Waiver Wire Watch: Week 6

Oct 12, 2015

Editor’s Note: We’re happy that 4for4 Contributor Pat Fitzmaurice (formerly of Pro Football Weekly) is back on the Waiver Wire Watch this year. He will continue to work in conjunction with Senior Editor John Paulsen to compile this list of the top pickups each week.

Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups for Week 6. To be eligible for discussion, the player must be owned in 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues, though we’ll stretch the rules a bit for the RB position, which is usually very thin. We’ll also include suggested bid prices (with a $100 budget) for those leagues that use Free Agent Acquisition Budgets. Of course, player value depends on league characteristics and team needs. Players are listed by position in order of importance. For extremely shallow or extremely deep leagues, be sure to review our Rest-of-Season Rankings (updated every Tuesday) to get an idea of how to value players not on this list.

Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater ($7)

After putting up lackluster fantasy numbers in his first four games, Bridgewater’s ownership rate has fallen to 44% in Yahoo leagues. The second-year man from Louisville has thrown only two TD passes and is averaging only 193.5 passing yards per game. It’s understandable that the Vikings have gone run-heavy in their two wins. Bridgewater has averaged just 21 pass attempts in Minnesota’s two victories, and he’s averaged 36.5 attempts and 250 passing yards in two losses. Teddy has a fiercely loyal group of Twitter supporters, and there’s no denying that he has a great deal of promise. But for the moment, it appears that Bridgewater might be the type of player who’s more valuable in the real world than in the fantasy realm. On the other hand, Bridgewater has a great run of matchups on tap over the next few weeks. On Sunday he’ll face a Chiefs defense that’s yielding 284.6 passing yards per game and has allowed 13 TD passes. In Week 7, Bridgewater faces the downtrodden Lions, who have a league-worst opponent passer rating of 116.2.

Next up: Chiefs, @ Lions, @ Bears

Bears QB Jay Cutler ($7)

Make fun of his pouty face and sour demeanor if you must, but Cutler has been surprisingly good in his last two games considering that he’s been playing without stud WR Alshon Jeffrey and possession WR Eddie Royal. Cutler threw for 281 yards and two TDs against the Raiders in Week 4, then threw for 252 yards and two TDs in an upset road win over the Chiefs on Sunday. Cutler has a terrific matchup against the hapless Lions this week, and if he gets either Jeffery or Royal back this week (or perhaps both), he’ll be a fine streaming option.

Next up: @ Lions, BYE, Vikings

Jaguars QB Blake Bortles ($7)

Don’t look now, but Bortles has turned into a productive fantasy quarterback, averaging 259.8 passing yards and two TD passes per game. He strafed the Buccaneers for a career-best four TD passes on Sunday and completed a season-high 69.7% of his passes. Bortles is also adding a bit of value with his legs, with 112 rushing yards through five games. He has a favorable matchup against the Texans this week, but then he won’t have another good one until he faces the Ravens in Week 10. Bortles sustained a mild shoulder sprain in Week 5. It isn’t expected to keep him out of action, but double-check his medical status before placing a claim on him.

Next up: Texans, Bills, BYE