Week 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Pickups & Adds

Week 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Targets

1. Germie Bernard
2. Woody Marks
3. Quentin Johnston
4. Dameon Pierce
5. Samaje Perine

Welcome to Week 6 of the waiver wire.

Recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.

The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.

I do not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because a much better resource for researching what you need to bid is available, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.

Finally, I do not rank kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don't care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.

With those caveats out of the way, let's get to it.

Week 6 Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets

1. Kirk Cousins
2. Jameis Winston

Week 6 Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. Woody Marks
2. Dameon Pierce
3. Samaje Perine
4. Roschon Johnson
5. Mike Washington

Week 6 Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets

1. Germie Bernard
2. Quentin Johnston
3. Tre Tucker
4. Ryan Flournoy
5. Brandin Cooks

Week 6 Tight End Waiver Wire Targets

1. Brenton Strange
2. Pat Freiermuth
3. Tyler Higbee

Week 6 Quarterback Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Kirk Cousins, Raiders – Available in 64% of ESPN leagues

We did see Fernando Mendoza late against the Patriots, but I still don't think we are close to seeing Cousins get benched for him in a competitive game. Also, to be fair to Cousins, he was not the main concern against the Patriots. This week, the Raiders face the Bills, who have driven opposing quarterback production this season. The Bills rank second in expected fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and fourth in actual fantasy points allowed per game. This game environment and matchup should let Cousins flirt with QB1 numbers.

2. Jameis Winston, Giants – Available in 96% of ESPN leagues

Winston has taken advantage of back-to-back good matchups, and he has another one here against the Saints. New Orleans' overall performance against fantasy quarterbacks does not look too bad, but they have given up efficiency. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging 7.5 yards per attempt and a 5.2% touchdown rate against New Orleans. The Saints could also push the Giants into a more pass-heavy game state, which would raise Winston's ceiling.

Watch List: The Bucs are a pass funnel (+5.2 PROE against), and the Steelers have been relatively pass-heavy this year. Aaron Rodgers also has 3 touchdown passes in three straight games. I would not push back against using Rodgers this week as a streamer, but I just think there are better options available. My primary concern is game state with a 40.5-point total…It was promising to see Daniel Jones have success throwing the ball down the field last week, but I am not chasing against a Titans team that has faced the sixth-fewest attempts per game this season…Deshaun Watson has a decent enough rushing floor, but I am not sure what the ceiling is against a good Ravens defense…On the other side of that game, Tyler Huntley could get another start, but we don't know that for sure, and the matchup is not great either way.

Week 6 Running Back Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Woody Marks, Texans – Available in 51.9% of ESPN leagues

Marks is above the usual threshold for this article, but I wanted to include him because he has been dropped in a lot of leagues. David Montgomery is “week to week” with a groin injury, the type of issue that can linger. DeMeco Ryans already confirmed Marks will be the clear lead back with Montgomery out. The issue is the Texans' running game has not worked at all this season, and Marks faces a tough matchup against the Jaguars in London this week. Still, he needs to be rostered everywhere.

2. Dameon Pierce, Eagles – Available in 95.7% of ESPN leagues

What we kind of expected to play out last week did, even before Will Shipley left with an injury, though Shipley did get a touchdown to save his fantasy day. Shipley's injury leaves Pierce as the clear lead back in Philly as long as Saquon Barkley is sidelined. Pierce did nothing with his 13 touches against the Jaguars, but he was the only running back besides Shipley to get a snap, and the matchup this week against the Panthers is quite a bit more favorable. Of course, this all assumes Barkley does not return this week. It would not be a shock if the Eagles pushed their star back sooner than expected with the offense floundering.

3. Samaje Perine, Bengals – Available in 93.5% of ESPN leagues

The Bengals are on bye, and they could emerge from the break with Chase Brown right back in the clear lead role. That means Perine is just a stash, but we did see a shift in the backfield in Week 5. Brown fumbled in the first half. In the second half, Perine played 3 more snaps than Brown and touched the ball 8 times. The Athletic's Paul Dehner wrote that Perine is a better fit for the Bengals' running game out of shotgun, which they have used at the sixth-highest rate for running plays this season. Brown has also been bad this year, averaging 3.9 yards per touch and 3.5 yards per carry. It is worth holding Perine and seeing how this situation shakes out.

4. Roschon Johnson, Bears – Available in 96.8% of ESPN leagues

Johnson did not find any success as a runner, but he was the clear No. 2 back with Kyle Monangai sidelined in Week 5. It seems like Monangai will sit out at least one more game after not practicing at all last week, and the Bears have a Thursday game in Week 7. That short week could mean Monangai misses the next two games. It did not work out against Green Bay, but the No. 2 running back spot in Chicago has been valuable for fantasy this season. D'Andre Swift is also working through injury, giving Johnson a path to the No. 1 spot in the backfield in the short term, even if that is unlikely.

5. Mike Washington, Raiders – Available in 72.6% of ESPN leagues

It seems like Ashton Jeanty will continue playing through his multiple injuries, but it is fair to wonder how long that is feasible. Washington is one of the stronger handcuffs in the league right now. Kaelon Black, Ray Davis, and Emmett Johnson are also on that list.

Watch List: I got over my skis last week on Keaton Mitchell, who I still like but probably has no real pathway to lead back work. His explosive upside is also capped by a bad offense. Still, the backfield usage shift is real for the Chargers, and Kimani Vidal made a strong case with 8 carries for 57 yards with a 42-yard touchdown. This probably is just a maddening committee in a bad offense, but Vidal is worth mentioning…The Saints backfield also feels like a stayaway after it was a clear three-way split against the Vikings. Kendre Miller got the touchdown and 10 carries, but he played fewer snaps than CJ Donaldson. Alvin Kamara was limited to 12 snaps after being on the injury report last week with a back injury…Finishing up the backfields I am not interested in, Quinshon Judkins has an ankle/foot injury. We don't know if he will miss this week. Even if he does, we have no idea who will get the carries. Jaleel McLaughlin is there, and the Browns just signed Audric Estime to replace Raheim Sanders, who landed on injured reserve. Dylan Sampson could also come off injured reserve this week. Good luck…Denver's running game is still bad, and Jonah Coleman can return in Week 7.

Deep Cuts: The Eagles seemed to establish the pecking order pretty clearly in Week 5, but deep league players could still take a shot on Carson Steele or Jaydon Blue…Pierre Strong took on all of the passing-down work with Chris Brooks out, and the Packers condensed the backfield around Strong and MarShawn Lloyd…Austin Ekeler was the clear No. 3 option with Rachaad White back…Ty Johnson is going to deliver some big receiving games for those desperate enough in super-deep leagues.

Week 6 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Germie Bernard, Steelers – Available in 96.9% of ESPN leagues

With Michael Pittman and now Roman Wilson out for multiple weeks, the path is open for Bernard to establish himself as a big part of the Steelers passing game. He made the most of his opportunity in Week 5, running a route on 93.9% of the dropbacks and leading the team with 9 targets. He turned those into 6 catches for 80 yards. Bernard is the kind of player we want to target on waivers: a talented rookie with an expanding role on a team that has quietly leaned into the passing game this season.

2. Quentin Johnston, Chargers – Available in 59.1% of ESPN leagues

Like Marks at running back, Johnston is just a bit above our usual threshold, but he's been released in a lot of leagues. Ladd McConkey did not play a single snap in Week 5 and was a DNP all last week. Jim Harbaugh left open the possibility of McConkey returning this week, but that seems like a generous reading of the situation. Johnston also sat out last week, but he was limited in practice all week, suggesting he was closer to playing. With Tre Harris now expected to also miss time, Johnston could be the clear No. 1 receiver this week against the Chiefs. Johnston has really struggled this year, the Chargers are bad, Justin Herbert is probably not fully healthy, and the Chargers have the lowest implied team total of the week. None of that does a great job of selling Johnston, but he has a good chance to be the No. 1 target for an offense in a week with several important fantasy receivers on bye.

3. Tre Tucker, Raiders – Available in 66.8% of ESPN leagues

I ignore Tucker most weeks because he is probably rostered in the leagues where he should be, but this is a week to look at him on the wire. His 14.8% target share since Brock Bowers returned is not great, but we expect the Raiders to be forced to throw this week against the Bills. Buffalo ranks ninth in pass rate over expected against. They rank second in expected fantasy points allowed per game to receivers and first in actual fantasy points allowed to receivers.

4. Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys – Available in 95.7% of ESPN leagues

There does not seem to be a ton of concern about CeeDee Lamb‘s health after he suffered a quad bruise on Thursday night. Still, I am interested in adding Flournoy until we get a clearer picture of where things stand with Lamb. Flournoy has been targeted on 26% of his routes with Lamb off the field over the last two seasons.

5. Brandin Cooks, 49ers – Available in 99.7% of ESPN leagues

I mean, I guess. Deebo Samuel will definitely miss time. Jacob Cowing is also injured. Jordan Watkins has not gotten on the field or drawn targets despite all the receiver injuries. That pretty much makes Cooks the starter by default, and I suppose worth chasing in deeper leagues.

Watch List: I assume AD Mitchell will be back soon since the team did not put him on injured reserve, but we still don't have a clear view of the injury. The Jets also recently activated Tim Patrick, who ran a route on 97.1% of the dropbacks in Week 5. Patrick could dent Mitchell's usage even once he is healthy. Omar Cooper Jr. is also eligible to return from injured reserve…I don't really want to chase the Browns' passing attack in a low-total game against the Ravens. That said, Jerry Jeudy did see 7 targets in a game KC Concepcion left early…With Stefon Diggs out, Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks ran a route on around 75% of the dropbacks in Week 5. Neither had a big game, but the opportunity could be there for both if Diggs continues to sit…I am not sure what Marvin Harrison Jr‘s role will be right out of the gate, but the receiver hierarchy behind Nico Collins was already a mess…It seems like DeVonta Smith is trending toward returning this week. If that doesn't happen, Darius Cooper would once again be in the mix.

Deep Cuts: A.J. Brown could return to practice this week, making it harder to chase someone like Efton Chism or DeMario Douglas. Despite Douglas' touchdown production last week, Chism would be my target because I have more faith in his route participation rate…There has not been a lot of room for targets behind Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely, but I still want to keep an eye on Malachi Fields in deeper leagues…Like Jeudy, Isaiah Bond also saw 7 targets with Concepcion out, and his route rate spiked to 84.1%. He is a viable deep-league dart throw…I don't think the Cardinals traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to make Kendrick Bourne the focus of the offense, and he has mostly been a low target rate per route player this year. Still, the timing is interesting…If the Chiefs actually want to use Cyrus Allen or Jalen Royals, the opportunity is there, unless the elephant in the room signs in the coming days…If Michael Penix is okay, we should probably be keeping an eye on Jahan Dotson in deep leagues.

Week 6 Tight End Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Brenton Strange, Jaguars – Available in 72.9% of ESPN leagues

I have been hesitant to buy into Strange because of all the target competition in Jacksonville, but he continues to be a massive part of the passing game. Over the last three games, he is the TE4 in team target share, the TE2 in yards per route run, and the TE10 in route participation rate. The matchup this week against the Texans is not great, but that was also the case last week when he went for 7 catches and 68 yards against the Eagles.

2. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers – Available in 79.6% of ESPN leagues

As mentioned above, the Bucs are a pass funnel, and they specifically funnel passes to tight ends. The Bucs have seen the seventh-most targets to tight ends this season despite facing just the 13th most attempts overall. With both Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman expected to miss multiple weeks, Freiermuth should get a nice bump in usage. He has a 79.5% route participation rate and 17.4% target share over the last two games.

3. Tyler Higbee, Rams – Available in 96.7% of ESPN leagues

Even with Colby Parkinson back, Higbee ran a route on 65.5% of the dropbacks on Monday night and was targeted 6 times. That usage would put him more in TE2 territory most weeks, but the Rams have a great matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed the fourth-most points to tight ends this season.

Watch List: The Raiders continued their heavy multi-TE looks in Week 5, but Michael Mayer stayed in to block on a large share of those snaps. That will likely be a weekly concern for him, though I am still interested in chasing him in what should be a good game script this week…It seems like Isaiah Likely will be fine, but I want to keep an eye on his practice reports this week after we saw him limping around a bit on Sunday. Theo Johnson was a viable fantasy option at times last year, and Likely missing time would leave a massive target hole in the offense…Brenton Strange had a good game against them last week, but I still put stock in the Eagles against tight ends when Zack Baun is healthy. That makes it tough to trust Darren Waller this week…The injury issues at receiver could push Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden into more work. Gadsden did run a route on 77.4% of the dropbacks last week. We just have not seen him earn targets like he did last year…A.J. Brown will be back soon, and Hunter Henry is still ahead of him on the depth chart, but Eli Raridon has looked good when given his chances.