Analysis
10/9/23
7 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 6 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Unless otherwise stated, players listed below are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
>>READ: Fantasy Takeaways From Every Week 5 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
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Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings WR
76 percent of current Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB)
Minnesota Vikings No. 1 WR Justin Jefferson suffered a Week 5 hamstring strain. Wide receivers average 2.5 games missed per Doctor of Physical Therapy Adam Hutchison’s Injury Report. Jordan Addison (12-17.5 percent available in ESPN and Yahoo leagues) should be rostered in 100 percent of leagues after the Week 6 waiver wire run.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears RB
26 percent of current FAAB
The Chicago Bears’ No. 1 and 3 running backs, Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer, are expected to miss multiple weeks (Herbert with a high-ankle sprain and Homer with a hamstring strain) with a running back-friendly three-game slate on the way. No. 2 running back and 6-foot, 222-pound passing-down specialist Roschon Johnson suffered a concussion during Week 5’s Thursday Night Football but has a chance to clear the protocol, given the extra recovery period.
Johnson will begin by splitting Week 6 rushing work with D’Onta Foreman (6-foot-1, 233 pounds), who, in 2022, was a top-10 yards after contact per rushing attempt (3.26 yards) producer. Johnson has a chance to steal a part-time early-down rushing role and the crucial scoring-position role during Herbert’s extended absence.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos RB
18 percent of current FAAB
Breakout rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin is knifing through contact via 4.68 yards after contact per rushing attempt, the third-best among 57 NFL running backs with at least 20 rushing attempts.
Jeff Wilson Jr, Miami Dolphins RB
16 percent of current FAAB
Miami Dolphins breakout rookie RB De’Von Achane is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a knee injury. Veteran RB Jeff Wilson Jr. has been activated from injured reserve, opening the 21-day window in which he can practice with the team without being active on game day. His official return-to-play date is unknown but running back-needy fantasy managers should target Wilson as a capable flex play.
D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears RB
14 percent of current FAAB
Foreman should maintain a double-digit early-down rushing role during Herbert’s (high-ankle sprain) absence. Chicago faces the running back-friendly Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers during the next three weeks.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts WR
12 percent of current FAAB
Josh Downs made good on his Week 5 Waiver Wire Stash listing, catching six of six targets for 97 yards. He is a screaming must-add, with pocket-passer backup QB Gardner Minshew, expected to start for a month or more.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans RB
12 percent of current FAAB
Rookie Tyjae Spears earned a career-high 11 intended touches in Week 5, and the 29-year-old Derrick Henry is showing his age.
Emari Demarcado, Arizona Cardinals RB
11 percent of current FAAB
Stocky passing-down rookie Emari Demecado (5-foot-9, 213 pounds, 31.5 body mass index) is a Week 6 PPR asset with run-game-based upside. Starting RB James Conner suffered a potential MCL sprain, typically resulting in a 3.8-week absence, per Hutchison’s Injury Report. Demercado will contend with Keaontay Ingram (6-foot, 215 pounds) when he returns from a Week 4 practice injury (neck) and gadget WR Rondale Moore.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers WR
11 percent of current FAAB
Joshua Palmer, the Los Angeles Chargers’ fill-in No. 2 wide receiver, gets the Dallas Cowboys’ banged-up defense in Week 6.
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Stash These Players Now
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Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
Keaton Mitchell brings 4.37-second 40-yard-dash speed to the Baltimore Ravens’ uninspiring, error-prone backfield.
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys WR
Six percent of current FAAB
Dallas veteran WR Brandin Cooks has struggled to produce since his Week 1 MCL sprain. Monitor practice reports for positive indicators ahead of the Cowboys’ Week 6 primetime showdown against the Chargers’ wide receiver–friendly defense, but prepare to stash Cooks through Dallas’ Week 7 bye.
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers TE
Six percent of current FAAB
Green Bay Packers TE Luke Musgrave emerges from the team’s Week 6 bye to face the Denver Broncos’ fantasy-friendly defense.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Starting RB Miles Sanders is ineffectually limping through a groin-muscle strain, while backup Chuba Hubbard offers serviceable dual-threat ability.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers RB
Six percent of current FAAB
The punishing Jordan Mason (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) averaged 6.0 yards per rushing attempt in 2022, and his 6.90 yards per rushing attempt in Week 5 ranked fifth among 23 NFL running backs with at least 10 such attempts. Kyle Shanahan may come to recognize Mason as the more reliable backup even when Elijah Mitchell (knee injury) returns.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers WR
Five percent of current FAAB
Coach Brandon Staley has had two weeks to prepare a game plan suited to rookie WR Quentin Johnston’s talents.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs TE
Four percent of current FAAB — Seven percent if the manager rosters Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce’s inversion ankle sprain could prevent him from playing Thursday night against the Broncos. Noah Gray is the next man up.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals WR
Two percent of FAAB
Coach Jonathan Gannon has used WR Rondale Moore purely as a matchup-based player this year. Conner’s injury could be a boon in this regard.
Rashaad Penny, Philadelphia Eagles RB
Zero percent of FAAB
Philadelphia Eagles No. 2 RB Kenneth Gainwell produced 2.4 yards per rushing attempt in Week 5 and is down to 3.3 on the year. Rashaad Penny should receive an in-game audition before Philadelphia’s Week 10 bye.
Streaming Options
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Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Seven percent of current FAAB
The Los Angeles Rams are implied to score 24.75 points against Arizona’s last-place pass rush (25.5 percent quarterback pressure rate) and friendly secondary (10.9 yards allowed per reception, 18th). Los Angeles faces the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7 and the injury-plagued Dallas Cowboys’ defense in Week 8. Opposing passers have thrown 48 passes 15-plus yards downfield against Pittsburgh, the second-most in the league.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Four percent of current FAAB
Indianapolis Colts starting QB Anthony Richardson is set to miss four-to-six weeks (Grade 3 AC joint sprain), but the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pace-pushing offense could keep the Colts' from playing at a fast pace. Meanwhile, Jacksonville's poor defensive line has a 29.9 percent quarterback pressure rate, which is 28th in the league.
Defenses
Kansas City Chiefs D/ST vs. Denver Broncos
Seven percent of current FAAB
Kansas City Chiefs DL Chris Jones boasts top-10 total (4.5) and per-game (1.13) sack numbers, and Denver QB Russell Wilson’s 15 sacks are tied for sixth-most in the NFL, earned playing behind lackluster LG Ben Powers and C Lloyd Cushenberry. Kansas City opened as a 10.5-point home favorite, signaling a high-volume pass-rushing day for Jones.
Looking Ahead to Week 7
Green Bay Packers D/ST at Denver Broncos
Four percent of current FAAB
The Green Bay Packers’ second-ranked 42.3 percent quarterback pressure rate hints at an impending increase in their 14th-ranked 7.7 percent sack rate, and they get a Week 6 bye to prepare for the sack-prone Wilson. The break also gives No. 1 cornerback Jaire Alexander (back) and free safety Rudy Ford (oblique) time to get healthy.
Tight Ends
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
Six percent of current FAAB
As detailed in Takeaways From Every Week 5 Game, Logan Thomas takes his turn against the Atlanta Falcons’ inept tight end coverage unit.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Four percent of current FAAB
Kelce’s Thursday Night Football availability is in jeopardy. Gray offers a one-week fill-in option against a soft Denver tight end coverage unit with the eighth-highest tight end catch rate allowed (78.8 percent) and the third-highest yards per tight end reception (12.2).
Kicker
Nick Folk, Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens
Three percent of current FAAB
Nick Folk’s 55 fantasy points are the fifth-most at the kicker position. He is one of just four NFL kickers to maintain a 100 percent field goal conversion rate while attempting 10 or more field goals.
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