NFL Waiver Wire: Week 6 Pickups

Week 5 is officially in the books and it was a week to quickly grab someone off the waiver wire Sunday and plug him into your lineup (Alfred Blue, mentioned last week, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Tre'Quan Smith). As is the case every week, there were more injuries leading to potential candidates on the waiver wire if they're available. The season is creeping toward the halfway point, but likely no owner has had to blow a large portion of FAAB on a player yet, and while that day is coming, look at players who could help you now.

If there are questions about the players mentioned or in general, hit up the comments section.

This week's byes: Detroit, New Orleans



This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. 

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Wendell Smallwood, PHI - News came out Monday that Jay Ajayi is out for the season with a torn ACL, putting Smallwood in a more prominent role the rest of the year. Smallwood looked good at the end of the Eagles' loss Sunday, finishing with 71 yards from scrimmage on only six touches. He's had six, eight, 13 and eight touches in his last four games and it's reasonable to expect 10 touches per game to continue now that Ajayi is out. Corey Clement ($5-$10) and Darren Sproles ($3-$6) will return at some point, and the Eagles seem to utilize a committee approach no matter who the active running backs are. Josh Adams, a rookie out of Notre Dame, could see increased snaps while Philadelphia could explore a trade as well. FAAB: $8-$16

Alfred Morris, Kyle Juszczyk, SF - Morris is in line for a heavy workload while Matt Breida is on the shelf with an ankle injury. Morris should get 80-90 percent of the carries while Breida's out. He even got in on the passing game Sunday with three catches for 30 yards (five targets). Juszczyk had one carry and six catches for 87 yards, getting more work once Breida left the game. While Morris should get most of the workload, Juszczyk could handle 5-10 touches per game, most as a receiver. Therefore, give Juszczyk a bump in deep PPR formats; the only spots he should be considered. FAAB: Morris, $8-$16; Juszczyk, $2-$4 in PPR

Secondary Targets

Hail Mary

Mark Walton, CIN - Running backs in Cincinnati appear to be taking turns between missing weeks and handling the workhorse role. Giovani Bernard is the latest to miss time, which fortunately coincided with the return of Joe Mixon. Each assumed a large role while the other was out, though it's worth noting Walton has gotten a few crumbs as well the last two games. While his nine touches for 40 yards in those two games are nothing to get overly excited about, he is next in line to get work should Mixon miss time again. Look for Bernard to miss another 1-3 weeks with his knee injury. FAAB: $1 or FCFS

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Robby Anderson, NYJ - Just when it appeared Anderson's fantasy value was dead, he totally redeemed himself Sunday. Anderson finished with 25.80 fantasy points in most formats, likely pushing his owners to victory. After his slow start he's down to 35 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, though he's not a sure-fire play every week. Until Week 5 he had less than five fantasy points in three of his first four games. Expect volatility in his production working with a rookie quarterback. Still, Sam Darnold targeting him deep multiple times Sunday is a sign of progress. FAAB: $3-$6

Secondary Targets

Mohamed Sanu, ATL - Sanu has been a forgotten fantasy factor in Atlanta with the presence of Julio Jones and the emergence of Calvin Ridley. After a slow start, Sanu has 11.6, 14.1 and 15.3 fantasy points in his last three games with at least seven targets in each. While Sanu is the third option behind Jones and Ridley, the Falcons have played in games with totals of 55, 70, 73 and 58 points since Week 1. Given Atlanta's injuries on defense, the high-scoring games should continue, benefiting all pieces of the Falcons' offense. FAAB: $2-$4

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB - Injuries to Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison put MVS into a prominent role Sunday against the Lions. He delivered with seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown and missed another touchdown by less than a yard. He was targeted 10 times in the loss. Valdes-Scantling will be relevant while Cobb and Allison are out, and it would seem logical they are held out Week 6 with a bye on tap Wee 7. If that's the case, MVS has a good matchup this week at home facing the 49ers. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

Martavis Bryant, OAK - Bryant led the Raiders' receiving corps Sunday with 91 receiving yards on three catches and now has averaged five targets per game in his four games with the team. He dropped a sure touchdown last week, and it's apparent Derek Carr is trying to get him the ball downfield. Bryant has 10.6 yards per target this season, and with his targets he'll be a hit-or-miss player week to week. FAAB: $1-$2

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Ryan Griffin, HOU - A nice game by Griffin (6 catches, 65 yards) game puts him firmly on the fantasy radar, especially since those stats were a result of nine targets. Griffin's game could be the result of the way the Cowboys schemed to take away the deep ball, as he only had four catches for 75 yards through the first four games of the season. Still, players at the position have been dropped like flies this season, making any healthy starter a viable option. FAAB: $2-$4