Fantasy Football: Week 6 Waiver Wire Targets
By Pat Pitts Another week of football is in the books. If I was to describe this week in one word, it would be random. A lot of unexpected guys stepped into big roles landing them on my list of players to pick up. With that being said, let’s jump into it.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick (rostered in 21% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues)
With his 350 yard, 3 touchdown performance on Sunday, Fitzpartrick has thrown over 300 yards in three of his five starts. He has done so against the Bills, Seahawks and now the 49ers. The Jets fly into town this week ready for the Miami Magic show to unfold. With bye weeks taking place along with COVID-19 uncertainty, Fitzpatrick is a top streaming option for the rest of the season (unless Tua becomes the starter).
Andy Dalton (rostered in <1% of ESPN leagues and 3% of Yahoo leagues)
The Dak Prescott injury was gut wrenching and heart breaking. Andy Dalton is now the Cowboys QB1 for the rest of the season. With the weapons around him, if Dalton can be 50% of what Prescott was this season, Dalton could be a league winner.
Jared Goff (rostered in 48% of ESPN leagues and 78% of Yahoo leagues)
Goff has finished with over 20 fantasy points in three of his first five starts, including last week against the Washington Football Team. He has favorable matchups coming up in the next three weeks, starting with a 49ers defense that let Fitzpatrick walk all over them. As long as his weapons remain healthy, Goff has the top 12 upside at a great value.
Running Backs
Chase Edmonds (rostered in 45% of ESPN leagues and 64% of Yahoo leagues)
Finishing with 92 total yards and 2 touchdowns, it looks like we’re experiencing some deja vu from last season. Edmonds is going to be used more in the Cardinals offense moving forward and has low end RB2 upside. Ts and Ps to Kenyan Drake managers.
Devonta Freeman (rostered in 61% of ESPN leagues and 74% of Yahoo leagues)
If the Giants want to be competitive, they need to establish the run game early with Freeman spearheading it. He rushed 17 times for 60 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys. He has RB2 potential if the volume continues to come his way.
Alexander Mattison (rostered in 41% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues)
Alexander Mattison. His name is Alexander Mattison, and he will run for tons and tons of yards. Just you wait. Just. You. Wait.
Mattison filled in nicely for Dalvin Cook on Sunday night, rushing for 112 yards on 20 carries. Mattison is a must-own for all Cook managers as an elite handcuff, and even has flex upside if Cook misses time.
Wide Receivers
Chase Claypool (rostered in 9% of ESPN leagues and 17% of Yahoo leagues)
Chase Claypool is exactly the type of wide receiver Ben Roethlisberger has been needing for years. Claypool found the end zone four times against the Eagles and although these types of games won’t happen often, Claypool should be rostered in every format possible.
Brandin Cooks (rostered in 62% of ESPN leagues and 44% of Yahoo leagues)
Cooks racked up a whopping 161 yards on eight catches and even found the end zone on more than one occasion in his first game without Bill O’Brien leading the charge in Houston. Cooks is a notorious boom or bust player, but I am buying the hype. Change is happening in Houston and you need to add Cooks in all formats.
Nelson Agholor (rostered in 1.5% of ESPN leagues and 2% of Yahoo leagues)
Agholor has scored 10+ points and has caught a touchdown in three of the first five games. Derek Carr has shown that he wants to spread the ball around and Agholor is more than ready. The biggest issue with Agholor is the lack of targets, but when he gets them, he’s capitalizing with trips to the end zone.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham (rostered in 54% of ESPN leagues and 40% of Yahoo leagues)
Alexa, play “I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. I talk about how much Jimmy Graham annoys me, but I’d still pick him up and start him against the Bucs. He made a filthy catch in the end zone on Thursday night and finished the game with 12.3 full-point PPR points. Graham’s value is much better with Foles under center, so he should be on your roster with Bye weeks in full swing.
Mike Gesicki (rostered in 62% of ESPN leagues and 78% of Yahoo leagues)
Mike Gesicki has lived up to his preseason hype in the first five games of the season. He caught 5 passes for 91 yards on Sunday in the Dolphins blow out win against the 49ers. He has favorable matchups throughout the rest of the season, including this coming week against the Jets, so go get Gesicki on your team.
Gerald Everett (rostered in 1% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues)
It looks like Gerald Everett is back again and looking to be included in the offense. He caught four passes for 90 yards against the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Goff has had success throwing to all of his receivers this season and will add Everett to the arsenal moving forward. Expect him to take away from Tyler Higbee’s targets, especially in the red zone. I am adding Everett for a boom play situation.
May your waiver odds be ever in your favor as we head into Week 6!