Waiver Wire Watch: Week 6

Oct 12, 2020

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Week 5 came at a heavy cost for the NFL. First, Covid-19 forced massive schedule changes, giving us (potentially) Tuesday night football (pending no more positive tests), as well as about a dozen other schedule changes throughout the year. But even worse, Dak Prescott suffered a gruesome injury and will be out for the rest of the year. Prescott’s injury was a stark reminder of how brutal the game is, especially given his contract situation. Rather than wax poetic on that, I’ll just point you to this tweet from Mike Freeman. Anyway, four more teams have byes next week (for now), so plenty of fantasy managers may be scrambling for help on the waiver wire. And there is help available this week, so let’s get to that.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

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Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 6.

Quarterbacks

Gardner Minshew, Jaguars
Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Andy Dalton, Cowboys
Ryan Tannehill, Titans
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins
Daniel Jones, Giants
Nick Foles, Bears
Philip Rivers, Colts

Gardner Minshew, Jaguars, 46% rostered ($3)

Minshew was a top streamer last week and delivered, completing 31-of-49 for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Minshew gets a great matchup next week when the Jaguars host the Lions, who have allowed two-plus touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks in each game this season.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings, 32% rostered ($2)

Cousins did fine in a great matchup on Sunday night, throwing for 249 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The Vikings steamrolled the Seahawks on the ground to start, lowering Cousins’ potential ceiling. Cousins enters another plus matchup next week against the Falcons, a team that hasn’t been able to stop any offense all year and has conceded the most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Andy Dalton, Cowboys, 32% rostered ($2)

Dak Prescott suffered a terrible ankle injury against the Giants and is going to be out for the season, if not more. Dalton stepped in and delivered some clutch passes to help the Cowboys win late in the fourth quarter. A stable veteran with an arsenal of talented weapons in the passing game, Dalton should have some appeal as a fill-in for Dak or a streamer. The Cowboys face an Arizona defense next week that has been vulnerable to opposing passing attacks, giving up over 18 fantasy points to Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Teddy Bridgewater.

Nick Foles, Bears, 10% rostered ($1)

Foles gutted out OK performances against two tough defenses (Colts, Buccaneers) but now gets a bit of relief as the Bears travel to Carolina to face the Panthers. The Panthers held the Falcons in check in Week 5, but prior to that let Kyler Murray throw three touchdowns a week after letting rookie Justin Herbert throw for over 300 yards against them. Foles is on the lower end of the streamers this week.

Paulsen's Take: Other potential streamers include Ryan Tannehill (vs. HOU), Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. NYJ), Daniel Jones (vs. WAS) and Philip Rivers (vs. CIN). I'll probably have Tannehill, Fitzpatrick and Jones ranked ahead of Foles.