Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups - Fantasy Football Free Agent Adds and Stashes (2025)

Rob's Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire pickups, adds, stashes and sleepers to target for 2025. His top waiver wire adds for Week 6 at RB, WR, TE, QB, K, D/ST.

Week 5 was a rough introduction to bye weeks for fantasy managers this past weekend. There were many players who were ruled out on top of missing players like Rome Odunze, Josh Jacobs, and Bijan Robinson to bye weeks. Things won't get any easier moving forward. As the season progresses, injuries will likely continue, and bye weeks will worsen.

That makes the waiver wire our best friend. While the waiver wire has not churned out any big names or any "league-winners", there are quality players who can make all the difference in filling out a quality lineup. Fantasy managers must know what their roster needs. Maybe you don't need a starter and can aim for a long-term upside play. Other teams may need immediate producers, despite their lack of upside.

The waiver wire can offer both, but you need to know what your team needs. Be sure to also check out our free Who Should I Pickup? tool and compare up to four free agent players at once - we'll tell you who to pick up. Please use the promo code "BOOM" to get 10% off our premium subscription tools. Now, let's get to the best waiver wire adds for Week 6.

• 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

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

Must Adds

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals - 41.9% Rostered

While many flocked to Emari Demercado, it was Carter who led the Cardinals' backfield in the absence of Trey Benson and James Conner. He played 39 snaps, while Demercado logged just 19. Carter also handled 17 carries to Demercado's three. Demercado had 81 yards compared to Carter's 51; however, while that might sound like Demercado could move up the depth chart, I wouldn't count on it.

AGAIN. #Cardinals RB Emari Demercado just had a 76-yard TD — but he let go of the ball before crossing the goal line, and it’s a touchback.

HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!

pic.twitter.com/EstLI9R4jW

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 5, 2025

There were some rumors that Carter might lead the backfield, while Demercado stayed in his pass-catching role. However, Carter ran more routes than Demercado (18 to 10) and had more targets (5 to 0). Based on this past weekend's utilization, Carter will flirt with RB2 value until Benson returns.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers - 58.7% Rostered

Chuba Hubbard was inactive this past weekend, and Dowdle made the most of his spot-start opportunity. He was a bellcow in every sense of the word. He played 47 of the team's 70 snaps and handled 23 carries. He finished with 206 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also caught all three of his targets for 28 yards. He finished with 30.9 half-PPR points.

Chuba Hubbard Labeled as "Day-to-Day" https://t.co/LxqmXAbaPK

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 3, 2025

The coaching staff may have called Hubbard "day-to-day", but Dowdle is still a must-add, regardless. Hubbard did not practice in any capacity last week and could be at risk for missing more time. If Hubbard misses another week, Dowdle will be a must-start again. Hubbard is dealing with a calf injury, and these soft tissue issues are often more susceptible to reinjury, making Dowdle a strong contingency add even once Hubbard returns.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers - 0.1% Rostered

Omarion Hampton is expected to miss some time. That’ll move Vidal or Hassan Haskins to the top of the depth chart. Vidal played more snaps following the Hampton injury.

The Chargers’ offensive line is a mess. Fantasy managers should temper expectations because this is likely to be a committee running behind a bad offensive line.

However, if Vidal is able to handle 12+ touches, he should have flex value moving forward. The biggest thing to watch will be who gets the goal-line touches.

Priority Adds

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars - 36.3% Rostered

Tuten is a highly-regarded player for Jacksonville, whom they prioritized in the NFL Draft. They traded away Tank Bigsby to get him more opportunities, and he's looked good with his chances. The problem is that Travis Etienne Jr. has performed very well in the starting role. However, he has a history of fading as the season goes along.

Tuten scored touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 3, and continues to stay on the RB4/5 radar. Since the Bigsby trade, he's averaging seven touches per game. Fantasy managers should expect his role to grow as the season progresses. Head coach Liam Coen made both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving fantasy-relevant in Tampa Bay last year. They both finished as top-24 running backs.

Tuten is worth stashing for that reason and because if Etienne were to get hurt, he would be a top-12 running back.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers, 47.2% Rostered

Gainwell was a workhorse in the absence of Jaylen Warren, who was a late scratch in Week 4. Warren's inactive status was somewhat of a surprise, but Gainwell was the beneficiary. He played 41 of the team's 53 snaps. He finished with 19 carries, 99 yards, and two touchdowns. He also led the backfield with 18 routes, catching all six of his targets for 35 yards.

He scored 28.4 half-PPR points against a strong Minnesota defense.

#Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell stepped in after Jaylen Warren was a late scratch — and I came away really impressed.

Against a tough Vikings' defense, Gainwell looked like a legit starting RB in this league: 134 total yards and 2 TDs.

Steelers improve to 3-1. pic.twitter.com/neFGYUCBNf

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 28, 2025

It's unknown how long Warren will be out, and given that his absence wasn't predicted, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a long absence. In fact, Warren may very well be back this week after their bye. However, given his performance, Gainwell is worth grabbing in case Warren's injury is more serious than initially thought.

It's also possible that his performance this past weekend will result in a more committee-based approach.

Stash with Late-Season Potential

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs - 4.7% Rostered

Smith continues to operate as the Chiefs' No. 3 running back, but his role increased in Week 4. Kareem Hunt played 32 snaps, Isiah Pacheco played 27, and Smith played 19. That's the closest Smith has been to the two veteran backs all year. Smith ran 10 routes compared to Hunt and Pacheco's 16. Smith actually led the backfield in targets, and Kansas City seemed to make a concentrated effort to get him the ball.

Smith finished with three catches for 27 yards. Pacheco and Hunt continue to be borderline useless running the football. Until one of them does something of note, stashing Smith will continue to be appealing. We've seen Kansas City operate with a lackluster running game in the past, and that season, Jerick McKinnon had a hot streak. Smith's skill set is similar to his.

Brashard Smith Should See Increased Role Against Jacksonville https://t.co/AeIAFcbRW8

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 5, 2025

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has discussed increasing Smith's involvement. Hopefully, that's the case in Monday Night Football against Jacksonville. Smith is someone to stash who could end up paying dividends sooner rather than later.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints - 21.0% Rostered

In Week 4, Miller had 11 carries that he turned into 65 yards and a touchdown. Alvin Kamara had 15 carries for 70 yards in that contest, but Miller came close to drawing even with Kamara in terms of rush attempts. This past weekend, Miller had 10 carries for 41 yards, while Kamara had eight carries for 28 yards.

In back-to-back weeks, Miller has been more efficient than Kamara with his carries. This week, the coaching staff gave Miller more carries.

Miller also almost drew even with Kamara in terms of snaps played. Kamara had 37 snaps played to Miller's 26. In previous years, Kamara was the clear No. 1 running back, and that's no longer the case. This is becoming a real committee with Kamara being the primary pass-catcher and Miller the primary rusher.

There are teams interested in some of the Saints' veteran players and they'll be watching to see who becomes available in the coming weeks, league sources tell me. There's a feeling around the league that New Orleans will be open to hearing offers in the coming weeks.

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 4, 2025

Kamara is someone the Saints should be open to moving. He's at the end of his career, and there should be interest in Kamara. The Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs are all teams that could be interested in Kamara. If he's moved, Miller would become the undisputed No. 1 running back for the Saints and be in line for 15+ touches per week, putting him on the RB2 radar.

Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys - 18.2% Rostered

Blue was active for the first time this season, with Miles Sanders ruled out with an ankle injury. Blue was merely just a depth piece this past weekend. He didn't factor in much, playing just 11 snaps. He finished with four carries and seven rushing yards. He only ran three routes and wasn't targeted on any of them.

Blue is still just a long-term stash. Javonte Williams has been playing great and won't relinquish his role unless he's injured. Given his history, that's a possibility. What fantasy managers can realistically hope for is that Blue takes over as Dallas's No. 2 running back over Sanders. If that happens, Blue could potentially play his way into being the pass-catching running back for Dallas.

Betting on Blue became a long shot after he was inactive for the first four weeks, and not much has changed. He's a long-term lottery ticket stash that only applies to deep leagues. He was an electric playmaker in college, possessing exceptional speed, which gives him appeal; however, it's becoming increasingly difficult to see a path towards fantasy relevance.

RB4/5's with High Contingency Value

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - 16.2% Rostered

Corum had eight carries in Week 3 and then nine carries in Week 4. He was trending towards making this backfield more of a committee. However, a fumble this past Thursday changed everything. While Kyren Williams had a fumble of his own, only Corum was met with any punishment. He finished with just one carry.

This was likely a one-week thing due to his fumble. Corum should settle back into getting 7-10 carries per game. That kind of workload should remain on the RB4/5 radar, but his real value lies in his contingency value. If Williams were to miss time, Corum would be a top-15 running back.

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs - 31.5% Rostered

Hunt led the Kansas City backfield in snaps and carries in Week 4. He had 13 rushing attempts to Pacheco's seven. Pacheco was more effective with his opportunities, but it's noteworthy that Hunt played more snaps and was given more carries. Hunt played three of the team's four goal-line snaps, setting him up to be the likely beneficiary for any rushing touchdowns the team has in the future.

This backfield, given the lack of production from Hunt and Pacheco, should be viewed as fluid, which makes it incredibly frustrating for fantasy managers. Right now, Hunt is worth stashing in the event he's able to play a little bit better and separate himself from Pacheco a bit. Hopefully, their Monday Night game will give us more insight into how this backfield will shake out.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 31.8% Rostered

Allgeier is an elite handcuff. If Bijan Robinson were to miss anytime, he would immediately become a top-20 running back. He's a far better rusher than he is a receiver. His standalone value is apparent in weeks where the Falcons are in the lead.

In Week 4, Atlanta played with the lead for most of the game, which allowed Allgeier to finish with 16 carries, 51 yards, and one touchdown. The week before, they got blitzed by Carolina, and he finished with one carry. In Week 2, Atlanta dominated Minnesota, and he had 16 carries, 76 yards, and a touchdown.

The primary reason to stash Allgeier is his elite contingency value if Robinson were to get hurt. However, he has RB3 standalone value in the right matchups. The issue is that Atlanta is a somewhat unpredictable team, so it's hard to know which games they will be playing with a lead and when they won't be. If you're able to predict that correctly, however, you could have a usable RB3.

Outside of Corum and Allgeier, if you do not need a starting running back, fantasy managers should prioritize the handcuffs below over the remaining running backs in this section. While these running backs are more playable than the handcuffs, the handcuffs offer more upside. 

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens - 28.5% Rostered

Hill could have more fantasy value this season than we initially anticipated. Baltimore's defense is hemorrhaging points and yards. They can't stop anyone. They weren't able to stop C.J. Stroud this past weekend, who has struggled mightily this season. If Baltimore finds itself in more passing situations or trailing on the scoreboard, that'll lead to more snaps and opportunities for Hill.

Hill is a matchup-dependent RB4/5. If Baltimore is not favored or it's expected to be a high-scoring affair, Hill could provide RB4 value in full-PPR scoring. He shouldn't be viewed as Derrick Henry's handcuff, but if you're desperate for a running back starter, once Lamar Jackson returns, Hill could provide RB4 value in the right matchups.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans - 28.2% Rostered

This was Spears' first game of the season, and not surprisingly, he was eased into the game plan. He played just 17 snaps to Tony Pollard's 49. Pollard should be expected to maintain his lead role, but it could take a different form in the coming weeks. Most specifically, Spears could end up working as the pass-catching back for Tennessee.

This week, however, Pollard still ran 29 routes to Spears' 10.

Pollard has been minimally involved in the passing game, so fantasy managers shouldn't get too optimistic about Spears' prospects. The Titans' offense has also been abysmal. However, it's possible Spears could work himself into a 60-40 split, which would give him some standalone value.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets - 5.9% Rostered

With Braelon Allen (knee) on IR and expected to miss 8-12 weeks, Davis moves into the No. 2 role for the Jets. Allen's season effectively is over, at least for fantasy football purposes, as our seasons typically end in Week 17. Davis played 33 snaps to Breece Hall's 50. That's much different than how the running back touches were distributed.

Hall handled 14 carries while Davis had just one for five yards.

Hall and Davis both ran 24 routes, and both had four targets. Hall caught all four for 42 yards, and Davis reeled in three for 28 yards. The game script favored Davis's pass-catching skill set, which is likely to be the case moving forward. Davis is a desperation running back start, but he holds high contingency value if Hall gets injured.

Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers - 1.0% Rostered

MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is eligible to play in Week 5, but there have been few reports on his return to play. In the meantime, Wilson is solidifying his role as Green Bay’s No. 2 running back. He had six touches in Week 3, and in Week 4, he received eight carries for 44 yards. He also chipped in, catching all three of his targets for 37 yards.

If he’s going to continue getting 7-10 touches per game in this offense, he should be on that RB4/5 radar. If Josh Jacobs were to miss time, this would likely turn into a full-on committee, but it appears Wilson would get the first shot at commanding the most opportunities.

Pure Running Back Handcuffs

• D.J. Giddens, Indianapolis Colts - 1.6% Rostered
• Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 35.1% Rostered
• Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles - 6.6% Rostered
• Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills - 10.5% Rostered
• Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders - 4.2% Rostered
• Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins - 21.4% Rostered
• Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears - 3.8% Rostered
• MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers - 2.3% Rostered
• Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals - 0.3% Rostered
• Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers - 0.3% Rostered
• Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals 0.1% Rostered

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

WR4s with Some Upside

Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers - 6.5% Rostered

Bourne was Mac Jones's No. 1 target this past Thursday, with George Kittle (hamstring), Ricky Pearsall (knee), and Jauan Jennings (ankle) all inactive. He had 11 targets, 10 receptions, 142 yards en route to 19.2 half-PPR points. Kittle is not expected back until Week 7. Pearsall and Jennings's status for Week 7 is unknown. That makes adding Bourne a little difficult.

If they're back, his value declines significantly. If they're out, he's a top-30 receiver for Week 6. If you're desperate for a Week 6 starter, he's worth an add. If not, I'd ignore his Week 5 outburst.

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons - 47.2% Rostered

Mooney has been a major disappointment this season. He has just seven catches and still hasn't reached 100 yards receiving. Kyle Pitts Sr. has been more effective than he was in 2024, which isn't helping Mooney's prospects. The biggest issue for Mooney has been his health.

He dealt with a hamstring injury in Week 4, but it's been reported that he'll be back in Week 6 following their bye. It's worth checking to see if he's on your waiver wire. He hasn't done anything this year to provide any confidence, but he's been productive in the past, and he's a full-time starter on what should be an above-average offense. That's worth betting on.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers - 44.9% Rostered

Doubs has scored 7.5 or more half-PPR points in three out of four games. That includes his 26.8 point outburst in Week 3 on the back of three touchdowns. Doubs is the definition of a touchdown or bust receiver. Through four games, Doubs has more than three catches in just one game. He has yet to finish with more than 70 yards. He's been held to under 30 yards twice.

The volume isn't where we'd like it to be, but the Packers have made a strong effort to target Doubs near the end zone. That has resulted in four touchdowns through four weeks. Given his strong role in the red zone, with Jordan Love playing as well as he's playing, Doubs is worth adding.

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos - 43.7% Rostered

Courtland Sutton is Denver's clear No. 1 receiver, but Franklin has scored 6.0 or more half-PPR points in four out of five games. He has scored 6.4, 20.0, 1.8, 7.5, and 7.0 half-PPR points through five games this season. He's averaging 6.4 targets per game and has settled into being Bo Nix's No. 2 target-earner.

Franklin has seen five or more targets in four out of five contests this season. He's been consistently involved in the Denver offense. His role makes him a quality WR4 and a valuable bench player for fantasy managers, particularly during bye weeks and as an injury replacement.

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts - 43.0% Rostered

Downs has lost a lot of his fantasy value with the emergence of Tyler Warren and with Michael Pittman Jr. being healthy, but he's still this offense's No. 3 target-earner, and he's an outstanding player. Downs has had five or more targets in three games this season. That has led to three games with four or more receptions.

Downs is not a candidate to get a lot of yards or score a lot of touchdowns, which limits his appeal. He's best suited for full-PPR leagues.

High Upside Stashes

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers - 47.7% Rostered

Reed is currently on IR, and his exact return date is unknown. However, if he's been dropped in your league, stashing Reed could pay dividends later on this season. In Week 1, he had five targets, three receptions, 45 yards, and a touchdown en route to 12.0 half-PPR points. Once Reed returns, he'll likely settle into being ranked as a WR4, and he'll have weekly WR2 upside.

The Packers have an efficient offense, and Jordan Love is currently playing lights out. Fantasy managers should want a piece of this offense. Reed has shown the ability to be a WR2 as a rookie. He's still a talented player on an elite offense.

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears - 8.9% Rostered

Burden had three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, leading to 18.3 half-PPR points. Fantasy managers were hoping for a bigger role in Week 4, and while that didn't necessarily happen, he did have the highest snap share of the season.

Burden also leads all Chicago receivers in receptions and yards per route run through four weeks. He's been an efficient player when presented with opportunities. D.J. Moore could be a potential trade candidate, which gives Burden a shot at increasing his role, but the more likely outcome is Burden starting over Olamide Zaccheaus.

Once that happens, Burden could quickly climb the target hierarchy in Chicago, although he won't surpass Rome Odunze.

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - 25.3% Rostered

Higgins has been more involved the past two weeks. Christian Kirk has struggled this season. Xavier Hutchinson has struggled. Eventually, Higgins's snaps will increase. He's coming off his best two games of the season the past two weeks, as well.

He found the end zone in Week 4 and this past weekend had four catches for 32 yards. That's back-to-back games with 5.0 or more half-PPR points. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a step in the right direction for the second-round rookie. With the increased offensive environment, he should be on the radar.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers - 34.9% Rostered

He tore his MCL and ACL early last season and will need some time to shake off the rust. However, he’s an IR candidate and someone you can stash for free. From 2023-2024, he had 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished as the WR22 in 2022 and the WR12 in 2023. He’s absolutely worth taking a shot on.

He’s the receiver with the most chemistry with Brock Purdy and could be a second-half weekly WR2 starter. Reports have recently indicated that Aiyuk isn't close to returning, but if you have an IR spot, Aiyuk is still worth stashing, assuming he's able to return around Week 10-12.

Kyle Williams, New England Patriots - 2.2%

Williams has only had two targets this season. However, he was a third-rounder in this year's NFL Draft and was a productive collegiate player. His talent profile is one worth betting on. He hasn't gotten an opportunity yet, but the production from the primary New England receivers has been disappointing.

Stefon Diggs has come on over the past two weeks, but the remaining receivers for the Patriots have been incredibly disappointing. Kayshon Boutte is a boom-or-bust sacrificial X receiver. DeMario Douglas has been a ghost, and Mack Hollins is primarily used as a blocker. If Williams could get some opportunities later in the year, he could make some noise, but he's a long-term stash.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - 2.7% Rostered

Watson is still on the PUP and won't be ready until midseason. However, Jayden Reed (collarbone) is slated to miss a majority of the season, Matthew Golden has yet to make a splash, and Doubs is who he is at this point. He's dependable, but unexciting. Wicks is an enigma. There's upside, but his consistency is all over the board.

This offense is strong, and Jordan Love is playing great. If Watson can get healthy, with Reed's injury and the inconsistencies shown from Doubs and Wicks, he could enjoy a productive second half. He is a solid stash candidate.

Potential WR5/6's

Christian Kirk, Houston Texans - 30.5% Rostered

Kirk is coming off his best game of the season, catching all four targets for 64 yards. Outside of Nico Collins, Houston could use another pass-catcher to step up and be a dependable target for Stroud. That was supposed to be Kirk. He dealt with an injury early in the year, but maybe he's rounding into form.

He's their primary slot receiver, and we've seen slot receivers be fantasy-relevant with Stroud in the past (Tank Dell and Diggs). Kirk's upside is certainly capped, but he could be a valuable bench player with bye weeks starting.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 40.0% Rostered

Tucker has three games with more than 9.0 half-PPR points, including a 36.9 half-PPR point outing in Week 3. He's benefited from Brock Bowers' (knee) injury, and that's something to keep in mind. Once Bowers returns to 100%, his target competition will increase significantly.

However, he's shown he can be a big-play option in this offense, and he now has three games with six or more targets. As a bench player, with that target-earning potential and ceiling, fantasy managers could do much worse.

Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - 8.5% Rostered

Coker is currently on the IR with a "significant" quadriceps injury and will miss between four and six weeks. He's eligible to return in Week 5, but it's unknown yet if he will. However, I'm stashing Coker anywhere I can. He was impressive as a rookie, and this offense is desperate for someone opposite Tetairoa McMillan to do something. Anything.

Ja'Tavion Sanders is currently week-to-week with a high-ankle sprain, and the team's No. 2 and No. 3 wideouts, Hunter Renfrow and Xavier Legette, have struggled. Before the season, head coach Dave Canales stated Coker would be his starting receiver. Once he's back, he should return to that role. Slot receivers have been productive in Canales' offense, dating back to Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay.

Coker should immediately become Bryce Young's No. 2 target-earner.

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans - 37.8% Rostered

Ayomanor has been the most effective and trusted target for rookie Cameron Ward. Unfortunately, that hasn't meant much because the Tennessee offense has been so dreadful. Ayomanor has scored double-digits on two occasions, but both were propelled by Ayomanor finding the end zone. Based on how the Titans' offense has looked, that won't happen often.

However, the target volume has been solid. He's had five or more targets in each of the first four games of the season before having just four this past weekend. If there's a Titans receiver to trust, it might be Ayomanor, although Calvin Ridley did have his best game of the season this past weekend. Ayomanor is worth adding, given his rookie status and target volume.

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants - 29.9% Rostered

Jaxson Dart has been fun to watch, but it hasn't translated into much passing offense. He had 111 passing yards in Week 4 and just barely over 200 passing yards this past weekend. He's best suited for full-PPR leagues. Without Malik Nabers, there's plenty of target-earning potential, but this offense won't offer much, if any, upside.

Robinson is worth adding as a bye-week or injury-replacement player. He's a full-time starter with limited target competition and catching passes from an exciting young rookie quarterback. There's some potential here.

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 1.2% Rostered

It appears as though Calvin Austin III’s shoulder injury is going to sideline him for a little while. Wilson has been operating as the team’s No. 3 receiver so far this season.

While he’s done very little in that role, he’ll move into the No. 2 role previously occupied by Austin. Wilson is a former third-round player who is finally going to get his shot at some meaningful playing time.

Boom or Bust, Touchdown Dependent WR6's

• Darius Slayton, New York Giants - 32.9% Rostered
• Isaiah Bond, Cleveland Browns - 4.6% Rostered
• Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts - 1.4% Rostered
• Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks - 6.5% Rostered
• Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens - 27.5% Rostered
• Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - 27.6% Rostered
• Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers - 6.3% Rostered
• Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots - 8.9% Rostered
• Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City Chiefs - 16.2% Rostered
• Dont'e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders - 6.1% Rostered
• DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens - 8.0% Rostered
• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - 4.4% Rostered

All of these players are one of the top-three receivers on their respective teams. Horton is the team's No. 3 receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Thornton's role is dependent on the health of Worthy. None of them is a target-earner. All of these receivers are nothing more than touchdown-dependent WR5/6's.

They're likely only to see 1-5 targets on any given week. The floor for all of these players is zero. On the flip side, they only need one target to make them a worthwhile start. Any of these players, based on their skill set and their utilization, is capable of taking their one target 75 yards to the house. If you're in a pinch and desperate, and find yourself as a large underdog, rolling the dice on one of these players could pay off.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

Must Adds

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins - 48.3% Rostered

Waller played a part-time role in his first game back last week. That didn't stop him from catching two touchdowns and scoring 16.2 half-PPR points. Waller's role grew this week, and he ran 27 routes on 40 dropbacks. His share of snaps increased to 58.2%. Waller appears to be Miami's No. 3 pass-catcher behind Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane.

Darren Waller keeping the momentum going 🫡

Last week, he became the first 30+ year old TE since at least 1970 with 2+ rec TDs in a debut with a new team

Watch live out-of-market games on #NFLPlus
Blackout restrictions may applypic.twitter.com/axcVV2XMAV

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) October 5, 2025

This week, he had five targets, catching all of them for 78 yards and a touchdown, and scored 16.3 half-PPR points. Waller is a must-add tight end. He appears to be Miami's go-to option in the red zone, which means the three touchdowns may not be as much of a fluke as they may initially seem. Waller looks to be a top-12 tight end for the rest of the season.

Mason Taylor, New York Jets - 8.1% Rostered

Over the past three weeks, Taylor has racked up 25 targets, averaging over eight targets per game. He has four catches or more in each of the past three games. Since his four catches in Week 3, Taylor has increased his receptions in each passing week. He had five in Week 4 and nine this past weekend.

His yardage has also increased in three consecutive weeks, going from 18 in Week 3 to 65 in Week 4, to 67 this past weekend. Taylor's target volume makes him a must-add this week for any team struggling at tight end.

Jake Tonges, San Francisco 49ers - 5.3% Rostered *One Week Filler*

Kittle isn't expected back until Week 7, which will give Tonges one more week as the primary tight end for the 49ers. Pearsall and Jennings were also inactive in Week 5. It's unknown if they'll be back in Week 6, but if they're not, Tonges may very well be the primary target-earner for Mac Jones, or Purdy will be the starting quarterback.

In Week 4, Tonges had five targets, three receptions, 58 yards, and a touchdown for 13.3 half-PPR points. This past weekend, Tonges had 11 targets, seven receptions, 41 yards, and another touchdown en route to 13.6 half-PPR points. After Week 6, Tonges will return to having virtually no value, but he will have another week where he'll be a top-12 tight end.

TE2's with Some Upside

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars - 45.1% Rostered

Strange has scored 7.5 half-PPR points or more in three out of four games this season. He has 45 yards or more in three games. He's coming off back-to-back games with six catches and seven targets. He has been a consistent factor in Jacksonville's passing game.

The team appears committed to having Travis Hunter play on both offense and defense, which has limited his offensive snaps in recent weeks. That has allowed Strange to become Trevor Lawrence's No. 2 target on the season. He has yet to catch a touchdown, but he's showing a very safe floor.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - 23.9% Rostered

Fannin's snap and route share isn't where we'd like it to be for tight ends, but Cleveland has made a consistent effort to get him involved. In all five games this season, Fannin has had at least four targets. He also has three catches in four out of five contests. While David Njoku continues to play more snaps and run more routes than him, Fannin has been Cleveland's second-best pass-catcher, at worst, this season.

In Dillon Gabriel's first start, Fannin caught all four of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown. It was his first touchdown of the season. Fannin has now scored over 7.0 half-PPR points in three out of five games. Fannin is on the TE2 radar and could see his value increase as the season progresses.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants - 5.5% Rostered

Johnson has been the Giants' No. 1 tight end all year. This past weekend, he played 60 snaps to Daniel Bellinger's 38. Johnson also ran twice as many routes (35 to 16). Johnson finished this past week with seven targets, six receptions, 33 yards, and two touchdowns. He tallied 18.3 half-PPR points. This is also the second straight week that Johnson has found the end zone.

With Malik Nabers on IR, there's a ton of open targets available in the offense. This passing offense is unlikely to be consistent enough for Johnson to move into the top-12 range, but Johnson is now firmly on the TE2 radar. He should be a good bet for 5-7 targets moving forward and has cemented himself as a strong option for the Giants in the red zone.

A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks - 0.8% Rostered

The Seattle passing offense doesn't generate a lot of volume, but it's been incredibly efficient. Smith-Njigba is their undisputed No. 1 target-earner, but after him, it's fairly wide open. Barner has three games this season, scoring 9.5 half-PPR or more points. All three weeks were due to Barner finding the end zone.

He's a touchdown-or-bust tight end. He's only gone over 30 yards in one contest this season, which occurred this past weekend when he had 53 yards. He's a full-time tight end on an offense that is very efficient. There's no clear No. 2 pass-catcher, which gives Barner a chance to have spike weeks.

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens - 9.1% Rostered

In Week 4, Likely's first game back, he drew even with Mark Andrews in terms of routes run (30 for Andrews and 25 for Likely). Andrews finished with eight targets, while Likely didn't earn a single one. Don't fret too much about that. He hasn't played for over a month, and this was his first game action of the season.

This past weekend, with Jackson out, the Baltimore offense struggled to get anything going. Likely, like the rest of Baltimore's offense, will continue to struggle until Jackson returns. Once he is back, their dreadful defense will result in far more pass attempts and shoot-outs than most expected going into the season. That'll have a positive impact on the Baltimore pass-catchers.

Right now, Likely is nothing more than a stash. He cannot be started until Jackson is back. Once he returns, Likely will be on the TE2 radar. On an offense that spreads the ball around quite a bit, Likely will have a few spike weeks once Jackson is back under center.

Deep League Stashes

• Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - 33.0% Rostered

Deep, Deep League Options

• Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - 21.7% Rostered
• Evan Engram, Denver Broncos - 51.7% Rostered
• Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans - 15.4% Rostered
• Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints - 7.6% Rostered
• Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers - 22.3% Rostered
• Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers - 4.0% Rostered
• Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - 1.0% Rostered
• Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 8.0% Rostered

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 6

Must-Add

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants - 44.3% Rostered

Dart hasn't been great as a passer, but he doesn't have a lot to work with. However, because of his ability to score points with his legs, Dart maintains his fantasy value. In back-to-back weeks, Dart has rushed for more than 50 yards. In fact, over the past two weeks, Dart is averaging 8.5 points per game via rushing.

Dart has only thrown for 313 yards the past two weeks, and he's turned the ball over three times, but he's still averaging 17.71 points per game. If Dart can minimize his turnovers and slightly improve as a passer, there's top-12 upside here because of his ability to run the football.

QB2s

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - 52.3% Rostered

Stafford lit up the 49ers, scoring 25.56 points on Thursday night. That's back-to-back games with over 25 points. With Davante Adams and Puka Nacua at receiver, Stafford has some of the best pass-catchers in the NFL. Stafford comes with a safe floor (scoring 13 or more points in all five games), but also an elite ceiling (scoring more than 25 points twice).

He plays Baltimore's depleted defense next week, which just allowed Stroud to score 28.76 points. If you need a quarterback starter this week, Stafford should be viewed as a must-add and a top-10 quarterback for Week 6. For the rest of the season, he should be viewed as a top-15 quarterback with high-end QB2 value.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - 14.4% Rostered

Since his dreadful week performance against the 49ers, where he scored just 5.4 points, Darnold has been fantastic. He's scored 15 or more points in four straight weeks, which includes his best outing of the year this past weekend, scoring 27.64 points against the Buccaneers.

The volume in Seattle will keep its ceiling lower than most because they're a very balanced offense, but the efficiency has been through the roof. Darnold has been playing fantastic football. He's not a league-winner and his ceiling is more capped than you might like for fantasy, but he's a quality QB2 who seems to have settled into this new offense nicely and presents fantasy managers with a quality floor.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons - 16.5% Rostered

Penix might be a tough sell for some. He's the textbook definition of boom or bust. He has two games with 5.3 and 3.8 points. In his other two, he scored 24.0 and 18.7 points. Penix can't be started yet, not with any confidence anyway. Still, he's a year two quarterback, still figuring it out, and he's shown us what the ceiling looks like.

If he's able to find a bit of consistency, Penix could surprise in the second half of the season. Given his draft pedigree and the strength of the offensive ecosystem around London, Mooney (health permitting), Robinson, and Pitts, Penix is someone I don't mind stashing if I have roster space.

QB2 Options for Deeper or Superflex Leagues

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - 25.7% Rostered
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 21.9% Rostered
• Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers - 14.2% Rostered
• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans - 60.8% Rostered
• Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers - 18.4% Rostered
• Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals - 5.0% Rostered
• Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders - 21.7% Rostered

Stash in Superflex or 2-QB Leagues

• J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings - 33.0% Rostered
• Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns - 2.2% Rostered

Team Defenses (D/ST) - Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 6

• Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals - 46.0% Rostered
• Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens - 49.1% Rostered
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals - 59.8% Rostered

Waiver Wire Parameters for This Article

A few rules and notes about this weekly waiver wire article. Every league is different, with varying roster formats and sizes. That makes this one of the more challenging articles because every league’s waiver wire can look dramatically different. Even the host site you use matters. ESPN has rankings that differ from those of Yahoo!, which in turn differ from those of CBS or Sleeper, and all of this impacts which players are drafted and which are not.

We only identify quarterbacks and tight ends with a roster percentage of 60% or less. For running backs and receivers, that number drops to 50%. We don’t delve too deeply into defenses, but I highlight a few streamers to target each week.

Positions are also categorized into different groups, such as RB3 or a potential league-winner to stash. You’ll need to know your roster and what to look for on the waiver. From there, each positional groups are arranged based on who you should prioritize first at that position. We use ESPN’s roster percentages for this article.

For example, if you are looking for immediate value, you might be more interested in someone like Carter rather than Smith right now because Carter is more likely to score points in the short term. Know your team and your team’s needs. If you’re healthy and you’re starting roster is strong, shoot for upside.

As a reminder, please use promo code "BOOM" at checkout for an additional 10% off any NFL Premium package.

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