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Top Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups You Need to Add NOW! | Fantasy Focus

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Matthew Golden averages 8.8 targets per game and is tied for second in the NFL with 5 end zone targets. He has posted at least 11.5 fantasy points in every single game this season. Despite the Packers facing the fourth-hardest schedule for receivers going forward, both Golden and Watson remain WR1s in fantasy. Golden's floor is higher than Watson's due to lower touchdown variance, making him more sustainable.
Christian Watson has been extremely productive when healthy, recording 8+ targets in four of five games with at least 14 fantasy points in every game with 8+ targets. He ranks WR3 in fantasy points and WR5 in receiving yards. Watson leads the NFL with 7 end zone targets. However, the speaker worries about touchdown regression (expected touchdowns 2.7 vs. actual 6) and potential volume decrease if the Packers' defense improves and the run game becomes more established.
Jared Goff has been unbelievable to start the season, leading the NFL in passing yards and ranking second in passing touchdowns. He has finished top-six in both categories in each of the last four seasons, with points-per-game finishes of 13th, 15th, 7th, and 12th. Despite likely coming back to earth slightly, the speaker projects him as a fringe QB1, especially valuable given bye weeks and the need for streaming options.
Bryce Young has been QB7 with 90 fantasy points, 9 total touchdowns, and 1,200 passing yards through five weeks. However, his schedule shifts dramatically from the fourth-easiest to the hardest remaining schedule for quarterbacks. With only 19 rushing yards on the season and limited rushing upside, the speaker projects Young as QB13 rather than QB10 going forward, citing schedule difficulty as the primary sustainability concern.
Among four rookie/young running backs discussed (Love, Ollie Gordon, Omari Hampton, Cam Scadaboo), Love is ranked first by one Express Delivery in terms of fantasy value going forward. The speaker prefers Love over Gordon, Hampton, and Scadaboo based on overall talent and sustainability outlook.
Undrafted running back who has emerged as a viable fantasy option after being inserted into the Dolphins backfield following Achane's injury. Gordon has performed well statistically over the last three weeks despite limited receiving work (only 5 targets, 14 yards through Week 5). The Dolphins' running back situation now has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, which could sustain Gordon's fantasy value going forward, though the speaker notes rushing efficiency concerns and questions whether the receiving work is sustainable.
Achane underperformed in his first two games before getting injured against Minnesota; backup Ollie Gordon has since outperformed him statistically. The speaker expresses frustration that Achane, whom they identified as one of the best running backs in the NFL pre-season, didn't produce early and is now sidelined, while Gordon—a 6th-round pick—has stepped in and performed better. The speaker believes Achane would be putting up nice numbers over the last three weeks had he remained healthy.
Devon Achan is being compared to Ollie Gordon; the source initially thought if Achan couldn't do the job, there's no way Gordon could, but has since changed that narrative; Achan would likely be doing better than Gordon if he were healthy, with more involvement in the passing game, as Gordon only has five targets and 14 yards (zero against Cincinnati).
Jalen Warren becomes a lineup lock and RB1 in fantasy if Rico Dottle is unavailable for the Steelers; the backfield is described as an easy if-then conversation: if there's no Rico Dottle, then you start Jalen Warren.
Corey Kiner will be involved in the Patriots backfield with Travian Henderson sidelined, but Ramondi Stevenson is expected to be the primary back.
Jeremiah Love, a third-round pick, is RB22 in fantasy points with only one top-20 finish so far; he started slow and came into the season banged up from a preseason injury; the schedule is mid-pack going forward but becomes the second-easiest during the fantasy playoffs, which is why the source has been harping on his potential as a league winner if he ramps up; however, he is not nearly as efficient or flashy as expected, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 2.6 yards per target with only two targets over the last two games (down from three-plus in the first three games); he is RB19 in fantasy points per reception and RB24 in PPR scoring; the source is hopeful he will rip off a big play to generate momentum and get rolling with a big workload.
Woody Marks is part of a mailbag question comparing him to Ollie Gordon for the rest of the season; the source indicates this is a great question that will be addressed in the next segment.
Najee Harris is not the guy in the Steelers backfield; he will consistently project higher than Emmett Johnson due to week-to-week touches (six to seven per game), but if the starter is injured, Harris only sees a modest bump because the Steelers use multiple backs, whereas Johnson would see a significant value increase.
Emmett Johnson is the strongest bench stash over Najee Harris; while Harris will consistently project higher due to week-to-week touches (six to seven per game), Johnson is the better stash because if starter Kenneth Walker goes out, Johnson's value increases significantly, whereas Harris only sees a modest bump if his starter is injured due to the Steelers' multi-back approach.
Keaton Mitchell is being used in the pass-catching role for the Chargers backfield, with 12 catches on the season compared to Amarion Hampton's five; Mitchell is RB17 in receptions and is outpacing Hampton in receiving work.
Amarion Hampton, a second-round pick, is RB25 in fantasy points; the Chargers offense is struggling significantly, and Hampton is not playing enough with three running backs in the mix; he has three touchdowns in five games but just one game over 15 touches, averaging 9.9 fantasy points per game with only six targets in five games (unacceptable for a lead back), 3.7 yards per carry, and only five catches on the season compared to Keaton Mitchell's 12 catches; Mitchell is RB17 in receptions while Hampton is RB45; the Chargers offense is described as brutal, and Hampton is not making up for lack of volume with efficiency; if Mike McDaniels loses his job and the offense changes, there might be hope for Hampton, though an adjustment period would be required.
Ollie Gordon, undrafted, is now RB26 in fantasy points; however, excluding his first two games with minimal touches, he scores more points per game than second-round pick Amarion Hampton (RB25), third-round pick Jeremiah Love (RB22), and fifth-round pick Cam Scadaboo (RB21); over his three games as a starter, Gordon has posted three straight weeks inside the top 17 running backs, compared to just two combined top-17 finishes for those three drafted backs; week 3 he had 17 carries for 41 yards plus 3 catches for 14 yards (14.5 PPR points), week 4 against Minnesota he had 9 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown plus 2 catches (18 PPR points), and last week against Cincinnati he had 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown (4.9 yards per carry, 14.8 PPR points); the Dolphins running back has the easiest remaining schedule in the league.
Brenton Strange is a one-week streaming option this week only because the Falcons have a bye the following week; the source advises against spending FAB on him for a single-week play.
Friermuth has thrown three-plus touchdowns in three straight games from Ben Roethlisberger, with the Steelers scoring over 90% of their touchdowns through the air; he has four touchdowns in five games, three end zone targets, 11th in targets league-wide, and three carries; his seven targets last week were his most since week 18 of the 2024 season, representing a notable change this year; he managed double-digit fantasy points in three of his last five games, providing consistency at tight end.
Roman Wilson is out this week and has flashed only minimally this season. He has received exactly six targets in every game he has played, suggesting limited upside and inconsistent usage in the Packers offense compared to Jimmy Bernard's emerging role.
Pittman is on injured reserve and has not shown much production when healthy. He lacks trust from Aaron Rodgers, making him unlikely to emerge as a consistent fantasy option in the Packers offense despite being drafted to be a long-term starter or number two receiver.
Metcalf's target ceiling is limited; he is generally going to be closer to 20-22% target share and is utilized heavily near the goal line rather than as a high-volume receiver. This role definition suggests his upside is capped compared to elite wide receiver options.
Lloyd's path to fantasy production is chasing touchdowns; he is not expected to accumulate significant yardage. The source notes that what you're hoping for with Lloyd is exactly what he got last week—a touchdown—because that's how he will make his hay for you.
Dallas allows the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs, which is a theoretical good matchup for Lloyd. However, the source is not super interested in him even in this favorable spot, ranking him in the early-to-mid-20s among running backs for Week 6.
Lloyd is splitting snaps evenly with Pierre Strong and averaging just 2.8 yards per carry; he's an end-of-bench option at best. His usage would have been higher in the blowout loss to Jacksonville if not for garbage time carries by Caleb Johnson. He has never had 50 yards in a game in his career and is not playing well, making him a desperation flex only if you lost Ollie Gordon.
Shipley is banged up, opening the door for Damian Pierce to take over as the Eagles' running back.
Strong is splitting snaps with Marshawn Lloyd in the backfield, limiting Lloyd's usage and keeping both backs as bench-only options.
Lloyd had a two-touchdown game last week but is averaging 2.8 yards per carry and splitting snaps with Pierre Strong; Express Delivery views him as an end-of-bench option rather than a starter, with usage still limited despite the recent scoring.
Barkley is dealing with an injury and could return this week or miss additional time; if he misses Week 6, Pierce would see increased touches, but Barkley's potential return limits Pierce's long-term fantasy value.
If the second running back is removed from the committee, most carries would go to Marks, giving him a bump in opportunity; Express Delivery notes the Houston Texans offense might see efficiency gains, and Marks could have flex value in 12-team leagues, though he's on the flex radar rather than a must-add.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has theoretical value based on draft capital, but does not yet have actual demonstrated value; his performance could help lift the Houston Texans offense efficiency under new defensive coordinator D'Amico Ryans.
Marks is dealing with a groin injury whose duration is uncertain, adding another layer of risk to his Week 6 outlook.
Marks will get the bulk of carries with Dario Agamboale serving as a change-of-pace back; however, last season he demonstrated he was not up to the task of being a primary full-time ball carrier, raising questions about his ability to sustain a lead-back role.
Despite a big workload against Jacksonville, Marks is touchdown-dependent with limited upside; he averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game last year with only one top-10 finish despite 220 touches and five touchdowns total. Jacksonville has allowed the fewest yards to running backs this season and just two rushing scores to the position, making him a risky flex at best in Week 6.
David Montgomery is doubtful and probably will not play in Week 6; his absence opens the door for Woody Marks to take over the running back role.
With David Montgomery doubtful and likely out, Woody Marks took over every single snap except for the kneel down in the previous game; Express Delivery will add Marks because he's more valuable than end-of-bench options, but does not want to start him in Week 6 against Jacksonville due to the matchup; Marks gets a 9:30 a.m. morning game; despite the role opportunity, there's risk given the Jacksonville defense and bye week context with multiple running back injuries across the league.
Express Delivery ranks Kirk Cousins ahead of Aaron Rodgers as a streaming option for Week 6; Cousins gets the Bills in Week 6 after being on bye; risk exists if he struggles again like he did last week, which could lead to Mendoza getting the start; Bills are on a short week, which adds to the matchup appeal.
Available in 80% of leagues but Express Delivery rates him as a secondary streaming option behind Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins; despite three straight games with three passing touchdowns and top-11 finishes (22–23 fantasy points per game), Rodgers required that volume to score and has only 18 rushing yards on the season; weeks one and two showed his floor (16.5 combined fantasy points vs. Atlanta and New England); schedule gets harder going forward and Tampa Bay matchup is more difficult than Dallas.
Available in barely over 50% of leagues; Express Delivery recommends Love as a top waiver wire quarterback pickup for Week 6, positioning him ahead of Aaron Rodgers as the preferred streaming option despite Rodgers' recent three-game stretch with three passing touchdowns and top-11 finishes.
Rodgers has had three straight games with three passing touchdowns and is a top-11 quarterback in three straight weeks. He's available in 80% of leagues, making him a potential streaming option if Jordan Love is unavailable. However, the source notes the matchup against Tampa Bay is 'more difficult' than Love's Dallas matchup, and expresses 'I don't feel great. I don't love it' about Rodgers as a Week 6 option.