That makes researching potential waiver wire candidates to add all the more important, as it’s critical to beat your league mates to finding quality bye-week and injury fill-ins.
Ahead of Week 6, there are plenty of intriguing players who could join starting lineups. There are a handful of running backs stepping into larger roles thanks to injuries in front of them, while numerous tight ends are emerging as potential fantasy factors at a fickle position.
Here’s a look at the best players to target on the waiver wire ahead of fantasy football Week 6, from a near-record-breaking running back to a little-known receiver who topped his team in receiving yardage in Week 5.
Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire targets
RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (Rostered in 58% of Yahoo leagues)
OK, Dowdle is a bit more than 50% owned, so he may not be widely available. Still, if he is on the waiver wire in your league, you need to add him immediately.
Dowdle recorded 206 rushing yards in the Panthers’ Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins, good for the second-most in franchise history. He handled 26 total touches and should continue to see a lion’s share of the Carolina workload as long as Chuba Hubbard (calf) remains out of action.
And given how well Dowdle performed Sunday, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the 27-year-old eats into Hubbard’s workload, especially if the Panthers decide to slow-play the Oklahoma State product’s return.
RB Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (Rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues)
Many anticipated Emari Demercado would emerge as the top replacement for Trey Benson after the second-year back was placed on IR with a knee injury. Instead, Carter emerged as Arizona’s top back while Demercado was used sparingly – and critically fumbled away a potential touchdown – in the Cardinals’ loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Carter racked up 23 touches for 73 yards against the Titans and found his way into the end-zone in the first half. He should remain the Cardinals’ lead back as long as Benson is injured, though Demercado – Arizona’s preferred third-down option – could see more action in games where the Cardinals need to pass more or are playing from behind.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues)
Hey, don’t forget about Gainwell just because the Steelers were on bye in Week 5. He had 134 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. He should continue to be involved in the Steelers’ backfield even if Jaylen Warren returns from a knee injury in Week 6.
Gainwell has a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 but will have great flex potential in Week 7 against a weak Cincinnati Bengals defense. Stash him now as a matchup-based flex who should be a great bye-week fill-in.
QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues)
Darnold is starting to establish himself as an ideal streaming quarterback. The Seahawks quarterback has now logged multiple passing touchdowns in three of his last four games and just posted 341 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Darnold entered Week 5 leading the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1), further demonstrating his ability to push the ball downfield consistently and effectively. Feel free to target him if you’re thin at quarterback or are looking for less volatility at the position.
RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues)
Miller saw his ownership balloon ahead of Week 5, and it should rise again heading into Week 6. Alvin Kamara only out-touched Miller 12-11 against the Giants and Miller saw more carries (10) than Kamara did (8) during Sunday’s game.
Miller was more effective between the tackles, averaging 4.1 yards per carry compared to Kamara’s mark of 3.5. The TCU product could be vultured by Taysom Hill in the red-zone, but it still looks like the 23-year-old will have a significant role in New Orleans’ rushing attack as the season continues.
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues)
Hill’s numbers against the Giants won’t jump off the page, but the 35-year-old did carve out a gadget role in his first game back since suffering a torn ACL during the 2024 NFL season. He handled six carries and completed his lone pass for 19 yards in limited action.
Hill’s rushing ability gives him a uniquely high floor compared to other fantasy tight ends. The 6-2, 211-pound playmaker has also typically been heavily utilized in the red-zone, which could give him plenty of opportunities to record touchdowns.
Add in NOLA.com’s report that Hill was serving as the team’s backup quarterback ahead of second-round rookie Tyler Shough on Sunday, and the veteran could provide an oasis for fantasy managers seeking an answer at the wasteland that is the tight end position.
TE Theo Johnson, New York Giants (Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues)
Jaxson Dart targeted three different players seven times in the Giants’ Week 5 loss to the Saints. They were Wan’Dale Robinson, Cam Skattebo and Johnson.
Johnson was able to turn his targets into six receptions, 33 yards and two touchdowns. Nobody will confuse the second-year tight end with a downfield game-breaker, but his 6-6, 264-pound frame is clearly making him a red-zone weapon. He should continue to be targeted frequently there by Dart, which will make him an intriguing pickup in PPR leagues.
WR Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys (Rostered in 0% of Yahoo leagues)
Where did that come from? Flournoy tied for the team lead in targets in the Cowboys’ 37-22 Week 5 win over the New York Jets with nine and racked up six catches for a team-high 114 receiving yards.
Flournoy’s productivity may have been a direct result of KaVontae Turpin’s absence due to a foot injury, as Flournoy also handled two carries for 10 yards. His production could dry up upon Turpin’s return, but the 25-year-old could still be worth adding, given that Dallas sports a high-volume passing offense and has a good-looking Week 6 matchup against the Panthers.