Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 6

Sport: NFL

Week 6 of fantasy football is here, and I’ve identified my top waiver wire targets. These players are rostered in less than 60% of Fantrax leagues. To accommodate the different league formats and roster sizes, I’ve provided a variety of options to help you find the best fit for your team.

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More Week 6 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

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Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 6

Michael Carter (Cardinals RB)

James Conner hit the IR, which meant Trey Benson received a huge opportunity, but then he also…hit the IR. Michael Carter ended up leading the Cardinals’ backfield in touches with 18 rushing attempts and five receptions for 51 rushing and 22 receiving yards. A touchdown elevated Carter to 18.3 Fantasy Points. Carter may share some reps with Bam Knight and Emari Demercado, but Week 5 made it clear who THE guy is in this backfield.

Darren Waller (Dolphins TE)

Darren Waller transitioned from retirement to signing with the Dolphins, to missing time due to injury, to returning and balling out. In Waller’s Week 4 debut as a Dolphin, he caught three of his four targets for 27 yards, with two of those catches being touchdowns, which was 17.7 Fantasy Points. Then, in Week 5, Tyreek Hill’s first game absent after his season-ending injury, Waller racked up 18.8 Fantasy Points. Waller caught all five receptions for a solid 78 yards (15.6 per catch) and scored another touchdown. Clear upside for the veteran, who has a very important role.

Mason Taylor (Jets TE)

Justin Fields found his new “Cole Kmet” in rookie tight end Mason Taylor. Taylor had a slow start in the first few weeks, but his targets have trended up in Weeks 3-5 from six to seven to a massive 12. Taylor caught nine of those 12 targets in Week 5 for 67 yards, which was 17.7 Fantasy Points. 65+ receiving yards the last two weeks, and great target volume in Week 5, shows a clear path to PPR upside in Fantasy Football. Taylor could certainly operate as Fields’ #2 target after Garrett Wilson with the limited pass-catching Jets options, which should have big Fantasy Football impacts.

Romeo Doubs (Packers WR)

Jayden Reed is on the IR, and before the Week 5 BYE, Jordan Love needed someone to step up big for him. That player was Romeo Doubs, who caught six of his eight targets for 58 yards and three touchdowns in Week 4 for 29.8 Fantasy Points. Doubs has four receiving touchdowns in the season now, and over time, it has been evident that he has that upside due to his connection with Jordan Love. Eight targets from Week 4 were extremely encouraging. Doubs has FLEX appeal moving forward, especially while rookie Matthew Golden continues to grow and while Reed is off the field.

Kendrick Bourne (49ers WR)

Veteran Kendrick Bourne balled out with Mac Jones in Week 5. Bourne caught 10 of his 11 targets for 142 receiving yards, which was a solid 24.2 Fantasy Points. Great volume, great production, great upside. This performance came with all of Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings off the field – but we have to give credit where it is due. All of those missing guys will not just magically be back in Week 6, so Bourne can continue to have a major impact and step up for his team.

Matthew Stafford (Rams QB)

Across the last four weeks, Matthew Stafford has tossed 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Stafford has also thrown for 375 and then 389 yards in the last two games, with Fantasy scores of 27.4 and 25.6. 41 then 47 passing attempts in the last two games lifts the passing production ceiling. The veteran is displaying tons of upside alongside his duo of Puka Nacua (looks like the best WR in the NFL right now) and Davante Adams.

Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers RB)

Back in Week 4, Jaylen Warren was a last-minute inactive for the Steelers game in Dublin. The result was a massive Kenneth Gainwell game. 19 rushing attempts for 99 yards and two touchdowns, paired with six receptions for 35 yards, was 31.4 Fantasy Points. 25 touches with 134 total yards and two touchdowns is far too productive to just sit on the bench following the Week 5 BYE, even if Warren is back.

Sam Darnold (Seahawks QB)

Across the last four games, Sam Darnold has thrown nine touchdowns with three interceptions. This has meant four straight weeks ranging from 15.8 – 27.6 Fantasy Points, which looks like a safe floor. Darnold threw 28/34 (82.4%) in Week 4 for 341 passing yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. Darnold was solid for Fantasy last year in Minnesota and looks the part in Seattle this year.

Brenton Strange (Jaguars TE)

As I am writing this, the Jaguars have not yet played their Week 5 game. So heading into this matchup – guess who the Jacksonville leader is for both receptions (19) and receiving yards (182). 2024 first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr.? No. 2025 first-rounder Travis Hunter? Nope. Brenton Strange.  Over the last two weeks, Strange has earned seven targets for each game with six catches for 61, then 45 receiving yards. Double-digit Fantasy Points in these games is solid for the position.

Kimani Vidal / Hassan Haskins (Chargers RBs)

Omarion Hampton was spotted in a walking boot after Sunday’s game, and reports have indicated (unofficially) that he may miss some time. The next two running backs up would be Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, who I prefer in this order. They finished Week 5 with five and six (in the order listed) touches. I prefer Vidal because I feel like he could split reps but add more to the passing game, should Hampton miss time.

Luther Burden III (Bears WR)

We have not seen a ton out of rookie Luther Burden III through four weeks of football, outside of his big Week 3 performance. That week, Burden caught all three targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, which was 19.8 Fantasy Points. A majority of that came from one play, but it flashed the upside I believe in. Burden is a very talented, versatile playmaker who could grow more into this offense following the Week 5 BYE. Stash talent like this.

Kendre Miller (Saints RB)

Kendre Miller has finished with 11 touches in each of his last two games, which shows a growing role in this Saints offense with the presence of Alvin Kamara. 65 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 4, then 49 total yards in Week 5. I still have a feeling that a Kamara trade is a possibility, which even further makes Kamara worth stashing.

Darnell Mooney (Falcons WR)

Many people forget that just last season, Darnell Mooney finished just shy of 1,000 receiving yards despite missing a game. In 2025, Mooney dealt with injuries but flashed in Week 3 with 11 targets, four receptions, and 44 receiving yards. I still believe Mooney has FLEX upside, and the Week 5 BYE could mean returning to the health we would like to see.

Christian Kirk (Texans WR)

Christian Kirk opened up 2025, missing two weeks of football due to being injured, but earned eight targets in his Texans debut in Week 3. Kirk has earned four targets in each of the last two weeks, and in Week 5, he caught all of them for 64 yards (16 yards per catch). Kirk has had a ton of Fantasy Football relevance in the past, and he clearly is the team’s WR2, so better days are to come.

Evan Engram (Broncos TE)

I honestly do not think Evan Engram has been healthy in the opening few weeks to start this season. After missing Week 3, Engram is trending up. Seven targets in Week 4, then six in Week 5. Only in Week 5, Engram caught four of those targets for 33 yards and a touchdown, which was 13.3 Fantasy Points. A healthy Engram can still play that Sean Payton “Joke” role, which can translate big for Fantasy Football.

Tyler Allgeier (Falcons RB)

There have been two separate occasions through four games this season that Tyler Allgeier has finished with 16+ touches, 76/51 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and double-digit Fantasy Points. This shows stand-alone value, but also that if given the Bijan Robinson role, Allgeier would have upside. Solid handcuff option as a guy who was once a lead back.

Tory Horton (Seahawks WR)

Rookie Tory Horton has scored three receiving touchdowns so far this season and is averaging 12.4 yards per catch across the last four weeks. With Cooper Kupp’s injury history and these upside notes, Horton is a solid Fantasy Football stash.

Tyjae Spears (Titans RB)

Tyjae Spears returned from injury in Week 5 to rush four times for 14 yards. Nothing spectacular here, but if you look at the past Fantasy Football impacts, you will see that Spears has been a guy who has thrived with opportunity. Tony Pollard is the lead back, but I would not be surprised to see Spears grow a bigger role as he gets healthier.

Tyquan Thornton (Chiefs WR)

Tyquan Thornton has finished three straight games with a receiving touchdown from Patrick Mahomes. Thornton also has weeks of 20.5, 29.5, and 14.2 yards per catch (Weeks 1-3) along with 59 and 71 receiving yard totals (Weeks 2-3). Xavier Worthy popped up on the injury report prior to Monday Night Football, which could boost Thornton’s case even more.

Breashard Smith (Chiefs RB)

Rookie Brashard Smith has climbed from 8% to 11% to 26% of the snaps over the last three weeks. In Week 4, Smith caught three of his four targets for 27 yards. I am writing this article prior to Monday Night Football, so we will see what Smith does. All I know is that if Smith carves out a pass-catching role, it could mean Fantasy relevance. Especially with Isiah Pacheco looking mediocre this year.

Ryan Flournoy (Cowboys WR)

Ryan Flournoy stepped up big in Week 5, catching six of his nine targets for 114 receiving yards and also rushing twice for 10 yards for 18.4 Fantasy Points. With CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Tuprin both out, it was Flournoy over Jalen Tolbert, who was utilized heavily. And this man produced. Deeper FLEX potential.

Xavier Legette (Panthers WR)

Sophomore Xavier Legette opened up 2025, earning seven and then eight targets before missing two weeks due to injury. In Legette’s return, he caught two of his three targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in Week 5. The WR2 role behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan is wide open.

Isaiah Bond (Browns WR)

Isaiah Bond has been taking on the Cedric Tillman role and has earned six then seven targets the last two games with receiving yard totals of 58 and 29. While Bond has only caught five total balls the last two weeks, there is the potential for FLEX value in deeper leagues.

AJ Barner (Seahawks TE)

AJ Barner has scored 12.2 and then 24.2 Fantasy Points the last two weeks. Barner has shown touchdown upside with four on the year, and two of those coming from Week 5. Barner caught all seven targets in Week 5 for 53 yards, with all of those statistics being season-highs.

Sterling Shepard (Buccaneers WR)

Sterling Shepard has played elevated roles with Chris Godwin initially out, and then Mike Evans being out after that. In Week 3, Shepard caught four balls for 80 yards (20 yards per catch), and then in Week 5, Shepard caught four balls for 24 yards but scored a touchdown. 12 and 11.9 Fantasy Point weeks in those mentioned games. Deep league add.

Luke McCaffrey (Commanders WR)

A last deep league add is Christian McCaffrey’s little brother, Luke McCaffrey. I feel the need to say this as it has been mentioned 789 times, and I felt left out. McCaffrey scored touchdowns in both Week 3 and Week 4, then hauled in a 50-yard reception in Week 5. With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown banged up, McCaffrey can earn more looks.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!