Week 6’s Best Waiver Wire Options
This is going to be a weird week for waiver wiring. Few options jump out as clear saviors, but several are good stopgaps while you try and survive bye weeks and injuries. Just a reminder that the Dolphins and Falcons are on a bye this week so I’ve intentionally focused on decent receiver replacements. For those forward-thinking owners, the Saints and Raiders are on bye during Week 7.
Let’s get to the best options. As always, all players (and defenses) listed are owned in 50% or less of Fleaflicker.com leagues.
Keenan Allen, Chargers WR (7% owned): For the first couple of weeks Eddie Royal was the surprising Chargers receiver you had to own, Now it’s Allen. After a solid 5 catch, 80 yard performance in Week 4, Allen broke out for 115 yards and a TD in Week 6. He was targeted six times. Rivers has a lot of options but he had consistently looked Allen’s way for two weeks now. With favorable matchups against the Colts and Jags in the next two weeks, this is a player with great potential value.
Kendall Wright, Titans WR (20% owned): Wright hasn’t scored since Week 2 but continues to put up very consistent, above-average numbers. Between Weeks 2-5, Wright has amassed between 5-7 catches and 54-74 yards a game. The trend was not all altered with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center last week.
Jerome Simpson, Vikings WR (21% owned): The impact of the Vikings passing game is in still to be determined mode with the signing of Josh Freeman. But for now, Simpson is an exciting potential add. He has two monster games of 140 yards and 124 yards against the Lions and Steelers, and two so-so games of 49 and 29 yards against the Browns and Bears. In other words, Simpson has been able to take advantage of weaker secondaries. (The Steelers are technically ranked no. 5 in pass defense but they also have the lowest number of passes defended in the league, thus leading to a low average passing yardage by opponents, which is the basis for the ranking.) The Vikings face the Panthers in Week 6 and Giants in Week 7.
Austin Pettis, Rams WR (13% owned): Pettis is coming off a two score game and has turned into Sam Bradford’s favorite target. And that is truly saying something since the Rams have no run game and will rarely be ahead enough in games to shy away from the air.
Jason Snelling, Falcons RB (38% owned): Yes, Snelling is approaching a bye. And yes he only rushed for 13 yards on 7 carries last (an ugly 1.9 yards per carry average) last night. But he has scored in three of his last four games. A decent player to stash if you need running back help or happen to be in a touchdown only league.
Garrett Graham, Texans TE (20% owned): It looks like Owen Daniels will be out for a few weeks with a fibula injury. Thus Garrett becomes a top look both because of Daniels’ absence and the fact that Matt Scahub needs to build confidence through short, high-percentage passes. Even with Daniels on the field and the king of pick sixes under center, Graham already has three touchdowns on the season.
Jeff Cumberland, Jets TE (9% owned): Cumberland comes off two straights games with a score and seems to have surpassed Kellen Winslow as the Jets more attractive tight end. Beware: Geno Smith is a rookie and will likely have a few terrible games rendering Cumberland with minimal fantasy points. Still, the physical tight end is worth the risk.
Josh Freeman, Vikings QB (38% owned): Why not, especially if you’re in a two QB league and have a spot to play with? Freeman was terrible in three games as a Buc this season and chances are he won’t be a difference maker in Minnesota. But I can’t get Freeman’s 2010 26 TD, 6 INT season out of my mind. He still has the big arm, scrambling ability and several other tools that make a repeat seem possible. Not probable, possible.
