Fantasy Football ‘24: Waiver Wire, Week 6 edition

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 6! Let me start by saying to all who may be impacted by Hurricane Milton, please stay safe. And for those recovering from Hurricane Helene, I hope you’re getting the help and resources that you need. Fantasy football doesn’t matter; your health and safety does.

OK, on to the column. I’ll say this one more time and then I’m done: Players who come out of camp as the very clear RB2 in decent (or better) offenses should be drafted in fantasy football. If you read my preseason draft strategy articles, first off, thanks, and second, you know that I preach hammering these players late in drafts. They tend to end up with more relative value during the season than players at other positions who are available at the same stage of drafts, and that’s because in many cases they’re one injury away from being plug-and-play starting running backs for you. As a reminder, start-able running backs are the hardest thing to find in this game. Jordan Mason, Tank Bigsby, Zach Charbonnet, Ty Chandler, Chase Brown, Tyler Allgeier…these guys should live on fantasy rosters, not the waiver wire. I’ll go ahead and list Bigsby and Chandler in this column because their roster percentages on the major platforms are below 50%. But if you’re like me, neither one is available in any of your leagues – and that’s as it should be.

Another thing I want to mention this week is that the waiver flavor of the week often fizzles. We’ve seen it this year with Isaiah Likely (until this week), Jauan Jennings, Dontayvion Wicks (for this past week, anyway), and others. Often, it’s because an opportunity to play meaningful snaps was temporary. It can be for other reasons, or for no reason that we can figure out. Yes. I’m talking about you, Mr. Wicks. Anyway, the lesson is that usually it makes sense to be judicious with your free agent budget, barring those rare instances (Kyren Williams last season, for example), where the opportunity looks outstanding from every angle, including sustainability. For the record, I don’t think any of this week’s pickups are “sell the farm” guys. That said, there are definitely assets that can help you.

With the Bye weeks upon us, it’s good to plan ahead, if you have the roster space. If you know you need a QB NEXT week, look at the Week 7 matchups and consider grabbing one now, as you’ll be more likely to get the one you want. An example: Justin Herbert has the Cardinals in Week 7. Shhh!

The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short- and long-term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I look at streamers who might help you in a pinch (this is usually more important during Bye weeks). Note that I’m writing this column BEFORE the Week 5 Monday night game between the Chiefs and Saints.

Some players discussed won’t be available in your league. I try to list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10-team league with six bench spots will have a much larger Free Agent pool than a 14-team league with eight. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.” By way of example, I won’t list Trey Sermon, Bucky Irving, Darnell Mooney, or Tucker Kraft this week. They almost certainly aren’t available in any of your leagues.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

WEEK 6 BYES: KC, LAR, MIA, MIN

Week 6 Waiver Wire

Quarterback:

Kirk Cousins. Literally nobody saw his massive Week 5 performance coming, as evidenced by the fact that he’s rostered at less than 50% on the big platforms, and was started in less than 15% of Yahoo leagues last week. I’m guessing that sitting 35 fantasy points might’ve cost a few people a win this past week, and maybe a few walls were punched. Anyway, he won’t get into a ton of shootouts like the thriller we witnessed last Thursday night, but he’s shown in the past that he can be a low-end QB1, and he’s got plenty of good skill players in Atlanta to help him get there again. Remember that he came into this, his age-36 season, coming off a major injury and going to a new team and system. His trajectory is something I’d buy into right now.

Daniel Jones. I’ve listed Danny Dimes for several weeks running. If you’re in a Superflex, he’s probably rostered. But even in 1-QB leagues, he can stream or fill in for you as needed. Since playing the Vikings and their nasty defense in Week 1, Jones has scored 18 or more fantasy points in three of his last four outings and he’s now the QB14 on the season (pending tonight’s results). Not bad. He adds points with his legs, and has good receiving weapons (especially once Malik Nabers returns). The Big Blue offense has been steadily improving since Week 1, and this week they get the Bengals at home. That’s a defense that hasn’t had many answers so far this year, so he’s a nice Week 6 streamer.

Joe Flacco. This one is risky, as Anthony Richardson may return in Week 6, plus the Week 6 matchup vs. TEN is a tough one. But he still could be worth a flier if you need immediate help (you can always drop him for someone else if it’s clear that AR is returning). Flacco had another vintage performance in Week 5, and in roughly seven quarters he’s thrown for more than 500 yards, with five TDs and zero INTs.

More QB Streamers. If you’re stuck and need a Week 6 streamer, consider Derek Carr (vs. TB). If you can’t land him (or someone better), think about Will Levis (vs. IND, and assuming he starts). Levis has been bad this season, but the Colts’ defense has been about five adjectives past “bad”. Andy Dalton (vs. ATL) is another streamer to consider.

Speculative adds to consider in a Superflex, if you have the space: Drake Maye and Jameis Winston. Just do it, Haslam family. This has to stop. One for 13 on third down? Against the Commanders’ defense? Really? The trade for Deshaun Watson has given new meaning to the phrase “the mistake by the lake”.

Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Running Back

Tank Bigsby. Bigsby continues to impress, and this week he out-touched and outgained Travis Etienne, while also scoring two rushing TDs. That included a 65-yarder, which was the long run of his career. Fun fact: his long run in his rookie year was all of 12 yards. Anyway, the Colts have been the NFL’s worst defense against the run, so I’ll keep this in perspective, but after an awful rookie season Bigsby looks like a different player and is toting the ball at a ridiculous eight yards a pop. He should be rostered everywhere as he’s got Flex appeal at a minimum.

Ty Chandler. Like Bigsby, Chandler has been listed in this column every single week. Speaking of things that happen all the time…Aaron Jones get hurt at some point every season, and it happened on Sunday as he left the London game with a hip injury. The Vikings are off this week so maybe Jones won’t miss time, but given the recent injury, and Jones’s age and history, Chandler needs to be rostered.

Tyrone Tracy, Jr. Tracy got an opportunity to start with Devin Singletary sidelined and wow, did he make the most of it. He rumbled for 129 yards on 18 carries on the road as the well-rested Giants ambushed the short-week Seahawks in Seattle. Maybe some of what happened was due to the big disparity in time off, but whatever it was, Tracy showed a lot of burst and he’s been good enough to at least earn more playing time when Singletary returns. He’s a good depth add, but he probably won’t take over the lead role at any point this season barring more injuries to Singletary.

Roschon Johnson. Sure, I’ll keep listing him. On Sunday, he had another vulture line that would make Mike Tolbert proud, this time with two TD plunges. D’Andre Swift has had two very strong games in a row and is clearly the lead guy, but Johnson is the backup and is getting some goal-line usage, on a rapidly improving offense. He’s worth an add.

Braelon Allen. What’s going on with Breece Hall? Actually, what’s going on with the entire Jets’ offense? I don’t know, but I’ll keep listing Allen as a guy I think is worth adding to your bench.

Jeremy McNichols. That’s two good games in a row for McNichols, who has come out of nowhere to help the Commanders, and some fantasy managers. But with all three backs now healthy in Washington, it’s hard to envision too much of a reliable role for him. I’m fine adding him as depth, but I don’t see a lot of long-term value here.

Others: It’s always hard to find difference-making running back help on the wire. If you need immediate help at RB or added depth for the Bye weeks, consider Justice Hill, Tyler Allgeier, Jaleel McLaughlin, Emmanuel Wilson, Antonio Gibson, and Alexander Mattison. I don’t expect Devon Achane (concussion) to miss any time considering Miami is on Bye this week, so I’d put Jaylen Wright low on the “adds” list.

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Wide Receiver

Josh Downs. I said this last week and I’ll say it again: I like him much more if Flacco is his QB. That’s also true of Alec Pierce. They’re both fairly available, and with the Colts having what might be the worst defense in the entire league, I’m definitely good with adding pass catchers from their offense. Of the two, I think Downs will be steadier. He’s got 17 catches over the past two games. Pierce is more the home-run hitter, and he showed that again on Sunday, with 134 yards (and a TD) on just three catches.

Jalen Tolbert. Opportunity knocked, and this player answered. With Brandin Cooks on IR, the next man up has some value, and especially if he’s got some talent. The Cowboys have struggled to run the ball, and Dak Prescott leads all quarterbacks in attempts, completions, and passing yards since the start of the 2023 season. This offense slings it like no other, and will continue to do so. Tolbert played 89% of the snaps on Sunday night which actually led all Dallas WRs. He’s a very good add for not only right now, but for the longer-term.

Ladd McConkey. He got dropped in a number of leagues, but appears to be emerging as a fairly reliable option in the Chargers’ offense. This is a reminder to not forget about guys coming off a Bye.

Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Keep an eye on how the snaps, routes, and targets break down on Monday Night Football. It may be that none of the secondary receivers emerge as anything worth buying, and it’ll only be a one-game sample. But the offense was running through Rashee Rice and those targets have to go somewhere.

Darius Slayton. Here’s another case of opportunity knocking and someone answering. I listed Slayton as a waiver add last week, and as a sleeper in my weekly start/sit column. I went ahead and took my own advice and added Slayton and played him for Nabers in my main league. If Nabers can’t make it back next week, then Slayton should again be a decent sub-in, in a good matchup. If he does return, then Slayton will go back to being more of a situational player in a passing offense that runs mostly through Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson, and won’t be worth anything more than a spot at the end of your bench, unless…

Getting back to the Chiefs, If you want to speculate and play the “stash a receiver who KC might trade for” game, here are some names to consider: Treylon Burks, Darius Slayton (see above), Jonathan Mingo, and Elijah Moore. All are very available on waiver wires.

Others to consider for WR depth: Tre Tucker, Ray-Ray McCloud, Dyami Brown, Jordan Whittington, Rashod Bateman, Keon Coleman, and Demario Douglas.

Tight End

Tyler Conklin. I’ve listed him in this space multiple times. I’m getting a little tired of having nothing better to recommend to all of you great people. But tight end is a mess, and Conklin is a guy who can get you a handful of catches on his good weeks, as he did in the London game.

Cade Otton. More repetition, folks. Cut-and-paste from last week: The Bucs’ passing game is deep with options, and Otton isn’t at the top of the pecking order and tends to be a bit boom-or-bust. Still, it’s a good passing game to invest in.

Others. If you need help at tight end, or a streamer for an upcoming week, consider these dart throws, in whatever order you like them (good luck picking the right one): Chig Okonkwo, Theo Johnson, Noah Gray, and Hunter Henry.

PK and D/ST Streamers, Week 6 (ranked outside the Top-12 for the season):

PK: N. Folk (vs. IND), B. Grupe (vs. TB), C. McLaughlin (@NO).

D/ST: HOU (@NE), ATL (@CAR).

That’s all I’ve got. Good luck with your waiver claims!

***This column appears each Monday right here at Big Blue View. Each Thursday, my weekly fantasy preview with my rides, fades and sleepers (start/sit) appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Giants Props of the week, also right here. ***