Waiver Wire Analysis: Week 6

For new subscribers: The Drop List consists of players who are no longer must-have assets. Recommended additions are available in over 50% of ESPN, Sleeper, or Yahoo leagues. The Watch List contains in-depth notes on fringe waiver adds, and Deep Leagues includes player notes on potential waiver adds in 14-team and 20-round leagues. A Change Log with an updated injury report and streamers list will be added ahead of any Saturday night waivers.

If your roster is top-heavy and exclusively limited to the best stashes who could become startable in a pinch, we recommend following the updated One Injury Away list ahead of Week 6.

• The QB28 in points per game with one top-12 finish, Bo Nix can easily be replaced with a streamer weekly.
• The Chargers have plummeted to dead last in EPA/play as the NFL’s least efficient offense, with multiple THIRD-stringers starting in their trenches. Justin Herbert’s best finish in fantasy was the QB19 in Week 4.
• I’m not actively trying to drop David Montgomery — he’s merely week-to-week with a groin injury — but would do it for Woody Marks in the minority of leagues he’s available.
• Jadarian Price (chest) was already benched for Emanuel Wilson and George Holani when healthy. When the rookie returns from injured reserve, he’ll also be behind Zach Charbonnet.

• Rico Dowdle (toe) presumably lost his job to teammate Jaylen Warren, who’s strung together the most total yards (490) for any player in a three-game stretch this year. Dowdle’s been added to the One Injury Away list (since he no longer has standalone value).

• Kenneth Gainwell was already unusable before Sean Tucker was active, handling 23% of Tampa Bay’s backfield touches. His role has since been diminished further to 14% of touches (to Tucker’s 17% share).

• Will Shipley will miss “multiple weeks” after tearing his plantar fascia in the first half in London. He can be dropped for Dameon Pierce, who will back up Saquon Barkley in the interim.
• Even in scoring a touchdown, Courtland Sutton wasn’t a top-36 WR in Week 5. He’s currently the WR74 in expected per-game points.
• Chris Godwin’s 35.8 yards per game are the lowest since his rookie year. He has yet to record 50 receiving yards in any start.
• Over the last three games, sixth-round rookie Josh Cameron has out-targeted Brian Thomas Jr. 8 to 6 despite running 25 fewer routes. The former’s team-high 3.16 Yards Per Route Run (sixth) dwarfs BTJ’s 1.21 (88th) this year.
• Alec Pierce aggravated his surgically-repaired heel and “could return midseason” — an ominous sign for his availability moving forward.
• Michael Pittman Jr. was outplayed by Roman Wilson when healthy, and by Germie Bernard when absent. Drop him for Bernard at your earliest convenience.
• Why are you rostering Jake Ferguson?
• Dalton Schultz scored 15.2 PPR points in the fourth quarter of Week 2. In 19 surrounding quarters, he’s scored 33.2.

For those looking to roster the best available player(s) regardless of position, the rankings above weigh every position, minus the players’ actual positions, for all formats. These are listed in the precise order I would prioritize waiver claims in those leagues for Week 6. Adjust for what you need on your roster — immediate touches, high-upside bench stashes, targets, one-week spot starters, etc.

Early Week 6 Injury Report for Waivers

Injured player = beneficiary who is available on waivers

David Montgomery = Woody Marks
Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson = Germie Bernard
Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley = Dameon Pierce
Quinshon Judkins, Raheim Sanders = Jaleel McLaughlin
Chris Brooks = MarShawn Lloyd > Kaleb Johnson
Alec Pierce = Keenan Allen
DeVonta Smith = Dontayvion Wicks, Darius Cooper
Mack Hollins = DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III
D.J. Moore = Keon Coleman
CeeDee Lamb = Ryan Flournoy
Marvin Harrison Jr. = Kendrick Bourne
Rashee Rice, Tyquan Thornton = Jalen Royals, Tyreek Hill (stash)
Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette = Brycen Tremayne
KC Concepcion = Isaiah Bond, Jerry Jeudy
Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, KhaDarel Hodge = Brandin Cooks
Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris = Theo Wease
Pat Bryant = Troy Franklin
Stefon Diggs = Antonio Williams
Jalen McMillan = Ted Hurst
Omar Cooper Jr., Arian Smith = Adonai Mitchell
Adonai Mitchell = Tim Patrick
Kenyon Sadiq = Mason Taylor
Terrance Ferguson = Tyler Higbee
Matthew Hibner = Mark Andrews
David Njoku = Charlie Kolar
Jaxson Dart = Jameis Winston
Baker Mayfield = Jalon Daniels
Lamar Jackson = Tyler Huntley
Caleb Williams = Case Keenum
Michael Penix Jr. = Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa = Bears D/ST

Kyle Monangai = Roschon Johnson (stash)
Will Shipley = Jaydon Blue (stash)
Travis Etienne = Kendre Miller (stash)
De’Von Achane = Jaylen Wright (stash)
Breece Hall = Isaiah Davis (stash)
Raheim Sanders = Dylan Sampson (stash)
Malik Davis = Tyler Goodson (stash)
TreVeyon Henderson = Corey Kiner (stash)

Early Week 7 Injury Report for Waivers

Caleb Douglas = Chris Bell
T.J. Hockenson = Gavin Bartholomew

De’Von Achane = Kaytron Allen (stash)
Jonathon Brooks = Trevor Etienne (stash)