With injuries to high-profile superstars such as Justin Jefferson, Travis Kelce, and James Conner as well as emerging rookie sensations such as De'Von Achane and Anthony Richardson, the Week 6 waiver wire could be one of the more important transaction processes of the 2023 fantasy football season. Not to mention, the Packers and Steelers both have a Week 6 bye as well.
Between Aaron Jones, Jordan Love, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave, George Pickens, Najee Harris, and Jaylen Warren, there are plenty of viable fantasy players who you normally count on in your lineup that will not be available to fantasy managers. Don't let bye weeks and injuries get in the way of your pursuit of a fantasy football championship.
Keep your eyes peeled on the waiver wire and prioritize adding these players in Week 6, who are rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.
Fantasy Football QB waiver pickups, Week 6
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders (34 percent rostered)
Don't look now, but Sam Howell has been a top-15 fantasy quarterback through the first five weeks of the season. He currently has more fantasy points than quarterbacks such as Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, and Joe Burrow. Howell's rushing ability gives him an additional boost to his fantasy value, he has had multiple rush attempts in all but one game this season, rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown. While he may not have the mobility that quarterbacks like Anthony Richardson, Justin Fields, and/or Jalen Hurts, Howell can tuck it and run when he needs to.
Additionally, the Commanders' defensive woes will continue to put Howell and the offense in situations where they will need to throw early and often. Once regarded as one of the most fearsome front sevens in the NFL after investing high draft capital to build the defensive line in recent years, the Commanders have given up 30-plus points to all but one of their opponents. They currently rank second-to-last in the NFL in opponent points per game (32.0), with only the Broncos allowing more points per game (36.2).
Not to mention, Howell has a formidable group of offensive skill position players to work with. The Commanders boast one of the more underrated receiving trios in the NFL between Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel while also having a reliable veteran tight end in the middle of the field in Logan Thomas and a solid running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson leading the backfield.
With Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson set to miss multiple weeks after suffering a Grade 3 AC joint sprain according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and Packers signal-caller Jordan Love having a Week 6 bye, you could do a lot worse than Howell as a fill-in option. Howell and the Commanders have favorable matchups over the next three weeks against the Falcons, Giants, and Eagles.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (10 percent rostered)
Things have not gone as expected for Bryce Young and the Panthers since he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Through the first five weeks, the Panthers are 0-5 and are the only winless team in the NFL remaining. Young was also forced to miss Week 3 due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 2 against the Saints. The good thing for Young and the Panthers is that it can't get any worse, can it?
Young just had the best game of his brief NFL career in the Panthers' Week 5 blowout loss to the Lions. He completed 25 of 41 pass attempts for 247 yards, throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions in the process. While it may not be the cleanest stat line, it is a serviceable one from a fantasy football perspective (eclipsed 20 points).
Due to the Panthers continuously being in a negative game script, Young has attempted no less than 32 pass attempts in each of his four starts. The Panthers currently rank third in the NFL in pass attempts per game (40.4), just narrowly behind the Rams (40.6) and Vikings (40.8), respectively.
The Panthers were double-digit underdogs against the Lions in Week 5, which put Young in an advantageous position to rack up fantasy points in garbage time. In Week 6, the Panthers head to Miami to face the high-flying Dolphins offense and are currently 13.5-point underdogs per Caesar's Sportsbook. With that said Young could be in a position to fill up the stat sheet and attempt a high volume of passes yet again.
Fantasy football RB waiver pickups, Week 6
D'onta Foreman, Chicago Bears (7 percent rostered)
After turning five carries into 16 yards in Week 1 and being a healthy scratch each of the next 4 weeks, D'Onta Foreman is back in the mix as a viable fantasy football option. Bears starting running back is set to miss "multiple weeks" while tending to an ankle injury he sustained against the Commanders per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Additionally, Bears backup running backs Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring) also left the game against the Commanders.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, "no NFL player this season who has suffered a concussion has been able to play the very next week," suggesting Johnson's chances of playing in Week 6 are slim, even with an extra couple of days to prepare for Week 6 since they played on Thursday. The Bears re-signed running back Darrynton Evans off the Dolphins' practice squad, implying that the backfield will be down at least a couple of tailbacks in Week 6.
Foreman has shown fantasy managers he can be a productive RB2 with upside when given the opportunity, as illustrated by his 11-game stretch with the Panthers last season following their decision to trade superstar running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers. Per StatMuse, Foreman averaged 79.7 rush yards per game on 17.4 attempts per game, totaling 877 yards while adding five rushing touchdowns.
Johnson figures to be the leader of the Bears backfield sans Herbert when he can clear the NFL's concussion protocol, but until then, Foreman should be a priority add for anyone in need of immediate short-term running back help.
Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins (26 percent rostered)
With Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announcing today that Dolphins rookie sensation De'Von Achane is currently dealing with a knee injury and is being evaluated by the team's medical staff, Jeff Wilson Jr. could have an opportunity to step into an immediate role upon his return from IR.
Wilson and McDaniel have an already existing relationship together dating back to their days in San Francisco with the 49ers and the familiarity with the latter's offensive scheme should help the former waste no time getting acclimated. Like D'Onta Foreman, Wilson has shown us he can be a viable fantasy football running back if given the opportunity.
In 2022, Wilson ran for 860 yards on 176 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry while scoring five touchdowns through the ground. He was also used as a receiving option out of the backfield last season, converting 37 targets into 22 receptions for 185 yards and an additional score through the air.
Last season, in the five games where Wilson earned 16 or more carries, he ran for at least 72 yards. The Dolphins enter Week 6 as 13.5-point favorites against the Panthers, implying there should be ample rushing opportunities for the Dolphins backfield. With Achane's status currently up in the air for Week 6 and potentially beyond, Wilson needs to be rostered in more than 26 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.
Fantasy football WR waiver pickups, Week 6
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (9 percent rostered)
Josh Downs has been one of the more under-the-radar rookies through the first five weeks of the 2023 season. The Colts selected Downs in the third round of this year's NFL Draft and he has already surpassed second-year wide receiver Alec Pierce in the pecking order of the team's passing game. Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 171 pounds, Downs is the prototypical NFL slot receiver.
Downs currently ranks fifth amongst rookies in receiving yards (255) while earning at least six targets in three of his first five games as a pro. With Anthony Richardson currently dealing with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain that will likely keep him sidelined for multiple weeks, Gardner Minshew will have the opportunity to start for the Colts in his place. With Minshew under center, the Colts will run a more conventional style of offense that has the quarterback stand in the pocket and deliver throws with timing and precision. With Richardson, the Colts revolve the offense are his mobility and dual-threat ability.
In Minshew's one start this season when he filled in for Richardson in Week 3, Downs saw 12 targets, which he was able to convert into eight receptions and 57 yards. With multiple notable wide receivers dealing with injuries in Week 5 (Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tank Dell) and receivers such as Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and George Pickens entering their bye weeks, Downs could be a great plug-and-play option (especially in PPR formats).
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (41 percent rostered)
Josh Reynolds has done the most with the limited volume he is seeing in the hyper-efficient Lions offense. He fits exactly what quarterback Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson want to do as the team's deep threat off play-action passing. Despite reaching seven targets just once in the first five games of the season, Reynolds has eclipsed 66 yards in four of those five games.
With Lion's stud wide receiver Amon-Ra. St Brown dealing with an abdomen injury that forced him to miss Week 5, he may not be at 100 percent even if he can return for the Lions' Week 6 game against the Bucs. Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean missed the past two weeks while tending to a shoulder injury and seems to be in jeopardy of missing a third consecutive game. If he is forced to miss Week 6 against the Lions, it will create an advantageous matchup for Reynolds.
Even if St. Brown can suit up for the Lions, Reynolds makes for a worthwhile addition in fantasy football leagues as the deep threat on one of the more potent offenses in the NFL.
Fantasy football TE waiver pickups, Week 6
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (36 percent rostered)
After signing a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Texans this offseason, Dalton Schultz was expected to operate as rookie signal-caller CJ Stroud's security blanket in the middle of the field. With Stroud showing he's more NFL-ready than anticipated, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has opened up the playbook and allowed Stroud to be the point guard of the offense. With that, Stroud has been fearlessly targeting his underrated receiver group consisting of third-year breakout Nico Collins, rookie Tank Dell, and veteran Robert Woods.
It took a few weeks, but Schultz is starting to heat up and establish a connection with Stroud. Schultz has scored a touchdown in consecutive weeks while recording at least 42 yards in each of those games. In the Texans' Week 5 loss to the Falcons, Schultz hauled in seven of his 10 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. Schultz led the Texans in targets against the Falcons and figures to be an important part of the offense moving forward as a big-bodied receiver in the red zone.
Chiefs superstar tight end reportedly suffered a low ankle in their Week 5 victory against the Vikings. While he was able to return and finish the game, the Chiefs have a short turnaround as they are set to face the Broncos on Thursday Night Football in Week 6. There is always the possibility that the pain/swelling feels worse after the adrenaline wears off. Kelce's practice reps are assuredly going to be monitored ahead of Thursday Night's game and with the Chiefs being double-digit favorites against the Broncos, it would not be shocking to see the team err on the side of caution with the bigger picture in mind.
For any manager in need of tight end help, Schultz needs to be rostered.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (6 percent rostered)
Tyler Conklin has quietly been one of the more consistent tight end options in the NFL through the first five weeks. Despite sharing snaps with C.J. Uzomah, Conklin has earned five or more targets in each of the Jets' last four games, recording no less than 50 yards in three of those four games. While his touchdown equity leaves much to be desired (one red zone target through five weeks)
Conklin has been a reliable option for quarterback Zach Wilson in the middle of the field and now enters Week 6 with a great matchup against an Eagles defense that has struggled to defend the tight end position. The Eagles have allowed the third-most fantasy points to the tight end position on a per-game basis through the first four weeks of the season (Week 5 results stats not yet recorded).
In a game where the Jets are 6.5-point underdogs against the Eagles, the Jets are expected to be facing a negative game script, which should create additional opportunities for Conklin in what is an advantageous matchup. Conklin should rank as a borderline TE1 for Week 6 and makes for a worthy pickup given the current state of the tight end position.