12 Oct Week 6 Waiver Wire Roundup – Chasing Claypool
The QB landscape took a hit Sunday afternoon with the loss of Dak Prescott, but with the bad comes some good, as Chase Claypool showed why the Pittsburgh Steelers excel at nurturing wide receivers. Plenty more options are on the waiver wire heading into Week 6.
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Quarterback
Andy Dalton
Dallas Cowboys – Rostered at 3% Yahoo!, 0% ESPN
Dak Prescott is done for 2020 after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. In comes Andy Dalton to man the high-powered offense that will continue to have to produce at a high rate. Dallas barely escaped a home win against the New York Giants Sunday and have three plus matchups Weeks 6-8 where points will need to be scored.
Dalton is a must-own in two QB leagues and will have streaming appeal for much of the remaining 2020 season.
Kirk Cousins
Minnesota Vikings – 32% Yahoo!, 16% ESPN
Kirk Cousins is a quarterback. That is the best way to describe him. His best quality is the opportunity to thrash a poor Atlanta defense in a Week 6 home matchup. Cousins will be a popular waiver wire streamer add and DFS play.
Running Back
Chase Edmonds
Arizona Cardinals – 64% Yahoo!, 45% ESPN
Same as before: Kenyan Drake is fine, but Chase Edmonds is better and utilized in the passing game. Get him off the waiver wire.
Alexander Mattison
Minnesota Vikings – 40% Yahoo!, 42% ESPN
Dalvin Cook left Sunday’s game with a groin injury, and Alexander Mattison stepped in and produced as well as Cook. The Vikings utilize their backs early and often, making Mattison an auto-play if Cook is out. Cook’s history of soft tissue injuries is extensive enough to keep Mattison relevant for at least the next few weeks.
I am surprised to see Mattison this available on the waiver wire considering Cook’s injury history.
Wide Receiver
Travis Fulgham
Philadelphia Eagles – 3% Yahoo!, 0% ESPN
Why not Travis Fulgham? Outside of Greg Ward, the Eagles are thin at receiver. Alshon Jeffery should be back in two weeks max, and DeSean Jackson cannot stay healthy, making Fulgham a constant in three wide receiver sets. His explosive output will not be recreated, but with games against the Giants and Cowboys on the horizon, productive games are ahead for the former real life waiver wire receiver.
Chase Claypool
Pittsburgh Steelers – 16% Yahoo!, 9% ESPN
Ben Roethlisberger had shown a connection with Chase Claypool prior to Sunday, but Claypool showed why the Steelers talked him up after the NFL Draft. The rookie ran for a touchdown and caught touchdown passes at different levels of the field. The genie is out of the bottle, and Claypool will command targets weekly.
Laviska Shenault Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars – 34% Yahoo!, 31% ESPN
D.J. Chark may miss time, and the rookie receiver is a baller. Laviska Shenault Jr. is a personal favorite but he has been excellent so far.
Henry Ruggs III
Las Vegas Raiders – 44% Yahoo!, 48% ESPN
Henry Ruggs III missed enough time to fall off some fantasy players’ radars. If he is available, make adding him a priority. He has the consistent workload and was expected to have a heavy role in the Raiders offense prior to getting hurt. The Raiders have a Week 6 bye, but he is a must add off the waiver wire.
Jeff Smith
New York Jets – 1% Yahoo!, 1% ESPN
Jeff Smith returns to the column despite a poor showing Sunday. Smith had 11 targets in Week 5 and has 20 over the past two games. Chris Hogan is expected to miss time and Jamison Crowder is a slot-dominant receiver, making Smith a necessity on the outside for the Jets offense.
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Tight End
Jimmy Graham
Chicago Bears – 40% Yahoo!, 54% ESPN
Tight end is a cesspool again, including the waiver wire. As long as Nick Foles is QB in Chicago, Jimmy Graham’s five target average over the past two games should be expected.
Trey Burton
Indianapolis Colts – 1% Yahoo!, 0% ESPN
In two games since returning from IR, Trey Burton has 11 targets and had the second most targets in their Week 5 loss the to Cleveland Browns. Despite a three-headed attack in Indy, Burton has been the clear top dog.
Irv Smith Jr.
Minnesota Vikings – 6% Yahoo!, 4% ESPN
I am scared to recommend Irv Smith Jr., but he has a juicy matchup against Atlanta next week. His four catches Sunday equaled half of the total catches made by the Vikings at the tight position this season.
Eric Ebron
Pittsburgh Steelers – 53% Yahoo!, 37% ESPN
Minus his fumble Sunday, Eric Ebron was effective and helped Pittsburgh move the chains. He has 10 catches and one touchdown over the past two weeks. Three of his next four games are against tight end-friendly defenses, a target for fantasy players scouring the waiver wire.
Jeff has been playing fantasy sports since 2001. He has covered and written about fantasy, high school, and professional sports for over five years. When not grinding articles and fantasy lineups, he spends time with his wife and two kids, runs for charity, and continues to get progressively worse at golf, no matter how hard he tries.