Fantasy: Top waiver wire pickups for Week 6

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in fewer than 50% of leagues are considered.

Teams on bye: Bengals, Lions, Dolphins, Vikings

Jump to: RB | WR | TE | DEF

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins, Raiders

Kirk Cousins was replaced at the end of Week 5's game against the Patriots, but that was mostly to get first overall pick Fernando Mendoza some regular-season reps. Cousins' job isn't in jeopardy (for now) as the Raiders return home to play the Bills.

Before Week 5, Cousins had three straight games of 20 or more fantasy points. With Brock Bowers healthy, the floor for Cousins feels high. Bowers is a cheat code who can line up all over the field and is always open. The Bills' defense is nothing to worry about - it's surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Cousins offers nothing in the run game, but Buffalo has gotten torched by pocket passers like C.J. Stroud and Jared Goff already this season. Cousins should rebound nicely in Week 5 and is a great fill-in option for Goff or Joe Burrow, who are both on bye.

Other streamable QBs:

• Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (27%): He's thrown for three touchdowns in three straight games and has been a top-12 fantasy option in each outing. A visit to the Buccaneers shouldn't interfere with his run of form.

• Jameis Winston, Giants (6%): He finished as QB6 and QB8 in his last two starts and now faces the Saints, who are giving up the second-most points per game (30.2).

Running backs

Dameon Pierce, Eagles

We highlighted Pierce as a potential add last week, so if you were paying close attention and in a deep enough league, you may already have the Eagles' likely Week 6 starter on your roster. Saquon Barkley could easily miss a couple more weeks with a hamstring injury, and Will Shipley, the top waiver add in Week 5, will miss time with a foot injury.

After Shipley exited Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Pierce played every offensive snap, even with Carson Steele (another Philadelphia running back) active. Pierce may not be the most explosive player, and his ceiling is capped in a dysfunctional-looking Eagles offense, but he's a solid back who can be fantasy-relevant while Barkley is out. Pierce is only four seasons removed from gaining 1,104 scrimmage yards as a rookie with the Texans.

Other RBs to consider:

• Kimani Vidal, Chargers (3%): The Chargers are going with a three-man committee at running back, so if you're desperate to fill a hole on your roster, Vidal is on the field and getting touches. That's about the most positive thing that can be said about rostering a Chargers player at this moment. Perhaps the team will turn things around, or maybe either Omarion Hampton or Keaton Mitchell will suffer an injury, leading to more playing time for Vidal. For now, Vidal is a very risky start, but he should still be rostered in more than 3% of leagues.

• Raheim Sanders, Browns (2%): Quinshon Judkins was spotted in a walking boot and is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. If Judkins can't go in Week 6, Sanders should be in line for a big bump in workload. However, Sanders also injured his hip in Week 5, so his practice participation should be monitored closely.

• Jaleel McLaughlin, Browns (0%): For the reasons listed above, McLaughlin should be considered an add this week. He may be the Browns' only healthy back Sunday and could go unclaimed on waivers since people aren't diving deep into Cleveland's backfield. One trick worth implementing is dropping your kicker or defense for a player like McLaughlin to see if they become a starter. If not, drop McLaughlin and add the best available defense or kicker before lineups lock.

RBs who should be rostered in more leagues: Woody Marks (54%), Kaelon Black (45%), Emmett Johnson (24%), Mike Washington Jr. (42%), Tyjae Spears (22%)

Wide receivers

Germie Bernard, Steelers

With Michael Pittman Jr. on the IR and Roman Wilson exiting the game early, Bernard ran a route on 36 of Aaron Rodgers' 38 dropbacks Sunday against the Colts, resulting in six catches for 80 yards. The second-round rookie earned nine targets, leading all Steelers pass-catchers with a 29% target share.

What's most notable about the performance is that it came in Bernard's first opportunity after he seemed to earn the complete trust of Rodgers and the Steelers' coaching staff. Once you're in Rodgers' good books, it's easy to earn targets from the future Hall of Famer (just ask Allen Lazard).

Bernard could easily supplant both Pittman and Wilson on the depth chart, even if everyone is healthy. He's a far more versatile receiver than DK Metcalf and could be a better fit in Pittsburgh's offense. In deeper leagues, consider spending a good chunk of FAB on a potential every-week starter.

Other WRs to consider:

• Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals (7%): With Marvin Harrison Jr. finally out of the picture in Arizona, Bourne's path to more snaps and more fantasy points is clear. Bourne had eight targets in the Cardinals' first game without Harrison, catching five of them for 70 yards. He's still the third option for Jacoby Brissett, but Arizona should find itself in plenty of passing situations, especially in garbage time.

• Darius Cooper, Eagles (8%): If DeVonta Smith remains out in Week 6, you could consider starting Cooper against the Panthers. He has five catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns with Smith sidelined. The Eagles' offense is a mess, but it should be able to move the ball against Carolina, with or without Smith.

• Brandin Cooks, 49ers (0%): The veteran wideout led all 49ers pass-catchers with a 91% route share after Deebo Samuel exited the game. Cooks caught one of his two targets for a 7-yard touchdown and should see more work with Samuel out for multiple weeks. Getting cheap pieces of this potent 49ers offense is never a bad idea.

• Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals, Chiefs (2%, 0%): The Chiefs' practice report is one to watch ahead of Week 6. Rashee Rice could be sidelined by a hamstring injury, which would leave Allen and Royals as Kansas City's healthiest options.

WRs who should be rostered in more leagues: ​​​​​​Jordyn Tyson (49%), Malik Washington (49%), Khalil Shakir (50%), Jakobi Meyers (50%), Keenan Allen (31%), Dontayvion Wicks (44%)

Tight ends

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange has earned eight targets in back-to-back games, catching seven of those in each. He's second on the Jaguars in target share (18.98%), according to SumerSports, ahead of both Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Myers. There's a chance Thomas will be traded, which would create more opportunities for Strange.

The Jaguars face the Texans next and then have a bye in Week 7. If you need a tight end with Sam LaPorta on bye, Strange is a solid option. Plus, the Jaguars' schedule for the fantasy playoffs includes the Cowboys and Commanders, so he's worth stashing if you've been streaming tight ends this season.

Other TEs to consider:

• Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (16%): Pittsburgh's offense has exploded since Jaylen Warren became the every-down back. Warren's dual-threat presence has drastically improved the Steelers' passing attack, allowing Rodgers to throw for three touchdowns in three straight games. Freiermuth has always been a red-zone threat and is startable as long as Rodgers can keep turning back the clock.

• Tyler Higbee, Rams (5%): The Rams always use a rotation of tight ends, but Higbee has become the preferred pass-catcher with Terrance Ferguson on the IR. Higbee's posted back-to-back five-catch games and now gets to face the Cardinals, who've given up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Defenses

• Chiefs (27%) vs. Chargers
• Colts (6%) vs. Titans
• Saints (6%) @ Giants
• Giants (6%) vs. Saints
• Falcons (6%) vs. Bears (if Caleb Williams is out)