Maybe you’ve lost one of your star players to injury? Or maybe your team just needs some extra reinforcement. Whatever it might be, it makes sense to get ahead of your competition and utilise the waiver wire. These are the players you should be targeting in fantasy football ahead of Week 6.
Running back
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers are clearly looking to vary up their running back usage this season and Warren is the beneficiary. He has had a solid amount of usage as a runner, but it looks like he will play more of a role in the passing game with Pickett at quarterback, earning five targets against the Bills. He also outsnapped Harris and outgained him in rushing yards this weekend.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts – It would have seemed crazy to suggest this before the season, but the Colts’ running game has been pretty bad. That’s what makes Jackson’s performance on Thursday night all the more impressive. He got the opportunity with Jonathan Taylor out and looked good, scoring 15.1 points. Taylor and Hines might return next week but with both nursing injuries Jackson could be worth a stash.
Wide receiver
Marvin Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars clearly have their three preferred receivers in Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Marvin Jones. The latter Jones has quietly become a favourite of Trevor Lawrence, earning 30 targets through his first five games. If you take out the Eagles game that was heavily impacted by bad weather, he is averaging over seven targets per game this season.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills – I had Shakir on this list last week and if you managed to pick him up, you’ll have reaped the rewards against the Steelers. Shakir looked great in his first start, hauling in three catches for 75 yards and a score whilst scoring 16.5 points. There is a chance that the return of McKenzie and Crowder limit him for the foreseeable, but he is a worthwhile long-term investment.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders – Brown is another player coming off a breakout game. He might have had just two catches against the Titans, but he managed to finish with 105 yards and two touchdowns, scoring 24.5 points. Brown has clearly taken on the role of designated deep threat in the absence of Jahan Dotson and he’s well worth a stash.
Tight end
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars – Engram might not be a high-end fantasy option, but he offers consistent high volume that few other tight ends can match. He earned 10 targets against the Texans and scored 15+ points for the second time in five games so far this season. He is the undisputed TE1 on this offense and should be a reliable option for the rest of the season.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Otton is growing into a role in this offense and looks to be the Bucs’ clear TE1 moving forward. Last week he had almost double the snaps of any other tight end. This weekend he had his biggest game yet, earning seven targets against the Falcons and hauling in six passes for 43 yards. He scored 13.3 points in the process. Otton is still available in 49% of leagues.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints – I don’t know what position Hill plays in reality, but for fantasy purposes he is a great option at tight end. The value he adds as a runner and a thrower as well as a pass catcher is unique has the potential for big fantasy numbers. He has already had two games of 15+ points but is still rostered in just 66% of leagues.
Quarterback
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks – This might seem like an obvious one (which would have been crazy to say a few months back), but Smith is still available in 22% of leagues. Through five games he ranks as QB10 and is helming an explosive Seattle passing attack. Smith also benefits from a few favourable matchups over the next few weeks, including games against the Cardinals and Chargers.
