Week 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Injuries Create Opportunity for These Players

With some big names out this week, there will be plenty of competition to add depth at all positions.

We're heading into Week 6, and two teams will be on bye: the Steelers and Packers.

Additionally, we are keeping our eye on some pretty big injuries. Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones could miss time with injury, so those in two-QB leagues should pick up some insurance. James Conner and Justin Jefferson also left their games with injuries, and those will be big holes to fill if they can't return sooner than later. Running Back Khalil Herbert will miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain.

with the news JJ is heading to the IR, K.J. Osborn becomes an immediate add. His 10.6 targets per game will need to be distributed somewhere. Jordan Addison is likely to be the main beneficiary, but he is unlikely to be available on many waiver wires. Osborn had 650-plus yards in 2021 and ’22 with Minnesota, and he has 14 touch downs across the past three seasons.

Fantasy managers are heartbroken that one of our favorite waiver wire pickups -- De'von Achane -- is headed to the IR with a knee injury. Raheem Mostert will pick up the immediate load, but consider Jeff Wilson Jr, who should begin practicing this week. Salvon Ahmed is also an add, as he could see the biggest bump in the short term. This week's matchup vs. the Panthers is a juicy one for running backs

Be sure you check your waiver wire even if you don't need an immediate replacement for this week. Valuable players could have been dropped as fantasy managers had to cover bye week absences in Week 5.

Let's get down to business.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

If you were wondering if Cooper Kupp would go right back to being the big dog in Los Angeles, Sunday should have answered that question for you. The Rams are absolutely stacked with playmakers, and Stafford has thrown for the fourth-most passing yards this season (1,451) and has the fourth-most completions (124). The matchup this week with the Cardinals makes him the best streamer available, as Arizona has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points and the fourth-most passing yards to opposing quarterbacks this season.

FAAB up to 6%

Sam Howell, QB, Commanders

Howell had a huge game for fantasy managers on Thursday vs. the Bears, throwing for 388 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 19 yards on the ground. He was the QB5 for Week 5 heading into Monday Night Football. He now has finished as a QB14 or better four times this season. The matchup this weekend with Atlanta is not the easiest, but Howell should be rostered in all two QB leagues. Washington is loaded with weapons in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel as well as two strong pass-catching backs in Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. Perhaps more importantly, though, Howell has massive fantasy upside because of his mobility. In his final season at UNC, Howell ran for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 attempts.

FAAB up to 3%

Gardner Minshew, QB, Colts

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The injury news for Richardson does not look good, and with the way Richardson plays, if you have him on your roster you must also roster Minshew. Minshew is likely the best backup QB in the league. He's familiar with Shane Steichen's offense from his time in Philadelphia, and now he has the added threat of Jonathan Taylor and Zach Moss opening things up for him in the run game. Minshew's 112.8 passer rating was the fifth-best in Week 5 after he entered in relief of Richardson, passing for 151 yards, averaging 11.1 yards per attempt vs. a generous Titans secondary. This week's matchup with the Jaguars should be similarly juicy as the Jags have allowed the fifth-most passing yards to opposing QBs this season.

FAAB up to 5%

Roschon Johnson/D'onta Foreman, RBs, Bears

We have had Johnson on this list before, but he becomes the priority add this week now that Herbert is expected to miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain. The talented rookie spent much of his college career stuck behind Bijan Robinson at UT, and now he has the chance to lead this backfield. Johnson has averaged 4.9 yards per attempt this season and caught 11 of his 12 targets. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered a concussion last Thursday night, so if he is unable to return, Foreman likely becomes the lead back for this week's matchup vs. the Vikings. Foreman has played only one game this season, and has been a healthy scratch for the other four, but should return to being in the game plan for the Bears.

FAAB up to 16%

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Panthers

It's hard to tell whether Miles Sanders is still playing with a groin injury or just losing his skills, but Hubbard has been the better runner this season, gaining a first down or a score on 37.1% of his carries compared to Sanders's 14.8%. Hubbard slightly out-snapped and out-carried Sanders on Sunday, and the roles seem to be reversing. Sanders has been the better pass-catcher, and he played the majority of third-down snaps, while Hubbard took the majority of short-yardage situations. It's possible that Hubbard soon becomes the better back for fantasy purposes.

FAAB up to 8%

Emari Demercado, RB, Cardinals

James Conner left Sunday's game with a knee injury, and Demercado played all but one snap after Conner left. He rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught one of his three targets for another 12 yards. Keontay Ingram started the season as the Conner handcuff, but he's been dealing with a neck injury that has caused him to miss the last few games. It looks like Demercado is the player to add in Arizona.

Faab up to 8%

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Broncos

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If you picked up McLaughlin last week, it paid off handsomely as McLaughlin had 89 all-purpose yards and a touchdown vs. the Jets on Sunday, making him the RB7 heading into Monday night. If he's still available, he is worth adding should Javonte Williams or Samaje Perine miss any more time.

FAAB up to 8%

Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans

Spears is a playmaker. Will he overtake Derrick Henry in this offense? No. But, he may just have enough standalone value to make him worth a bye-week flex in addition to being the Henry handcuff. Spears logged 34 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts and caught four passes for 35 yards in Week 5.

FAAB up to 7%

Kendre Miller, RB, Saints

The Saints released Tony Jones Jr. last week, and Miller was the primary backup who saw most of his attempts after the Saints had a massive lead. The rookie runner out of TCU tallied 90 all-purpose yards, and with Jamaal Williams being injured and Alvin Kamara having some tread on the tires, Miller is a good depth add moving forward.

FAAB up to 3%

Joshua Palmer, WR, Chargers

Palmer clearly answered what the Chargers would do without Mike Williams in Week 4 when he led the team in targets and had three grabs for 77 yards vs. the Raiders. This Kellen Moore offense is vertical and explosive, and Palmer should be a priority add.

FAAB up to 13%

Josh Downs, WR, Colts

I like Downs even more if Minshew is starting. The young receiver caught all six targets on Sunday for 97 yards, leading the Colts offense. He has twice as many targets and twice as many receiving yards as Alec Pierce this season, and he looks to be the WR2 behind Michael Pittman Jr.

FAAB up to 7%

Robert Woods, WR, Texans

Tank Dell left the game on Sunday with a concussion, and the veteran receiver saw routes outside and in the slot after Dell left the game. Should Dell miss next week, Woods will likely be the Texans receiver who benefits and plays the majority of the snaps. Woods is averaging eight targets per game for the season, and he leads the team with a 20.3% target share.

FAAB up to 6%

Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Giants

Robinson led the team in targets and catches this weekend, and in his three games played, he is second only to Darren Waller in targets and yards. The Giants offense could be more exciting, but has the potential to be a WR1, which is hard to find on the wire.

FAAB up to 6%

Trenton Irwin, WR, Bengals

Should Tee Higgins continue to miss time, Irwin will pick up those outside routes. He caught eight of his 10 targets for 60 yards on Sunday vs. the Cardinals, and next week's matchup is just as juicy vs. the Seahawks.

FAAB up to 5%

Logan Thomas, TE, Commanders

We mentioned Logan Thomas last weekend, and he delivered. Thomas has yet to finish with fewer than seven PPR points in any game he's played this year, and this week, he logged 21 and was the TE4 heading into Monday night. He was targeted a whopping 11 times on Thursday vs. the Bears, and he caught nine of those targets for 77 yards and a score. His 14.8 target share is second only to Terry McLaurin, and his two touchdowns are the most of any Commanders receiver. He's currently the TE9, despite playing only four games this year.

FAAB up to 7%

Others:

QB: Tyrod Taylor

RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell

WR: DJ Chark, Jonathan Mingo, Jayden Reed, Kendrick Bourne

TE: Jonnu Smith