Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 6

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Fantasy Podcast: Week 5 takeaways, early look at waiver wire

Quarterback

Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Winston led this section last week, but it seems many fantasy owners were reluctant to stash him through his bye. That should change heading into Week 6, as Winston will start against a banged-up Falcons defense that can't stop anyone. Atlanta's allowed three touchdowns passes in four straight games and that trend should continue against Tampa Bay. Remember that Winston led all quarterbacks in fantasy points over the final five games of last season.

Baker Mayfield, Browns

Mayfield hasn't had a blowup fantasy performance yet, but he improved in his second start, surviving a tough battle with the Ravens' defense en route to a high-end QB2 finish. His opponent will be less menacing in Week 6 when Cleveland heads home to take on the Chargers. Fantasy owners looking for a bye-week replacement should consider Mayfield.

Other options: Alex Smith vs. CAR (56 percent owned), Eli Manning vs. PHI (22 percent owned), Joe Flacco at TEN (30 percent owned), Sam Darnold vs. IND (7 percent owned)

*Andy Dalton is owned in 66 percent of leagues, but he has the best upcoming schedule of any quarterback with matchups against the Steelers, Chiefs, and Buccaneers over the next three games.

Running Back

Wendell Smallwood/Corey Clement, Eagles

Jay Ajayi was placed on injured reserve Monday, opening up the lead back job in one of the league's best offenses. Clement and Darren Sproles have missed the last couple of games with injuries, which puts Smallwood in the best position to capitalize in a Thursday night matchup with the Giants. Clement should be back from his quad injury soon, but I expect a near even split with Smallwood the rest of the way. Smallwood has excelled on limited touches, especially as a receiver, making him the priority add, if I had to pick between the two.

Bottom line, both are capable of seizing the volume advantage in this backfield depending on their performance moving forward, making them worthy of significant bids. The Eagles also become a possible trade destination for Le'Veon Bell, but until we hear credible reports linking the two teams, we can't let that factor into our waiver wire decision making this week.

Nyheim Hines, Colts

Hines barely makes the 60 percent cutoff for this column, but if he's still out there you need to grab him. Overall, the Colts' backfield has been a disappointment in 2018, but Hines has been the team's most effective back and is beginning to emerge as a potential fantasy starter. He's topped 70 yards from scrimmage in each of his last two outings and has at least five receptions in four of five games. Even when Marlon Mack (22 percent owned) returns from his hamstring injury, Hines is the best bet for production.

Bilal Powell, Jets

Powell has out-touched teammate Isaiah Crowell 69-63 this season, but he hasn't produced the big plays or the touchdowns that have powered the latter to a couple monster fantasy days. Still, Powell will remain a big part of this offense moving forward and is a solid flex option.

Alfred Morris, 49ers

With Matt Breida suffering an ankle sprain in Week 5, Morris returns to the fantasy radar as a potential short-term starter. At this point in his career, Morris' best fantasy attribute is volume, which he proved in Week 5 with 91 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches. Kyle Juszczyk (0 percent owned) is also an intriguing PPR play after posting six catches for 75 yards on Sunday along with a 12-yard carry. Both players need to be rostered until we know Breida's recovery timeline.

D'Onta Foreman, Texans

As Lamar Miller dealt with a chest injury in Week 5, Alfred Blue (14 percent owned) stepped up with 20 carries for 46 yards and eight catches for 73 yards - more combined yardage than Miller's amassed in any game this season. Head coach Bill O'Brien said he expects Miller to play in Week 6, but it's fair to question whether this will be more of an even split against the Bills. That's why I'd pass on Blue and look ahead to the return of Foreman, who's eligible to come off the PUP list in Week 7. At this point, he's the only one with a chance to take over this backfield and become a trustworthy fantasy asset.

Nick Chubb, Browns

After turning three carries into 105 yards in Week 4, Chubb managed just 2 yards on his three carries on Sunday against Baltimore. That's to be expected though, since he's playing limited snaps behind Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. Chubb remains one of the most enticing stashes in fantasy, with league-winning potential if Hyde misses time.

Ronald Jones III, Buccaneers

The Buccaneers' rushing attack was awful in the first month, averaging just 69.5 yards per game, third worst in the league. Prior to their bye, it was Jones, not Peyton Barber, who led the team in carries during his first game action. Hopefully, the team used its week off to work on improving the ground game and to find ways for the second-round pick to contribute. It's worth stashing Jones until we find out.

Mike Davis, Seahawks

Even with Chris Carson back as the clear starter, Davis saw 14 touches against the Rams, turning them into 75 yards and a score. Rookie Rashaad Penny was an afterthought in the Seahawks' backfield, meaning Davis should operate as the No. 2 rusher moving forward. He'd be a strong handcuff if Carson goes down again, but also carries some weekly potential as a flex option.

Other options: Chris Ivory at HOU (12 percent owned), Kapri Bibbs/Samaje Perine vs. CAR (0 percent/1 percent owned), Frank Gore vs. CHI (10 percent owned), C.J. Anderson at WAS (24 percent owned), Jalen Richard vs. SEA (5 percent owned), Wayne Gallman vs. PHI (1 percent owned)

Wide Receivers

Robby Anderson, Jets

Welcome back to relevance! After finishing 2017 as a top-20 fantasy receiver, Anderson had a quiet start to this season, failing to crack 30 receiving yards for three straight games. That changed in Week 5 with 123 yards on three grabs, including a pair of touchdowns. While Anderson's usage wasn't much different, this was hopefully a sign that he's getting on the same page with rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. We know Anderson offers WR2 upside in fantasy, and he has the best chance of any receiver on this week's waiver wire list to become a rest-of-season difference-maker.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers

Consider this your weekly reminder that Godwin should be owned in all leagues. Before a letdown in Week 4, he posted stat lines of 3-41-1, 4-56-1, and 5-74-1 through the first three games. His emergence late last season was also a big reason why Winston dominated down the stretch, and the duo will be reunited in a likely shootout with the Falcons on Sunday. Please don't make me put his name in this column next week.

Keke Coutee, Texans

Coutee has played 94 percent of Houston's offensive snaps over the last two weeks, and followed up his 11-catch, 109-yard debut with six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown in Week 5. With Deshaun Watson throwing for more than 300 yards in four consecutive contests, and with Houston's tight ends providing minimal production, it's possible this team can support three quality fantasy receivers.

Christian Kirk, Cardinals

Unlike Coutee, Kirk still isn't seeing a heavy number of snaps, but he is beginning to deliver. Over the last three weeks, Kirk has topped 85 yards twice, including a 75-yard touchdown on Sunday. The rookie has chemistry with Josh Rosen and if Larry Fitzgerald continues his pattern of fading as the season moves along, Kirk could be a big fantasy factor in the second half.

Taylor Gabriel, Bears

Gabriel is another player coming off a bye, so you may forget that he had a career-high 104 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Week 4. You can't count on that type of outings every week, but Mitch Trubisky is growing more comfortable in this Bears offense, which will raise the ceiling for all the offensive weapons. Gabriel can be started as a flex in Week 6.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers

Valdes-Scantling started across from Davante Adams in Week 5, posting 68 yards and a score. He nearly found the end zone a second time, but it was overturned because his arm was down at the 1-yard line. If we knew for certain that Randall Cobb or Geronimo Allison would remain out for Week 6, MVS would vault up this list. But as it stands, there's a good chance one or both receivers will be back in the lineup for a mouthwatering matchup with the 49ers. So keep an eye on the news around Cobb and Allison to judge how much you should bid on the rookie.

D.J. Moore, Panthers

Moore had four catches for 49 yards and one rush for 18 yards in the Panthers' first game after their bye. It's a great sign after the coaching staff had expressed a desire to get the first-round pick more involved. Stash him away for the time being and wait for a possible second-half breakout.

Josh Reynolds, Rams

Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp are dealing with concussions, so Reynolds will be a hot name on the waiver wire. The second-year wideout has shown a nose for the end zone at every level. He had 12-plus TDs in two of his three seasons at Texas A&M, and he scored once as a rookie with the Rams despite catching just 11 passes on very limited snaps. Reynolds had two receptions for 39 yards and added a rush for 10 yards after coming in as a replacement on Sunday. It's impossible to predict if Cooks or Kupp will be available for Week 6, but until we find out, Reynolds needs to be owned.

Other options: Tre'Quan Smith/Cameron Meredith on bye (2 percent/11 percent owned), Courtland Sutton vs. LAR (6 percent owned), Mohamed Sanu vs. TB (32 percent owned), Antonio Callaway vs. LAC (27 percent owned), Martavis Bryant vs. SEA (4 percent owned)

Tight Ends

Cameron Brate, Buccaneers

O.J. Howard will remain sidelined for another week or two, which will allow Brate to step back into the starting role. Brate was a favorite target of Winston's last season, especially around the goal line. In a year when tight end is as thin as ever, Brate's touchdown upside makes him a low-end TE1 in fantasy for as long as Howard's out.

Austin Hooper, Falcons

Despite playing in one of the league's best offenses, Hooper was struggling to establish himself as a consistent fantasy threat over the first month. That changed in Week 5 when took on a Steelers defense that was allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. Hooper saw a whopping 12 targets, catching nine of them for 77 yards. He'll get another great matchup on Sunday against the Buccaneers, who are giving up the most points to the position this season. That makes Hooper an excellent streamer once again.

Hayden Hurst, Ravens

Hurst got the start in Week 5, but was limited in his first action since his preseason foot injury. He caught one of two targets, though you can expect those numbers to increase significantly as he gets back to full health. The time to grab Hurst is now, before the Ravens begin deploying the first-round pick as a full-time weapon.

Other options: Jack Doyle at NYJ (33 percent owned), C.J. Uzomah vs. PIT (26 percent owned), Nick Vannett at OAK (3 percent owned), Geoff Swaim vs. JAX (9 percent owned), Niles Paul at DAL (0 percent owned)