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Top-50 WR Rankings - Week 5

Fantasy Football Adds - Week 6

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Colton Peters
NFL

Week 5 has come and gone, and for the first time in what feels like forever, fantasy managers finally caught a small break from the injury bug. The carnage slowed down—at least a little—but we still lost one key name, as it appears Chargers RB Omarion Hampton is headed to the IR with an ankle injury. That’s a tough blow if you were relying on him. Meanwhile, it doesn’t sound like Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson or Tampa RB Bucky Irving will be suiting up next week either, so keep those bench spots warm.

That said, the waiver wire remains absolutely electric. Between breakout performances, shifting roles, and a few surprising snap counts, several players are ready to give your roster the midseason spark it needs. Let’s dive into the top Week 6 waiver wire pickups and find out who can help turn your season around.

For additional potential Week 6 pickups, check out ASL Founder, Streamers For The Desperate - Week 6, or ASL's Chris Hexter's Injuries & Opportunities - Week 6.


Quarterbacks

Jaxon Dart (39% Rostered, Yahoo)

New York's Jaxson Dart once again proved that he brings legitimate fantasy value, even if his passing numbers remain modest. In his last outing, he completed 26 of 40 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns while adding 55 rushing yards on the ground. His dual-threat ability makes him one of the few quarterbacks capable of consistently contributing significant rushing production — potentially joining the elite group averaging 50 rushing yards per game. Additionally, the Giants’ offense continues to revolve around Dart’s legs and his growing chemistry with RB Cam Skattebo, especially given the lack of reliable pass-catching weapons.  While his next three matchups are challenging, Dart's rushing floor provides a steady baseline that pocket passers simply can’t match. Even when New York’s passing attack sputters, his ability to create with his legs gives him a realistic 15-point fantasy floor and makes him a reliable anchor for fantasy lineups.

Dillon Gabriel (4% Rostered, Yahoo)

I loved what I saw from the lefty in his NFL debut — and I love next week’s matchup for him even more. The rookie Dillon Gabriel flat-out balled in his first-ever NFL game. The box score might not reflect it, but the eye test absolutely does. He played with guts, confidence, and poise beyond his experience — the kind of composure that hints at long-term fantasy upside. Gabriel has the potential to develop into a second-year version of Tua Tagovailoa, especially as he continues adjusting to NFL speed and the Browns’ offense leans into his strengths. As long as the Cleveland coaching staff keeps designing quick-hitting plays and timing routes, Gabriel should find a rhythm that translates to fantasy consistency.

Next up is a dream matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have been a top-five matchup for opposing fantasy quarterbacks. The former Oregon Duck looks more comfortable each week, and if his debut is any indication, Gabriel could soon emerge as one of this season’s most intriguing waiver-wire adds for managers seeking upside at the QB position.

Running Backs:

Michael Carter (39% Rostered, Yahoo)

Well, I’ll admit it — I was wrong on this one. When the Trey Benson injury news broke last week, I expected Arizona RB Emari Demarcado to be the pickup. After that clutch, game-winning touchdown the previous week, I figured the coaching staff trusted him. But following this week’s costly ball-drop incident, it’s clear RB Michael Carter has earned the inside track and immediate fantasy relevance while Benson is sidelined.

Carter’s Week 5 production quietly exceeded expectations. His 18 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown may not jump off the stat sheet, but it’s exactly the kind of steady, volume-based output fantasy managers crave when scrambling for a last-minute flex option. Over the next two weeks, Carter faces Indianapolis and Green Bay — both defenses that have shown vulnerability to running backs. If you need a plug-and-play option, I’m perfectly comfortable rolling Carter out as a flex or RB3.

Even more encouraging, Carter passed the eye test. He looked decisive, explosive, and comfortable handling his biggest workload in quite some time, playing 58% of offensive snaps. Expect that number to rise as he continues to earn the coaching staff’s trust and solidify his role in the offense.

Kimani Vidal / Hassan Haskins (1% Rostered, Yahoo)

With Chargers' RB Omarion Hampton landing on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, both Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins are in line to share the workload. Normally, I’d have a clear favorite, but this situation looks like a true hot-hand committee.

After Hampton went down, I expected Haskins to separate himself, but that didn’t really happen. Instead, both backs rotated fairly evenly, leaving fantasy managers guessing. If you play in PPR formats, Vidal is the preferred stash due to his better receiving chops and explosiveness. In half-PPR or standard leagues, Haskins might offer slightly more touchdown upside given his power-running style and goal-line usage.

Ultimately, your scoring format and roster needs should dictate which of these two you target. Vidal was the more dynamic prospect coming out of college and has flashed more burst on tape, but Coach Jim Harbaugh’s tendency to lean on the depth chart could give Haskins an early edge in touches. This situation may stay unpredictable for another week, but keeping both players on your radar — or roster — is wise until the backfield hierarchy becomes clearer.

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Wide Receivers

Troy Franklin (30% Rostered, Yahoo)

Every time I watch a Denver Broncos game, WR Troy Franklin looks more polished and confident. While WR Courtland Sutton remains the clear No. 1 option, Franklin has quietly become the go-to target on short and intermediate routes. His Week 5 stat line against Philadelphia wasn’t anything to write home about, but there’s no reason to panic — the breakout is coming.

The next few weeks line up perfectly for Franklin to shine, with matchups against the Giants, Jets, and Cowboys — all secondaries that have struggled to contain quick-twitch route runners. This stretch could very well be his true breakout window.

From a fantasy perspective, Franklin deserves serious consideration as a flex option over the next three weeks. Denver’s offense is trending upward, and Franklin’s expanding role and rapport with the quarterback make him one of the more underrated waiver wire pickups heading into midseason.

Isaiah Bond (6% Rostered, Yahoo)

With how Brown's QB Dillon Gabriel performed in his debut, WR Isaiah Bond becomes a sneaky deep-league stash worth monitoring closely. The rookie has already earned nearly a 20% target share, which is impressive given his limited NFL experience. That level of involvement suggests that the Browns’ coaching staff views him as more than just a complementary piece.

Cleveland’s upcoming schedule provides an excellent opportunity for Bond to build momentum. Both Pittsburgh and Miami have struggled to defend opposing wide receivers, which could lead to a few breakout performances in the coming weeks.

While Bond isn’t startable just yet outside of deeper formats, his long-term upside is worth the wait. By Week 11, when Cleveland faces a struggling Ravens defense, Bond could easily emerge as a viable flex option. If you have the bench space, this is the perfect time to stash him before the breakout hits.

Tight Ends

Theo Johnson (11% Rostered, Yahoo)

The touchdown regression is bound to come eventually, but in the meantime, the Giants' Theo Johnson has quietly become one of QB Jaxson Dart’s favorite targets. With the New York Giants lacking reliable receiving weapons, Johnson’s big, physical playstyle fills a critical void in the offense. Over the past two weeks, he’s averaged a 20%+ target share and continues to thrive in short-to-intermediate passing situations — an area where Dart has been most effective.

While matchups against Philadelphia and Denver present challenges, both could turn into high-volume passing games where Johnson benefits from garbage-time opportunities. His seven targets last week are a promising indicator of continued involvement moving forward.

If you’re struggling at tight end or need a deeper streaming option, Johnson is a solid plug-and-play candidate with steady usage and red-zone appeal. Fun fact: Johnson once kept Tyler Warren on the bench at Penn State — and that competitive edge is showing up again in New York.

 Mason Taylor (1% Rostered, Yahoo)

Let’s talk about the Jets' Mason Taylor — a rookie tight end commanding a 34% first-read rate. That’s right, more than one-third of his targets are coming as the primary read. Taylor is quickly proving why he was such a standout in college and why the New York Jets were smart to draft him.

With opposing defenses fixated on WR Garrett Wilson, Taylor has stepped into the role of secondary focal point for Justin Fields, earning a 26% overall target share and quickly building trust in key situations. The touchdowns haven’t come yet, but they’re on the way — and once they do, Taylor could enter the top-8 fantasy tight end conversation.

The upcoming matchup against Denver is tough, but following that, the Jets face Carolina and Cincinnati, both of which are favorable for tight ends. If you’re hurting at the position (and who isn’t this season?), Taylor deserves a roster spot everywhere. His athleticism, usage, and target volume make him one of the most exciting waiver wire tight end adds heading into Week 6.