High-Upside Waiver Wire Bench Stashes - Fantasy Football Pickups for Week 6

Our favorite high-upside waiver wire bench stashes, fantasy football sleepers for Week 6 of 2025. Waiver wire stashes include Tyjae Spears, Christian Watson, Luther Burden III, more.

Throughout the opening month of the NFL season, fantasy managers have likely seen many of their high-end players suffer an injury. This past week, the Chargers placed star running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) on the IR, and now Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) is slated to miss another week of action.

As a result, stashing high-upside players on your bench can play a significant role in leading your team to a championship. If you already roster the top handcuff running back, you can provide yourself with excellent roster security and be more prepared to deal with injuries.

In this piece, we will take a look at some of the top stashes ahead of Week 6. Let's dive in!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

High-Upside Waiver Wire Bench Stashes

Only players rostered in fewer than 30% of fantasy football leagues are considered potential streamers.

Tyjae Spears, RB - TEN
30% Rostered

Leading off this list is Tyjae Spears, who nearly meets the roster requirement. The No. 2 running back in Tennessee has been sidelined through the first four games due to an ankle sprain. However, he was able to make his debut in Week 5 but was given a minor role.

The running back took just four carries for a modest 14 yards, while Tony Pollard dominated the workload. However, the coaching staff noted that they plan to increase Spears' role throughout the season.

When he was involved last season, he provided RB1 production. In Weeks 15 through 17 (where he logged at least 34 offensive snaps), he averaged a stellar 20.7 PPR points per game. If Pollard were to miss time, he could be a league winner.

Titans Hoping to Get Tyjae Spears "Involved as Quickly as Possible" https://t.co/36otZ8yIqG

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 1, 2025

Kyle Monangai, RB - CHI
10% Rostered

The other No. 2 running back to monitor is Kyle Monangai of the Chicago Bears. While Monangai has not been given ample opportunities behind Swift, he has become the team's clear RB2, overtaking the veteran, Roschon Johnson.

After not taking a carry in Week 1, Monangai has gone on to see 5.7 attempts per game over the last three games. While this total does not seem significant, emerging as the clear RB2 in a high-powered offense will provide him with fantasy value. In addition, the primary reason why Monangai was included is due to Swift's inefficiency.

While Swift has punched in two touchdowns, he has posted a low 3.3 YPC, which is on pace to be the lowest mark of his career. If he continues to struggle, expect the Bears to turn to their rookie RB to provide a spark in the backfield.

Christian Watson, WR - GB
8% Rostered

Christian Watson has been on the IR since the start of the campaign after suffering a torn ACL last season. However, Watson was seen at practice on Monday and could potentially be in the mix to return to action much sooner than expected. Following Monday's practice, Watson told the media that he feels "100%" in his recovery.

While the Packers will likely monitor his workload, with Jayden Reed (Collarbone) likely out for the season and Matthew Golden's slower development, Watson has a path to emerge as the WR1 in this offense. Managers in three-WR formats should look to prioritize Watson on the waiver wire this week, as he could still be stashed in an IR spot on your roster.

Christian Watson Says he Feels "100 Percent" https://t.co/QcmSj0QkkZ

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 6, 2025

Luther Burden III, WR - CHI
10% Rostered

The second rookie from Chicago on this list is Luther Burden. Unlike Monangai, Burden has already made an impact in the NFL. During their Week 3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Burden flashed his elite upside, catching three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. However, in Week 4, Burden returned to his role as the team's No. 4 WR and caught just two passes for -4 yards.

While his role seems minor for now, given his elite profile, he should be in the mix to see an increase in playing time over the final half of the regular season. Currently, Olamide Zaccheaus has served as the No. 3 WR, but has not been overly productive, posting a career-low 8.5 YPR. If Caleb Williams continues to develop, Burden could be in store for a massive second half.

Theo Johnson, TE - NYG
15% Rostered

The final player we will look at in this piece is tight end Theo Johnson. After Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL during their Week 4 victory over the Chargers, many expected wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton to operate as the clear leaders of the offense. However, while both wideouts have seen more opportunities, Johnson has been the largest beneficiary.

In Week 4, Johnson found the back of the end zone and brought in three of his five targets. Then in Week 5, Johnson tied Robinson for a team-high seven targets, and caught six of them for 33 yards and two scores.

Rookie QB Jaxson Dart is looking Johnson's way in the red zone, and he could emerge as a viable low-end TE1 in a matter of weeks. If you are looking for an upside TE2, consider stashing Johnson ahead of Week 6.

Read more player news and updates for Week 6

Other High-Upside Bench Stashes

• Isaiah Davis, RB - NYJ
• Kimani Vidal, RB - LAC
• Kendre Miller, RB - NO
• Jaydon Blue, RB - DAL
• Jalen Coker, WR - CAR

Who To Pickup for Fantasy Football Week 6?

Waiver wire pickup options, including how to prioritize them for your league - depending on the league size. Quarterbacks and Defenses (D/ST) are grouped together at the bottom of the list:

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Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Christian Watson, Tyjae Spears, Kyle Monangai, Luther Burden III, Theo Johnson:

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