After several weeks of action, the NFL fantasy football waiver wire is full of players who could help enhance fantasy football rosters as Week 6 approaches.
Is your current starting fantasy quarterback going down the wrong path? Perhaps, your star wide receiver keeps falling short of expectations. If your fantasy team needs help — amongst multiple player injuries — and two teams on a bye (Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers), check out the best waiver wire pickups for NFL Week 6.
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Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts
Gardner Minshew is a top waiver wire target for Week 6 as a QB who will fill in for the injured Anthony Richardson (shoulder) for the foreseeable future. While Minshew isn’t exactly an elite option, he is a fantasy quarterback who next faces a Jags defense that gave up 359 passing yards and two TDs to Josh Allen this past Sunday. The appeal is here.
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
Ridder finally came to life in Week 5 (329 passing yards) and is likely available for the taking on waiver wires everywhere in Week 6. Those scrounging to fill a QB spot this week might give Ridder a look. He has a tasty fantasy matchup against a Washington defense that last allowed Justin Fields to pass for 282 yards and four touchdowns.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is a sneaky Week 6 waiver wire QB who next plays the Detroit Lions. Mayfield was gaining steam ahead of his bye and he could take advantage against a Lions defense that just gave away three touchdowns through the air to rookie Bryce Young. The upside is definitely here.
Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants
In deeper leagues, Tyrod Taylor is a top waiver wire pickup for those who roster Daniel Jones (neck injury). Should Jones be sidelined, Taylor will start against Buffalo in Week 6. The Bills last struggled to contain Trevor Lawrence who dumped 315 passing yards and a victory on Buffalo this past Sunday. The Giants will be throwing tons to save their lives.
Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Running Backs
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
Who? Emari Demercado is one of the best waiver wire pickups for Week 6, especially for those who roster James Conner. Demercado stepped in after James Conner injured his knee, and recorded 57 total yards and a rushing TD. With Conner landing on IR, Demercado will be prominently featured in Week 6 and beyond.
Jeff Wilson, Miami Dolphins
Head to your Week 6 waiver wire and pick up Jeff Wilson! Sadly, rookie running back De’Von Achane will miss multiple weeks with a knee injury. Achane was a huge waiver wire acquisition a couple of weeks back, but it will be Wilson who spells Raheem Mosert while the rookie sits out on ice for a while.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Playing in tandem with Derrick Henry, Spears had himself a day after recording 69 total yards and a touchdown. Should the Titans continue to blend Spears more into the mix, those who pick up the rookie RB from the waiver wire may have a hidden gem on their hands.
D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears
Chicago went from a loaded backfield last Thursday night to a ghost town in Week 5. This makes D’Onta Foreman a great waiver wire RB pickup in Week 6. Khalil Herbert is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and will miss multiple games, and rookie Roschon Johnson could still be in concussion protocol in Week 6. Foreman — a healthy scratch last week — is a bulldozer when he gets that ball in his hands.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Game script could keep Miller involved more often than not playing alongside Alvin Kamara on a weekly basis. If the Saints are up by a ton, or behind by a ton of points, which was the case in back-to-back weeks, Miller will see increased work. There’s no reason to run Alvin Kamara ragged when the game has already gone completely North or South by Q3.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers
With Elijah Mitchell dealing with a knee injury, Jordan Mason will see increased work behind Christian McCaffrey. And similar to the Saints blurb above, the 49ers will involve Mason more when their games become lopsided. Mason last rushed for 69 yards and a TD in a major blowout win over the bumbling Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Wide Receivers
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
K.J. Osborn will be a popular waiver wire pickup in Week 6 with Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on IR. Both Osborn and rookie Jordan Addison tied for a team-high nine targets in Week 5. More work will be coming their way in Week 6 against Chicago.
Trenton Irwin, Cincinnati Bengals
With Tee Higgins (rib) out in Week 5, Irwin garnered 10 targets which he turned into eight catches for 60 yards. If Higgins misses more time, Irwin should continue to be involved, making him a top waiver wire pickup for Week 6 while we keep an eye on Higgins’ return.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Rice may still be on some waivers and is an excellent pickup after having his best fantasy performance to date. Look for him to continue cooking in Week 6 with a soft matchup against Denver. The Broncos have allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions
Reynolds led the Lions in receiving on Sunday (five targets, four catches, 76 yards, and a TD) with Amon-Ra St. Brown (abdomen) sidelined. With Sun God’s timeline to return still up in the air, Josh Reynolds will be a popular Week 6 waiver wire target. Stay tuned.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Downs has been gaining fantasy steam and he last caught all six of his targets for 97 yards on Sunday. If he’s still available, pick up Josh Downs in Week 6. Gardner Minshew will be under center which is a plus as it relates to Downs’ target outlook. The last time the pair played together in Week 3, Minshew targeted Downs 12 times.
Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Tight Ends
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders
Logan Thomas is a top TE waiver wire pickup in Week 6 after his monster fantasy performance (11 targets, nine receptions, 77 yards, and a TD) last Thursday night. In Week 6 Thomas plays the Falcons that last allowed Texans TE Dalton Schultz seven catches, 65 yards, and one score.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets
In deeper leagues, Tyler Conklin is likely available on the Week 6 waiver wire. He has consistently been targeted an average 5.5 times in each of his last four games, and he just recorded his best yardage (67) to date. It’s a deep dive, but worth mentioning that Conklin next plays an Eagles defense that is second-worst in defending tight ends.