Waiver wire pickups for Week 6 are here
By: Rishi Patel
Welcome back to this NFL column where I will be preaching my advice about which fantasy players you should pluck off your waiver wire each week during this NFL season.
During each NFL season, there are usually sleepers that emerge who you should pick up off the waiver wire due to various reasons, such as better performances than expected, injuries, etc. It’s important to make good use of the waiver wire as players from here could sometimes be good depth and even a starter for your team in critical stretches. Let’s look at some players you should consider for this week:
Devontae Booker, RB, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley is nursing an ankle injury and could be out the next few weeks, meaning Booker is a smart addition at this point. The back had 16 carries for 42 yards and a score along with one receiving touchdown in Week 5 against Dallas. Booker will automatically have a large role as the workhorse back with Barkley out, so he may even be worth starting if you are lacking depth.
Damien Williams, RB, Chicago Bears
A knee injury has put starter David Montgomery on IR for three to five weeks, so former Chief Damien Williams will spearhead the Bears’ rushing attack. In the last two games, Williams has 55 and 64 yards rushing, along with a rushing touchdown in both games. He’s a great addition as a potential flex play.
Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs RB starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an MCL sprain in Week 5 that will sideline him for a bit. This means Darrel Williams will likely take on the bulk of the rushing workload for the high-octane Chiefs offense in the meanwhile. The 26-year-old is worth adding as a stash for now.
Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants
The Giants have been ravaged at WR, with quite a few receivers like Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton dealing with injuries. In Week 5, Kenny Golladay suffered a knee injury, putting yet another New York wide receiver off the field. With all the injuries, youngster Kadarius Toney has stepped up, delivering 78 yards in Week 4 before going off for 10 receptions for 189 yards in Week 5. It’s worth noting Toney is dealing with an ankle injury and it’s only worth stashing him and monitoring his status for now.
Chris Moore, WR, Houston Texans
The Texans are probably the last team you want to refer to for fantasy, but it’s worth noting Moore put up a solid performance in Week 5, getting five receptions for 109 yards and a score in Week 5. Moore is more of a stash in deep leagues as Week 5 was his first game with a catch in 2021. While the performance was encouraging, it’s best to wait and see how he does in upcoming games before starting him.
Dan Arnold, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Arnold was acquired by trade from the Carolina Panthers recently. With the Jaguars having no solid TE1, the hope was Arnold would fill that role upon arriving. In Week 5, his second game with the team, he delivered six receptions for 64 yards on eight targets, signaling the Jags’ hopes for him might be realistic. Since TE is a tough position, Arnold is certainly worth adding right now and potentially even starting as TE2 if you are lacking depth due to injury, etc.
