We’re officially (almost) one-third of the way through the 2023 fantasy season!
Only the Packers and Steelers have Week 6 byes, so hopefully, your team is as close to full strength as possible. As always, this rundown will cover players rostered in 40% or fewer of leagues who could help you out. We’ll go through the top names after Week 5’s first slate of games.
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Week 6 Fantasy Football Early Waiver Wire Pickups
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
Rostered: 37.1%
Khalil Herbert is reportedly expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury, leaving Roschon Johnson as the next man up if he’s healthy.
Johnson has 36 career NFL touches, so there’s a lot of unknown. However, we do know that he was selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft. He’s also the optimal size for a running back at six foot, 225 pounds. He also has a nine percent target share despite never playing more than 45% of offensive snaps. Given Chicago’s offensive struggles and Justin Fields‘ skillset carrying the ball himself, I don’t project Johnson to have some massive ceiling, but he’s absolutely flex-worthy as soon as he clears concussion protocols.
D’Onta Foreman (RB – CHI)
Rostered: 5.1%
If Herbert and Johnson miss time, Foreman is likely the next NEXT man up if the Bears don’t bring in any outside help. The Bears brought Foreman in this offseason, and he’s been a healthy scratch the last four weeks. Foreman has been productive in spurts over the last few seasons. He doesn’t offer a ton of receiving upside, but if he’s the top dog in a backfield, he’s worth consideration.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)
Rostered: 25.1%
There’s no excuse for Spears to be on any 12-team league waiver wires. Titans’ top running back Derrick Henry has been active every week, and Spears, the 2023 third-round pick, has still amassed eight fantasy points per game this season. Henry isn’t getting any younger, and I’d be surprised if Spears doesn’t continue getting more involved as the season goes on. If Henry ever misses a game, Spears is likely in RB1 territory.
Justice Hill (RB – BAL)
Rostered: 23.9%
Hill is competing with, at minimum, Gus Edwards and Lamar Jackson for carries. However, it seems as though he’s a staple in the rotation. You’d be hoping for a touchdown starting Hill, but he scored today, giving him three this year.
Kendre Miller (RB – NO)
Rostered: 7.3%
Miller had his most productive day as a professional, amassing 13.7 PPR points, highlighted by this 33-yard reception:
OK ROOK!
Kendre Miller takes it 33 yards ?#Saints | ?: CBS pic.twitter.com/unBLdUTQiB
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 8, 2023
He’s a complement to Alvin Kamara, so don’t expect 16 touches a game every week. Today, 10 of his 12 carries came after the Saints led 24-0. He’s worth an add for all Kamara managers, or if you have room to roster a rookie handcuff, but Miler is nothing more than a desperation start in the immediate future.
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
Rostered: 11%
Fact: Rookie WRs often outperform their average draft position (ADP). Downs is doing just that. The 2023 third-round pick is delivering some solid stat lines manning the slot in Indianapolis. Downs’ best games have come with Gardner Minshew under center, so if Anthony Richardson misses any time, I’ll gladly fire up Downs as a flex option.
Curtis Samuel (WR – WAS)
Rostered: 14.7%
Samuel has yet to score fewer than six PPR points in a single game this year. He’s scored more than 18 points in each of his last two games. In terms of target share, Samuel (16%) is right up there with Terry McLaurin (18%) and Jahan Dotson (16%). There’s no reason to assume Samuel’s involvement will decrease any time soon. In fact, Samuel is in the last year of his contract, leading me to think he might even be a trade candidate for a contender – say, Kansas City? That’s pure speculation. Regardless, Samuel is a solid flex option going forward.
Jonathan Mingo (WR – CAR)
Rostered: 7.8%
The Panthers have a vested interest in getting Mingo the ball. Mingo was a second-round pick in this year’s draft, and building rapport between Bryce Young and him should be a priority. Mingo hasn’t been targeted fewer than five times this year. If you can afford to sit him for a few weeks, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t assert himself more as the year goes on.
Josh Reynolds (WR – DET)
Rostered: 23.6%
Let me caution here: Do not chase past performance. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs were inactive today, and Jameson Williams was on a snap count. Reynolds, nonetheless, put up productive numbers. Taking away Week 3 (he wasn’t targeted), Reynolds is averaging more than 15 PPR points per game. When St. Brown is active, Reynolds will play his second fiddle. Jameson Williams, the 12th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, should also continue to see more work. In the meantime, Reynolds should be considered an every-week WR3/flex option.
Jonnu Smith (TE – ATL)
Rostered: 9.6%
Smith entered this week as the fantasy TE12. This week, he caught six passes for 67 yards. I don’t think his ceiling is too impressive; the Falcons will likely rely on their firepower of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts in the red zone. However, Smith is proving to be a great option for when those three are blanketed by opposing defenses.
Logan Thomas (TE – WAS)
Rostered: 8.1%
If you’re throwing darts at tight end, you can do worse than Thomas. When healthy, he consistently plays ~80% of snaps, and on Thursday against the Bears, he caught nine of 11 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown. Thomas and the Commanders get the Falcons next week, and the Atlanta defense has allowed opposing tight ends to produce solid stat lines.
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – LV)
Rostered: 11.7%
It’s a revenge game for Garoppolo next Sunday. The Raiders host the reeling New England Patriots. The Patriots have allowed 26 points per game this season. Assuming Garoppolo and his top wide receiver, Davante Adams, are active, it’s wheels up for Jimmy G’s fantasy stock.
Atlanta Falcons D/ST
Rostered: 2.7%
The Falcons host the Washington Commanders next Sunday. The Commanders are averaging more than two giveaways per game and are on quite the skid, losing three in a row and averaging 18 points per game in that time span. The Falcons’ defense has been uncharacteristically stout, with a revamped defensive line and A.J. Terrell and safety Jessie Bates III making opposing quarterbacks’ lives difficult. If Atlanta’s pass rush can show some life and Calais Campbell can play, the Commanders’ offense should be in for a long day.
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