FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 6 (2025)

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 6 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

It's important to be honest with yourself as to your team needs after five weeks of ball. The bye weeks will not be forgiving to those who are ill-prepared to have their depth tested, which can be the difference between a decent 3-2 squad sliding and a 1-4 team making a surge. Gear up with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

Remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, and you should have a decent idea of what it takes to land the week's "big fish" and your chances of sneaking others through with lower pops. Week 6 means that the Vikings and Texans are on bye, with the Bills and Ravens on deck to take a breather in Week 7. Keep that in mind if you're 2-3 or 1-4 and cannot afford to wait a week with certain plays.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge whenever possible. We're going to cut off the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but you can ramp it up if someone is dropped or lingers on the wire above that threshold. Be mindful of your funds against your opponents, especially the early contenders, but early October means nothing is certain, and we've got to be in on the best long-term plays.

• 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

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold (QB, SEA) - 31% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

Darnold may not have won the game, but he won many fantasy matchups with a four-touchdown, 341-yard day against the Bucs. Thanks in large part to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnold is now 11-of-15 for 382 yards on throws of 20 yards or more, with room to grow thanks to just one TD on those big plays.

He and the Seahawks will now travel to Jacksonville and face a defense that plays the run well but is susceptible in the secondary. The Jags will also be on a short week after taking on the Chiefs this Monday in a late-night, emotional win.

Sam Darnold rankings through 5 weeks:

EPA/play: #1
Success Rate: #1
CPOE: #1
PFF grade: #1
YPA: #1
Passer Rating: #3
QBR: #2 pic.twitter.com/K8BuU33ch6

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) October 6, 2025

Jaxson Dart (QB, NYG) - 39% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

It wasn’t pretty, but Dart exceeded 50 rush yards for the second straight game alongside two pass TDs for a solid fantasy day. One of his two interceptions came on a do-or-die heave on fourth down with the team down multiple scores, so I can overlook it. He’ll face Philadelphia, Denver, and Philly again, so temper expectations, but those rushes keep his name fantasy relevant no matter what.

QBs Worth Tossing $1 At In a Pinch:

Mac Jones (Brock Purdy return TBD, Jones hosts shootout Buccaneers)
Jake Browning (If they start him and that fourth-quarter momentum continues)
Tua Tagovailoa (Multiple TDs in four straight)
Michael Penix Jr. (Strong game before bye, low floor)
Bryce Young (Facing weaker Dallas D, only >200 yards once so far)

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Michael Carter (RB, ARI) - 39% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 18-25%
Aggressive Bid: 25-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%

Carter is a must-add after delivering 73 yards and a TD on 23 touches against Tennessee in Week 5. With James Conner out for the year and Trey Benson (knee) set to miss 4-6 weeks on the injured reserve, Carter led the backfield ahead of Emari Demercado and Bam Knight.

Demercado was the third-down, two-minute back, who infamously fumbled at the goal line on a 71-yard scamper that may have flipped the FAAB script. Knight got a mid-game drive that was finished with a short TD, but Carter is likely a top-24 RB on volume at Indianapolis next week.

That said, Green Bay’s rush defense looms in Week 7 before a Week 8 bye, so act according to your record and immediate needs.

Kimani Vidal (RB, LAC) - 1% rostered
Hassan Haskins (RB, LAC) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 8-12% / 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16% / 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 16-25% / 12-18%

It’s all unraveling for the Chargers after such a promising start to the season. The latest blow sees Omarion Hampton’s ankle injury forcing an IR move that takes him out for at least a month, which leaves Haskins, Vidal, and Amar Johnson (practice squad) as the running back room.

Haskins has been the No. 2 RB behind Hampton with Najee Harris unavailable, and he got 15 yards on six touches late in Sunday’s loss. He held a 6-2 snap advantage over Vidal prior to the injury, as well as the majority of post-injury snaps.

Vidal had 19 yards on five touches. This could yield a similar runout to Arizona, with Haskins as the early-down back (Carter) while Vidal is the change-of-pace back (Demercado), though Vidal has far more prospect juice behind him.

We largely know Haskins’ ceiling is relatively capped by now, and Vidal could still blossom in Year 2. The injuries on the offensive line typically have me out on this entire ordeal, but they face Miami’s RB-Kingmaker defense this week.

Also, this writer will not be surprised to see a news item that Gus Edwards is visiting/signing with the team, but this is what we’ve got right now.

Last year when J.K. Dobbins was out we saw Vidal play over Haskins. Gus Edwards was lead back, Vidal was the RB2 and saw usage in the passing game https://t.co/j6X1ZOxtLC

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 6, 2025

Kendre Miller (RB, NO) - 31% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 8-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16%
Desperation Bid: 16-25%

Miller’s trend line continues to tick up after turning 10 rushes into 41 yards, with an eight-yard catch thrown in for good measure. Alvin Kamara had 8-27-0 rushing and 4-28-0 receiving while logging a season-low 56% snap rate. Miller’s clip has gone from 15% in Weeks 1 and 2, to 27%, 31%, and now 39%.

I won't keep harping on this, but each week of increased work makes him all the more relevant! And this win doesn't suddenly change the Saints' outlook and make trading Kamara less appealing to the franchise's books.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PIT) - 36% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%

It’s easy to get swept up in the latest week, but don’t forget that Gainwell trampled the Vikings for 134 total yards and two TDs on 25 touches in Week 4.

We expect Jaylen Warren (knee) back to muddy the waters, and the Week 6 date with Cleveland’s front is subpar, but Gainwell should be stashed to see how the workload split goes before Week 7’s game against Cincinnati’s soft defense. And if Warren misses again, then you have another 16-18 touches.

AJ Dillon (RB, PHI) - 0% rostered
Will Shipley (RB, PHI) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

We have to respect Monday injury report estimations more with Philadelphia set for a short-week Thursday tilt against the Giants, which gave us Saquon Barkley as out with a knee designation. It’s probably minor, but he did have a low workload in Week 5, and one never knows this early in the week! (Ian Rapaport says Barkley should be fine.)

Dillon should be the primary target for us as the short-yardage specialist, with few possessing quads that rival Barkley’s. Shipley has some zip, but has yet to show anything in the NFL, and Philly’s offense should favor the ground specialist over the passing back. Tank Bigsby hasn’t played a snap, so we’re out on that for now.

RBs Worth Tossing $1 At In a Pinch:

Trevor Etienne, Sean Tucker, Isaiah Davis, Kyle Monangai, Jaydon Blue, Emanuel Wilson, Keaton Mitchell

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Darnell Mooney (WR, ATL) - 33% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Sometimes the only winning move is not to play. Not just a great movie quote, but it can apply to Mooney on a slow week for WR news. The Falcon has been slow to produce in the early going as he dealt with a preseason shoulder issue and picked up a hamstring injury in the first half of Week 4. Let’s see if he’s healthy for this home game against a reeling Bills team.

Kendrick Bourne (WR, SF) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-7%

Bourne and Mac Jones ran back the old chemistry to connect on 10 catches for 142 yards on Thursday night against the Rams. Both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) missed the game, on top of George Kittle (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) being on IR.

It’s unlikely that this goes anywhere else, with both Jennings and Pearsall possibly back in Week 6 at Tampa Bay. Those in deep PPR waters can consider Bourne, but even the cursed 49ers should enjoy better overall health after this short-week crunch.

**The same could be said for Ryan Flournoy, who had an incredible day, but should be impossible to trust with CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and/or KaVontae Turpin (foot) back in the rotation shortly. If you truly believe that Flournoy has displaced Jalen Tolbert (who goose-egged), then pounce on him for a buck ahead of Week 6’s Carolina matchup.

Isaiah Bond (WR, CLE) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

We’re not expecting strong efficiency from Dillon Gabriel out of the chute, so it’s worth noting that Bond saw eight targets beyond the paltry 2-29-0 line. That’s double the targets that Jerry Jeudy had! I realize the offense flowed through Quinshon Judkins and the tight ends, but this is encouraging usage from Bond. Let’s see if their timing improves in future games that are sure to bring similar negative gamescripts.

Christian Watson (WR, GB) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

Watson’s 21-day practice window has been opened as he returns from the reserve/PUP list following a torn ACL in Week 18 of last year. It’s possible that Watson’s arrival closely coincides with Jayden Reed’s, following the latter’s collarbone/foot recovery.

Perhaps he gets a window before Reed is back to make a statement alongside Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden, pushing Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams back to the periphery. Realistically, Watson will be a boom-bust type in a crowded offense that has Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft, and a (usually) strong defense.

Christian Watson is back on the practice field 274 days after he tore the ACL in his right knee.

His 21-day PUP practice window begins now. The Packers have three weeks to activate him for play. pic.twitter.com/oDNwd0q09c

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 6, 2025

**Jalen Coker is another nice injury stash as his practice window opens up. If he can’t go for the juicy matchup against Dallas, then Xavier Legette may be worth $1-2 to some.

Isaac TeSlaa (WR, DET) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

TeSlaa caught his second touchdown of the year with his third career reception, as his 12-yard score helped to seal the game. He only sees 1-2 looks per game, but at least they come near the red zone. His inclusion here reflects the neck injury suffered by Kalif Raymond that led to increased reps, even if the targets don’t yet show it.

The 21 snaps and 34% snap rate were season-highs, and Jameson Williams hasn’t performed well enough to be a frightful No. 2 WR hurdle. Snagging a trending piece of Detroit’s prolific offense can’t be that bad of an idea, eh?

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Mason Taylor (TE, NYJ) - 13% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 9-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16%
Desperation Bid: 16-20%

Taylor’s usage continued to climb on Sunday, reaching new heights with 12 targets, nine catches, and 67 yards. Perhaps the early-season ankle issue helped make a mountain out of the rookie’s acclimating to the NFL molehill in Weeks 1 and 2.

Regardless of the “why,” Taylor is clearly the No. 2 passing option behind Garrett Wilson. He’s a strong intermediate option for Justin Fields, who is extending plays with his feet all across the pocket.

The Jets’ offense may not carry the scoring upside needed for consistent half-PPR appeal, but full-PPR players have to note any TE with double-digit looks and 25 targets in a three-week window. Wheels up!

Nick Saban says not landing new Jets TE Mason Taylor was "the biggest recruiting mistake we ever made" during his time at Alabama.

"This guy is an outstanding player."

High praise.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 26, 2025

Theo Johnson (TE, NYG) - 11% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-10%
Desperation Bid: 10-15%

The 6-foot-6 tight end caught two touchdowns, with his size surely a factor in being Jaxson Dart’s favorite red-zone option. A depleted wide receiver room only furthers that cause, as Daniel Bellinger was the leading receiver (52 yards).

The next few weeks could be miserable for Big Blue, with two Philadelphia matchups sandwiching a road date to Denver, but Johnson may emerge as the most consistent threat for Dart along the learning curve.

AJ Barner (TE, SEA) - 2% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Barner set season-high marks by catching all seven of his targets for 53 yards and a pair of scores, which gives him four touchdowns over the last four weeks. His primary strength on the team may be blocking, but he’s proven more than capable of catching the ball when called upon. Seattle lacks a big WR with DK Metcalf off in Pittsburgh, and Barner is outearning Elijah Arroyo for now.

Jake Tonges (TE, SF) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

We’re set for one more week of Tonges, as George Kittle isn’t expected back for Week 6 at Tampa Bay. As we just saw with Barner, the Bucs are not great at dealing with opposing TEs. Just like Barner, Dallas Goedert also scored twice against them the week before. There are far worse dollar scratch-offs to select at TE for Week 6!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

*If Pittsburgh (70% rostered) is available with back-to-back CLE/CIN matchups, then consider $3-5 bids. The Rams (54%) are in the $2-3 range at Baltimore, with the Packers (46%) hosting Cincinnati also worth more than a $1 dart.

New England Patriots Defense (at NO) - 20% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%

The Patriots went into Buffalo’s white-out night in primetime and emerged victorious, with their defense forcing three turnovers in key situations. They’ve only generated two sacks in the last three weeks after nine sacks across the first two games, but the upcoming schedule demands action and provides hope.

Weeks 6-13 confer arguably six stellar matchups, an iffy one, and just one avoid before the Week 14 bye. Here’s what the Pats have on the horizon: NO, TEN, CLE, ATL (iffy), TB (no), NYJ, CIN, and NYG. Check, please.

Dallas Cowboys Defense (at CAR) - 8% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Dallas does not have a bankable defense in 2025, but they just ripped a season-high five sacks against Justin Fields in Sunday’s 37-22 win. A road date with Carolina will bring a red-hot revenge game from Rico Dowdle to their doorstep, but Bryce Young is still a streaming target for those who need a <10% option.

Las Vegas Raiders Defense (vs. TEN) - 2% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Or you can dig even deeper by hoping the movable object can hold up against Tennessee being the stoppable force. Las Vegas has been torched for 40 or more points twice in the last three weeks, but both were road games against playoff-caliber teams (WAS, IND).

The Titans just won, yes, though it was much more of an Arizona loss than a Tennessee win. Let’s see how many mistakes Maxx Crosby can force out of Cam Ward, while hoping that the home dome can give Geno Smith and the offense enough comfort to put TEN in a hole.

(If one wants to bank on Tennessee’s defense against Vegas instead, then they’re 0% rostered and ripe for the adding!)

More Waiver Wire Analysis