Week 6 Waiver Wire – NFL Fantasy Football – 2025

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.

Follow Gthom on the cesspool they call X, or Twitter, or whatever it’s called @GarettThomas.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

Mac Jones (SF) – 2% Rostered

Starting quarterback Brock Purdy seems to have re-aggravated his turf toe injury, and it looks like fantasy managers are in line for another Jones start.

The 27-year-old Jones draws a favorable matchup on paper against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who through five weeks allow 20.1 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position—the third-most in the league. The worst fantasy score against the Bucs this season is 15.0 from C.J. Stroud in Week 2. All other opponents scored 17.7 or more, and just last week against the Seahawks, this defense gave up 29.6 fantasy points to Sam Darnold.

The former Crimson Tide quarterback has played well in Purdy’s absence. In three games, he has 905 passing yards, six touchdowns to one interception, and a 66.7 completion percentage.

Matthew Stafford (LAR) – 52% Rostered

Stafford draws a great matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, putting him on the streaming radar, but his strong 2025 play may put him on the map for the rest of the season as well.

Baltimore has struggled to stop quarterbacks for fantasy purposes. They rank second-worst in the NFL, allowing 24.4 fantasy points per game to opposing signal callers. Additionally, this defense is extremely injured, which only adds fuel to the fire. In Week 5, this defense gave up 30.0 fantasy points to C.J. Stroud.

As for Stafford, he has had an excellent start to his fantasy season. He ranks as the fifth-highest fantasy quarterback in total points this season and is coming off back-to-back games with 25 or more fantasy points. The Rams have the second-highest pass attempts in the NFL, which has fueled a late-stage fantasy resurgence in 2025. Stafford may also have the best WR1 and WR2 combo in the league, giving him a solid floor against the Ravens.

Jaxson Dart (NYG) – 44% Rostered

After scoring 19.8 fantasy points in his debut, Dart fell apart on the road during his first NFL start. He finished 26-of-40 for 202 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he added seven carries for 55 yards while losing one fumble on the ground.

Three turnovers and the absence of his top receiver, Malik Nabers, really seemed to handcuff Dart. It was a stark contrast to his opening two drives against the Saints, both of which were eight-play touchdown drives.

Dart remains a starting candidate for Superflex and two-quarterback leagues due to his mobility. Starting him in traditional formats seems risky against the Eagles, who are division rivals. They have allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 16.7 fantasy points over the last five weeks.

Given how Dart looked in his first game without Nabers, it is better to stash him as he begins a tough stretch of games over the next several weeks (PHI, @DEN, @PHI, SF, @CHI, GB).

Low-End Streaming Options at Quarterback

1. Trevor Lawrence (JAC) vs Seattle Seahawks
2. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs Los Angeles Chargers
3. Bryce Young (CAR) vs Dallas Cowboys

 

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Michael Carter (ARI) – 42% Rostered

Carter stepped up to be the starter in Week 5, playing 57% of offensive snaps. His strong performance did not go unnoticed by fantasy managers, as Carter totaled 18 carries for 51 yards and one touchdown on the ground and five catches for 22 yards through the air.

The fourth-year man from North Carolina will continue to serve as the first and second-down back while seeing his teammate Emari Demercado mix in as well. Carter faces an uphill battle against a Colts team that has stuffed opposing running backs for fantasy purposes, allowing 16.0 fantasy points per game to the position.

He is the top pickup this week, but with his tough opponent in Week 6, plus the fact his value will likely take a hit once Trey Benson returns from injured reserve, Carter profiles more as a multi-week rental. He should continue to carry RB2 value while he is the starter.

Rico Dowdle (CAR) – 59% Rostered

Dowdle is more widely picked up than the typical players in this article, but his emergence is important. The 27-year-old running back was electric filling in for starting running back Chuba Hubbard. Dowdle finished with 23 carries for 206 yards and one touchdown on the ground and three catches for 28 yards in the passing game for 32.4 fantasy points.

It is hard to imagine regressing Dowdle back to his former role once Hubbard returns from injury. Dowdle should have played himself into a role that may carry some FLEX value. As the season continues, and if Dowdle continues to deliver for his offense, he may emerge as the RB1 for this offense.

Do not spend much for Dowdle, as he will take a hit once Hubbard returns (who is considered day-to-day). He needs to be on rosters in all formats, though. His head coach made note that “… we have two good backs so we will have to figure [playing time] out; that’s a good problem to have but it’s something we have to work through,” on Monday, following Dowdle’s Week 5 explosion.

Kimani Vidal (LAC) – 1% Rostered | Hassan Haskins (LAC) – 1% Rostered

Both players jump onto the fantasy radar for Week 6, when the Chargers will face a porous rushing defense in the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins allow 24.5 fantasy points per game to running backs this season. The difficulty here is knowing whether Vidal or Haskins is the player to roll with.

Regardless, starting running back Omarion Hampton is shelved for the next four games, officially being placed on injured reserve.

Vidal feels like the preferred option to grab, but this may be a simple 50/50 time share going forward—no one truly knows. If Haskins were clearly the next man up, he and Vidal would not have split carries as close to 50/50 as they did. Vidal had the better yards-per-carry average of the two, finishing with 4.5 compared to Haskins’ 2.6. Both players participated in 21% of offensive snaps.

Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) – 47% Rostered

No one could have predicted Gainwell’s performance against the Vikings in Week 4. He contributed 19 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and added six catches for 35 yards as a receiver, tallying a total of 31.4 PPR points.

It is doubtful that Gainwell will garner all the touches in Week 6. Gainwell’s big Week 4 performance was fueled by his teammate Jaylen Warren being a surprise inactive.

The Steelers’ running back room will face a difficult test in Week 6 against the third-best defense versus fantasy running backs, the Cleveland Browns. Perhaps the Browns’ rookie quarterback can make some mistakes that allow Pittsburgh short fields, which will allow Gainwell to fall into the end zone. He leads the Steelers’ backfield with five carries inside the five-yard line.

Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 28% Rostered

Spears appears to be a stash for fantasy managers, but that is all he can be utilized for at the moment. His 2025 debut off injured reserve was not one to write home about: four carries for 14 yards with no targets on 25% of offensive snaps. This was a player who carried low-end FLEX value to managers in 2024 when Spears averaged 9.5 PPR points per game. He carries handcuff value if the starting running back were to get hurt.

Running Backs with Low-End FLEX Usage

1. Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) – 47% Rostered
2. Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – 31% Rostered
3. Kimani Vidal (LAC) – 1% Rostered
4. Hassan Haskins (LAC) – 1% Rostered
5. Kareem Hunt (KC) – 31% Rostered

Deep League Running Backs or Stash Only Candidates

1. Emari Demercado (ARI) – 1% Rostered
2. Kendre Miller (NO) – 6% Rostered
3. Isaiah Davis (NYJ) – 6% Rostered
4. Blake Corum (LAR) – 16% Rostered
5. Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 28% Rostered
6. Brian Robinson Jr. (SF) – 35% Rostered
7. Brashard Smith (KC) – 5% Rostered
8. Bhayshul Tuten (JAC) – 36% Rostered
9. Kyle Monangai (CHI) – 4% Rostered
10. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) – 4% Rostered
11. Zavier Scott (MIN) – 3% Rostered
12. Sean Tucker (TB) – 10% Rostered
13. Justice Hill (BAL) – 28% Rostered

 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Ryan Flournoy (DAL) – 1% Rostered

Six catches for 114 yards on nine targets will get the attention of both his coaches and fantasy managers. He even added two carries for 10 rushing yards. Flournoy is benefiting from some teammates being injured, but he will not go away in this offense. Local beat writers have been on Flournoy all year about getting him more reps.

Further strengthening the case for Flournoy, the Cowboys’ other backup receivers (beyond Lamb, Pickens and, we’ll even throw in Ferguson) flat-out stink or are “gadget” pieces. All have been given ample opportunities to make themselves part of the mix—either in Dallas or elsewhere. Flournoy played himself into a season-long role.

Flournoy likely will occupy the WR2 position until Lamb returns (he is considered week to week), and then fall back to the WR3 position. That WR3 role may still benefit fantasy managers in certain matchups. This offense throws the ball 62.35% of the time, and their defense is going to give up a lot of points this season.

Start him in 12-team leagues and deeper. Once Lamb returns, Flournoy can be considered a deep-league flier.

Romeo Doubs (GB) – 45% Rostered

He finally exploded in Week 4 against the Cowboys. Doubs finished with eight targets, six catches for 58 yards and three touchdowns. Doubs will never be a consistent player, it seems, but he is tied to an offense that can produce huge fantasy numbers. Doubs is a weekly flier option that can transcend tough matchups but quite often disappear in others.

Troy Franklin (DEN) – 44% Rostered

At this point in the fantasy season, Franklin can be considered a low-end FLEX option for managers in PPR formats. In five games, he has 21 catches for 231 yards and one touchdown, with an encouraging 11 yards-per-catch average. His poor snap participation rates over the last two games have not been inspiring, but he still sees the second-most snaps at his position. His schedule gets very favorable over the next five weeks (@NYJ, NYG, DAL, @HOU, LV).

Christian Kirk (HOU) – 32% Rostered

Heading into his bye in Week 6, Kirk is a name to consider for the rest of the season. He has played in three games after missing the first two, recording 12 targets, 10 receptions, and 109 receiving yards on the season. While his snap participation has declined in each game he has played, the Texans have not needed to risk reinjuring him, having beaten their last two opponents by a combined score of 70-10. Kirk would be a speculative under-the-radar add for managers who are missing key players next week during the Week 7 byes.

Josh Downs (IND) – 43% Rostered

Downs has not produced big fantasy days in 2025 but his production keep him on the radar each week. Per game he is averaging 3.5 first-read targets, 4.0 receptions, 4.8 targets, and a 62.4% route participation. While it does not sound like much, the upside to these numbers is that he gets targeted a lot when he runs a route, carrying a target rate of 24.5 which is 27^th best in the NFL.

His low snap participation will always keep him in the streamer or weekly flier conversation. Lastly, he is one injury away from seeing an increase to his production.

Elic Ayomanor (TEN) – 38% Rostered

After eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns across Weeks 2 and 3, Ayomanor has managed only four catches for 52 yards over Weeks 4 and 5. To make matters worse, Ayomanor had a season-low snap participation rate of 72%, and starting receiver Calvin Ridley finally broke out in Week 5 — which may spell trouble for Ayomanor’s rest-of-season outlook.

Ayomanor is a touchdown-or-bust candidate who is flirting with becoming fantasy irrelevant once again.

Tory Horton (SEA) – 4% Rostered

The fantasy story of Horton can no longer be overlooked, but his production at the current rate seems unsustainable. Over his last four games, he has posted PPR scores of 11.2, 18.2, 2.0, and 12.9, but those numbers have been almost entirely touchdown dependent. If regression occurs, expect him to fall out of favor with fantasy managers.

This offense runs the fewest team pass plays per game in the league, leaving little room for Horton to make an impact. He only sees a 10.8% target share, a 9.1% red-zone target share, and participates in just 42.9% of the team’s offensive snaps.

Horton is a deep-league flier for now, but he has virtually no fantasy floor. Managers should expect bad weeks when a touchdown is not scored. He better profiles as a “stash” candidate, with hopes his snap count and target share increases

Kendrick Bourne (SF) – 6% Rostered

Only in play while the 49ers’ receiver corps is injured, he finished 10 catches for 142 yards in Week 5. He also has a good rapport with presumptive starting quarterback Mac Jones, who is filling in for the usual starter, Brock Purdy. It is possible that Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and George Kittle all return in Week 6. Bourne will likely fall off the fantasy radar once healthy players return, but if not, he can be streamed in a plus matchup.

Christian Watson (GB) – 3% Rostered

The boom-or-bust profile of Watson remains intriguing in 2025. The receiver has averaged 16.9 yards per catch across his career. Before losing his 2024 season to injury, he was averaging a career-best 21.4 yards per catch. Watson had his practice window opened on Oct. 6, giving him 21 days to become activated. He is a stash candidate for wide receiver-needy managers heading into the bulk of bye weeks.

 

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Darren Waller (MIA) – 48% Rostered

With back-to-back weeks of 17 or more PPR points, Waller has scored three touchdowns in two games on just nine targets. He also has eight catches for 105 yards to add this season.

Waller is an easy pickup, as he is clearly a red-zone target for this offense. With Tyreek Hill out for the season Waller could continue to find favor in the offense going forward.

A.J. Barner (SEA) – 1% Rostered

24.3 PPR points from the tight end position is usually enough to finish the week as the TE1 overall, and that is exactly what Barner achieved with his Week 5 performance. While a repeat of this output is unlikely, Barner leads all tight ends with five red-zone receptions. As a result, he has already racked up four touchdowns. The second-year man is currently the TE10 overall.

With tight end being such a touchdown-dependent position for many managers, Barner profiles well five weeks into the 2025 season. He is young and only saw the field in five games during his rookie campaign. His red-zone usage is clear, making him worth adding in all formats.

Mason Taylor (NYJ) – 8% Rostered

The targets for Taylor have been increasing over the last three weeks—6, 7, and 12—which has finally made him fantasy relevant in PPR formats. He has delivered solid production over his last two weeks: five catches for 65 yards and 11.5 PPR points, and nine catches for 67 yards and 17.7 points.

Examining the Jets’ offensive trends, outside of Wilson and Hall, Taylor is the next-best pass catcher for his quarterback, and it is not even close. The next pure pass catcher is another tight end, Jeremy Ruckert, who has eight receptions on the year.

With his usage trends rising and the lack of production from anyone else besides Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, Mason Taylor looks like a solid midseason pickup at the tight end position.

Theo Johnson (NYG) – 5% Rostered

Johnson has dominated the tight end position in generating red-zone targets. So far this season, he has nine red-zone targets—the most among NFL tight ends—and has caught five of them, three for touchdowns. Additionally, Johnson only started catching touchdowns once Jaxson Dart became the starter. Perhaps Johnson will become a security blanket for Dart now the Nabers is lost for the season.

Touchdowns are worth chasing at the tight end position, and Johnson has a case for being picked up heading into Week 6. The main downside is his upcoming schedule, which includes PHI, @DEN, and @PHI over the next three games.

Harold Fannin Jr (CLE) – 24% Rostered

He finished Week 5 with four catches for 13 yards and one touchdown. It was his first touchdown catch of the season, and fantasy managers will hope for more positive news to come.

Since his exciting Week 1 performance, Fannin has regressed each week in receiving yards and yards per target. It also appears his teammate David Njoku is not going anywhere soon, as Njoku posted six catches for 67 yards and one touchdown in Week 5.

Fannin continues to be a stash candidate. He can be played in bye-week situations or in desperation, as he can be deployed in multiple ways beyond the tight end position.

Isaiah Likely (BAL) – 9% Rostered

Currently a stash candidate but there is upside with Likely. It’s possible he begins to take over as the main tight end within this offense. There is nothing on the field that points to that at this time, but with Mark Andrews’ age and Likely’s supreme athletic ability, it may be inevitable. Lastly, if Andrews gets injured and misses time, Likely would see a huge increase to his floor and ceiling.

 

 

DEFENSES TO STREAM

1. Packers D/ST vs Cincinnati Bengals
2. Chargers D/ST @ Miami Dolphins
3. Raiders D/ST vs Tennessee Titans
4. Patriots D/ST @ New Orleans Saints