As we enter Week 6 of the 2024 season, I want to share some tips, advice, and thoughts on various players, teams, and situations. With resources available at every turn, including information and opinions shared on social media, it is becoming more difficult to separate yourself from the rest of the pack regarding knowledge and strategy. To gain that extra edge, you must make proactive moves that cash in, plan ahead, know your players' schedules, read helpful columns, and execute the game plan for success. In no particular order, here are a few items that can help you gain that edge.
Be Aware of Players Returning from Injury
RB Joe Mixon, Houston
Mixon has been out for the last three weeks with a sprained ankle, but the severity and type of injury are unknown. It could be a right high-ankle sprain, a medial sprain, or some have said a pedal bruise, but he has needed time to heal, and the Texans have not rushed him back. Previous injuries to the same ankle (2017, 2020, and 2021) are also concerning regarding his recovery length. Cam Akers has filled the void since the injury with a 32%, 64%, and 50% team carry share in the last three games, respectively, but he has not stolen the job from Mixon once he returns, which could be this week at New England. Mixon was a key component of the Texans offense in Week 1 to the tune of 30 carries for 159 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. It is also important to note that he has three receptions in both Week 1 and Week 2 before getting injured. If Mixon is deemed active, it is wise to start him, especially in a matchup against the Patriots, who have allowed one rushing touchdown to running backs in each of their five games this season.
RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco
The highly anticipated return of Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) can't come soon enough. Aside from fantasy managers being excited about his return, the 49ers, who are 2-3 without him, are anxiously waiting for him to set foot on the field once again. He is eligible to return in Week 6, but it might be a few more weeks before he makes his season debut. Even upon his return, there is no guarantee that he will be 100%, but even a less-than-100% McCaffrey is still a viable fantasy weapon that would instantly improve your roster.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina
We have not seen the Panthers rookie running back yet, but his arrival is due soon. Carolina may have the worst roster in the league, especially on defense, but their offensive line has been decent and has graded well in the first quarter of the season. Chuba Hubbard (RB7 through five games) has a touchdown in each of the last three games (all Andy Dalton starts), plus games of 114, 104, and 97 rushing yards, respectively. However, good things don't seem to last long in Carolina. Week 5 saw their starting center, Austin Corbett, go down with a season-ending biceps tear, and their right tackle, Taylor Moton, left the game with an elbow injury. This could have negative impact on the ground game. Game script is also a concern for running back performance. Brooks won't immediately see fantasy-worthy snaps, so don't assume he will jump in when ready and make a big splash. Consider at least 2-3 weeks of ramp-up time before he makes an impact that will benefit your fantasy roster. If we're speculating, it may not be until after their Week 11 BYE when he will be a fantasy-relevant option for your roster. Carolina plans to have him for their future build, so they will be extra careful with their prized possession.
RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis
A right ankle injury, likely a mild high-ankle sprain, has kept him shelved for at least one week (Week 5) so far with the possibility of another week or two. Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson will fill the void with the majority of touches going to Sermon, who had a decent Week 5 with 10 carries for 38 yards and a score plus 6 receptions for 25 yards. Expect Taylor to regain his normal volume of carries once he returns, which could be Week 6 at Tennessee or Week 7 at home vs Miami. In the meantime, Sermon is a viable solution if Taylor is inactive.
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami
Tua Tagovailoa is eligible to return off IR in Week 8. Once cleared from the concussion protocol, it is believed that Tagovailoa will return to play, which may not be great news for his long-term well-being, but the team would benefit.
RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland
Nick Chubb (PUP) will return when he is deemed ready. That could be anywhere between Week 6 and Week 11. There is no guarantee that he will be able to produce effective numbers for us when he does return. It is possible that he won't ever be the same caliber of player that he was in the past. The Browns aren't exactly a juggernaut right now and have been rumored to be trading Amari Cooper to the highest bidder. Even if Chubb returns full steam ahead, it is not an appealing fantasy situation.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota
The earliest we could see T.J. Hockenson (knee recovery) is Week 7, which is one week after the Vikings' bye. However, depending on how the Vikings view his recovery efforts, it could be later than that. When he does return, he will enter one of the better-performing offenses in the NFC. Monitor the news on his practice sessions. When he does return, he should have an immediate impact.
WR Cooper Kupp, LA Rams
Provided there are no setbacks, Week 7 could be when Kupp (left high-ankle sprain) returns to the active roster for the Rams. These types of ankle injuries can have lasting, lingering effects. Don't expect him to be 100% for a while. He may still see a high volume because Matthew Stafford trusts him, and quite honestly, the Rams are a better offense with him on the field.
WR Puka Nacua, LA Rams
The other half of the Rams' receiving corps, Nacua (right knee PCL sprain), could be back in Week 7, barring any setbacks. It is possible that the Rams may have both of their star receivers back for the game against the Raiders. Like Kupp, don't necessarily expect big numbers out of the gate, as it will take time for Nacua to fully rebound to health.
Be Aware of Players Benefiting From an Injury
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City
The loss of Rashee Rice opens the door for another Chiefs wide receiver to fill the void. If Week 5 is any indication, it appears as if that player is Smith-Schuster. Rice is expected to miss the rest of the season, and the biggest beneficiary is Smith-Schuster, who may be on many league's waiver wires. If he's available, go big on a waiver claim because the results are league-winning upside. If you don't go big, someone else will. The Chiefs have a bye this week, but that should not deter you from making a claim if he's available.
RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati
Zack Moss is believed to have a mild right high-ankle sprain. If it doesn't affect his availability in Week 6 against the Giants, it will affect his level of play. Chase Brown may already be the preferred back in the eyes of the coaching staff, but now he will have the chance to audition further for more touches even when Moss is back. Brown has three touchdowns in the last two games and appears to be turning the corner on an increased role.
WR Jalen Tolbert, Dallas
With Brandin Cooks (knee) out for multiple games, Jalen Tolbert has taken over as the Cowboys' #2 wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. Tolbert led the Cowboys with 10 targets and finished with 7 receptions for 87 yards. He has performed well for us in three of five games and is expected to be a fixture of the Cowboys offense for as long as Cooks is out, which could be through early November.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., NY Giants
Devin Singletary missed Week 5 with a groin strain, but he may not get his full-time job back after Tracy's impressive performance of 18 carries for 129 yards in the Week 5 win over Seattle.
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay
An ankle injury to Luke Musgrave allowed Tucker Kraft to see increased utilization as the primary Packers tight end receiving threat in Week 5, and he did not disappoint. He established a good rapport with Jordan Love and used his running abilities after the catch to finish with an impressive week. He appears to have earned the #1 receiving role among Packers tight ends even when Musgrave returns.
RB Trey Sermon, Indianapolis
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) may not be active in Week 6 against Tennessee, thus opening the door for Sermon to see more action. Sermon was decent in Week 5 against Jacksonville, especially as a receiver, catching six passes for 25 yards. His usage as a receiving back is likely strengthened with Joe Flacco under center for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson (hip/oblique) returns, we may not see the same volume of passes going his way.
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay
The injury to Christian Watson (left ankle sprain) has opened the door for other Packers wide receivers to answer the bell. Watson's ankle sprain is more of a mild severity and he has already started to practice in limited capacity. Jayden Reed is the primary beneficiary if Watson is out, but Wicks has shown the ability to separate and get himself open. He was unable to corral multiple targets in Week 5, which is a slight concern. If he corrects those issues, this could be a sign of things to come or a glimpse into his potential.
Stay Active on the Waiver Wire, but Also See Who Others Are Dropping and Be Prepared to Make Claims
Be active on the waiver wire, targeting players with a productive future, not just a one-game outing. How do you know the difference? Targets and snap counts will give a clue as to the player's involvement in the offense. You want players with at least 65-70% of the team's offensive snaps, generally five targets or more, and a good game to show for it. Team Target Share is also a good indicator. Anything over 20% is strong. Potential waiver claims with strong usage include...
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City
Open the wallet and prepare to overbid.
RB Kareem Hunt, Kansas City
Hunt is being used as the Chiefs' replacement for Isiah Pacheco, and he has not disappointed. If available, spend big.
RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville
At worst, he is in a committee approach with Travis Etienne Jr. At best, Bigsby supplants Etienne and is one of the better waiver claims of the season.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., NY Giants
He may have supplanted Devin Singletary, thanks to his big week in the win over Seattle.
RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota
Aaron Jones (hip) may miss multiple weeks, even with a Week 6 bye. If so, Chandler becomes a player to target as a potential fill-in.
RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas
The Cowboys don't have a great backfield, but Dowdle is showing he can produce with touchdowns in back-to-back weeks with decent yardage to boot. He's an option moving forward if available on the wire.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina
Injuries to Adam Thielen (hamstring) and now Xavier Legette (shoulder) have opened the door for others to benefit. Jalen Coker outperformed Jonathan Mingo in Week 5 and may have worked his way into an increased role. Andy Dalton has elevated the Panthers offense in recent weeks while their defense has eroded with injuries of their own. It all points to more offensive opportunites which could benefit Coker.
Waiver Wire Tips
- Target players who have risen in the depth chart due to an injury or performance. There are several examples of this coming to light over the last few weeks. Kareem Hunt, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Jalen Tolbert, and Tucker Kraft are good examples of that.
- There are several different variations for obtaining players available on the waiver wire - there's your first-come, first-serve waiver, which can be great if you're on the ball and ahead of your league mates. You get the player you want, and you don't have to outbid anyone else to claim that player. There's an order of rankings waiver order, which is not as good as first-come, first-serve (FCFS), but it can still be a beneficial and perhaps an easy way to get the players you want. When bidding becomes the process for obtaining players, you have to know how much you have to spend, what the maximum budget is for the season, and how important it is to acquire a player at all costs. Generally, spending in the early weeks of the season is the way to acquire coveted players, but saving your free agent budget could prove helpful later on when your starting running back gets hurt and you need his replacement - hopefully, he's on the waiver wire.
- Be ready to pounce on players who are dropped. In some leagues, waivers are run after 10:00 pm and possibly later. This is a good time to pounce on players when the activity level of your league-mates is lower. Those on the West Coast can especially benefit from this. Let's say your league mate wants to acquire the flavor of the week, but he/she has to drop someone to keep their roster legal. Be ready to make a move, especially if your league allows immediate acquisition of players who were recently dropped.
- Generally, fantasy teams only keep one defense on their roster (if your league includes team defenses). Be ready to scoop up a high-performing defense that was dropped due to a bye week, especially if you have the space on your roster to temporarily house two defenses. Minnesota (20 sacks, 11 INTs, 2 defensive touchdowns) is a good example of this. They have a Week 6 bye, so be on the lookout to see if someone drops them.
Read Other Footballguys Articles
Footballguys produces a ton of weekly content. If you're reading this article, you also have access to these outstanding weekly must-read pieces, among others, that we provide at Footballguys.
- UPGRADES AND DOWNGRADES - by Sigmund Bloom. This will tell you who you should target on the waiver wire, how much you should spend (if bidding), and a commentary on why players have been upgraded or downgraded. We do the work for you in this weekly piece. Posted weekly Monday late afternoon or early evening. If you're in IDP leagues, this also includes individual defensive players.
- Another must-read weekly article is Jeff Bell's MONDAY NFL ROUNDUP. Jeff shares his thoughts on what happened in the NFL that week and how your fantasy roster can benefit moving forward.
- THE TOP 10 - by Matt Waldman. Each week, Matt shares 10 important facets of the game, which can be player-driven, coach-driven, scheme-driven, or just chronicling things he observed in last week's slate of games. Not only does he share his thoughts, but he uses video to explain how or why something caught his attention.
- REST OF SEASON RANKINGS - Bob Henry and Justin Freeman do a great job of updating this spreadsheet to factor in recent success that updates the rest-of-season rankings. This can be helpful when evaluating trade offers or if you're on the fence about a player to pick up or drop. This is also available for IDP projections.
- INJURY ROUNDUP and *GAMEDAY INJURY EXPECTATIONS *available on Saturday - by Adam Hutchison. Adam is a Physical Therapist with a vast knowledge of sports injuries. He provides updates on player injuries on Sunday mornings and Mondays. It's a must-read if you're on the fence about the status of players on your team.
Target Pre-Emptive Waiver Pickups
What is a pre-emptive waiver pick-up? Targeting a player on waivers where you don't have to spend much, if any, of your free agent budget. This generally occurs after waivers have gone through for the week. In some cases, if a player is highly coveted, you can target them using your free agent budget so you can ensure you claim them.
These players are usually non-starters who could benefit in the coming weeks due to a matchup, impending coaching decision, increase in usage, or a general hunch that they will rise to fantasy relevance. Usually, these pickups are planned for future use as players you can stash and wait for them to blossom into fantasy starters. Larger leagues or leagues with high roster spots are best for stashing players. Winning on a pre-emptive waiver claim makes the return on your investment a much sweeter experience because it was you who decided to roll the dice on a player that turned into a gem. Examples of gems from this season include Jordan Mason, Chuba Hubbard, Jauan Jennings, Allen Lazard, and Jalen Tolbert.
Pre-Emptive Waiver Claim Targets (for Deeper Leagues)
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore
He is returning from a significant ACL injury, but he could recover enough to make an impact later in the year. Justice Hill is holding down the fort in that role for Baltimore now, but Mitchell is a more well-rounded back than Hill and could work his way into a role in the second half of the season.
WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco
Pearsall suffered a gunshot wound to his chest/shoulder and is on the non-football injury (NFI) list. His practice window hasn't been opened, but he appears close to returning.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina
Coker, a highly sought-after UDFA claimed by Carolina, has made some strides recently by outplaying Jonathan Mingo in Week 5 against Chicago. Several people close to Carolina believe he may be a better option than Mingo for the Panthers. He also could see increased snaps if Xavier Legette's shoulder injury proves to be problematic.
TE Erick All Jr., Cincinnati
If we're looking at case histories, All, a former tight end from Iowa, is starting to see more opportunities in the Bengals offense. Offense is not the problem for the Bengals, so there is a chance that his role develops as the season wears on. He has led the Bengals tight ends in snaps in each of the last two games.
QB Drake Maye, New England
A change at quarterback in New England may be in the cards. Maye, who has drawn comparisons to Justin Herbert, may be exactly what is needed.
QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland
The Browns may not want to admit it, but they may be better off without Deshaun Watson under center. The logical choice to replace him is veteran Jameis Winston. If Cleveland is interested in wins, they should strongly consider making a change.
RB MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay
Josh Jacobs is the primary running back, and Emanuel Wilson is the current back who is next in line, however, Green Bay drafted Lloyd in the third round of the draft because they like his skill set and what he could bring to the Packers offense. He is on IR due to an ankle injury, likely a high-ankle injury. He may be a candidate for more of a role in the second half of the season.
TE Tyler Higbee, LA Rams
Higbee is recovering from an ACL injury in the 2023 season. Expect him to be back in the mix for the Rams in the next few weeks.
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