NFL Waiver Wire: Week 6 Pickups

Week 5 had enough significant injuries that this week might see the most action so far in both FAAB and managers using their top waiver spot. Week 6 brings us another London game (set your lineup early) and the start of the bye weeks. The bye weeks obviously make the waiver wire more important, so be prepared to find replacements for players on the Falcons, Jets, 49ers and Saints. Be prepared to make some moves this week.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

QUARTERBACK

PRIMARY TARGETS

Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Roethlisberger should be at the top of most streaming lists this week if your quarterback is on bye or injured. Ben hasn't looked great this season, but it's worth noting his two worst performances came at Buffalo (13.9) and Green Bay (15.6). He's scored at least 18.6 fantasy points in each of his home games this season and now gets the best matchup he's had anywhere in the Seahawks, whose defense allows a league-high 450.8 yards per game (the NFL record is 440.1 by the Saints in 2012). Even without JuJu Smith-Schuster (who wasn't doing much anyway, 20 fantasy point from Roethlisberger seems reasonable. FAAB: $5-$10

SECONDARY TARGETS

Geno Smith, SEA - Russell Wilson should miss a minimum of four weeks with his finger injury, and Smith will fill in until then. There are a few factors working in Geno's favor. He knows this offense well being in his second season with the team and has a tandem of dynamic wide receiver in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Geno played well in relief of Wilson last Thursday and is a capable scrambler who scored six rushing touchdowns as a rookie. I wouldn't trust him week in and week out in normal leagues, but the bye weeks are here and some of his upcoming matchups (Steelers, Jaguars, Packers) aren't bad. Think of him mainly for two-quarterback leagues with the upside for 12-team leagues. FAAB: $3-$6 (more in two-QB leagues)

RUNNING BACK

PRIMARY TARGETS

Darrel Williams, KC - Williams is the top guy to target at the position (and maybe overall) with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out for a few weeks with a knee injury. Williams is capable of handling a three-down role and the Chiefs usually utilize the same running back on a drive. In deep leagues, Jerick McKinnon is worth a look given he becomes the backup now. The Chiefs have two decent matchups (Titans, Packers) and three great matchups (WFT, Giants, Raiders) the next five weeks. FAAB: $15-$30

Devontae Booker, NYG - Saquon Barkley should miss at least a couple weeks and Booker will be the main beneficiary of his injury. Booker got 16 carries and four targets after Barkley left the game and Elijhaa Penny was only given one touch. The Giants are missing a lot on the offensive side of the ball but this opens up a huge opportunity for Booker to make a fantasy impact. Keep an eye on reports this week for a better idea on when Saquon might return. FAAB: $12-$24

SECONDARY TARGETS

Jeff Wilson, SF - You're going to have to wait on Wilson a couple of weeks but it looks like he should be returning Week 7 or Week 8. It would make sense that if he's completely healthy we see him assume the role as the lead back given the struggles of Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon. In 126 carries last season, Wilson averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns. I think he's a good add as long as you can wait on deploying him, which might not be until he has a "show me" game. FAAB: $4-$8

Khalil Herbert, CHI - I mentioned Herbert last week in the same way I'm mentioning McKinnon this week. However, it was a bit of a surprise that Herbert got 18 carries for 75 yards, though he wasn't targets in the passing game. David Montgomery is still slated to miss time more time and while Williams is the preferred option, Herbert has carved out a role. FAAB: $4-$8

WIDE RECEIVER

PRIMARY TARGETS

Kadarius Toney, NYG - I highlighted Toney a couple weeks ago and if you followed that advice and picked him up then, kudos. His price this week will be through the roof — he will be as popular an add as Darrel Williams. The last two games Toney has posted 22-16-267, the only criticism being hasn't scored. Watching him reminds of another wide receiver performance by a Giant rookie — Odell Beckham — and they're both a similar size and weight. Kenny Golladay will miss at least this week and Toney could continue to have a big role even when all of the Giants' receivers are completely healthy. FAAB: $20-$30

SECONDARY TARGETS

Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET - The Lions probably have the worst receiving corps in football, but if there's a player to own it's St. Brown, who has a line of 16-13-135 in his last two games. The Lions just lost Quintez Cephus (which somehow makes them worse) and while Kalif Raymond is mildly interesing, he just laid a goose egg Sunday. Another player to watch for the Lions is Tyrell Williams, who might return this week after dealing with a concussion to start the season. St. Brown has some extra value in full-point PPR leagues given the volume he should see. FAAB: $3-$6

Rashod Bateman, BAL - I think I've gone over Bateman before and while it seemed like he could have returned Week 4 or even Monday night from his groin injury, we could see him on the field this week. Bateman, a first-round pick out of Minnesota, might be a much easier add this week than next week if he returns with a nice game against the Chargers. FAAB: $2-$4

HAIL MARY

James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud, PIT - JuJu Smith-Schuster's season is over and that leaves a starting wide receiver spot open. The Steelers love to use three-wide receiver sets, which means one of these players will get a great opportunity. Washington missed Sunday's game with a groin injury that doesn't seem serious (partial practice last Thursday) while Ray-Ray didn't do much with his chance after JuJu left. Ultimately this probably leads to a narrower receiving tree between Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, but both of those players have been banged up this season as well. FAAB: $1-$2 

TIGHT END

PRIMARY TARGETS

Hunter Henry, NE - Henry just makes the list this week being rostered in on 46 percent of Yahoo leagues; hat number should shoot up this week. Henry has become a Mac Jones favorite with 19 targets in the last two weeks while scoring in back-to-back games. The next three weeks he gets the Chargers, Jets and Chargers, all of whom have been terrible against the position. FAAB: $5-$10

HAIL MARY

David Njoku, CLE - Njoku had a nice catch-and-run for a touchdown Sunday, finishing with seven catches for 149 yards. The problem with Njoku is in most leagues there's no way you can trust him on a weekly basis given what he did in his first four games. Also, the upcoming five-week schedule is the toughest any tight end will face with defenses who rank 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 against the position FAAB: $1-$2

Donald Parham, LAC - Parham scored for the second straight week Sunday, which shouldn't be a surprise since he's good red-zone target at 6-foot-8. He'd be a higher priority if he received more targets (seven through five games), but that's going to be difficult as long as Jared Cook is around. FAAB: $1-$2

DEFENSE

STREAMING DEFENSE 

Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals aren't an elite defense, but, of course, if they were, they wouldn't be on the waiver wire. They face the winless Lions this week, which is a plus-matchup. Cincinnati has four forced fumbles and four interceptions, making it better than league average in both categories.