Week 6 waiver wire roundup and initial player rankings
My first stab at this week's rankings, with an update on injuries and waiver wire options.
🏥 Injury roundup and waiver targets
Percentages reflect how many teams have that player rostered in Yahoo! Sports fantasy leagues.
Teams on a bye this week: Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, Vikings
Quarterback
Despite Joe Flacco’s impressive Week 5, Anthony Richardson (oblique) will return to the starting role once healthy enough. He has a fair chance of coming back for Week 6 after being limited at practice last week … Will Levis (shoulder) has a chance to play this week, according to Coach Callahan. He’ll have stream appeal, if so, against the Colts (3rd best fantasy QB matchup) … Derek Carr (oblique) might not be a streaming option this week as he was unable to return to last night’s game.
Waiver QB to target: For those needing a streaming option this week, Daniel Jones (9%), I’m hesitant to say, is worth a gander. He somehow put up his best fantasy performance of the season without Malik Nabers to throw to, partially due to him finally putting his legs to use (11 carries, 38 yards). He also managed 252 passing yards and two touchdowns against a respectable Seahawks defense. In Week 6, he might have Nabers back and has a much easier matchup with the Bengals (5th best for fantasy QBs).
Other QBs to consider: Bo Nix (10%), Justin Herbert (42%)
Running Back
The status of Joe Mixon (ankle) for Week 6 is uncertain. “We will see how Joe improves over the week," Coach Ryans said Monday … Zack Moss (ankle) reportedly avoided a major injury late in the Ravens game but will need to be monitored in terms of Week 6.
Waiver RB to target: I highlighted Tank Bigsby (24%) in the last Playbook regarding his growing snap count, but he also continues to outperform Travis Etienne flat-out. He made his biggest statement yet in Week 5, averaging 7.8 YPC while totalling 129 yards and two touchdowns. “Doug Pederson has not been shy about riding the hot hand this season; this is as hot as it gets. Consider Bigsby the 1B to Etienne's 1A — with room to grow,” writes Mo Castillo of Yahoo! Sports.
Other RBs to consider: Roschon Johnson (20%), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (23%)
Wide Receiver
Nico Collins (hamstring) is week-to-week, making his Week 6 status unknown for now, though this kind of hamstring injury usually takes a couple of weeks to heal … Khalil Shakir (ankle) is day-to-day with his ankle injury; he’ll need monitoring this week … Rashee Rice (knee) will undergo surgery on his lateral collateral ligament, sidelining him for the rest of the 2024 season … The Rams are hopeful that Cooper Kupp (ankle) will be able to return in Week 7, but it’s far from certain.
Waiver WRs to target: We can no longer ignore Darnell Mooney (48%) after being targeted 16 times and logging nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He’s now averaged 15 PPR points per game and has good matchups in two of the next three games (Panthers and Bucs, again) … With Brandin Cooks on the IR, Jalen Tolbert (7%) is someone to look closely at. He shined in Week 5 with 10 targets and 21.7 fantasy points and gets a killer matchup this week against the Lions, the second-best for fantasy receivers overall this season … Josh Downs (40%) is still available in way too many leagues, given his performance since over the past two games. He’s been targeted 21 times and has topped 16 fantasy points in each contest.
Other WRs to consider: Allen Lazard (36%), Juju Smith-Schuster (6%), Keon Coleman (45%)
Tight End
Evan Engram (hamstring) “has a good chance at returning in Week 6,” according to Coach Pederson.
Waiver TE to target: With six catches on Sunday, Tyler Conklin (30%) now has at least four receptions and six targets in each of his last three games. Given the fantasy hellscape that is the tight end position this season, this counts as noteworthy.
Other TEs to consider: Zach Ertz (31%), Cade Otton (37%)
Need a D/ST?
The Eagles (37%) are looking like a top-5 D/ST play this week against the Browns, who could only put up 212 yards and 13 points against a bad Commanders defense in Week 5. Deshaun Watson has also been sacked 26 times through five contests.
Initial Week 6 fantasy football rankings
My Week 6 fantasy football rankings for PPR, Half-PPR, and Standard scoring formats will be updated often throughout the week as injuries develop and more matchup data is crunched.