers don’t look particularly impressive in isolation, but his Week 5 snap share jumped to 84.1%, a substantial increase from 42.3% the previous week.

The production hasn’t matched the opportunity yet. Marks is averaging just 3.47 yards per carry, with a 41.9% rushing success rate and 1.63 yards after contact per attempt. His 10.3 expected fantasy points per game also tells us that his season-long workload has been closer to a committee running back than a genuine workhorse.

However, if Montgomery misses additional time, Marks has a realistic opportunity to earn significantly more than his previous average workload. Houston faces Jacksonville in Week 6, and the Texans’ offensive line hasn’t made life particularly easy for their running backs. I’m buying the opportunity here, but managers need to understand that they aren’t necessarily buying an efficient rushing attack.

Dameon Pierce, Philadelphia Eagles

Rostered: Approximately 2% | FAAB: 7-12%

Dameon Pierce is a good example of why we need to look beyond the snap counts when evaluating waiver-wire running backs. With Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby sidelined, and Will Shipley suffering a foot injury against Jacksonville, Pierce suddenly found himself playing 78% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps.

He accounted for 61.1% of the team’s rushing attempts and ran a route on 54.8% of dropbacks. Those are encouraging workload numbers, particularly for somebody who wasn’t considered part of the immediate fantasy conversation heading into Week 5.

Unfortunately, the production was dreadful. Pierce managed 14 rushing yards on 11 attempts, averaging 1.27 yards per carry with a 27.3% rushing success rate. He generated just 3.2 actual fantasy points against 10.4 expected fantasy points, although Jacksonville’s defensive front deserves some credit for making life difficult.

The Eagles host Carolina in Week 6, giving Pierce a more appealing opportunity if he remains the lead running back. I wouldn’t spend aggressively unless we receive confirmation that Barkley and Shipley will remain unavailable, but managers struggling through bye weeks may not have the luxury of waiting for a more talented option to appear.

Wide Receivers

Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: Approximately 1% | FAAB: 8-12%

Germie Bernard is one of my favourite additions this week, particularly in PPR leagues where we can benefit from an increased target share rather than relying on touchdowns.

The rookie’s opportunity has grown substantially following injuries to Pittsburgh’s receiving corps. Bernard’s offensive snap share increased from 40.6% in Week 4 to 92.6% in Week 5, while his route participation jumped from 42.2% to 78.8%.

More importantly, Bernard’s target share increased from 5% to 25.8%. That’s the number that really interests me because it demonstrates that he wasn’t simply running routes without being involved in the passing game. He finished Week 5 with six receptions for 80 yards on nine targets, producing his most substantial contribution of the season.

His season-long numbers aren’t especially impressive, with 1.52 yards per route run and a 10.2% target share. However, those figures include several games where he was a rotational receiver, meaning they don’t accurately represent the opportunity he’s likely to receive if Pittsburgh’s injuries continue.

Bernard is worth adding ahead of the Tampa Bay matchup, and I prefer his potential target volume to several receivers who produced more fantasy points in Week 5 without experiencing a comparable increase in their roles.

Kendrick Bourne, Arizona Cardinals

Rostered: Approximately 6% | FAAB: 5-8%

The departure of Marvin Harrison Jr. has created an opportunity for somebody to become a more consistent part of Arizona’s passing attack, and Kendrick Bourne looks like one of the leading candidates.

Bourne finished Week 5 with five receptions for 70 yards on eight targets against Detroit. Through five games, he has accumulated 21 targets, although his season-long target share remains a relatively modest 10.5%.

That figure needs some context. Arizona’s passing game has been heavily concentrated around Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, and Bourne is unlikely to challenge either player as the primary receiving option. However, the Cardinals have an aggressive passing approach, and there should be room for another receiver to become fantasy relevant.

There are reasons to remain cautious. Bourne’s route participation actually fell from 71.8% in Week 4 to 59.3% in Week 5, while his snap share dropped to 50.7%. His target share increased to 14.6%, but those numbers suggest we haven’t yet seen a complete takeover of the vacant receiving role.

He’s worth a modest bid in leagues where reliable wide receivers are difficult to find, although I’d prefer Bernard if both were available.

Tight Ends

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Rostered: Approximately 32% | FAAB: 5-8%

Brenton Strange is becoming difficult to ignore, and unlike several tight ends who appear on the waiver wire following a touchdown, there is genuine receiving involvement supporting his recent production.

Through five games, Strange has earned 26 targets and an 18.2% target share, averaging 2.12 yards per route run. That is impressive efficiency for a tight end, particularly when combined with a 70.3% season-long route participation rate.

Strange recorded a 34.8% target share in Week 4 and followed that with 20.5% in Week 5. His route participation dropped slightly from 74.1% to 65.9%, but the receiving involvement remained strong enough to give him legitimate fantasy value without requiring a touchdown.

The Jaguars face Houston in Week 6, which isn’t a particularly favourable tight end matchup, and Jacksonville has its bye in Week 7. That makes Strange slightly less attractive as an immediate investment, but I would still consider adding him if I needed a longer-term alternative at the position.

If your current tight end is averaging three targets per game and hoping for a touchdown, Strange is a considerably more appealing option.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: Approximately 15% | FAAB: 3-5%

Pat Freiermuth is another player benefiting from the injuries to Pittsburgh’s receiving corps, although his statistical profile is less convincing than Strange’s.

Through five games, Freiermuth has earned 25 targets, representing a 13.4% target share, while averaging 1.30 yards per route run. His production has relied heavily on touchdowns, and that isn’t something I’m particularly comfortable banking on throughout the season.

However, Freiermuth’s target share increased from 12.5% in Week 4 to 19.4% in Week 5. His route participation remained steady at 66.7%, suggesting that the increase in opportunities came from greater involvement in the passing game rather than additional routes alone.

He also has four touchdowns through five games, and while that scoring rate is unlikely to continue, Pittsburgh’s willingness to use him around the end zone makes him a reasonable streaming option. The Steelers face Tampa Bay in Week 6, and Freiermuth is worth considering for managers looking to replace an injured or underperforming tight end.

Kicker Streamers

Eddy Piñeiro, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco hosts Washington in Week 6, and Piñeiro is my preferred kicker streamer if he’s available. The 49ers have been one of the more efficient offences in football, and their ability to move the ball consistently provides opportunities for field goals and extra points.

The matchup is also attractive. Washington has struggled defensively, and San Francisco has enough offensive talent to generate repeated scoring opportunities without relying on exceptional individual performances. That is precisely the sort of situation I’m looking for when streaming kickers.

Trey Smack, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay’s Week 6 matchup against Dallas makes Smack another option worth considering. The Cowboys’ aggressive offensive approach creates the possibility of a higher-scoring contest, while the Packers have been capable of producing points through both their running and passing games.

I’d favour Piñeiro if both are available, but Smack offers a reasonable alternative in leagues where the more established kickers have already been rostered.

Defence and Special Teams Streamers

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST

Kansas City is my preferred defensive addition this week, particularly if fantasy managers dropped the Chiefs during their bye.

The Chiefs return to face the Los Angeles Chargers, who have struggled offensively and have become a much more attractive matchup for opposing fantasy defences. Los Angeles also lost 23-17 to Denver in Week 5, continuing a difficult opening stretch.

Kansas City has the ability to generate pressure, and the matchup offers opportunities for sacks and turnovers. I’d prioritise the Chiefs over chasing a defence that scored a touchdown in Week 5 but faces a much more difficult opponent this week.

San Francisco 49ers D/ST

The 49ers are another attractive option following their impressive 32-29 victory over Seattle. San Francisco faces Washington in Week 6, giving a defence that has already demonstrated its ability to create disruptive plays another opportunity to produce useful fantasy points.

Washington’s passing attack has shown enough inconsistency to make this a matchup worth targeting, particularly if the 49ers establish an early lead and force more obvious passing situations. I’d slightly favour Kansas City because of the Chargers’ offensive struggles, but San Francisco belongs near the top of the streaming conversation.

Other Players Worth Considering

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers: Lloyd is an interesting speculative addition, but the underlying rushing numbers should temper expectations. He’s averaging just 2.80 yards per carry with a 42.5% success rate, while his season-long offensive snap share sits at 39.1%. His Week 5 snap share was 44.1%, down from 54.5% in Week 4. There is a path to more opportunities, but managers shouldn’t assume he’s already established himself as Green Bay’s lead back.

Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints: Miller accounted for 10 carries in Week 5, although his 30.2% offensive snap share suggests he remains part of a committee. His 2.86 yards per carry and 7.4 expected fantasy points per game aren’t particularly exciting, but there could be short-term value if Alvin Kamara’s back injury continues to limit him.

Darius Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Cooper’s recent touchdown production will attract plenty of attention, but his Week 5 target share fell to just 7.5% despite running a route on 78.6% of dropbacks. His season-long 1.69 yards per route run is respectable, although I’d like to see more consistent targets before making him a priority waiver addition.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans: Noel has quietly produced 2.20 yards per route run through five games, suggesting he’s been effective when given opportunities. Unfortunately, his 8.6% season-long target share and 50% Week 5 route participation limit his immediate fantasy appeal. He’s worth monitoring in deeper leagues, but the competition for targets makes him difficult to trust.

Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers: Vidal is averaging an impressive 6.29 yards per carry and 4.29 yards after contact per attempt, albeit on just 14 rushing attempts. His Week 5 snap share increased to 41.3%, but his season-long 9.5% rushing attempt share demonstrates that he hasn’t yet earned a substantial role. He’s a speculative stash rather than somebody I’m comfortable putting into a starting line-up.

 

There isn’t an obvious league-winning addition this week, and managers shouldn’t feel compelled to spend a substantial percentage of their remaining budget simply because an injured player has created a temporary opening. Marks has the most appealing immediate running back opportunity, Bernard has the strongest emerging wide receiver role, and Strange offers the sort of receiving involvement that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find at tight end.

If you’re desperate for a Week 6 starter, Pierce is probably the best bet. If you’re thinking beyond the next seven days, I’d rather target players whose underlying involvement suggests they can maintain their value after the injured players return.

The fantasy managers who understand how a player’s role is changing before the fantasy points arrive benefit the most from the Waiver Wire. This week, that matters more than ever.