10 Best Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds Heading Into NFL Week 6

Best Waiver Wire Adds at a Glance

• Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
• Dameon Pierce, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
• Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

We're another week deeper into the fantasy football season, and the waiver wire continues to offer opportunities to improve our rosters.

Injuries have created potential openings in several backfields, while a handful of young pass-catchers are beginning to earn larger roles. We also have four teams -- the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings -- on bye in Week 6, making roster depth particularly important.

Whether you're searching for an immediate starter or simply trying to get ahead of a breakout, here are 10 of the best fantasy football waiver wire adds to consider entering Week 6.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research. NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

Woody Marks should be one of the first running backs fantasy managers check for this week.

David Montgomery exited Sunday's win over Tennessee with a groin injury, leaving Marks to handle 15 carries for 62 yards while catching all four of his targets for another 23 yards. Those 19 touches and 85 scrimmage yards were both season-high marks.

Marks has now accumulated 149 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards through five games, and Houston's backfield could temporarily belong to him if Montgomery misses time. Even if your platform has Marks rostered in slightly more than half of leagues, his potential workload makes him worth checking on.

MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers

MarShawn Lloyd has an opportunity to emerge from what has been a frustrating Green Bay Packers backfield.

Lloyd played 27 snaps in Sunday's win over Chicago, one more than Pierre Strong Jr., and finished with 10 carries. The rushing efficiency wasn't impressive, but Lloyd scored twice and finished with 16.2 half-PPR points.

Chris Brooks is on injured reserve, while Kaleb Johnson‘s role has decreased. If one Packers back is going to eventually take control of this committee, Lloyd possesses the combination of talent and touchdown upside to do it.

Dameon Pierce, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

This is much more about opportunity than efficiency.

With Saquon Barkley already sidelined and Will Shipley suffering a foot injury on Sunday, Dameon Pierce wound up playing 48 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He managed only 14 rushing yards on 11 carries and lost two yards on his two receptions, but he was the Philadelphia Eagles‘ only running back to play after Shipley departed.

Tank Bigsby is also on injured reserve, so Pierce could suddenly find himself functioning as Philadelphia's lead back against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. Any running back projected for double-digit touches belongs on the fantasy radar during a four-team bye week.

Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints

Kendre Miller‘s Week 5 workload deserves attention.

Miller received 10 carries despite playing just 14 snaps against the Minnesota Vikings, turning those opportunities into 30 rushing yards and a touchdown. Alvin Kamara is also dealing with a back injury, potentially opening the door for Miller to see more early-down work.

The New Orleans Saints get the New York Giants next, and Miller doesn't need to completely take over the backfield to become useful. He's a solid speculative pickup with a path to immediate flex value if his workload grows.

Samaje Perine, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Samaje Perine won't help you in Week 6 because the Cincinnati Bengals on bye, but his increased workload makes him an interesting stash.

Perine logged a season-high 33 snaps against the Miami Dolphins and turned 14 carries into 68 yards while adding two catches for 10 yards and a receiving touchdown. That's noteworthy after Chase Brown struggled on the ground in recent weeks.

Perine still has substantial handcuff value, but there's now a possibility that he earns enough work to possess some standalone usefulness. Managers who don't desperately need a Week 6 starter can stash him before Cincinnati returns in Week 7.

Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Germie Bernard might be my favorite wide receiver addition of the week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ receiving corps has been decimated by injuries, and Bernard responded to a bigger role by catching 6 of 9 targets for 80 yards in Week 5. Michael Pittman Jr. is already on injured reserve, while Roman Wilson was forced from Sunday's game with a hand injury.

If Wilson misses time, Bernard could immediately settle in as Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver. Nine targets in his first real opportunity is an encouraging sign, particularly for PPR leagues.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, Arizona Cardinals

The Marvin Harrison Jr. trade has created a more appealing role for Kendrick Bourne.

Bourne drew eight targets against the Detroit Lions yesterday and turned them into five receptions for 70 yards. He now has a realistic path toward serving as the Arizona Cardinals‘ No. 2 receiver behind Michael Wilson.

Arizona has been willing to throw the football at a high rate, giving Bourne a reasonable weekly target floor. He isn't a high-ceiling addition, but he's exactly the type of widely available receiver who can help fantasy managers survive bye weeks.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Dontayvion Wicks is worth rostering for as long as DeVonta Smith‘s hamstring injury remains an issue.

Wicks saw eight targets against the Jags, finishing with five receptions for 63 yards. He's now produced 260 receiving yards on 28 targets this season and has surpassed 60 yards in three of five games.

Philadelphia's offense hasn't been particularly consistent or good of late, but that kind of target involvement gives Wicks some appeal. If Smith misses another contest, Wicks should be in the flex conversation against a beatable Carolina defense.

Efton Chism III, WR, New England Patriots

Efton Chism III is a deeper-league pickup who could have some staying power.

Chism caught five passes for 57 yards on a team-high six targets against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. He also ranked second among New England Patriots receivers in both snaps and routes behind Romeo Doubs.

A.J. Brown is eligible to return from injured reserve soon, so Chism's long-term role isn't guaranteed. But if Brown remains sidelined, Chism has favorable upcoming matchups with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears and is worth adding in leagues where starting-caliber receivers are scarce.

Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Brenton Strange is quickly becoming a viable backend TE1.

Strange has recorded eight targets and seven receptions in each of his past two games, exceeding 65 receiving yards both times. He has also reached double-digit half-PPR points in consecutive weeks.

Even more encouraging is the progression in his involvement: Strange has gone from three targets to two, five, eight, and eight through Jacksonville's first five games. At a position where reliable volume can be difficult to find, Strange deserves consideration as a potential weekly starter.

Fantasy Football Waivers FAQ

What is the waiver wire in fantasy football?

The waiver wire is where fantasy managers can add players who are not currently on a roster in their league. It is one of the best ways to improve your team during the season, especially when injuries, role changes, and breakout performances create new opportunities.

When should I make waiver wire claims?

Most leagues process waivers once or twice per week, so it is important to check your league's settings. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning are common waiver periods, but managers should also monitor news throughout the week for late-breaking opportunities.

Which positions should I prioritize on the waiver wire?

Running backs and wide receivers with expanding roles are usually the most valuable waiver targets. Quarterbacks — especially in two-QB formats — tight ends, and defenses can also be strong additions when they have favorable upcoming matchups.

How much FAAB should I spend on a waiver wire player?

FAAB spending should depend on a player's projected role, upside, your FAAB budget and how badly your roster needs help. It is usually worth being more aggressive for a player who could become a weekly starter than for a short-term streaming option.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.