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Deeper Sleepers for Standard Leagues (Week 6)

Deeper waiver wire sleepers and pickups to add for Week 6 of the NFL season. Justin Carter finds lightly owned players for fantasy football owners to target.

Another week, another spate of injuries. This week was headlined (at least from a fantasy perspective) by Odell Beckham Jr., who looks to be out for the rest of the season. After five weeks, two consensus round one picks--Beckham and David Johnson--have gone down to serious injuries. The Giants will replace Beckham with...hmm, I don't actually know since they had three other wide receivers injured in the Chargers game. Things look bleak for the Giants, who should probably just go ahead and tank the rest of the way.

J.J. Watt was injured too, which hurts the Texans D/ST going forward and also hurts the hearts of everyone in and around Houston. I've heard both NBC and my local NPR station call Watt a folk hero this week, which normally would ring as one of those hollow platitudes said about great players. But Watt's efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey have made him a hero in the Houston-area. To see him go on IR for the second consecutive season brings up a question that Texans fans don't want to hear--are the days of J.J. Watt as a dominant force in the NFL over? To bring this back to fantasy football, which I guess I have to do even though I would rather just keep being very sad about Watt, it brings up questions about what to do with the Texans D/ST. I think they're still very playable next week against the Browns, but with the loss of Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus it's probably time to start thinking them as just a streaming option.

Let's look at deeper waiver wire targets and sleepers for Week 6, players whose ownership is currently under 20% and are likely available in many of your leagues. Note: All ownership percentages are for Yahoo leagues.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge is back with a massive $500,000 grand prize and $1.35 million total prize pool, paying down to 800th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 10 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The 7,250 entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 10th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $500,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Deeper Waiver Wire Targets for Week 6

Note: I'm not going to blurb players who I've already mentioned in previous weeks, but I will note that the following players from last week are still under 20% owned and still worth a look: Mitchell Trubisky (Note: this article is being written before Monday Night Football and published after it, so there is a chance I am very wrong still. If you're confused tomorrow about Trubisky, shoot me a tweet to hear my updated thoughts) and Elijah McGuire are still on my radar.

Before I get started, I just want to say this: it looks like every week some 49ers wide receiver not named Pierre Garcon is going to get 10+ targets. I'm done putting that player on this list because it's clear that it's almost all about game flow at this point. There isn't week-to-week consistency.

 

QUARTERBACKS

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts - 12% owned

Andrew Luck is apparently out until November and Brissett has finally developed some chemistry with T.Y. Hilton. He also gives you some rushing upside. Brissett has a match-up next week with the Titans, too, who have struggled defensively this season. Brissett might be the only quarterback left who's under 20% owned and can give you consistent play.

Brian Hoyer, San Francisco 49ers - 9% owned

We've officially reached the point in the season where everyone whose strategy was just pick a quarterback late and then grab someone who breaks out off waivers early has found their quarterback, whether that be Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz, or Jared Goff. If you're still streaming quarterbacks as we head into Week 6, you might be in trouble. Hoyer has struggled in three of his five games, but he's put up 22 and 27 points in the other two. I'm not sure if on the road against Washington is the best match-up, but he provides you with decent upside if you really need him.

Kevin Hogan, Cleveland Browns - 0% owned

DeShone Kizer finally got benched. Kevin Hogan threw a pair of touchdowns. They face a Texans defense that just lost two of its best players, though that might still not be enough to make me trust Hogan. But if you are betting that Houston's defense continues to look like they did against Kansas City, then Hogan is an interesting pick-up (assuming Kizer is actually benched. It's the Browns, so who knows.)

 

RUNNING BACKS

Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts - 8% owned

Mack missed the past two games, but his return for the Colts in Week 5 was loud--91 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries. Mack is the explosive runner that a late stage Frank Gore just can't be, but one has to wonder if he'll see much of an increase in workload and if he'll hold up fine if he does. Still, he looks like a player who could continue to bust off huge plays.

Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers - 7% owned

There's really nothing about Breida that jumps off the page, but he carried the ball ten times against the Colts and the coaches said afterwards that it had nothing to do with Carlos Hyde being injured, but with the team riding the hot hand. With the 49ers already essentially out of the playoff hunt, it wouldn't be a shock to see the team start to move on from Carlos Hyde. Don't forget--they were questions in the offseason about how committed they were to him.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Tavon Austin, Los Angeles Rams - 2% owned

I GET IT. You've heard for a few years now that Tavon Austin is primed to break out and you pick him up and nothing happens. It's probably going to go that way again, but it's worth noting that the Rams are using him more and more as a running back. Austin rushed for a touchdown in Week 5 and had a season-high five targets. If his usage continues to trend upwards, he could be a sleeper worth having.

Ricardo Louis, Cleveland Browns - 1% owned

Number of targets over the past three weeks: six, nine, eight. Louis is nothing special, but Kevin Hogan has shown that he can get the ball into the hands of his team's players more consistently than DeShone Kizer has, so Louis is a decent FLEX play against Houston on volume alone. Josh Gordon (probably) isn't walking through that door, but Louis seems the most likely receiver to benefit from the fact that Cleveland doesn't have any other good wide receivers.

 

TIGHT END

Ed Dickson, Carolina Panthers - 6% owned

Some guarantees about Dickson: 1) he won't catch all his targets every week, 2) he won't have another game with as many yards as he did this week, and 3) he is still worth an add because the Panthers and Cam Newton have historically loved their tight ends and Dickson is their starting tight end. Dickson has surprisingly emerged as a downfield target for the Panthers. His hands look solid. He's got a pretty easy schedule coming up. Now is a good time to grab him.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers - 1% owned

The wide receiver market is good enough that one can ignore all the myriad of mediocre options in San Francisco. The tight end market? Mark me down as cautiously optimistic about Kittle, who was targeted nine times, resulting in seven catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Nick O'Leary, Buffalo Bills - 0% owned

Charles Clay is going to miss some time. If you need a replacement, you could do worse than O'Leary, who is likely to see similar volume, though much less likely to put up similar production. The Bills like to throw to their tight end, though, so don't be afraid to give O'Leary a chance.

 

More Weekly Lineup Prep




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Denton Mateychuk

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Sunday
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Aaron Holiday

is Moving into Starting Five
Aaron Gordon

is Available on Sunday
Christian Braun

is Downgraded to Out
Jamal Murray

is Unavailable on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
Kristaps Porzingis

Won't Play on Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

is Available to Play on Sunday
Christian Braun

Downgraded to Questionable on Sunday
Tyler Herro

to Suit Up on Sunday
Norman Powell

Ruled Out for Sunday's Game
Victor Wembanyama

Cleared for Sunday
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Cole Perfetti

Contributes Two Assists in Sunday's Win
Carl Grundstrom

Misses Sunday's Practice
Jrue Holiday

Cleared to Suit Up Versus New York
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Josh Hart

Returning on Sunday Night
Travis Konecny

Hurt at Sunday's Practice
Thatcher Demko

Lands on Injured Reserve
Colin Miller

Injured Versus Devils
Bryan Rust

Remains Out Sunday
Morgan Geekie

Won't Play Sunday
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
Mark Stone

Extends Goal Streak With Empty-Netter
Nikita Kucherov

Has Four-Point Outing Saturday
David Pastrnak

Records Six Assists in Big Win
Stefan Noesen

to Have Knee Surgery
Carter Hart

Out Week-to-Week
Thatcher Demko

Exits With Injury Saturday
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Philip Broberg

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Saturday
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri

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