Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season. For your fantasy football teams, adding the right players off the waiver wire is absolutely crucial to your fantasy football success. Follow along with us all season long and we’ll help you make your way into the fantasy football playoffs.

Week 5 we welcomed back Justin Fields once again as a QB1. He should be viewed as a must-start going forward. Not to mention DJ Moore who dominated Week 5. Speaking of dominating,  Joe Burrow bounced back while Ja’Marr Chase showed up why we took him as a top-3 pick in PPR. Furthermore, how about Breece Hall dominating in Denver where he tore his ACL a year ago at? Then again, we can’t look past De’Von Achane and his insane efficiency.

No matter our record, there are always areas to improve in. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 6 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. These players are listed in order of priority. Let’s get right into it with the top waiver wire pickups for your fantasy football teams as we head into Week 6!

Week 6 Teams on Bye Weeks

For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS Fantasy as of 10/9/23. 

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (40% Rostered)

Last week, I had Mayfield as a stash to hold for Week 6. Now we have once again seen Anthony Richardson go out once again with an injury. With this in mind, many fantasy owners should look to Mayfield as he’s gone over 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games. He’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB. Oh, and it’s Creamsicle week for the Bucs as they take on the Detroit Lions.

Gardner Minshew, QB, Indianapolis Colts (4% Rostered)

Minshew entered the game for the injured Anthony Richardson once again. He proved he could be relied upon by completing 11 of 14 passes for 155 yards and no touchdowns. Overall, it was more of a Zack Moss game than anything else. However, Jonathan Taylor is back and should get going over the next few weeks. If Richardson can’t go, Minshew should be viewed as a QB2 with upside. All things considered, he’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals (43% Rostered)

From here on out, until he’s rostered above the threshold, Murray will be on here for those who have IR spots. Just like last week, if he looks anything like his old self, we could have a league-winning quarterback on our hands.

Desmond Ridder, QB, Atlanta Falcons (13% Rostered)

I don’t know if it’s something Arthur Smith finally thought of but he let Ridder pass the ball an astonishing 37 times. Not to mention, it was Ridder’s first game over 300 yards passing, yet only was able to throw for a touchdown. It was nice to see Kyle Pitts show some life along with Drake London. Ridder is more of a desperation add outside of two-QB leagues. Overall, he is worth up to 15% of your remaining FAAB.

See if Available: Matt Stafford (66%), Sam Howell (74%),

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

D’Onta Foreman, RB, Chicago Bears (11% Rostered)

The Bears running backs are dropping like flies. First Roschon Johnson left Thursday night with a concussion. His status for Week 6 is unknown. The high-ankle sprain that leads back Khalil Herbert suffered is the most significant and will be sidelined for at least the next few weeks. With a depleted backfield, the Bears could look at Foreman as he profiles as a three-down back. Keep an eye on the status of Johnson, but if we hear nothing till later in the week, Foreman becomes a must-add. For now, look to spend 20-25% of your remaining FAAB.

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers (58% Rostered)

Although it wasn’t a fantasy stat day for Hubbard, he had a lot more snaps in this game. Not only that, but he has also looked like the better back here compared to Miles Sanders. Bye weeks are in full swing and Hubbard is a nice bench piece to add as he could be used as a flex play. He’s worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Emari Demercado, RB, Arizona Cardinals (2% Rostered)

Without knowing the status of James Conner, most fantasy managers will be out to get Demercado. One thing to take away from here is Demercado had 100% of the running back touches as Keaontay Ingram remained out with a neck injury. He could be a viable fantasy option if Conner is to remain out and should be viewed as an RB3 in Week 6 against the Rams. If Conner is out, you should look to spend up to 25% of your remaining FAAB.

Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers (3% Rostered)

Whoever the No.2 running back in the 49ers backfield is one you want to be rostered. Yes, Elijah Mitchell was out this week with an injured knee, but Mason filled in well. He went on to carry the ball 10 times for 69 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he showed explosiveness and power while running through the Cowboys’ defense. In the end, he could surpass Mitchell after this performance. Mason is worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints (33% Rostered)

Although Miller wasn’t efficient in carries (12 for 37 yards) he made up ground in the receiving game as he hauled in all four of his targets for 53 yards. Tallying 90 total yards against the Patriots,  Miller looks to have solidified himself as the RB2 in the Saints backfield. If anything were to happen to Alvin Kamara, Miller would become a fantasy RB2. He’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Tyjae Spears (70%)

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (45% Rostered)

Outside of Travis Kelce, finding a viable pass catcher for the Chiefs is hard to figure out. However, Rice has benefitted and has been the most consistent lately.  Having seen at least five targets over the last three games. He’s starting to push himself into the Flex conversation. All in all, Rice is worth adding for 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Josh Reynolds, WR, Detroit Lions (59% Rostered)

Surprisingly, with Amon-Ra St. Brown sidelined and the return of Jameson Williams it was Reynolds who succeeded in Week 5. Though he only had five targets, he turned that into four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Now, that’s at least five targets in four of his last five games.

K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings (18% Rostered)

Now, this is all based on the status of Justin Jefferson but Osborn’s nine targets can’t be ignored. If Jefferson is out, then Osborn should be looked at as a WR3 with upside. With Week 7 Osborn has a juicy matchup against the Chicago Bears. He should see near double-digit targets again and should be added for 5-10% of your remaining FAAB.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders (32% Rostered)

Going into fantasy football drafts, we were drafting Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson close together. The dilemma has been cleared out as Samuel has been the WR2 of the Commanders offense. Additionally, Samuel has now seen back-to-back games with at least seven targets.

Furthermore, he has caught at least six of those targets over that span. He’s a great piece to add to your bench and play at flex if you’re in a pinch. He’s worth 1-5% of your remaining FAAB.

D.J. Chark, WR, Carolina Panthers (32% Rostered)

With Adam Thielen leading this wide receiver core, don’t sleep on Chark. Chark has now scored double-digit PPR points in two of his last three games. He is a great bench piece to add and will be a viable starter in a game with a negative game script. If you’re desperate at wide receiver in Week 6, Chark isn’t a bad plug-and-play as the Panthers could be throwing the ball quite a bit. He’s worth adding for 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (58% Rostered)

With Joe Burrow finally looking healthy, Boyd filled in well for Tee Higgins. Although it wasn’t a Ja’Marr Chase performance, Burrow dunked and dunked with Boyd as he caught six of his seven targets for 39 yards. Boyd has little value in standard leagues but remains a steady flex in PPR as long as Higgins is out. He’s worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts (14% Rostered)

While it’s been an up-and-down season for Downs to start the season, he has established himself as the WR2 in the Colts offense. He caught all six of his targets for 97 yards. Now, mind you this was with Gardner Minshew at the helm. Furthermore, the Colts could be in a shoot-out in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Downs should be viewed no higher than a Flex and should be added for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans (55% Rostered)

After the majority of fantasy managers have moved on from Schultz, he looked like the tight end we all drafted. Although it took up to Week 5 for him to make an impact, he led the Texans in targets (10), catches (seven), and yards (65) while catching C.J. Stroud’s only touchdown. The Texans’ passing offense is something you want exposure to especially with Schultz getting back-to-back touchdowns. He’s worth adding as a streaming tight end for no more than 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Commanders (28% Rostered)

Thomas had his best game of the season in Week 5 against the Bears with nine catches for 77 yards on 11 targets. Which led all Commanders for the night. If he stays atop the pecking order going forward, we could see weekly TE1 upside from Thomas. Finally, the Commanders take on the Falcons in Week 6, who rank bottom 10 against tight ends. Thomas is worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Atlanta Falcons (10% Rostered)

Yet it is hard to wrap my head around this, but Smith is a more fantasy-viable tight end than Kyle Pitts. It’s weird to say it, but the Falcons are targeting their tight ends at a nearly 40% rate. But, Pitts has been lining up more as a wide receiver than a tight end. Smith is at best the No.3 option in the passing game, but has now back-to-back games of 10-plus PPR points and is a viable streamer. He’s worth adding for 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Check if available: Zach Ertz (65%)

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