Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Pickups: Mason Taylor, Michael Carter headline top players to add

Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

New injuries to monitor

Kyler Murray (foot)
Darius Slayton (hamstring)

Bye weeks

Houston Texans
Minnesota Vikings

Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold, Seahawks

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at JAX	31%	$1

If you’ve followed my work, you know that I had doubts about Darnold’s ability to maintain his strong performance from last season in an environment that didn’t include Kevin O’Connell. Fortunately for Darnold, he’s linked up with another strong playcaller in Klint Kubiak and that duo has settled into a nice rhythm.

Darnold is fresh off his best game of the year, with 341 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception in a loss to the Buccaneers. It was his second top-10 fantasy finish through five weeks. He’s also near the top of the league in QBR in 2025.

Seattle has a superstar No. 1 receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a reliable veteran in Cooper Kupp and some emerging talent like Tory Horton, A.J. Barner and Elijah Arroyo. It’s conceivable this passing attack will only improve as the younger pass-catchers grow into their roles.

Next up is a Jaguars’ defense that will be on a short week after playing on Monday Night Football. Consider Darnold a borderline low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in that game and moving forward.

Streaming options (if starter is out): Mac Jones at TB (4% rostered)

Streaming options: Trevor Lawrence vs. SEA (40% rostered), Jaxson Dart vs. PHI (39% rostered), Bryce Young vs. DAL (19% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Tua Tagovailoa vs. LAC (30% rostered), Michael Penix Jr. vs. BUF (23% rostered), Dillon Gabriel at PIT (4% rostered), Spencer Rattler vs. NE (7% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starting): Carson Wentz at LV (9% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Cam Ward at LV (11% rostered), Aaron Rodgers vs. CLE (19% rostered), Geno Smith vs. TEN (36% rostered), Jake Browning at GB (10% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Cooper Rush vs. LAR (2% rostered)

Long-term stashes: J.J. McCarthy (32% rostered)

Running Backs

Michael Carter, Cardinals

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at IND	39%	$14

It’s a busy week in the running back section of this column, with a lot of moving pieces due to injuries. We’ll start with Carter, who you hopefully have already picked up after I wrote about him in my Deep Stashes column last Thursday.

With Trey Benson on injured reserve, Carter handled 58% of the Cardinals’ backfield snaps and delivered 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, with another 22 yards on five receptions.

Emari Demercado’s embarrassing goal-line fumble won’t help him earn more touches, so expect Carter to continue in this role until Benson returns.

It’s worth noting that the matchups will get much tougher moving forward with the Colts, Packers and a bye over the next three weeks. So Carter remains a volatile RB3/flex option.

Kendre Miller, Saints

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. NE	31%	$12

Unlike the rest of the ball carriers I’m highlighting here, Miller isn’t vaulting into the starting lineup because of an injury. Instead, he’s earning more playing time on talent alone.

The 23-year-old has finally managed to stay healthy and it’s allowed him to flash his skills over the first five weeks.

Though Miller’s involvement in the passing game remains limited, his playing time and touches have continued to increase.

Week	Snap %	Touches
1	15%	5
2	16%	6
3	27%	9
4	31%	11
5	39%	11

Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara just played a season low 56% of the Saints’ snaps in Week 5.

Miller has also looked the more explosive back this season, earning 114 scrimmage yards over the last two games — averaging 5.2 yards per touch to Kamara’s 4.1.

Amid reports that the Saints could trade veterans before the deadline, some beat writers have suggested it’s unlikely Kamara gets moved. Even if he stays, it appears as though Miller will have a big opportunity in this backfield the rest of the way.

Treat Miller as a must-add RB3/flex option who could turn into a fantasy RB2 if Kamara gets injured, traded or shifts to a smaller role later in the year.

Kimani Vidal/Hassan Haskins, Chargers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. MIA	0%/1%	$9/$5

Omarion Hampton suffered an ankle injury on Sunday that landed him on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games.

With Hampton missing Week 6 — and beyond — he’ll be sitting out one of the best matchups on his schedule. The Dolphins’ defense has given up 97 scrimmage yards or more to every starting running back they’ve faced, including 234 yards and a score to Panthers’ Rico Dowdle in Week 5.

To make matters worse, there’s no clear successor in Hampton’s absence. We’ll likely see a committee approach. Vidal will be the favorite for lead back duties over Haskins who’s more of a special teamer, but it’s close enough that we can’t rule out a hot-hand scenario.

That would turn Vidal into an RB3/flex and Haskins into a risky flex option for however long Hampton sits out.

Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. CLE	36%	$3

I wrote about Gainwell’s unique situation in last week’s waiver wire column, but here’s a reminder of where his fantasy outlook stands. Despite the dominant performance in Week 4 with 134 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, Jaylen Warren could be back in the lineup coming off the Steelers’ Week 5 bye. That makes Gainwell just a risky weekly flex option with one-injury away upside. He’s certainly worth adding in case Warren isn’t ready to play yet, just don’t overreact and splurge due to that big result that occurred while Warren was sidelined.

Rico Dowdle is above the 50% rostered mark but would be the No. 1 RB add if available.

Flex options: Tyler Allgeier vs. BUF (31% rostered), Blake Corum at BAL (17% rostered), Kareem Hunt vs. DET (39% rostered), Brashard Smith vs. DET (15% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Trevor Etienne vs. DAL (3% rostered)

Risky flex options: Brian Robinson Jr. at TB (39% rostered), Isaiah Davis vs. DEN (5% rostered), Tyjae Spears at LV (30% rostered), Kyle Monangai at WAS (5% rostered), Bam Knight at IND (0% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Miles Sanders at CAR (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Ollie Gordon II vs. LAC (25% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. CHI (12% rostered), Jerome Ford at PIT (5% rostered), Devin Singletary vs. PHI (1% rostered), Jeremy McNichols vs. CHI (3% rostered), Raheem Mostert vs. TEN (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell vs. LAR (1% rostered), Justice Hill vs. LAR (19% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Sean Tucker vs. SF (13% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Ray Davis (15% rostered), DJ Giddens (2% rostered), Will Shipley (4% rostered), Kaleb Johnson (33% rostered), Dylan Sampson (23% rostered), Jaydon Blue (13% rostered)

Deep stashes: Ty Johnson (1% rostered), Tahj Brooks (1% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (1% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: MarShawn Lloyd (2% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Kendrick Bourne, 49ers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at TB	4%	$2

This isn’t a great week for wide receiver pickups on the waiver wire, so keep your expectations in check for everyone in this section. There are always flex options available, so you don’t need to overspend for bye-week or injury replacements.

Someone like Luther Burden III on the Bears, continues to be a very intriguing long-term stash and could enjoy a post-bye week bump, as rookies often do.

However, if you’re chasing upside this week then Bourne is an interesting target. He’s coming off a 10-catch, 142-yard effort against the Rams last Thursday, while serving as the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver.

His projection for Week 6 will depend entirely on the health of Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. Jennings is dealing with ankle and shoulder issues, while Pearsall is trying to overcome a knee ailment.

Stashing Bourne makes a lot of sense, since he would be a fantasy WR3 with WR2 upside if his teammates aren’t available again. Unfortunately, if Jennings and/or Pearsall return, then Bourne would just be a risky flex.

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Romeo Doubs is at the 50% rostered mark but would be the No. 1 WR add if available.

Flex options: Troy Franklin at NYJ (30% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. TEN (46% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Darnell Mooney vs. BUF (33% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. PHI (46% rostered)

Risky flex options: Hollywood Brown vs. DET (45% rostered), Elic Ayomanor at LV (33% rostered), Josh Downs vs. ARI (47% rostered), Tory Horton at JAX (6% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. DAL (7% rostered), Malik Washington vs. LAC (26% rostered), Dyami Brown vs. SEA (4% rostered), Isaiah Bond at PIT (6% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Calvin Austin III vs. CLE (11% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. ARI (5% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Ryan Flournoy at CAR (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Marvin Mims Jr. vs. NYJ (27% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks vs. CIN (1% rostered), Jalen Tolbert at CAR (9% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. LAR (29% rostered), Sterling Shepard vs. SF (2% rostered), Michael Wilson at IND (3% rostered), Tyquan Thornton vs. DET (19% rostered), Tutu Atwell at BAL (1% rostered), Luke McCaffrey vs. CHI (5% rostered), JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. DET (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Demarcus Robinson at TB (10% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Luther Burden III (11% rostered), Jayden Higgins (14% rostered), Isaac TeSlaa (4% rostered), Jaylin Noel (0% rostered)

Deep stashes: Jaylin Lane (0% rostered), Tez Johnson vs. SF (0% rostered), Jimmy Horn Jr. (0% rostered), Jalin Hyatt (0% rostered), Ashton Dulin (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Christian Kirk (31% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Brandon Aiyuk (43% rostered), Jalen Coker (9% rostered), Christian Watson (5% rostered)

Upside rookies to roster: N/A

Tight Ends

Mason Taylor, Jets

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. DEN	13%	$12

If you aren’t checking out my Deep Stashes column each week, you should be since Taylor was yet another player I advised managers to preemptively pick up before last weekend.

The rookie had seen 13 targets in the previous two outings, catching nine of them for 83 yards. His 5-65-0 stat line in Week 4 made him the TE14 in half PPR and the TE11 in full PPR without finding the end zone.

The 21-year-old still hasn’t scored a touchdown, but there’s no hiding his fantasy value now after he earned 12 targets in Week 5, hauling in nine passes for 67 yards.

He’s clearly emerged as the de facto No. 2 receiver in the Jets’ offense behind Garrett Wilson, which puts him in the conversation as a low-end fantasy TE1 rest of season.

If you need tight end help, I would be aggressive trying to get him this week.

Low-end TE1/high-end TE2: Brenton Strange vs. SEA (49% rostered)

Streaming options: Harold Fannin Jr. at PIT (27% rostered), Theo Johnson vs. PHI (11% rostered), AJ Barner at JAX (2% rostered), Evan Engram at NYJ (48% rostered)

Streaming options (if starter is out): Jake Tonges at TB (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Cade Otton vs. SF (6% rostered), Taysom Hill vs. NE (13% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Cole Kmet at WSH (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Chig Okonkwo at LV (27% rostered), Daniel Bellinger vs. PHI (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy): Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. DAL (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Tommy Tremble vs. DAL (1% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Colston Loveland (27% rostered), Isaiah Likely (10% rostered), Oronde Gadsden II (1% rostered), Elijah Arroyo (2% rostered)

Defenses

Week 6 streamers

Team	Next Up	Rostered
Packers	vs. CIN	45%
Colts	vs. ARI	48%
Patriots	at NO	16%
Jaguars	vs. SEA	13%
Cowboys	at CAR	8%

Kickers