The weird and wild world of the 2022 NFL season rolls on into Week 5, and roster depth is starting to become more and more important. With injuries aplenty and bye weeks looming in Week 6, the time to plan out your next few weeks is now. Targeting waiver prospects and potential free agent adds ahead of time can save you FAAB cash or waiver claims and win you some future matchups. That's why we're back with our Week 6 waiver wire watchlist, which features handcuff RBs like Phillip Lindsay and Caleb Huntley, young WRs like George Pickens, and breakout TEs like Hayden Hurst.
Making the most of every roster spot early in the season can pay off handsomely down the line. Maybe you just freed up a spot because one of your players became IR-eligible (Godspeed, Javonte Williams); maybe you recently dropped a couple of fringe veterans (hasta la vista, Jarvis Landry). Use the free space to invest in a potential lotto ticket — a player who you expect to see a usage spike, breakout opportunity, or return from injury.
We've hit on a ton of look-ahead gold this season, including Dameon Pierce, Khalil Herbert, Curtis Samuel, and Gerald Everett. We rode the Jared Goff lightning into a 93-point Lions-Seahawks game last week and got you ahead of your peers with Falcons rookie back Tyler Allgeier. We told you to consider scooping up wideouts Pickens, Michael Gallup, DeVante Parker, and even Josh Reynolds, all of which had solid Week 4 performances. We featured Hurst, and he promptly scored a TD. Bam!
WEEK 5 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
As we said, injuries and bye weeks mean we're officially in "streaming season." If you're after a fill-in QB, TE, or D/ST, look no further. Let us help you blueprint your next few matchups with our tidy little look-ahead to the not-so-distant future. It's smart to plan ahead, peruse the best matchups, and get your first choice for free before other owners get in the mix the following week.
Some shallower leagues don't feature enough roster spots to take advantage of "planning ahead," but for those in relatively deep leagues, our week-ahead watchlist will continue to be a helpful resource. Even though you won't pick up most of these players, it's worth watching their snap counts and target shares to file away for later.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 5, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 6. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 6 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
WEEK 6 BYES: Lions, Texans, Raiders, Titans
Zach Wilson, Jets (9 percent rostered)
Wilson has taken over rightful ownership of the Jets' QB position after veteran Joe Flacco filled in for him while he nursed a knee injury. His first game resulted in 18.28 fantasy points in four-point passing touchdown leagues, though that was inflated by a TD catch on a trick play. The second-year signal-caller is by no means an immediate start, but in deeper leagues (and certainly in two-QB leagues), he should be stashed. The Jets offense has already improved mightily since last season with the addition of rookie receiver Garrett Wilson and rookie back Breece Hall, and with Wilson's rapport with Elijah Moore, Gang Green could be halfway-decent sooner than later. The upcoming schedule isn't particularly favorable (@ Packers in Week 6, @ Broncos in Week 7), but Wilson is still worth stashing.
Kenny Pickett, Steelers (15%)
Pickett is finally starting in Pittsburgh, and while his first start will come against Buffalo's vaunted defense, Pickett is still worth adding to your deep-league roster. He flashed his potential with a two-TD performance in the second half last week, and even though both were rushing and he tossed three INTs (none of which were really his fault), Pickett clearly has the goods to energize Pittsburgh's offense. Next week against Tampa could be rough, too, but the good times will come soon enough.
POTENTIAL WEEK 6 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Justin Fields, Bears (vs. WAS, 40%); Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (@ ATL, 26%); Daniel Jones, Giants (vs. BAL, 23%)
WEEK 5 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 6 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
WEEK 6 BYES: Lions, Texans, Raiders, Titans
Tyler Allgeier (54 percent rostered), Caleb Huntley (11%), Damien Williams (3%), Falcons
With lead Atlanta back Cordarrelle Patterson dealing with a knee injury last week, Allgeier and Huntley stepped up and each saw 10 carries. Allgeier finished with 84 ground yards, and Huntley totaled 56 yards and a score. Patterson is now on the IR and will be out until at least Week 9. For now, we would view Allgeier as a must-roster player across all formats and league sizes, and Huntley should be owned in 12-team leagues with deeper than five bench spots. Williams (ribs) is out until at least Week 6, but he started the season as the Falcons' top backup, so it's possible he handles the bulk of the RB touches when he returns. He's worth stashing on your IR.
Mike Boone (34%), Latavius Murray (22%), Broncos
Another man who could directly benefit from the misfortunes of others, Boone started seeing opportunities aplenty as soon as Javonte Williams tore his ACL. The veteran backup should see passing-down and goal-line touches behind Melvin Gordon III, and he could take over as the Broncos' lead back if Gordon keeps fumbling. Fellow vet and recent waiver pickup Murray could also be involved after he looked rejuvenated for the Saints last week. We did see Boone make a costly drop last weekend, so it could be worth your while to roster both if you have some dead space to clear.
Rachaad White, Buccaneers (32%)
I don't know why nobody wants to listen to us about White, but by the time people accept him as a thing, it will probably be too late. The rookie caught five Tom Brady passes for 50 yards last week against Kansas City, totaling 12.1 half-PPR points. If his opportunities continue to increase week to week, he might end up as a PPR flex option. If Leonard Fournette ever has any kind of injury — which is the case most years with Lenny — White would immediately become a must-start.
Phillip Lindsay, Colts (1%)
With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) out for at least Week 5, Lindsay could become Indy's primary ball carrier. Nyheim Hines has always been more of a "receiving back," so even though he'll also get more carries, Lindsay has a chance to revive his career. It's possible he doesn't do much and Taylor returns in Week 6, but if Taylor's injury keeps him out for multiple games, Lindsay will have value.
MORE POTENTIAL RB PICKUPS: Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (44%); Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (31%); Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (31%); Mark Ingram, Saints (29%); J.D. McKissic, Commanders (27%); Gus Edwards, Ravens (13%)
WEEK 5 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 6 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
WEEK 6 BYES: Lions, Texans, Raiders, Titans
George Pickens, Steelers (52 percent rostered)
Pickens' stock is on the rise after garnering 15 targets over the past two weeks, and with the "Kenny Pickett era" upon us, he should see even more love. Before Pickett took over signal-calling duties midway through Pittsburgh's Week 5 loss to the Jets, Mitchell Trubisky had only connected with the rookie receiver twice for 31 yards. With Pickett, Pickens caught four passes for 71 yards. The Pickett-to-Pickens connection could be the beginning of something beautiful, but fantasy owners seem unnerved by the immediate challenge of the Bills defense. Fear not! Pick up Pickens, and give him the stash — if you wait until later, he'll cost a ton of FAAB cash (you didn't think I could rhyme, did you?).
Jahan Dotson, Commanders (49%)
Dotson ownership has been topsy-turvy around 50 percent, but it honestly feels like it should be closer to 75 percent. He's a rookie with a nose for the end zone in a pass-heavy offense. Yes, he just injured his hamstring and will miss a game or two, but that just means you can hide him in your IR. He's scored 11.8 or more fantasy points in half-PPR leagues three times and already has 22 targets through four weeks.
Michael Gallup, Cowboys (48%)
Gallup makes the list for the second-consecutive week, as he found the end zone in his first week off IR following ACL rehab. That was in limited duty, so imagine how effective he will be once he ramps up to 80-90 percent snap counts and Dak Prescott (thumb) gets back under center. Noah Brown has been good in the interim, but his rapport is mostly with Cooper Rush and he just hurt his neck. Grab Gallup before it's too late and he turns into a distant memory of this column.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 6 WR TARGETS: Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (48%); Corey Davis, Jets (41%); Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs (32%); Treylon Burks, Titans (31%); Jameson Williams, Lions (29%); DeVante Parker, Patriots (28%); Zay Jones, Jaguars (26%); Josh Reynolds, Lions (25%); Rondale Moore, Cardinals (18%); Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (9%); Jamal Agnew, Jaguars (1%)
WEEK 5 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 6 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
WEEK 6 BYES: Lions, Texans, Raiders, Titans
Robert Tonyan, Packers (33 percent rostered)
If you need a backup tight end now — or maybe need a streamer when byes start next week — you could do a lot worse than Tonyan, who's caught eight-of-nine targets and scored over the past two weeks. It makes a ton of sense hitching your streaming wagons to an offense quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, the four-time (and reigning back-to-back) MVP. At the very least, he has a nice matchup next week against the Jets.
Hayden Hurst, Bengals (25%)
We touted Hurst here last weekend, and he responded by catching three-of-four targets for 27 yards and a TD against the Dolphins in a short week. Now he draws the Ravens in what should be a shootout, so don't be surprised if his ownership spikes next waiver day ahead of the bye weeks. Even if you have a stud tight end on your roster, owning a potential breakout at this position could give you massive trade leverage. Even against New Orleans next week, Hurst can produce.
Tyler Conklin, Jets (40%)
We don't want to beat a dead horse (what a terrible expression!), but Conklin has 29 targets through four weeks and has totaled 176 receiving yards in just the past three. Now he has Zach Wilson back under center, which should mean more aggressive play-calling and more downfield and red-zone opportunities.
POTENTIAL WEEK 6 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Irv Smith Jr., Vikings (@ MIA, 46%); Evan Engram, Jaguars (@ IND, 21%); Will Dissly, Seahawks (vs. ARI, 10%); Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (vs. MIN, 25%)
WEEK 5 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Week 6 Defense Streamers and Sleepers
WEEK 6 BYES: Lions, Texans, Raiders, Titans
Cleveland Browns (vs. Patriots Week 6, 18 percent rostered)
The Browns' D/ST has disappointed despite some favorable matchups, but another favorable matchup is on tap. The Pats will either be starting a gimpy Mac Jones (ankle), Brian Hoyer, or Bailey Zappe. They will be widely available due to their Week 5 matchup with the Chargers, so consider stashing them ahead of this juicy home matchup.
Cincinnati Bengals (@ Saints, 32%)
The Bengals have been halfway-decent over the past two weeks, posting five sacks with six turnovers while holding opponents to 15 or fewer points each game. They'll face a banged-up Saints team in Week 6, which could spell another double-digit D/ST performance.
New England Patriots (@ Browns, 40%)
The Patriots have dipped down to 40 percent rostered despite three straight weeks with multiple takeaways and three games with three or more sacks. Hey, that's a win for us! This is more of a talent pick, as Cleveland's run-heavy attack limits D/ST fantasy points, but the Pats are good enough to cause problems for a QB like Jacoby Brissett.
Chicago Bears (vs. Commanders, 13%)
Chicago's D/ST has quietly put up three games with multiple takeaways, and they'll get a Commanders offense that gives up sacks and throws INTs at league-leading clips.
Arizona Cardinals (@ Seahawks, 3%)
This is a super obscure stream play, but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. Geno Smith has looked pretty good for Seattle, but he can still be forced into mistakes by a decent defense. Arizona showed it can expose a bad offense last week when it forced the Panthers into three turnovers while holding them to just 10 offensive points.
Washington Commanders (@ Bears, 3%)
This is only for the truly desperate, as the Commanders entered Week 5 with just one takeaway on the season and 105 offensive points allowed on the season. Even so, the Bears have given up 11 sacks and turned it over five times over the past two games, so mistakes will happen.
