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Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 6. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
Injuries are certainly piling up in the NFL. Not only do we have some key players up in the air but we also have the bye weeks to deal with now. This week, the Lions, Raiders, Titans, and Texans will all be unavailable to our fantasy lineups.
Not only do the bye weeks take away some options from our starting lineups, but they limit the pivot options as well. And to take it a step further, all the teams on byes are teams that you have been able to stream against, meaning it may be even tougher this week to find a good backup plan. If you have a player up in the air, it is vital that you have a Plan B in place in case they are out. The last thing you want to do is be scrambling on Sunday, especially since the top options may be scooped up by then.
Every week, this article provides options for you to grab off the waiver wire to have just in case your starters sit and you need to go in another direction. The order in which the names are listed at each position is the order in which you should check your wire if they are still out there. Not all names are available in every format, but I try to play to people in all different league sizes!
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Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If QBs Dak Prescott, Jameis Winston, and Mac Jones don’t play, you can pivot to...
Geno Smith should no longer be on the waiver wire, but he still is for some reason in certain leagues. Smith has scored over 18 fantasy points in three straight and over 24 in his last two. He has one game all year with less than 17 fantasy points and he actually leads the NFL in multiple passing TD games with four. He is third in yards per attempt. Basically what I am saying is through five weeks, Smith has been a very good QB. He is certainly one that should be started with confidence against the Cardinals, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy PPG to QBs.
Daniel Jones is a pivot option if Smith is not available in your league. First, did you know he is a top-15 QB on the season? That is partially because he has run for at least 21 yards in every game this season. The reason to get excited here though is the matchup. Baltimore has allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to QBs this season (21.99). If you are in need of a deeper QB, Danny Dimes is your man!
If you miss out on him, Jimmy Garoppolo is another option. Garoppolo is coming off his best game of the year, throwing for 253 yards and two scores against the Panthers. This week, he faces a Falcons defense that we know can be scored against. This isn’t so much getting excited for Garoppolo as it is getting excited for his playmakers in a favorable matchup. He brings a safe floor for those in need of an option off the waiver wire this week.
Running Back Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football
If RBs Jonathan Taylor, James Conner, Nyheim Hines, and Damien Harris, don’t play, you can pivot to...
Rachaad White has seen his snaps climb the past two weeks, sitting around 40 percent. He only has eight carries in those two games, but he has nine targets and that's what matters in PPR formats. White is clearly involved in the Bucs' passing game. It doesn’t hurt that he plays with the QB who loves targeting his RBs the most in Tom Brady. White could also get an extra run if the Bucs open a wide lead against the Steelers. He is an option for this week and moving forward.
Brian Robinson returned in the coolest possible way last week. If you aren’t sure what I am talking about, just go Google it. Robinson returned and instantly led the Commanders in carries. He could continue to carve out a larger role. He is an option this week and moving forward.
If the Colts' backs sit, then Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay would be the next options up there. Jackson looked the most impressive of that duo in Week 5, turning 17 touches into 91 yards. He would be the top option here, but it's worth pointing out that Lindsay had 15 opportunities in that game and remains a deeper option.
James Cook may have seen only four carries last week but he did turn them into 31 yards and an impressive TD run. On that run, Cook showed the burst and explosiveness that had many excited when he ended up in Buffalo. He had five targets in Week 3, showing that the Bills may be trying to get him more involved. It doesn’t hurt that they play the Chiefs this week, who have allowed the most targets, catches, and receiving yards to running backs.
Latavius Murray should be making his Broncos debut this week. While he may play the RB3 role, he could see goal-line carries and that is enough to make him an option for those in deeper leagues. The Chargers have allowed the most fantasy points and touchdowns to backs this season.
Tevin Coleman returned last week carrying the ball eight times for 23 yards and a touchdown while catching all three of his targets for 44 yards and a score. It's unlikely to repeat, but Coleman has long been a favorite of Kyle Shanahan. He is in play for those in deeper leagues and in need of a back that will see double-digit touches.
Wide Receiver Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football
If WRs Tyreek Hill, Tee Higgins, Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Zay Jones, Isaiah McKenzie, Russell Gage, and Julio Jones don’t play, you can pivot to...
Alec Pierce was my favorite WR off the waiver wire this past week, but he did not get picked up in nearly as many leagues as he should have. If he is still out there, go and grab the Colts rookie. Not only can he help you this week against the Jaguars, but he can be an asset moving forward. His targets, catches, and yards have increased every week and in Week 5, he led the Colts in each of those categories. He has won over Matt Ryan and should see more work moving forward.
Corey Davis is what we all want Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore to be. In the past two weeks with Zach Wilson starting, Davis leads the Jets receivers with a 19 percent target share and a 28 percent target share. While the other two receivers get all the hype, Davis has quietly served as Wilson’s top target. He is certainly one of the better receivers still left on the wire.
Rondale Moore low-key saw eight targets last week, catching seven of them for 68 yards. While he was third on the Cardinals in targets, the chance for him to see a bunch of volume remains in play as the Cards have often been trailing and having to play catchup. That could be the same this week as they face the Seahawks, who have struggled against the pass. It's also the last week before we get DeAndre Hopkins back, so it may be your one shot to play Moore and feel good about it.
Wan’Dale Robinson is one that I refuse to let go of! He returned to the practice field last week in a limited capacity and was back out there this week. That gives him a chance to suit up for a Giants team that is desperately in need of receiver help. He would immediately become a streaming option against the Ravens, who have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to receivers this season.
Randall Cobb is in play in deeper leagues. He saw 13 targets in Week 5, which was more than he saw in the first four weeks combined. It's unlikely to repeat, but Cobb does have the trust of Aaron Rodgers. For those in deeper leagues, it's worth taking a shot here to see if Cobb can build off his big week in London.
Tight End Pivot Plays for Fantasy Football
If TEs Dalton Schultz, Dawson Knox, and Pat Freiermuth don’t play, you can pivot to...
Taysom Hill should not be on the waiver wire still, but if he is, he is the top tight end pivot. Sure, he could score two points, but what streaming tight end brings a safe floor? None. That’s the same number that brings the upside of Hill, who was the fourth-highest-scoring player in fantasy football in Week 5.
Evan Engram is coming off his best game as a Jaguar, in which he caught six of 10 targets for 69 yards. The 10 targets are clearly what stands out there. Also, when he faced the Colts earlier this season, he finished with eight targets, catching seven of them for 46 yards. The Colts have also allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends (16.2). He is the next best streaming option on the waiver wire.
Cameron Brate is an option if he is able to suit up this week. He was more involved before missing last week with a concussion. He had seen 14 targets in the two prior games, and then last week, his replacement Cade Otton saw seven targets. The tight end is clearly becoming a focal point for Tom Brady and the Bucs' offense, meaning Brate is a streaming option for those in need of a tight end this week. Otton would be the fallback if Brate cannot suit up.
Noah Fant is coming off his best game of the season. He played 60 percent of the snaps, saw five targets, and caught three for 49 yards. It was the most targets a tight end has seen for Seattle this season. He also faces the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to tight ends at 19.5 per game.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram, @MichaelFFlorio.
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