Remember when I told you to NOT drop Justin Fields? You’re welcome…AGAIN!!! The Bears signal caller is firmly back as a must-start QB. I also told several readers and folks on X (formerly Twitter) to hold or trade for Puka Nacua, even with the return of Cooper Kupp. Is it too early to push the tandem as Puker Kupp? Let me know what you think about the moniker.
What did we see and learn in Week 5? We learned that this season’s bye weeks snuck up on some fantasy teams, especially when you factor in injury issues. Not only was the league down four bye teams, but teams on the field lost Anthony Richarson (AC joint possibly out four weeks), Daniel Jones (neck; MRI today), Travis Kelce (low ankle sprain; returned to the game), James Conner (knee; did not return to the game), Tank Dell (in concussion protocol; stay tuned), Roschon Johnson (concussion)/Khalil Herbert (high ankle), and Mr. 1.01 Justin Jefferson (hamstring; placed on IR; could be back after Week 10). Those three injuries are not as many as we have seen in past weeks, but they could be significant if those players miss non-bye weeks. This, my loyal readers, is why I check in each week to discuss low-rostered players that might be one-week streamers, handcuffs, or simply excellent matchup-driven starters.
As I wrote in the title, I am not afraid of the bye weeks because we come to this forum each week and prepare. We insulate ourselves from the issues presented by the bye weeks. We are ready while others scramble late in the week after realizing they have holes to fill.
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Week 6 byes: GB, PIT
Remember to check in with the @Razzball NFL team of writers as we host our Sunday Morning Start/Sit podcast every week, starting two hours before kickoff all the way up to the official start of the early games. With games in London, we try to start our show around half-time of the London morning game. @BobbyLaMarco, @SkyGuasco, The Lineup Builder @Derek_Favret, and me, Mitch Staniger @stiles08, will be answering all your questions to help you win your weekly matchups. Come for the analysis, and stay for the laughs!
WAIVERS:
QB: Fantasy managers welcome back Justin Herbert, Geno Smith, Deshaun Watson, and Baker Mayfield from the Week 5 bye while watching Jordan Love and Kenny Pickett take Week 6 off. My top add for the QB position is Gardner Minshew (1% rostered), going up against a beatable Jags squad to fill in for the injured Richardson. The injury appears to be at least a few weeks, with Richardson possibly landing on IR (four weeks minimum), thus paving the way for Minshew to cover your QB spot for a few weeks.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Baker Mayfield, TB: The only reason Baker (19% rostered) is not listed atop my list is because the Lions come to Tampa with a defense that can get after the QB. If Mike Williams is all the way back from his Week 4 hamstring issue, and he should be, I like Baker based on negative game script. I think the Bucs will need to throw to stay with the Lions, and that means volume for Baker.
Desmond Ridder, ATL: I do not love Ridder (5% rostered) and will only consider him for one reason in Week 6; the Commanders defense that just allowed Justin Fields to go for 280+ and four TDs. If that is not enough to give Ridder a look, I am not whatever will be.
Jimmy Garoppolo, LV: Have you seen what the Patriots have done lately? Well, they have done little to nothing to stop opposing offenses, so why not give Jimmy G (15% rostered) a look? Also, if you are one of the ‘revenge game’ nerds, here is one right up your alley.
RB: As mentioned above, the Bears lost their top two RBs to injury during their Thursday Night Football victory against the Commanders. The Herbert high ankle sprain appears to be the injury with the longest possible time missed, followed by the Roschon concussion, which could be cleared already. Keep an eye on the progress of both players as you place a 10% FAAB bid on D’Onta Foreman (7% rostered), who has proven able to carry the RB1 load in past seasons. I can almost see you scrunching your face and shrugging your shoulders as you read this recommendation. That is cool, and normally I would have the same reaction. Then I looked at the Week 6 schedule and saw the 1-4 Vikings on the slate. The matchup is one to exploit, especially with the Vikings needing to focus on Fields. This should prove to be a smash spot for Foreman or Roschon if he is cleared to play.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Emari Demercado, ARI: If Conner misses any amount of time, the replacement appears to be Demercado (12% rostered), who found paydirt in Week 5. The undrafted rookie from TCU looked good but not great. He averaged 4.5 YPC, which is nice and reeled in one catch for 12 yards. With injuries and bye weeks, I think most of us would be happy to add an RB for free (would not use FAAB or waiver priority) that can net 12 PPR points,
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN: It appears as if a significant group of fantasy owners took my advice and added McLaughlin to their Week 5 rosters, and he did not disappoint with his 17 PPR points. If Javonte Williams continues to struggle with his quad issue, McLaughlin (59% rostered) is the clear RB1, with Samaje Perine spelling him from time to time.
Jordan Mason, SF: This is a super deep league recommendation. If you have a deep bench, then Mason (1% rostered) should be a consideration for you. If San Francisco continues to blow teams out as they did with Dallas, and Elijah Mitchell struggles to beat the injury bug, then Mason will continue to be in line for garage time. We all know Christian McCaffrey plays virtually every down and is the clear best RB in the game right now, but should he go down (history says it’s likely), then Mason becomes a must-start for your fantasy team. He is a classic grab-and-stash option right now.
WR: K.J. Osborn: With Justin Jefferson out for a minimum of four weeks, it is time to start Jordan Addison and acquire the services of K.J. Osborn (10% rostered). He has been in this offense for a few years and was performing as WR2 until the recent draft selection of Addison. For the price, I prefer Osborn over Addison. Look for Osborn to easily produce double digits for the extent of the Jefferson IR stint. This is your #1 waiver wire target!
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
DJ Chark, CAR: Coming in right behind Rice for me is Chark. The main reason is the Panthers face the Dolphins in Week 6 and will have to throw to stay in the game. They will probably get boat-raced, but we do not care about who wins and loses on the field. We want fantasy points, and WR on a team forced to throw is a good bet to bring us points. (12% rostered)
Rashee Rice, KC: I know, I know, I know…starting KC WRs always feel like a crapshoot. Can we be honest here? Are we in the trust tree? We certainly are, so we need to admit a whole bunch of fantasy football is a crapshoot. Let’s roll the dice on the catch-and-run WR in one of the top offenses in the league captained by, arguably, the best QB in the league. Rice (39% rostered) looked good in Week 5, and I fully expect to see him on an upward trajectory while other KC WRs just keep spinning their wheels.
Josh Downs, IND: Downs passes the eye test for me. With Richardson out for at least a few weeks, I like Minshew to move the Colts a little more with the passing game. Do not pay FAAB for Downs. Look to grab him as a potential bye week filler for free after waivers. (9% rostered)
TE: The two names that must be rostered right now are Logan Thomas (15% rostered) and Cole Kmet (69% rostered), and I would argue both as must-start TEs. My TE honorable mention is Dalton Schultz (36% rostered), especially if Tank Dell misses time.
Follow me @stiles08 on Twitter/X and send questions and comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs.
-Mitch-
