Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 6

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

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

It's a rough week for quarterback streamers, but fortunately we might be getting an intriguing option back from injury.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said that he's hopeful Tagovailoa can practice this week, which would give him a shot to return to an extremely friendly matchup against the 0-5 Jaguars.

Miami also has the Falcons and Texans on the schedule over the next month, so this would be the perfect time for their franchise quarterback to return and find his rhythm.

Trey Lance is close to the 50% cut-off line but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streaming options: Taylor Heinicke vs. KC (16% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater vs. LV (18% rostered), Carson Wentz vs. HOU (13% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Geno Smith at PIT (1% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger vs. SEA (23% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Davis Mills at IND (1% rostered), Mac Jones vs. DAL (18% rostered), Jared Goff vs. CIN (12% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Daniel Jones vs. Rams (41% rostered), Jameis Winston on bye (34% rostered), Justin Fields vs. GB (37% rostered)

Running backs

Darrel Williams, Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire avoided a season-ending knee injury, but is still expected to miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain.

That moves Williams into the top spot on the depth chart, with Jerick McKinnon serving as a change-of-pace pass-catcher.

Unlike some of the recent backup running backs thrust into starting roles, Williams doesn't project to be a workhorse. The 26-year-old has never been given more than 11 carries in a game in his NFL career, so don't overestimate his ceiling.

The scoring upside of the Chiefs' offense will be his greatest fantasy attribute, especially in games where Kansas City is heavily favored - like it will be against Washington, Tennessee, and the Giants over the next three weeks.

Williams will be a solid low-end RB2/high-end RB3 during CEH's absence.

Devontae Booker, Giants

Just as Saquon Barkley was getting back to full power, the star runner suffered another injury that will cost him time.

While Giants head coach Joe Judge failed to offer details on a specific diagnosis or recovery timeline, it's reportedly a low ankle sprain that may only keep him sidelined for a week or two, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

That wouldn't be ideal for Booker, who would be called to start versus a pair of tough defenses in the Rams (Week 6) and Panthers (Week 7).

Booker did dominate snaps and touches once Barkley left (19 touches, 58 yards from scrimmage, two touchdowns), so volume will be on his side.

Plan for a lot of touches, but not much efficiency during his brief stretch as the Giants' lead back. You'll likely need a touchdown for him to be anything more than an RB3/flex in those matchups.

Kenneth Gainwell is close to the 50% cut-off line but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Alex Collins at PIT (37% rostered), Khalil Herbert vs. GB (19% rostered), Brandon Bolden vs. DAL (9% rostered), J.D. McKissic vs. KC (45% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at WAS (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Samaje Perine at DET (27% rostered), Mark Ingram at IND (31% rostered), David Johnson at IND (29% rostered), Giovani Bernard at PHI (16% rostered), Chris Evans at DET (2% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Rhamondre Stevenson vs. DAL (7% rostered), Jaret Patterson vs. KC (2% rostered), Justin Jackson at BAL (3% rostered), Ty Johnson on Bye (5% rostered), Marlon Mack vs. HOU (9% rostered), Carlos Hyde vs. MIA (9% rostered), Benny Snell vs. SEA (1% rostered), Gary Brightwell vs. LAR (0% rostered), Salvon Ahmed at JAX (1% rostered), Malcolm Brown at JAX (6% rostered)

Injured reserve stashes: Darrynton Evans (3% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. (1% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. (20% rostered)

Wide receivers

Kadarius Toney, Giants

As injuries continue to decimate the Giants' receiving corps, Toney has seen his involvement in the offense rise dramatically.

A week after posting six catches for 78 yards against the Saints, the first-rounder set new career highs with 10 receptions and 189 yards on 13 targets versus the Cowboys.

The impressive Week 5 stat line came on a day when Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton were ruled out with hamstring issues, as well as Kenny Golladay and Saquon Barkley leaving mid-game due to injuries of their own.

Toney also battled through an ankle sprain that the Giants are still evaluating. However, when a rookie puts up numbers the way Toney did, fantasy managers have to take notice.

With so many injuries on New York's offense, including Daniel Jones in concussion protocol, there's very little certainty attached to adding Toney to your roster.

He might be the best skill position player the G-Men have available this week, he might fall back to a less prominent role behind returning vets, or he might be sidelined himself if the ankle is worse than we think.

Either way, he needs to be rostered in fantasy until we find out how the Giants plan to deploy him moving forward.

Tim Patrick, Broncos

Last week, Patrick was close enough to the 50% cut off mark that we didn't need to give him his own section.

Sadly, some fantasy managers took that opportunity to drop him back to the waiver wire and now we're starting the cycle all over again.

We won't rehash his stats from last season, because we don't have to. Patrick has continued to produce with at least 89 yards or a touchdown in four of his five appearances in 2021. It's enough to make him the WR36 in PPR fantasy points per contest on the year.

His lone down game (three catches, 39 yards) came in Week 4 when Drew Lock took over under center after Teddy Bridgewater was placed in concussion protocol.

This ride won't last forever, as Jerry Jeudy will eventually return. But for now, Patrick needs to be rostered and likely deserves a spot in your lineup as well.

Mecole Hardman, Darnell Mooney, Hunter Renfrow and DeVante Parker are close to the 50% cut-off line but should be rostered in most leagues.

Long-term upside stashes: Rashod Bateman vs. LAC (24% rostered), Michael Gallup at NE (46% rostered), T.Y. Hilton vs. HOU (21% rostered), Josh Gordon at WAS (38% rostered)

Flex options: Rondale Moore at CLE (40% rostered), Jamison Crowder on Bye (39% rostered), Marquez Callaway on Bye (30% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. CIN (3% rostered)

Risky flex options: Zach Pascal vs. HOU (15% rostered), Van Jefferson at NYG (10% rostered), Randall Cobb at CHI (16% rostered), Sammy Watkins vs. LAC (25% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Quez Watkins vs. TB (2% rostered), Jalen Reagor vs. TB (17% rostered), Deonte Harris on Bye (10% rostered), Preston Williams at JAX (0% rostered), Tajae Sharpe on Bye (0% rostered), Tavon Austin vs. MIA (0% rostered), Jamal Agnew vs. MIA (0% rostered), Adam Humphries vs. KC (1% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. ARI (1% rostered), Rashard Higgins vs. ARI (0% rostered), Terrace Marshall vs. MIN (10% rostered)

Deep bench stashes: Dyami Brown vs. KC (1% rostered), Cedrick Wilson at NE (1% rostered), Chris Conley at IND (0% rostered), Chris Moore at IND (0% rostered), James Washington vs. SEA (0% rostered), Ray-Ray McCoud vs. SEA (0% rostered), Marcus Johnson vs. BUF (0% rostered),

Tight ends

David Njoku, Browns

As we've outlined in previous columns, finding a starting-worthy fantasy tight end on the waiver wire gets more challenging with every passing week.

So when someone erupts for seven grabs, 149 yards, and a touchdown, you have to pounce just in case it's a sign of things to come.

That's especially true with Njoku, who's a former first-round pick blessed with the athleticism and talent to be an impact player at his position. We've been waiting on a breakout that never came, but with the Browns showing a willingness to spread the ball around, it's possible Njoku could emerge.

It's also possible that the front office could eventually grant his request from last year and trade him to a team that wants to feature him.

Just don't spend much FAB on the revolving door of TE2s.

Hunter Henry is close to the 50% cut-off line but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Zach Ertz vs. TB (37% rostered), Evan Engram vs. LAR (31% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Tyler Conklin at CAR (22% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. DAL (45% rostered), Dan Arnold vs. MIA (4% rostered), Ricky Seals-Jones vs. KC (2% rostered), Gerald Everett at PIT (36% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Mo Alie-Cox vs. HOU (2% rostered), Cole Kmet vs. GB (23% rostered), Anthony Firkser vs. BUF (7% rostered), Donald Parham Jr. at BAL (0% rostered), Tommy Tremble vs. MIN (1% rostered)

Defenses

Week 6 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Packers DEF (25% rostered), Raiders DEF (36% rostered), Dolphins DEF (15% rostered)