Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Week 6
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota, Titans (47% Owned): Finally! Marcus Mariota, at long last, used his legs in Week 5 against the Dolphins and he tore them up with a three-touchdown effort that was supplemented by 60 rushing yards and an additional score. Mariota is tough to count on for fantasy bonanzas like this because Tennessee runs so much and has mediocre receivers. That said, his next four games are as follows: vs. Browns, vs. Jaguars, vs. Colts, at Chargers. Amazing matchups.
Alex Smith, Chiefs (18% Owned): Smith is a forgotten man. I once had great hate in my heart for Smith, but I’ve seen a flicker of light. He is steady as they come, and he quietly puts up rushing numbers that are better than more talented runners a la Mariota. Smith’s upcoming slate includes dates with the Raiders, Jaguars and Colts so he will be a great start if you’re one of those owners who didn’t invest heavily at QB.
Trevor Siemian, Broncos (13% Owned): I think in Week 5 we saw that Siemian is better than even I gave him credit for. Paxton Lynch failed to do much at home against a Falcons defense that came in as the second-worst D in the NFL per Football Outsiders. Perhaps its not all about Denver’s tremendous talent at the skill positions, and Siemian isn’t all that bad. He’s far from a must-start, but if your regular QB is stuck facing the Vikings or Seahawks, Siemian is a safe player to turn to.
Running Backs
Jalen Richard, Raiders (21% Owned): Richard is going to be limited because of the Raiders’ workload division, but he is the one who will benefit most if Latavius Murray stays injured. He’s proving that he’s superior to DeAndre Washington, and if it remains a two-back situation he is going to have the best of it. If all three are active, he figures to be the No. 2 behind Murray, with a decent shot at usurping him. He won’t cost too much right now, and he may have a huge role down the line.
Bilal Powell, Jets (31% Owned): Don’t look now, but Powell is eating into Matt Forte’s work. Powell’s received six or more targets in each of the last three games, which is nothing to sneeze at in deep leagues. Powell is a must-start if Forte goes down, but he’s a serviceable RB or FLEX with bye weeks coming up. Low upside, high-floor add and he will cost next to nothing.
Matt Asiata, Vikings (16% Owned): Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Asiata has been outscoring Jerick McKinnon, who was a far more popular add, because he is the big body Minnesota turns to on the goal line and he’s more useful in the passing game than he’s given credit for. He has the potential to put up real stinkers, but he also makes the most of his touches based on how he’s used.
James Starks, Packers (9% Owned): Starks is a better add if it seems like Eddie Lacy will miss time, but pick him up now while the Packers figure that out. If Lacy’s active, don’t count on Starks for much. But if Lacy is out then Starks is an absolute must-start, especially if your league is PPR.
Jacquizz Rodgers, Buccaneers (19% Owned): Charles Sims is on IR, so Rodgers is the starter until Doug Martin is up and running. After that, Rodgers will fill in Sims’ role nicely, and be a bye week FLEX option.
Wide Receivers
Sammie Coates, Steelers (37% Owned): Clearly, Coates is going to be the top WR add this week. Shoulda listened to me last week! If you have the top waiver priority, go on ahead and blow it on the new version of Martavis Bryant. He’s not as good as Martavis, but he is going to get the same types of chances for game-breaking plays.
Cole Beasley, Cowboys (40% Owned): Beasley has registered 50+ yards receiving in every game this season. Much like Powell at RB, Beasley is wholly unexciting, but undeniably useful if you’re dealing with bye weeks and/or injuries. Dez Bryant’s impending return won’t affect Beasley’s usage much, especially if Dez is not fully healthy.
Davante Adams, Packers (10% Owned): Adams has seen seven or more targets in three of Green Bay’s first four games, and scored a TD every time he’s been targeted that much. Adams didn’t make much of his opportunity last year to be a No. 2 in that offense, but he’s clearly effective as their No. 3. He’s preferable to Beasley as a bye week/injury fill-in, and he has the added bonus of being done with his bye week already.
Cameron Meredith, Bears (5% Owned): Meredith is a big boy, checking in at 6'2, 200 lbs. He had a huge week vs. the Colts, and there will be a mad rush to pick him up, but he remains the No. 3 option behind Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal. He has far greater TD potential than Royal, but targets will be inconsistent.
Tight Ends
Your tight end is probably fine.