Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. These players include potential bye-week fill-ins, players who are returning from injury, and defenses to look at in advance.
Week 6 Byes: Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, Vikings
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
QB Caleb Williams, Chicago (65% rostered on Sleeper)
Even after a breakthrough performance last week, Williams is still out there in a bunch of leagues. They have a great matchup against the Jags this week, then a bye, so only grab him if you can hold him. Week 8 and 9 bring him Washington and Arizona.
WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (44% rostered on Sleeper)
If your league is shallow, there is a strong possibility that Watson was dropped. Green Bay did not put him on IR, suggesting he could return sooner rather than later. In Week 8, the Packers play Jacksonville, who give up the most fantasy points to wide receivers, so if you can hold him until then (and if he returns that week), you can slide him right in. They play Detroit the following week, which is another great matchup.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, Cleveland (3% rostered on Sleeper)
Deshaun Watson is not helping the Browns win football games, and there is a higher than zero chance that the team could bench him and put in Jameis Winston. Winston has been a joy for fantasy football in years past, and stashing him on your roster could pay off big if he gets to be under center.
In 2019, Winston was the QB3, throwing for over 5000 yards and 33 touchdowns. If the Browns do pivot, Week 7 and 8 would be great matchups for Winston. Cincinnati and Baltimore allow the 6th- and 5th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, respectively.
Drake Maye, New England (13% rostered on Sleeper)
It was announced on Tuesday that the rookie Drake Maye would be taking over in New England. The Patriots offense has been subpar, and we have no guarantee that Maye will be any better than Jacoby Brissett, especially with that offensive line. However, with his rushing ability, he is worth a shot if you have room to stash him. Maye ran for almost 600 yards during his final year at North Carolina.
Daniel Jones, New York (23% rostered on Sleeper)
Jones proved last week he did not need Malik Nabers to be successful, and guess what…Nabers could return this week. The Giants play the Bengals this week, who have given up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. If you can weather the storm against the Eagles and Steelers, then the Giants have a run of solid matchups for Jones with their bye week thrown in. Looking even further in the distance, the fantasy playoff schedule does not look too shabby either. Keep him on your radar.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Kendre Miller, New Orleans (14% rostered on Sleeper)
Miller has yet to play this season due to a hamstring injury, but he did return to practice last week. Head coach Dennis Allen has not spoken too kindly of Miller, but the Saints are flailing, and Allen might have to try something new. Running backs seem to be getting injured left and right, so if you have room for Miller on your roster, he is worth an add. It is all Alvin Kamara down there, so if he went down, Miller could be the guy.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Ja'Lynn Polk, New England (19% rostered on Sleeper)
Rookie Polk has slowly been increasing his snap percentage every week, and last week, he had 33% of the wide receiver targets - he ran a route on every Patriot dropback in Week 5. Drake Maye will now take over the quarterback duties and a rookie-to-rookie connection is something that we could see. The Patriots don’t have a fantastic schedule for wide receivers coming up, but they play Jacksonville in Week 7, which has given up the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far this season. You can also see a world where New England falls behind in these tougher matchups, forcing them to throw.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco (19% rostered on Sleeper)
Pearsall started the season on the IR after being shot before the start of the year. He had a miraculously speedy recovery, but the team has yet to open his practice window. San Francisco has been dealing with red zone woes, so once Pearsall is active, he could be utilized. In addition, with the injury bug that has hit almost all of the Niner pass catchers at some time, Pearsall could move up the ranks usage-wise quickly.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs (31% rostered on Sleeper)
With the Chiefs on a bye this week, forward-thinking managers can grab Smith-Schuster without wasting a lot of FAAB. He had eight targets in Week 5 for 130 yards, with 83 of them coming after the catch, the highest by a Chiefs receiver this year. Sure, Kansas City could trade for a big-name receiver before the trade deadline, but if you have room on your bench, stash JuJu.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans (7% rostered on Sleeper)
With Taysom Hill battling injury, Johnson’s snap percentage has steadily increased. Derek Carr will miss time with his injury, so the distribution of targets could vary with Spencer Rattler stepping in. The Saints play Tampa in Week 6, but after that, they have a run of good matchups for tight ends. Some managers may be put off by Denver, but the Broncos have given up the 11th most fantasy points to the tight end position. After that, it is the Chargers and Panthers.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Chargers (39% rostered on Sleeper)
Alot of managers will scramble to add the Eagles coming off their bye, but the Chargers are also returning. Los Angeles gets Denver this week and then three more great matchups, with New Orleans thrown in. The Chargers have one of the slowest paces of play this year, translating into fewer opportunities for the opposition to score. You could play them through Week 10 versus Tennessee.
Buffalo Bills (40% rostered on Sleeper)
The Bills have four great matchups in a row starting this week with the Jets, Titans, Seahawks, and Dolphins. Buffalo has been especially good against the run, meaning the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Will Levis, and possibly Tyler Huntley might have to throw. I like those odds for Buffalo.
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