Check out the top waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 6.
We are now six weeks into the season, knocking off roughly a third of the campaign for fantasy football managers, which means the standings will begin to take shape even more over the next few weeks.
After the first week of byes featured four teams getting time off, Week 6 includes only two teams. Teams on a bye in Week 6 include the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Justin Fields
282-57
4
Josh Allen
359-14
3
Jalen Hurts
303-72
2
Jared Goff
236-2
4
Sam Howell
388-19
2
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Travis Etienne
26-136
4-48
2
Zack Moss
23-165
2-30
2
Breece Hall
22-177
3-17
1
Devon Achane
11-151
1-14
1
David Montgomery
19-109
2-20
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Ja’Marr Chase
15-192
3
D.J. Moore
8-230
3
Tyreek Hill
8-181
1
Adam Thielen
11-107
1
George Pickens
6-130
1-16
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Dallas Goedert
8-117
1
Travis Kelce
10-67
1
Logan Thomas
9-77
1
Sam LaPorta
3-47
2
George Kittle
3-67
3
Placekickers
XP
FG
Greg Zuerlein
2
5
Cairo Santos
4
4
Ka’imi Fairbairn
1
4
Jake Elliott
2
3
Matt Gay
2
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Saints
2-3
1
Jets
4-3
1
Steelers
4-3
0
Bengals
3-3
1
Giants
1-3
1
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
HC Bill Belichick – mumble mumble
QB Anthony Richardson – Shoulder
QB Mac Jones – Benched
QB Daniel Jones – Neck
RB Khalil Herbert – Ankle
RB Roschon Johnson – Concussion
RB James Conner – Knee
WR Justin Jefferson – Hamstring
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Concussion
WR Wan’Dale Robinson – Concussion
WR Demario Douglas – Concussion
WR Tank Dell – Concussion
TE Mo Alie-Cox – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
A light week is always great to see. But it also
RB Khalil Herbert / Roschon Johnson – A high-ankle sprain will keep the Bears’ starting running back on the sideline for at least a few weeks and Johnson could miss time with a concussion. That will give D’Onta Foreman a chance to be active and would be the starter against the Vikings if Johnson cannot clear the concussion protocols.
QB Anthony Richardson – He just got over a concussion, and now was knocked out of the game with what was later described as an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. The frequency of his injuries are concerning, but at least the Colts have a capable backup in Gardner Minshew.
QB Daniel Jones – Left the game with a neck injury and will receive an MRI on Monday. Tyrod Taylor replaced him and offered the same mediocre passing. The Giants’ receivers are very risky fantasy options and even more so if Jones is out.
RB James Conner – Twisted his knee after six rushing attempts and did not return. HC Jonathan Gannon said Conner would be examined better on Monday for a prognosis but wouldn’t elaborate more than to say that Conner was “feeling okay.” The rookie Emari DeMarcado took over after Conner left.
WR Justin Jefferson – The Vikings star wideout suffered a non-contact hamstring injury. HC Kevin O’Connell said that it was too early to put a timeline on when Jefferson would return. That doesn’t sound promising but more will be known later in the week. Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn will have to step if Jefferson misses any time.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
RB D’Onta Foreman (CHI) – The Bears have lost Khalil Herbert for multiple weeks with an ankle injury, Roschon Johnson has a concussion, and Travis Homer suffered a hamstring injury last week. Foreman has been inactive in recent weeks, but he looks like the last man standing until Johnson or Herbert are cleared. The next two games are home stands against the Vikings and Raiders which should be potentially rewarding.
TE Dalton Schultz (HOU) – While he started slowly in the Texans offense, the ex-Cowboy tight end scored in Week 4 with three catches for 42 yards versus the Steelers. He repeated the score on Sunday, while logging a team-high seven catches for 65 yards in the London game. C.J. Stroud started the season connecting with his wideouts, but he’s finally starting to rely on the tight end that he had chemistry with in the summer.
RB Emari DeMarcado (ARI) – He stepped in after James Conner was injured and ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on ten carries in the loss to the Bengals. He also caught a 12-yard pass. At the least he’s a needed handcuff for the Conner owner. Keaontay Ingram was the backup but is out with a neck injury. The Cardinals play at the Rams and at the Seahawks next, which is far from ideal. But DeMarcado could end up as their only choice for starter.
QB Desmond Ridder (ATL) – After his starting job was being questioned, Ridder threw for 329 yards and a score in the London meeting with the Texans. Notable was his top two receivers of Kyle Pitts (7-87) and Drake London (6-78) which should have been true every week but never was. It may not mean that Pitts and London are bounced back into being a strong fantasy start, but it means don’t drop them as have happened in some fantasy leagues.
Carolina backfield – They did face a Top-5 defense against running backs in the Lions, but it was troubling to see them split the work up with Chuba Hubbard (9-35) edging out Miles Sanders (7-32). But Hubbard only totaled three carries prior to the fourth quarter when they gave up.
WR Jameson Williams (DET) – His debut was two receptions for two yards. So maybe not an immediate savior. Amon-Ra St. Brown was a scratch for the game and Jared Goff just focused on Josh Reynolds (4-78, TD) and Sam LaPorta (3-47, 2 TD).
RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) – He’s happy from signing a three-year, $42 million contract. His 2023 debut was only six runs for 18 yards while Zack Moss is making $1.2 million and is a free agent in the spring. And Moss just ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. The last time Taylor gained that many yards was in 2021. How do you tactfully bench Moss? That was his second 100-yard game in three weeks.
RB De’Von Achane (MIA) – The Dolphins rookie back just gained 151 yards on 11 carries with one score versus the Giants. He was inactive in Week 1, and little used in Week 2. And he is now the No. 3 fantasy running back mostly thanks to two games. No. 2 is still Raheem Mostert by only four fantasy points. The Dolphins backfield is No. 1 in fantasy points for running backs and it is not even close.
RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – He caught 13 passes last week in his debut and in New England ran for 80 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown, and three catches for 17 yards. Kamara’s come through both weeks of play and faces the Texans and Jaguars next. He’s been the only consistent part of the New Orleans offense.
Patriots’ offense – They’ve been spectacularly bad the last two weeks and they are making the benching of Mac Jones a formal part of the weekly game plan. Next is a road trip to Las Vegas and then hosting the Bills. The Pats seem very likely to make some changes, but what remains to be seen as Bill Belichick was hard to understand in the post-game presser. Bailey Zappe has been no better. The unspoken question is this – what if it is just the coaching?
What’s going to happen? – Now we know. Cooper Kupp returned to his old workhorse volume of catches with eight receptions for 118 yards in the loss to the Eagles. But rookie superstar Puka Nacua did not take a backseat with seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Literally, every other receiver disappeared, but the offense is accommodating both wideouts, even if to the detriment to all others.
RB Breece Hall (NYJ) – They said that he would no longer be limited and the second-year back ran for 177 yards and a score on 22 carries, including a 72-yard touchdown romp through the defense.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN) – Javonte Williams was a scratch this week and the backfield was shared by the rookie McLaughlin (9-68 rush, 3-21, TD receive) and Samaje Perine (6-22 rush, 4-73 receive). The Broncos were playing the Jets, so the passing offense was shortened. But the undrafted rookie offered more any other back has shown for Denver, so we’ll see if it turns into a three-headed monster once Williams returns.
Vikings backfield – Alexander Mattison rushed for over 90 yards for two weeks in a row, but the Vikes still acquired Cam Akers for little more than a bag of Doritos. And they used him. His debut in Week 4 had him with just five rushes for 40 yards while Mattison handled 17 runs for 95 yards at the Panthers. On Sunday, Mattison was throttled back to only eight carries for 26 yards while Akers still had his five runs and gained 15 yards. Both backs caught two passes. Playing in Chicago this week doesn’t look nearly as promising for the Mattison owners.
QB Dak Prescott (DAL) – The Cowboys dumped OC Kellen Moore as the scapegoat for Prescott’s interception problem last year. HC Mike McCarthy calls the plays and the Cowboys faced all 1-3 teams to start the year. At San Francisco, Prescott threw for 153 yards, one score and three interceptions. After four weeks, the Chargers were ranked No. 3 in quarterback fantasy points. The Cowboys are No. 27. So maybe it wasn’t Moore? This does not bode well for the rest of the season.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Ja’Marr Chase – The Bengals’ star wideout had not scored this year, and managed just one 100-yard effort on the year. Against the Cardinals, Chase had a career-best game, catching a team-record 15 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. That’ll help his average. And that will definitely win a fantasy game.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
The NFL season is taking form and were left with only two undefeated teams and two one winless team. Player rankings are still dominated by players who had one monster game to skew their fantasy points. Right now, the only Top-10 running backs from last year that are still Top-10 are Tony Pollard and Christian McCaffrey. But the top wideouts from last year are almost all top in the rankings again. Puka Nacua is a slight surprise, and maybe we underestimated the Texans and Nico Collins. But so far – those early wideout picks have almost all been golden, and running backs are mostly frustrating.
Unless we are talking about rookies.
Let’s take a look at some positions and situations as we head into Week 5.
Rookie running back report – Here’s where the first five rounds of rookie running backs have ended up through the first four weeks.
Pick
Tm
Running Backs
Yards
Catch
TDs
FF Pts
RANK
1.08
ATL
Bijan Robinson
452
19
1
70.2
6
1.12
DET
Jahmyr Gibbs
249
14
0
38.9
27
2.21
SEA
Zach Charbonnet
126
4
0
16.6
57
3.08
NO
Kendre Miller
42
2
0
6.2
79
3.18
TEN
Tyjae Spears
150
10
0
25
46
3.21
MIA
Devon Achane
362
8
6
80.2
4
3.25
JAC
Tank Bigsby
33
2
0
15.3
60
4.13
CHI
Roschon Johnson
180
11
1
35
30
5.08
NYJ
Israel Abanikanda
0
0
0
0
na
5.28
CIN
Chase Brown
-1
1
0
0.9
114
5.37
NYG
Eric Gray
0
0
0
0
na
5.41
IND
Evan Hull
7
1
0
1.7
110
Jahmyr Gibbs still rates as a fantasy starter but hasn’t been a difference-maker. Devon Achane’s stats were vastly impacted by his four-TD performance, but he’s a fantasy starter until he isn’t. The most likely assumption is that Achane drops and Gibbs rises as the season progresses. But we were all correct – Bijan Robinson is the one to draft and in the first round.
Rookie wide receiver report – Rookie receivers very rarely meet fantasy expectations. That has held true with one gigantic outlier. Tank Dell and Michael Wilson can thank one big performance to scoot them into the end of the WR3 range. Zay Flowers is also barely there. All the others have not rated a fantasy start except for NFL-record setter Puka Nacua. He was the 20th wideout drafted. All other teams missed him five times before he was taken.
Pick
Tm
Wide Receivers
Yards
Catch
TDs
FF Pts
RANK
1.20
SEA
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
62
12
0
18.2
89
1.21
LAC
Quentin Johnston
44
6
0
10.4
113
1.22
BAL
Zay Flowers
244
24
0
49.5
35
1.23
MIN
Jordan Addison
185
13
2
43.5
44
2.08
CAR
Jonathan Mingo
64
8
0
14.4
100
2.19
GB
Jayden Reed
203
12
2
44.1
42
2.24
KC
Rashee Rice
140
13
1
32.7
59
2.32
DEN
Marvin Mims
242
9
1
40.5
45
3.06
HOU
Nathaniel Dell
267
16
2
56
25
3.10
NYG
Jalin Hyatt
99
4
0
13.9
102
3.11
CLE
Cedric Tillman
5
1
0
1.5
154
3.16
IND
Josh Downs
158
17
0
32.8
57
3.31
ARI
Michael Wilson
239
21
2
59.8
34
3.37
LVR
Tre Tucker
34
1
0
1
137
4.23
LAC
Derius Davis
85
4
0
6.4
108
4.29
CIN
Charlie Jones
6
1
0
1.6
150
4.31
CHI
Tyler Scott
20
3
1
2.3
123
5.15
BUF
Justin Shorter
0
0
0
0
na
5.24
GB
Dontayvion Wicks
0
0
0
0
na
5.42
LAR
Puka Nacua
501
39
1
95.5
5
Some of the above will likely creep into fantasy starter range later in the season. But drafting a rookie wideout almost never pays off. Nacua wasn’t drafted in most leagues – why would he? You have to love the surprises.
Jameson Williams (DET) – He served his time and the NFL cut his suspension short, so tie those yellow ribbons all over Ford Field. The Lions play the Carolina “for a good time, call” Panthers, so most everything should work anyway. To start, he’ll timeshare with Marvin Jones which is to say he’ll handle all the actual receptions between the two. He’s one to watch but had just one catch last year as he returned from a torn ACL. He’s good enough that the Lions drafted him with their 1.12 pick last year, knowing that he’d have a down rookie year from his knee. They did not see the suspension coming, but it is over and the ex-Alabama star finally hits the field healthy. He turned in a 79-1572-15 stat line as a Crimson Tide junior who ran a 4.38 and even posted 7-184-2 on the Georgia defense in 2021. Amon-Ra St. Brown is safely the No. 1 wideout but there’s room for Williams to start to climb the depth chart.
Chiefs receivers – Will there be a primary wideout this year? Tyreek Hill left last year, and JuJu Smith-Schuster stepped up with 78-933-3 as the No. 27 fantasy wideout. This year? The top wideout is the rookie Rashee Rice (No. 59) and Skyy Moore (No. 69). Patrick Mahomes uses around a dozen receivers every week and none have more than five catches in a game. Usually, they catch two or three. Kadarius Toney is officially empty on any upside. Playing at the Vikings who rank No. 32 versus wideouts should give a look at how the passing should ideally be distributed. Rice is the one to watch, but if he cannot clearly step forward ahead of the rest in this venue, than the Chiefs will not offer a safe wideout fantasy starter this season.
Kyle Pitts / Drake London (ATL) – Both players are highly talented. Pitts (2020 – 1.04) was the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. London (2021 – 1.08). Pitts set records as a rookie, as expected. Last year, Marcus Mariota prevented the passing game from succeeding. Now that Desmond Ridder is starting his career, the passing game has nosedived and both Pitts and London are landing on waiver wires in frustration and anger. The duo are in the Bottom-3 among all NFL receivers in catchable target rate. It is not their fault. The Falcons rank No. 32 in fantasy wideouts. Pitts isn’t even the most productive tight end on his team. But if the passing continues to be so bad, the Falcons will be forced to switch to Taylor Heinicke. This week against the Texans should see some signs of improvement. If not, the calls to remove Ridder will grow. Don’t throw away either receiver if you have any roster room. Talent always finds a way. Eventually.
Israel Abanikanda (NYJ) – The Jets intend to kick off the training wheels for Breece Hall and eliminate his limitations. That’s great for Hall and his fantasy owners because he looks very much to be in top shape, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Behind him has been Dalvin Cook, but the veteran back has not been of any help. After four games, he is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. There is speculation that Cook could get traded or released, as he is not adding anything to the backfield despite signing a 1-year, $7M contract. The fifth-round pick Abanikanda impressed earlier this summer, but then had a thigh injury. He’s not seen any work this season, but the Jets have to be concerned about Cook if they were forced to rely on him. It is a situation worth tracking.
About last night
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago 40, Washington 20
Free at last…
The Bears broke that fourteen-game losing streak, this time by building a huge lead and then NOT letting the opponent post a huge comeback. Bet they thought about last week, just without anyone speaking a word. The Commanders are now officially “it.” And in their own stadium, no less.
Once again, Justin Fields was a fantasy gem. He ran for 57 yards on a team-high 11 rushes, and passed for 282 yards and four touchdowns. DJ Moore had a career-best game with eight receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Cole Kmet offered five catches for 42 yards and a score, but all other receivers combined for only two catches for two yards. This illustrates why covering DJ Moore would be a game-changer. Khalil Herbert rushed for 76 yards on ten carries but left with an ankle injury. Roschon Johnson gained 19 yards on three rushes and left with a concussion. Have to think the only Bears cheering then were close family members of D’Onta Foreman. Who may have been at home with them.
The Bears defense finally showed up and never left. The No. 31 defense against running backs only allowed Brian Robinson to gain 10 yards on six runs. That will help the average. Sam Howell passed 51 times to complete 37 passes for 388 yards and two scores between Logan Thomas (9-77, TD) and Curtis Samuel (6-65, TD). Antonio Gibson never rushed the ball but caught four passes for 64 yards. Eight different receivers caught at least two passes but they were not nearly enough for a Bears team that found destiny after almost a calendar year.
The Bears running backs room has taken a hit against the Commanders.
The Chicago Bears have been plagued with injuries all season, which carried into Thursday night’s game against the Washington Commanders.
The Bears’ running back group suffered some huge blows in the game, including the losses of Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson.
Herbert suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter when he bent back attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Justin Fields. While Herbert did go back in the game, he collapsed on his first attempt after and left the field. He’s officially questionable to return.
Johnson suffered a concussion in the first half. He went back in the locker room and was soon ruled out for the remainder of the game. Travis Homer, who’s primarily a special teamer, was also deemed questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
D’Onta Foreman is inactive for this game, which means the Bears are down to just fullback Khari Blasingame in the run game. Well, and Fields.
The Bears are looking to get their first win in nearly a full calendar year against the winless Broncos. Here’s how they can get it done.
After the Chicago Bears were blown out, 41-10, by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bears can finally look ahead to a winnable matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 4.
Denver is also winless through three games, but that doesn’t mean they have the same level of dysfunction that Chicago does. The Broncos still have an above average quarterback in Russell Wilson, with a solid offense and defense surrounding him. The Bears will need to rise to the occasion and improve in several key areas if the fans can enjoy Chicago’s first win in nearly a full calendar year.
Let’s take a look at five keys to a Bears victory over the Broncos in Week 4.
The Bears were humiliated by the Chiefs in a 41-10 loss. We break down the good, bad and ugly from the game.
It’s times like these that Chicago Bears fans need to stick together.
The Bears were embarrassed 41-10 by the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score indicated. Chicago has now lost 13 consecutive games dating back to last season, head coach Matt Eberflus has utterly failed to rally his team following a tumultuous week, and many fans are close to coming to the bleak reality that Fields is not the team’s quarterback of the future.
Even though we’re only just approaching Week 4, the Bears have reached one of their lowest points as a football franchise, as have their loyal fans.
Let’s do it. Let’s take the plunge into the… good (?), bad and ugly from the Bears’ Week 3 loss to the Chiefs.
Check out the top waiver-wire targets in fantasy football for Week 4.
Another wild week of fantasy football is now in the books as we near the conclusion of the first quarter of the 2023 season.
Through the first three weeks, the standings across fantasy leagues are beginning to take shape as are the narratives surrounding some of the biggest names in the game. Regardless of whether you’ve started 3-0 or 0-3, the waiver wire is arguably the most vital tool a manager can lean on.
Notably, this will be the final week without byes until Week 8.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Justin Fields returns to his old self, Roschon Johnson breaks out, and Matt Nagy gets cute in our bold predictions for Bears vs. Chiefs.
The NFL’s best takes on the NFL’s worst this Sunday, at least if you’re still paying attention to last year’s results. The Chicago Bears (0-2), who had the worst record in 2022, travel west to take on reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday.
For the Bears, it’s a chance to right the ship and, in a weird way, get back to a sense of normalcy. Chicago has had one of the strangest weeks any NFL team has had in recent memory, with comments made by Justin Fields that shined a negative light on the coaching staff, the sudden resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams, and equipment getting stolen from Soldier Field. Suiting up to play a football game might be just what they need.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have had a slow start to the season but still have plenty of talent across the board to remain a powerhouse in the AFC. This matchup against the Bears could be just the push they need to break out of their funk. Or could the Bears defy all odds and shock the world with a victory at Arrowhead Stadium?
Whatever happens, we’re in for a ride, one way or another. Here are our bold predictions for Sunday’s game.
The Bears take on the Chiefs in Week 3, and we break down all the key matchups to watch for.
The Chicago Bears face their biggest challenge of the season against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and the obstacles the team faces are just as prevalent off the field as it is on.
The Bears are under much scrutiny for the events that unfolded over the last couple of days: quarterback Justin Fields gave a quote that was taken out of context and it got a rise on social media, left tackle Braxton Jones was put on IR with no clear timetable for his return, and things took a dark turn when defensive coordinator suddenly resigned with no indication as to why.
General manager Ryan Poles said it best: the Bears are facing a ton of adversity at this moment. Even so, a win can ease many of the issues Chicago faces. Let’s go over the four key matchups ahead of Bears vs. Chiefs in Week 3.
The Bears need a lot to go right to get the win in Kansas City. We go over the 5 keys to a Bears victory.
Now that all of the drama and controversy from an eventful Wednesday have subsided a bit, Chicago Bears fans can look forward to a late afternoon Sunday game against the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Yay.
While the odds of the Bears winning are slim — and I mean, very slim — it’s not an impossible undertaking like it has been in years past. The Chiefs dropped their opening game of the season to the suddenly ferocious Lions, and Kansas City only scored 17 points against a solid-but-not-great Jaguars defense. The Chiefs may present a gigantic challenge, but it’s not an obstacle the Bears can’t overcome.
For the Bears to shock the NFL world, several things will need to happen. Let’s break down the five keys to a Bears win vs. the Chiefs in Week 3.
