Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 6: Emari Demercado, K.J. Osborn, streamers and more

Read Jake Ciely’s latest fantasy football waiver wire advice. 

We originally didn’t have a ton of interest for the Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire, but then Tuesday morning came. Justin Jefferson, James Conner, De’Von Achane and a few others are now missing time, and there are deeper stashes for the second half of the season who are pickup-worthy.

HEADS UP

• Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
• Listed in order of preference — I’ll often prioritize potential upside over immediate middling production
• No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
• Streaming QB and TE are grouped together— weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too

** BYES: GB, PIT **

WORRY REPORT
More Ducks (and Eggs) = More Concern

• Brian Robinson, WSH 🦆 — Even as things went sideways and pass-happy quickly, Robinson still had 10 touches to Antonio Gibson’s four. Robinson is still Top 5 in RBTouch% (73.1). He’ll rebound and is a good buy-low.
• Najee Harris, PIT ♾🦆 — The snap percentage, Rush% and Touch% have been consistent all year, but Harris has just one game with more than 6.5 points and Warren has landed in the 6.7-10.6 range in each of the past four.
• Rhamondre Stevenson, NE 🦆🦆🦆🥚 — Ezekiel Elliott climbed to 60.0 RBTouch% in Week 5 with 4-4-17 receiving compared to 2-0-0 for Stevenson. There is still a higher ceiling with Stevenson, but the Patriots are frustrated with his (lack of) production. A full-blown timeshare ruins both running backs.
• Jahan Dotson, WSH ♾🦆 — You saw it. The Commanders pulled Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson for Dyami Brown and… Jamison Crowder and/or Byron Pringle. It wasn’t enough that Sam Howell wouldn’t consistently target Dotson, but no one has more than 17.3 TmTGT% (McLaurin). It’s baffling.
• Courtland Sutton, DEN 🦆🦆🦆 — As Jerry Jeudy has gotten back to 100%, Sutton has fallen back to earth with 15.1 TmTGT%, 12.1 RouteTGT% and 28.3 TmAirYD% the past two weeks while Jeudy is 22.6, 19.0 and 51.5 over the past two games, and 25.9, 17.9 and 49.2 last week.

STREAMING QUARTERBACKS

Emojis

• 😤 = I Tried to Tell Ya — players included for several weeks (not much more to add if you don’t want them)
• 🔍 = Check if Dropped — players whose managers might have cut for other need or impatient
• 🎯 = Long-Term Target — players with starter+ upside who require patience (stash picks)
• 🫡 = Backup/Next Man Up — players who have almost no value but starter+ upside if injury ahead of them

WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS

1. Roschon Johnson, CHI — 🔍 With Khalil Herbert’s high-ankle sprain, Johnson is a must-grab in all leagues — he offers RB2 value and an RB1 ceiling.
2. Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN — Top 10 performance in a 55/45 split with Samaje Perine. Javonte Williams could return this week — game-time decision in Week 5 — but even if so, McLaughlin would have RB3 appeal, and Top 20 value if Williams were out again.
3. Jeff Wilson, MIA — Reports are that De’Von Achane could miss multiple weeks. If Wilson is finally healthy and Achane is out, he will split with Raheem Mostert, bringing Top 25 value on Wilson’s ability and this offense. If Achane doesn’t miss time and/or it’s just one week, Wilson would be down in Salvon Ahmed’s spot with Ahmed off the waiver pickups completely.
4. Jaylen Warren, PIT — The Steelers have refused to give Warren the lead, but he had 44.4 RBTouch% to Najee Harris’ 55.6 in Week 5, as Warren nearly doubled Harris’ points. It might not be much longer until Warren leads.
5. Emari Demercado, ARI — Keaontay Ingram was the first one up behind James Conner, but 1) that was before Ingram missed time to injury and 2) even so, Demercado profiles as the pass-catching option, which should be more valuable on the Cardinals.
6. Justice Hill, BAL — 😤 Hill has weekly Top 20 upside with an RB4/5 floor as long as he’s a top-two option for the Ravens.
7. Ezekiel Elliott, NE — 🔍 See Stevenson in the worry report. Elliott might be the new lead, but it’s still the Patriots (consistent use question and weak offense).
8. Keaontay Ingram, ARI — See: Demercado.
9. Chuba Hubbard, CAR — Hubbard out-touched Miles Sanders, but reports are Sanders still isn’t 100%. There could be a desperation play here against the Dolphins with some passing-game use.
10. D’Onta Foreman, CHI — 🔍 If Johnson can’t return from his concussion this week, Foreman would be an RB2 and top Bears play. That would push Foreman into the No. 1 spot for a one-week play only.
11. Keaton Mitchell, BAL — 🎯 Still stashing on his upside if given the chance to push for the Justice Hill role or more.
12. Samaje Perine, DEN — Only usable in deeper leagues if Javonte Williams is out again.
13. Salvon Ahmed, MIA — Jeff Wilson has much more potential… if he’s ready to return. However, if Wilson isn’t back, Ahmed would timeshare with Mostert. That would bring weekly RB3 value with Top 20 upside any given week until Wilson is healthy.
14. Matt Breida, NYG — Saquon Barkley sounds likely to return, but if he doesn’t, Breida is a desperation RB3/4, as Eric Gray ate into his workload in Week 5.
15. Kenneth Gainwell, PHI — 🫡
16. Tyjae Spears, TEN — 🫡
17. Zach Charbonnet, SEA — 🫡
18. Tank Bigsby, JAX — 🫡
19. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC — 🫡
20. Kendre Miller, NO — 🎯
21. Ronnie Rivers, LAR — 🫡

MEH 😒

• Antonio Gibson, WSH — Best game of the season came with just 8.4 points, zero carries,  and 51 pass attempts by Sam Howell.

DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (Order I’d Drop)

• Dalvin Cook, NYJ — Breece Hall has been freed, and you should free yourself from wasting a spot on Cook (no more than a injury backup).

WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS

1. Joshua Palmer, LAC — 😤 Clear No. 2 — for now — with Mike Williams out, and he ran the same amount of routes as Keenan Allen did in Week 4.
2. K.J. Osborn, MIN — Justin Jefferson is headed to the IR. Jordan Addison spent more time out wide, but he and Osborn ran 100% of the routes after Jefferson’s injury with Osborn 40% in the slot (10 routes) versus just 16.7% for Addison (four). That will give Addison more upside — 14.75 AirYD/TGT to 5.50 for Osborn — and Addison already had more end zone targets than Osborn did. Osborn is in the WR3 conversation without Jefferson.
3. Quentin Johnston, LAC — Saw a big increase in opportunities before the bye, and Johnston could push past Joshua Palmer before long. Johnston ranks this high on the Top 25 value if he moves in front of Palmer.
4. DJ Chark, CAR — 🔍 Only Panther with 100% of the routes in Week 5.
5. Zay Jones, JAX — If he’s not hurt… again. When healthy, Jones has the second-highest upside behind Calvin Ridley (as seen with the touchdown before he was injured).
6. Jameson Williams, DET — Complete upside grab and stash. Williams has Top 25 ability, but the risk is his health, pushing up the depth chart and that he might never be more than a boom/bust No. 3 in the NFL. Williams is much further down the list floor-wise.
7. Josh Reynolds, DET — As Jameson Williams integrates more, Reynolds will become more volatile and eventually unusable, but he’s a continued strong play when home.
8. Josh Downs, IND — Downs saw more consistent use with Anthony Richardson versus Gardner Minshew (27.3 Route TGT% to 25.0% and 39.6 TmAirYD% to 18.8), but Downs is still a decent WR4 boom/bust play, as Minshew will be an overall passing-game uptick.
9. Michael Wilson, ARI — Wilson saw an uptick in route percentage but a massive downtick in targets. This is the risk of the Cardinals offense, even with a talented, young receiver like Wilson.
10. Curtis Samuel, WSH — Still running as the third option, but deeper leagues can take the chance.
11. Jonathan Mingo, CAR — Will be fantasy startable everywhere if DJ Chark or Adam Thielen gets hurt.
12. Michael Gallup, DAL — Gallup is third in the wideout pecking order, and that often falls behind tight end Jake Ferguson as well. Deeper stash only if CeeDee Lamb or Brandin Cooks miss time.
13. Trenton Irwin, CIN — Tyler Boyd had a 4.29 AirYD/TGT while Irwin had 10.20. If Joe Burrow is as healthy as he seemed, Irwin brings the higher ceiling if Tee Higgins is out again.
14. Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins, TB — Palmer is my pick and Thompkins would be in “Meh,” if Mike Evans misses Week 6. Palmer has run as the No. 3, and Thompkins is limited size wise, likely relegated to three-wide and slot work only.
15. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA — 🎯
16. Marvin Mims, DEN — 🎯

MEH 😒

• Rondale Moore, ARI — The 50 rushing yards were the reason he was a Top 40 receiver, and they’re not reliable.
• Tyler Boyd, CIN — Was in waivers last week, but Irwin has the higher ceiling given Boyd’s primary slot use.

DUMPSVILLE 🗑️ (Order I’d Drop)

• Tutu Atwell, LAR — We knew this was coming. Atwell had five targets to 12 for Cooper Kupp and 11 for Puka Nacua.
• All Chiefs — As proof to the frustration, Rashee Rice looked to be pushing for a top spot but ran the second-fewest routes (10) despite scoring the only wideout touchdown.
• Brandin Cooks, DAL — Cooks will likely hit a game or two the rest of the way, but it’s impossible to predict when it will happen with the offensive struggles and Michael Gallup sharing the No. 2 “role” with Cooks.
• Jahan Dotson, WSH — It pains me, but no point holding on unless McLaurin or Samuel got hurt and forced Howell’s hand (no pun intended). I’d drop Dotson through the Lions, and you could argue more.

STREAMING TIGHT ENDS

STREAMING DST

Week 6

• JAX vs IND
• ATL vs WSH
• HOU vs NO
• TEN vs BAL
• LAR vs ARI

Week 7

• CLE at IND
• TB vs ATL
• JAX at NO
• SEA vs ARI
• LAR vs PIT
• GB at DEN

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)