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Fantasy Football: Waiver Wire Rankings (Week 6)

Fantasy Football: Waiver Wire Rankings (Week 6)

This was not a weekend for the faint of heart. Sadly, we saw J.J. Watt lost for the season (yes IDP players, we know you’re out there), Odell Beckham is done for the season, and everybody now knows what a ruptured Achilles tendon looks like (sorry Chris Conley and seriously, don’t click the link unless you can stomach it). On a positive note, Adrian Peterson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals Tuesday morning making him potentially valuable again and at the same time, Alvin Kamara’s stock should go up as well.

Whether you’re now hurting for a replacement player or realize you have some dead weight on your bench, we’ve asked experts to rank the top waiver options. Our table below combines the rankings of multiple experts with players that have < 50% consensus ownership. You won’t see a player like Aaron Jones listed since he was picked up in most leagues last week (note: Jones would be #1 if he still met our ownership threshold).  Also, if you’re considering streaming defenses, the featured pundits have named their favorite options that should be available.

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Featured Experts:
Mike Tagliere – FantasyPros
Jason Moore – The Fantasy Footballers
Jody Smith – Gridiron Experts
Bobby Sylvester – FantasyPros
Doug Orth – FFToday

*Ownership % derived from a consensus of Yahoo & ESPN leagues

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Q1. Give us your thoughts on a waiver wire target (or two) you especially like as a pickup.

“Considering the shape of the Giant’s receiving corps, I’d really like to try to add Orleans Darkwa and Wayne Gallman to my roster. Both backs had way more success running the ball than Paul Perkins and expectations are the Giants will try to rely on their young backs more than ever with the injuries to their wideouts. Darkwa got the start and was doing well before he tweaked his calf. Gallman looked good too, averaging over five yards-per-carry and catching seven balls. I expect these two to more-or-less split carries, but the sad state of the running back position and a bad stretch of bye weeks means both could have significant value over the next month.”
– Jody Smith (Gridiron Experts)

“If I’m grabbing one this week for a bench stash, it’s Marlon Mack. It’s not often that you can find a running back on the waiver wire who can be an every-week starter, but it seems like that’s the direction we’re headed with him. He’s played two full games where he was healthy, and in them, he’s totaled 138 total yards on 21 touches with two touchdowns. The Colts don’t have a team that can play amazing defense and then to have someone like Frank Gore kill the clock while averaging three yards per carry… no. Instead, they need lightning in a bottle like Mack, who helped them win a game last week. And don’t forget that Andrew Luck will be returning sooner rather than later.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“In order for me to spend double-digit FAAB on a waiver wire pickup, a player has to have playoff-starting potential. The difference between a guy like JuJu Smith-Schuster and the top available wide receiver at game time is minimal, so I am all about the high-end running backs this week. Wayne Gallman and Marlon Mack have the ability and are potentially in situations that could lead to them being solid RB2s for the remainder of the season if they end up winning the job. Mack especially could be a breakout fantasy asset if Luck comes back in top form.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Marlon Mack is a longer-term player that I am buying in on and he shouldn’t cost you too much right now ($10 FAAB). He has passed the eye test in his two full games and when Andrew Luck comes back we could see Mack as a Tevin Coleman type of starter/handcuff combo on a good offense.”
– Jason Moore (The Fantasy Footballers)

“I started scooping up Austin Seferian-Jenkins wherever I could last week in advance of the Jets’ Week 5 game versus the Cleveland Browns. As the one obvious player with mismatch potential in New York and talent that was never realized in Tampa Bay due to his own personal demons, I think he can emerge as a low-end TE1 in fantasy this season. I’ve also been very aggressive adding Alfred Morris, even though I don’t own any shares of Ezekiel Elliott. Although Dallas’ ground game isn’t what it was last year, the volume is there and Darren McFadden’s continued appearances on the inactive list suggest Morris will be the first in line for Zeke’s carries should he be forced to serve his suspension at any point in the near future.”
– Doug Orth (FFToday)

Q2. For owners renting a D/ST in Week 6, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target and why?

“It’s pretty fair to say that Atlanta is the defense you should target on waivers this week. The Dolphins offense looks horrific and they may even be without their best wide receiver DeVante Parker this week. The Falcons are coming off their bye week and should be near full-health and ready to rock. They will also be at home, which is a streamer’s dream. ”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a bye week, playing at home, and will be playing against the reeling Miami Dolphins. Jay Cutler looks like a man who rightly retired a year ago. The offensive line has been bad (bad coaching?). Devante Parker might be out. All signs point to the Falcons being a safe play with high upside. ”
– Jason Moore (The Fantasy Footballers)

“The Atlanta D/ST is far and away my top recommendation for defense/special teams units owned in less than 40 percent of leagues. The Falcons are averaging three sacks per game, but the real reason to love them this week is due to the ineptitude of the Dolphins’ offense, which is averaging a shade over 10 points. If Atlanta jumps ahead early at home (which it should), it could lead to a handful of turnovers for a quarterback who hands them out as often as anyone does (Jay Cutler).”
– Doug Orth (FFToday)

“If E.J. Manuel is under center again this week, you’ve got to love the Chargers, but my favorite streamer target is Tampa Bay. They travel to Arizona, who has a handful of injured linemen and no running game to speak of. Tampa’s defense has been a pleasant surprise, and they are coming off holding the Patriots to just 19 points. Carson Palmer is turnover prone and should end up sacked multiple times in this contest. ”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

“Heading into Week 5, the Los Angeles Rams were the No. 3-scoring fantasy defense, racking up seven turnovers, two defensive touchdowns and a safety in LA’s first four games. The Rams then held Russell Wilson and the Seahawks to one score and get a very appealing Week 6 matchup against turnover-prone Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars. This should be a low-scoring, defensive slugfest with a high potential for turnovers.”
– Jody Smith (Gridiron Experts)


Thank you to the experts for naming their top waiver targets. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.


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