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If you thought the waiver wire was getting barer every passing week, you would be correct. These days, a half-decent running back can't gain more than two yards without getting snatched up by desperate fantasy owners. The wide receiver position is more promising, however. While there aren't many surprises at QB or TE, the first implementation of full bye weeks with four teams getting a break might necessitate streaming. Regardless of why you're here, we present to you the best of the bunch that might be available to you in competitive leagues.
Each week, we will advise you which players to consider picking up on waivers that are owned in approximately 35% or fewer of Yahoo leagues so that you can make an educated decision about how to improve your fantasy football team. This list is NOT meant to be exclusive of all add-worthy players. For a more comprehensive list, check out our weekly Waiver Wire Lightning Round by position, ordered by priority. If higher-owned players not listed here are available in your league, feel free to treat them as priority pickups before these players.
As always, keep checking back here for updated waiver recommendations and always keep tabs on our NFL Player News feed. Be sure to also check out our weekly rankings and analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all options heading into Week 6.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings - 39% owned
Cousins is closer to the 40% ownership mark but is close enough to warrant mention here, especially given the lack of great options to stream at QB. He finally woke up after a week of hearing his receivers gripe publicly. Or was it a matter of facing the Giants Defense that helped him finally produce? Fortunately, we don't have to worry about that as the Vikings face an equally bad secondary when they face the Eagles in Week 6. Philly's tough run defense coupled with a bad pass defense should make for a nice game from Cousins.
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - 23% owned
The rookie has been solid but not spectacular from a fantasy perspective until now. He had his first 300-yard passing game as a pro, gaining 374 yards on just 26 completions. He's sacrificing completion rate for aggressiveness, taking more shots down the field. It's paying off so far and he still has just one pick on the season. The floor is solid too, as Minshew has yet to fall under 200 yards or one TD in any game, with two TD in all but one game. Leonard Fournette's re-emergence makes this offense more dangerous. Consider Minshew a low-end QB1 each week until further notice.
Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers - 10% owned
Allen got the better of Minshew in their head-to-head matchup by claiming the victory but his stats paled in comparison. After a four-TD outburst in his first start, Allen has one in the last two games combined and has seen his yardage drop each game, down to 181 in Week 5. That trend is not encouraging but as always, the schedule dictates value. Allen and the Panthers will head to Tampa Bay, who has fallen back to their old ways on pass defense. They are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, behind only Miami. Allen doesn't need to be added in single-QB leagues since there aren't any top-flight passers on bye this week but he makes for a great DFS tourney play or starter in Superflex leagues.
Josh Rosen, Miami Dolphins - 2% owned
Wait, at least hear me out... Coming off a bye, the Dolphins get a home matchup with the Redskins. They face one of the few teams that threaten to beat them out for the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and a defense that allows the sixth-most fantasy PPG to the QB. Rosen has been victimized by a receiver group plagued with a case of butterfingers and a non-existent offensive line, so he actually isn't playing too bad considering the circumstances. Also consider that they've had to face the Ravens, Patriots, Cowboys, and Chargers to start the year. This could be the game that Miami claims their lone victory of the season.
Others to consider: Sam Darnold, New York Jets (13% owned); Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints (9% owned)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots - 28% owned
Burkhead missed Week 5 with a foot injury, so his ownership has dwindled. If he is cleared to play in Week 6, he could be a sneaky flex play against the Giants, who just got trampled for 211 rushing yards by Minnesota. Damien Harris was still inactive and appears to be no threat in this backfield.
UPDATE: Burkhead will not play on Thursday night, so keep him on the waiver wire.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens - 7% owned
If there's a week that Edwards might be playable, this is it. The Bengals come to town with their league-worst run defense that allows 38.4 fantasy PPG to running backs. Mark Ingram will still take the bulk of the work but Edwards might not need even double-digit carries to make himself flex-worthy.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals - 2% owned
The backup to David Johnson ran for a career-best 68 yards and a touchdown in Week 5. This was mainly due to the fact he faced the Bengals. There was also some concern over Johnson's back, although he did finish the game and played off the injury later. This week's matchup isn't nearly as good but Edmonds has seen his touches steadily increase over the past three weeks, making him an interesting stash for those looking for upside. If DJ's back locks up on him pre-game, Edmonds becomes an RB2 instantaneously.
Reggie Bonnafon, Carolina Panthers - 0% owned
To be honest, I really didn't want to even mention Bonnafon but who else is there to talk about at RB that's actually available? Bonnafon had seen a total of two carries in the first four games and only touched the ball this game because Christian McCaffrey was tired of running circles around the Jaguar defense. He managed to rip off a 59-yard touchdown run which accounted for all his fantasy production. He will go back to being irrelevant but if you have an empty bench spot and need someone to stash, why not take C-Mac's handcuff?
Others to consider: Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys (23% owned); Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons (14% owned); Elijhaa Penny, New York Giants (0% owned)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers - 36% owned
He's made a habit of scoring in even-numbered weeks while doing absolutely nothing in odd weeks, so obviously he's due. Allison didn't pay off for fantasy teams with Davante Adams out but that doesn't mean we should give up hope. He did get targeted six times and could be a flex option now that the bye weeks are getting bigger.
Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals - 22% owned
It would have been a wasted day for Tate if not for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter when the Bengals were in furious comeback mode. He wound up with three catches for 26 yards and a score, which still isn't great considering he was the team's WR2 with no John Ross or A.J. Green available. Tate could get enough targets to be considered a fantasy WR4 against the Ravens next week, as they haven't been great against opposing receivers.
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans - 17% owned
If only the Texans could play the Falcons every week. But wait! They do play Kansas City in Week 6, so in a game that promises to have by far the highest over/under of the week, all of Deshaun Watson's targets have value. Coutee took advantage of Kenny Stills' injury to catch three balls for 72 yards. If Stills returns, that squashes much of the optimism for Coutee but not completely because of the matchup.
Paul Richardson, Washington Redskins - 12% owned
You don't want to consider anybody on this Washington team, but the schedule begs it. The lowly Skins face the miserable Dolphins, who entered their bye allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game. Richardson collected exactly 14 yards for the second week in a row but his quarterback situation is mostly to blame. If Case Keenum comes back for Week 6, that might actually be a good thing.
Devante Parker, Miami Dolphins - 9% owned
The only thing worse than playing a Redskins receiver might be a Dolphins receiver. The Skins have actually been worse against WRs, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Undrafted rookie Preston Williams has looked like the best receiver in Miami but Parker is more intriguing this week for a reason. Washington's main struggles have come against slot receivers and Parker, believe it or not, leads Miami in routes run out of the slot. Unless Albert Wilson returns from his ongoing hip injury, Parker is the streamer you should target in this game.
Demaryius Thomas, New York Jets - 3% owned
We have a DT sighting! Thomas actually looked sharp in his first contest of 2019, the first as a Jet. He saw nine targets and snagged four of them for 47 yards. It stands to reason that he could fare even better with Sam Darnold behind center rather than Luke Falk. It's not a great matchup against the Cowboys in Week 6 but Thomas could be worth stashing in 14+ team leagues, especially since they've already had their bye.
Byron Pringle, Kansas City Chiefs - 0% owned
No terrible chip puns here, just serious fantasy analysis. Pringle seemingly came out of nowhere to have a huge game in Week 5, although Premium subscribers may remember when I recommended him as a stash in the preseason. In a game where the Chiefs shockingly found it hard to perform as usual on offense, he led the way with 103 yards on six catches with a score. If Tyreek Hill comes back next week as rumored, then this pickup becomes far less exciting. Still, it's tempting to add anyone who is part of this offense. Plus, Sammy Watkins left Sunday night early with a hamstring injury, so Pringle could still see the field quite a bit even if Hill does return. As they say, once he pops, the fun won't stop.
Others to consider: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (34% owned); Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (30% owned); Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys (23% owned); Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins (8% owned); Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions (7% owned)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Chris Herndon IV, New York Jets - 29% owned
Suspension served. Herndon is finally eligible to return to game action, so if you want a piece of him in fantasy leagues, now is the last chance to act. He should be added in most leagues but not necessarily started this week because we don't know how much he'll be used and we aren't yet sure if Darnold will be back.
UPDATE: Herndon suffered a hamstring injury in practice and will miss the next two weeks. He can be stashed in deep leagues but has no immediate value.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - 8% owned
OK, now you have our attention. Everett was a mild recommendation last week but after a career-high (by far) 136 yards on seven receptions, he is a must-add at a thin position. Hell, with the state of injuries and byes this week, Everett could be considered a top-12 TE.
Jordan Akins / Darren Fells, Houston Texans - 1% owned
One of these tight ends has a good chance to score any given week. Fells nabbed two touchdowns in Week 5 and one in Week 3, Akins had two in Week 3. The Chiefs allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends and we know this has a great chance to be a shootout. The problem is picking which one to stream.
Others to consider: Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (13% owned); Ricky Seals-Jones, Cleveland Browns (4% owned); Josh Oliver, Jacksonville Jaguars (0% owned)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Denver Broncos Defense - 29% owned
The Broncos were sackless for three weeks before busting out with five against the Jags in Week 4. They were still without a turnover until this week when they forced three against the Chargers. Could they put it all together? They've got a good chance in a home contest with Tennessee. Marcus Mariota was sacked five more times on Sunday, making 22 on the year.
Green Bay Packers Defense - 30% owned
If any squad needs redemption, it's the Cowboys Defense after giving up 34 points to the Pack. Since Dallas is owned in over half of all leagues, let's pivot to a widely available streaming option that also needs to redeem themselves. Green Bay had been great on pass defense until they allowed Dak Prescott to throw for 463 yards in Week 5. Now, they return home to Lambeau Field to face Detroit. This game has typically been high-scoring but both teams are less pass-oriented than in the past. The Packers have shown a propensity for forcing turnovers, picking off Prescott three times even while getting shredded through the air, giving them seven INT along with four fumble recoveries this year.
Washington Redskins Defense - 3% owned
So they're 0-5, a mess on offense, and have given up at least 24 points in every game this year. There's always tomorrow... and by tomorrow we mean next week when the Skins play the Dolphins. This vomitfest of a game is sure to include turnovers aplenty, if nothing else. Although Miami is the home team, Washington at least has some semblance of professional talent on the defensive side of the ball. They actually sacked Tom Brady four times and picked him off once, so imagine what they could do to Josh Rosen.
More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice
