1 of 5 | Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is among my favorite waiver wire targets in Week 6. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
Rico Dowdle and Sam Darnold are among my fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 6.
Kimani Vidal, Mac Jones, Michael Carter and the Green Bay Packers defense/special teams are among my other targets. Week 6’s waiver wire pool includes several viable running back options.
Omarion Hampton and Kyler Murray were among the players injured in Week 5. Their statuses should be monitored, but those injuries also could impact other players on their teams.
Check out my full list of waiver wire targets below if you need replacement options for injured starters. Injuries, breakout performances and other factors have cleared the way for several players to warrant a spot on fantasy football team benches or maybe even in starting lineups.
Players from the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans, who are on bye, should be benched, or dropped in some cases. My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less.
Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 6:
ALL-ADD TEAM
QB | Sam Darnold, Mac Jones; RB | Rico Dowdle, Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins, Michael Carter, Kareem Hunt; WR | Kendrick Bourne, Romeo Doubs, Tre Tucker; TE | Mason Taylor, Evan Engram; D/ST | Green Bay Packers; K | Brandon McManus
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young; RB | Kendre Miller, Kenneth Gainwell, Emari Demercado, Tyler Allgeier; WR | Josh Downs, Isaiah Bond; TE | Theo Johnson; D/ST | Las Vegas Raiders; K | Joshua Karty
TOP DROPS
QB | Carson Wentz; RB | Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez; WR | Rashod Bateman; TE | T.J. Hockenson; D/ST | Minnesota Vikings; K | Will Reichard
QUARTERBACK
Sam Darnold is my top quarterback addition for Week 6. The Seattle Seahawks’ veteran totaled the third-most points among quarterbacks in Week 5, when he threw for 341 yards and four scores.
That performance marked the third time in four weeks that Darnold threw multiple touchdown passes. This week, Darnold will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allowed multiple touchdowns and more than 300 passing yards to quarterbacks in each of their last two games.
Darnold is a near lock for multiple touchdowns, but could end the week as a Top 10 play if he reaches a high yardage total.
RUNNING BACK
Rico Dowdle dominated the Miami Dolphins with 206 rushing yards and a score while filling in for Carolina Panthers starter Chuba Hubbard in Week 5.
Hubbard is still dealing with a calf injury and could miss Week 6, which would make Dowdle a must-start, but I still think the backup should be added in all leagues due to his breakout performance and future outlook.
Dowdle can be plugged in as a fantasy football RB2 this week if Hubbard is ruled out. He likely earned more work going forward with his Week 5 breakout even when Hubbard returns.
Many fantasy football team owners will debate picking up either Kimani Vidal or Hassan Haskins in light of Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton’s recent placement on injured reserve. Haskins could be a safer play for early-down work, but it could be worth taking a swing at Vidal because of his upside.
Both players should be picked up, but starting them during a friendly matchup with the Miami Dolphins could prove risky. Michael Carter, Kendre Miller and Kareem Hunt are among the other running backs I would target in Week 6, but should only be considered as low-end flex options.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kendrick Bourne and Romeo Doubs are my top wide receiver options for Week 6.
Both players are coming off explosive performances. Doubs hauled in six catches for 58 yards and scored three times in Week 4 before the Green Bay Packers’ Week 5 bye. Bourne logged the ninth-most points among wide receivers in Week 5, with 10 catches for 142 yards in a San Francisco 49ers win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Bourne and Doubs are boom-or-bust plays, but remain worthy of starting in your WR3 slot if your normal starter is on bye or faces a tough matchup.
TIGHT END
New York Jets rookie Mason Taylor continues to see an increased workload, including a season-high 12-target performance in Week 5, when he caught nine passes for 67 yards and caught a 2-point conversion pass. This week, the Jets will face the Denver Broncos, who allowed a touchdown or at least 46 receiving yards to the position in three of their last four games.
Taylor should stay in lineups for leagues that require starting the position. He should see at least eight targets in this meeting Sunday in London.
NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Kansas City Chiefs
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence celebrates after scoring a touchdown with under a minute remaining against the Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on October 6, 2025. Jacksonville defeated Kansas City 31-28. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
