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 based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Week 6 byes

• Green Bay Packers
• Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell, Commanders

Howell leads the waiver-wire column again since there aren't a ton of great streaming options this week.

While the process isn't always pretty, Howell's results have been solid - including finishing as QB13 or better in four of his five outings.

Howell has a fairly soft schedule over the next six weeks, so he could be a suitable short-term solution for fantasy managers in search of an Anthony Richardson replacement.

Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark, but they'd be the top QB adds this week if available.

Risky streaming options: Gardner Minshew at JAX (1% rostered), Josh Dobbs at LAR (21% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. DET (19% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. NE (14% rostered), Bryce Young at MIA (10% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Derek Carr at HOU (24% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. WAS (10% rostered), Ryan Tannehill vs BAL (8% rostered), Mac Jones at LV (13% rostered), Zach Wilson vs. PHI (9% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Tyrod Taylor at BUF (0% rostered), P.J. Walker vs. SF (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Kyler Murray (25% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Bailey Zappe (0% rostered), Taylor Heinicke (0% rostered)

Running backs

Roschon Johnson/D'Onta Foreman, Bears

With Khalil Herbert expected to miss four-to-six weeks due to a high-ankle sprain, the Bears need someone else to step into the starting role.

Johnson would be the obvious choice, but he suffered a concussion in Week 5 and needs to clear protocol before he gets back into the lineup. Fortunately, there are 10 days between last Thursday's game and Chicago's upcoming matchup, giving him a chance to suit up this week.

If the rookie can't go, then Foreman would be thrust into lead-back duties. The veteran has been extremely productive as a part-time starter for the Titans and Panthers over the last two years and would project as a top-24 fantasy option if Herbert and Johnson were sidelined.

Assuming Johnson is active, he would likely split snaps with Foreman. In that scenario, the rookie would be the better fantasy play as an RB3 with upside, while Foreman would settle in as a flex.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears is quickly taking over Tim Patrick's role in my waiver-wire column as a player who continues to shine but remains available in most fantasy leagues.

While he's behind Derrick Henry on the Titans' depth chart, Spears has played over 50% of Tennessee's snaps this year and emerged as a fantasy flex play recently.

The rookie amassed 58 yards and three receptions in Week 4 and followed it up with 69 yards, four catches, and a touchdown in Week 5.

We'll continue to say it, but if Henry were to get injured or traded, Spears would be the definition of a league-winning fantasy back.

Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins

De'Von Achane is dealing with a knee injury that's likely to keep him out several weeks.

While the star rookie is on the sidelines, Raheem Mostert would be the feature back and a fringe RB1 for fantasy, with Wilson returning as a complementary grinder alongside him.

Wilson has been on injured reserve with a hip issue, but the team activated his 21-day practice window - suggesting he could come back as early as this week.

As long as Mostert stays healthy, Wilson would be an RB3/flex while sharing the backfield. However, once all three are healthy, Wilson would be the most likely candidate to take a back seat.

Salvon Ahmed and Chris Brooks should also be on your radar in deep leagues in case more injuries hit the Dolphins' backfield.

Emari Demercado, Cardinals

With James Conner expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury, the Cardinals will search for a capable replacement.

Demercado is the next man up after handling the No. 2 role while Keaontay Ingram has been out with a neck injury.

During that time, the rookie was competent in relief of Conner, who left in Week 5, posting 57 yards and a score on 11 touches.

The concern here is that this could devolve into a committee, with Demercado, Ingram (if healthy), Tony Jones (recently signed), and Damien Williams (practice squad), or even a free-agent addition.

For the time being, I'll project Demercado as an RB3/flex until we get a better idea of how touches will be distributed this week.

Jaleel McLaughlin and Zach Charbonnet are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Elijah Mitchell (33% rostered), Tank Bigsby (20% rostered), and Kendre Miller (12% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Justice Hill at TEN (28% rostered), Chuba Hubbard at MIA (32% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Samaje Perine at KC (45% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ezekiel Elliott at LV (44% rostered), Antonio Gibson at ATL (49% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs. DEN (48% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at NYJ (48% rostered), Ronnie Rivers vs. ARI (6% rostered),

Risky flex options (if healthy): Keaontay Ingram at LAR (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Latavius Murray vs. NYG (16% rostered), Damien Harris vs. NYG (26% rostered), Rico Dowdle at LAC (7% rostered), Jordan Mason at CLE (1% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Devin Singletary (16% rostered), Kareem Hunt (42% rostered), Joshua Kelley (32% rostered), Matt Breida (32% rostered), Zamir White (3% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Ke'Shawn Vaughn (0% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (15% rostered), Craig Reynolds at TB (1% rostered), Tony Jones (0% rostered)

Deep stashes: Salvon Ahmed (0% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered), Michael Carter (2% rostered), Eric Gray (0% rostered), Deuce Vaughn (5% rostered), Sean Tucker (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (26% rostered), Leonard Fournette (2% rostered), Damien Williams (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Josh Reynolds, Lions

Reynolds is back after adding yet another strong performance to his 2023 resume.

With Amon-Ra St. Brown sidelined due to an abdomen injury in Week 5, Reynolds caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

He's posted over 65 yards in four of five games this season and sits as the WR16 in fantasy points per game.

Reynolds can continue to be deployed as a WR3/flex until we see something change in this offense.

K.J. Osborn, Vikings

Osborn has a history of coming through in short stints, especially when one of the Vikings' top pass-catchers is injured.

Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury was bad enough that he was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four weeks.

Though rookie Jordan Addison is the most likely candidate to ascend while Jefferson sits out, Osborn could get hot over the next stretch as well.

Over the last five games of the 2022 season, Osborn was the WR8 in fantasy points per game, in large part thanks to a pair of 100-yard outings and three touchdowns during that span.

Don't be surprised if Osborn is a WR3/flex while Jefferson recovers.

Rashee Rice, Chiefs

Despite only playing 35% of the Chiefs' snaps through five weeks, Rice leads the team's receivers in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. He's also earning targets at an impressive rate given his snap count.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy acknowledged Monday that the rookie has earned more opportunities.

If Travis Kelce's ankle injury causes him to miss the Thursday nighter or limits him in any way, Rice could see an uptick in targets from Patrick Mahomes.

Either way, this is the time to acquire Rice before the breakout happens.

Josh Palmer is just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Curtis Samuel at ATL (17% rostered), Jonathan Mingo at MIA (8% rostered), Josh Downs at JAX (9% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Zay Jones vs. IND (30% rostered), Tyler Boyd vs. SEA (48% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at BUF (24% rostered)

Risky flex options: Quentin Johnston vs. DAL (33% rostered), Marvin Mims at KC (36% rostered), Robert Woods vs. NO (18% rostered), DJ Chark at MIA (12% rostered), Michael Gallup at LAC (22% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Trenton Irwin vs. SEA (0% rostered), Trey Palmer vs. DET (0% rostered), Deven Thompkins vs. DET (0% rostered), Kalif Raymond at TB (8% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Treylon Burks vs. BAL (33% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Rondale Moore at LAR (7% rostered), Michael Wilson at LAR (43% rostered), Rashid Shaheed at HOU (37% rostered), Kadarius Toney vs. DEN (30% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at LV (18% rostered), DeVante Parker at LV (2% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. PHI (27% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. MIN (23% rostered), Nelson Agholor at TEN (1% rostered), Odell Beckham Jr. at TEN (35% rostered), Darius Slayton at BUF (2% rostered), Justin Watson vs. DEN (0% rostered), Brandon Powell at CHI (0% rostered)

Deep stashes: Jalin Hyatt (7% rostered), John Metchie III (1% rostered), Kyle Philips (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Logan Thomas, Commanders

Thomas is holding down our tight end spot for the second straight week after a monster performance on Thursday Night Football where he caught nine balls for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.

The surge in volume was partially a result of the defensive attention focused on the Commanders' receivers, but Thomas now has over 40 yards in each of the three full games he's played in 2023.

Treat the veteran as a low-end TE1 moving forward.

Streamer options: Zach Ertz at LAR (50% rostered), Dawson Knox vs. NYG (17% rostered), Dalton Schultz vs. NO (36% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Noah Gray vs. DEN (2% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Gerald Everett vs. DAL (25% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. WAS (16% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. PHI (6% rostered), Noah Fant vs. CIN (2% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. BAL (35% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Adam Trautman at KC (0% rostered), Cade Otton vs. DET (2% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Luke Musgrave (25% rostered)

Deep stashes: Greg Dulcich (12% rostered)

Defenses

Week 6 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Seahawks DEF (15% rostered), Rams DEF (2% rostered), Raiders DEF (2% rostered)