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After an exciting week for waiver adds in Week 5, we are back to the doldrums in Week 6. While there were some significant injuries on Sunday, there are no obvious replacements. As always, there are interesting streaming options and speculative pickups, but only one person you should really consider unloading a bunch of FAAB money on. The waiver adds listed below include their ownership in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues as well as the amount in FAAB I would be willing to spend out of a $100 budget.
10-Team League Waiver Adds
Jerick McKinnon, RB, MIN (31%) – I remain skeptical that someone who split time with Matt Asiata last season is going to stay on top of the running back depth chart all season. That being said, he had 22 touches in Week 5, and Minnesota does not face a single scary defense until Week 15. He needs to be owned in all leagues, even if there is still a chance he settles in as another Giovani Bernard. $40
Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (23%) – This is a bad week for wide receiver help. Kenny Stills is worth adding if you need someone for this week or if you want some DeVante Parker insurance. Parker’s ankle sprain appears to be minor, but it could still keep him out this week. If Parker is out, Stills would be a flex consideration. $3.jpg)
Jacoby Brissett, QB, IND (12%) – Andrew Luck has already been ruled out for Week 6, and only three teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than the Titans, even after they limited Jay Cutler to 92 passing yards last week. Brissett passed for 314 yards and had a rushing touchdown last week, and if he can match that fairly modest production on Monday night, he will be a fine bye week replacement. $10
Los Angeles Rams DEF (49%) – I have been on the Rams for a couple of weeks now, and they had a respectable two interceptions against Russell Wilson last week. If Blake Bortles has to throw at all, two interceptions or more are on the table. The Rams play Arizona in Week 7 and at the Giants Week 9 following their bye. This isn’t necessarily a one-week pickup. $2
Alex Collins, RB, BAL (40%) – If you are excited about Alex Collins, just look at what Latavius Murray did against the Bears Monday night. That being said, Terrance West is likely to miss some time, and Collins had 12 carries in Week 5. Javorius Allen got the one-yard touchdown run in Week 5, so it is not like Collins is guaranteed to get the goal line work. $2
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, NYJ (29%) – I’m still not sold on ASJ as an every week TE1 in a 10-team league, but that group is getting smaller by the week. Seferian-Jenkins has at least four receptions in each of his last three games, but perhaps more importantly, the Jets host New England this week. Cameron Brate worked out as a streaming tight end last week, and ASJ probably needs to be 100 percent owned for at least one week. $10
Elijah McGuire (18%) and Matt Forte (22%), RB, NYJ – Bilal Powell and Matt Forte both appear to be questionable for Week 6, in what should be a great matchup against the Patriots. Forte and McGuire would likely split time with Powell out, but McGuire would likely be an RB2 if both Powell and Forte sit. There is a lot of uncertainty, and the offense is still bad, but there could be some value here if you have an extra roster spot. $10
12-Team Leagues
Atlanta Falcons DEF (24%) – If Miami’s offense was barely competent against Tennessee in their first home game of the season, I have no reason to believe it would look good on the road at Atlanta. Jay Cutler is money in the bank for at least one interception. $2
Zach Miller, TE, CHI (15%) – Miller’s targets have been inconsistent all season, and that could continue, but it was nice to see him get seven targets and a touchdown in Mitchell Trubisky’s first NFL start. Miller could have some real upside if Trubisky continues to look for him, and he is a fine streaming option as well. $2
Darren McFadden, RB, DAL (11%) – I still think McFadden is the Ezekiel Elliott handcuff you want, and I still think he is a better speculative add than guys like Matt Breida and Marlon Mack who probably aren’t very good. $5
Shane Vereen, RB, NYG (14%) – The Giants’ running back situation could get messy when Paul Perkins returns, but Shane Vereen remains their best option in the passing game. With all of their wide receivers injured, Vereen and Evan Engram could each see 10+ targets, even if the yardage and touchdowns are not necessarily there. $10
Roger Lewis, WR, NYG (2%) – If Sterling Shepard is out, it may be that the Giants just don’t have any useful fantasy receivers, like the Bills, Browns and Jets. That being said, Roger Lewis is the last man standing, and he wouldn’t be the first unknown receiver to emerge as a fantasy asset. I wouldn’t drop anyone good to get him, but I like the idea of stashing him on your bench for a week or two. $3
14+ Team Leagues
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Josh McCown, QB, NYJ (4%) – If you need to stream a quarterback this week in a deep league, you are in trouble. That being said, I am unconvinced the Patriots have fixed their defense despite Jameis Winston’s struggles on Thursday night. McCown has two multi-touchdown games this season, and he has a reasonable shot at a third in Week 6. $1
George Kittle, TE, SF (1%) – I want to see at least one more decent game before I consider Kittle over either of the tight ends listed above, but there is a decent chance I will try to add him over Eric Ebron in my 16-team league. Kittle caught seven passes on nine targets for 83 yards and a touchdown last week, and it is not like the 49ers have a bunch of talented receivers to gobble up targets. $1
Chicago Bears DEF (2%) – The Bears defense is better in real life than in fantasy, as they still don’t have an interception this season. Even so, they have allowed more than 23 points just once through five games. At the very least, they shouldn’t lose you points against the terrible Baltimore offense. $1
Ricardo Louis, WR, CLE (1%) – I feel dirty even suggesting this, but Louis has five receptions in each of his last two games, and at least six targets in three straight. Even if Kenny Britt returns in Week 6, Louis could see the most targets on this team.
Player News
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Dolphins released LS Blake Ferguson.
The team also waived CB Ryan Cooper Jr., DT Neil Farrell and OL Chasen Hines. Ferguson has been the team’s long snapper for five seasons and earned a three-year contract extension just before the 2023 season. He should be able to find work snapping footballs farther than the average snap elsewhere in the league.
DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman believes rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa “could make his earliest impact on special teams.”
It’s not much of a surprise, as most rookies cut their teeth with special teams duties. Twentyman mentioned return duties as a possibility, though the former Razorback never returned kicks or punts in college. At 6'4/212 with 4.43 wheels, TeSlaa is an explosive athlete who never translated his physical traits to on-field production at Arkansas. The Lions clearly saw potential for him to do so in the pros and traded two future third-round picks to move up to No. 70 overall for him. It’s going to be a slow burn for TeSlaa in the pros, making him a dynasty-only fantasy option.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.