Week 6 Waivers

Need to fill a hole in your roster this week? These 6 players will do it immediately … in two minutes or less.

QB: Mac Jones (SF), 2.2% rostered

Jones has given San Francisco a spark while filling in for Brock Purdy. He completed 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 5 overtime win over the Rams, which made it his most productive game of the year, even while nursing a PCL injury and missing multiple offensive starters. But what’s most impressive is how steady he’s been under pressure… he’s now rocking a 6:1 TD-to-INT ratio and has flat-out outplayed Purdy through two starts. So if Purdy remains sidelined, Jones becomes an easy waiver add heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers, a team that’s been living in shootouts and could force another high-volume passing game.

RB: Rico Dowdle (CAR), 58.7% rostered

Dowdle just dropped a monster in Week 5: 206 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. But what really mattered was how natural he looked running this offense. He wasn’t just filling in for Chuba Hubbard; he was ripping off 40- and 50-yard gains and carrying Carolina to a comeback win over Miami. But that kind of takeover game doesn’t just happen by accident, it’s the product of weeks of steady role growth that finally exploded once he got the full workload. So with Hubbard nursing a calf issue and Dowdle proving he can be the engine of this offense, there’s real rest-of-season upside here if Carolina keeps feeding him.

RB: Kenneth Gainwell (PIT), 47.2% rostered

Gainwell had a week to remember before the bye, ripping off 134 total yards and two scores in Week 4 when Jaylen Warren was ruled out. But Warren is now banged up, and until the injury reports come out this week, we don’t know what the backfield will look like on Sunday. If Warren sits, Gainwell becomes an immediate plug and play. So if you need immediate RB help, he’s is one of the best waiver grabs out there.

WR: Ryan Flournoy (DAL), 0.1% rostered

Ryan Flournoy looked like he belonged in Week 5, catching 6 of 9 targets for 114 yards and stepping up as the Cowboys’ top option with CeeDee Lamb sidelined. But this may not be just a random spike. Dak Prescott kept going back to him even with coverage tightening, showing a real level of trust. So while we can’t expect 100-yard games every week, as long as Lamb’s ankle keeps him out, Flournoy should stay a meaningful part of the Cowboys’ passing plan in a winnable Week 6 matchup against Carolina.

WR: Kendrick Bourne (SF), 6.5% rostered

Bourne just reminded everyone what he can do when given volume, catching 10 of 11 targets for 142 yards in the 49ers’ overtime win against the Rams. He’s not usually the first read in this offense, but with Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Brandon Aiyuk all sidelined, Bourne stepped into the WR1 role and delivered his best game of the year. So as long as San Francisco’s pass-catchers remain banged up, he’s positioned to keep seeing heavy usage and belongs on every waiver wire shortlist for Week 6.

TE: Darren Waller (MIA), 48.3% rostered

Waller is reminding everyone that his talent never left. He caught all five of his targets for 78 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 (his third score in two weeks) and looked like vintage Waller in the first half before the Dolphins’ offense sputtered late. But even on a pitch count, he’s commanding targets in a Mike McDaniel scheme that has already proven it can make tight ends matter again after Jonnu Smith’s breakout last year. So if you’re desperate at TE, Waller’s resurgence in this offense gives him legitimate weekly upside as he rounds back into full form.

So look for these players on waivers to improve your squad… As promised, in two minutes or less.

If you're ready to actually win your league this year, and need more help… The Fantasy Accelerator is my year-round fantasy system designed to help sharp players crush waivers, win more trades, and stack championships.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe