Week 5 is almost in the books – only tonight’s incredibly fascinating Jets-Vikings game is left – and, as is usual on a Monday morning, there is plenty of carnage that will affect fantasy teams moving forward.
Does your team have Aaron Rodgers? He was concussed yesterday and could miss Week 6. Were you counting on Mark Clayton as one of your top three receivers? He’s out for the rest of the year. Do you own Knowshon Moreno? He still can’t get that troublesome hamstring to cooperate.
Of course, the bye weeks don’t stop just because your team has injury issues, and there are four more this week. Carolina, Arizona, Cincinnati, and Buffalo are all off this week. That means holes in your fantasy lineups, and that means you need some waiver wire sleeper suggestions.
Lucky for you, that’s what we do on Mondays so you can get a leg up on your competition.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks
* – As always, the criteria for making the list below is that the player be owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleepers: QB
Vince Young, Tennessee (37%, at Jacksonville)
Over his last three games, V.Y. has four TD passes and no INTs. He was splendid against Dallas in Week 5, with two TD passes and a couple of nice runs. In Week 6, Vince gets to face a Jacksonville defense that has been giving up big yards and points to every team it faces.
David Garrard, Jacksonville (29%, vs Tennessee)
Garrard has five TD passes and only one INT over his last two weeks. The Titans can be thrown on, and Garrard typically plays much better at home. He also remembered that he has Mike Sims-Walker in Week 5, and the emergence of Marcedes Lewis as a red zone threat is huge.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City (24%, at Houston)
Understand, I don’t like Cassel very much. He’s been downright awful so far this year and his receivers aren’t helping him out any. But…Kansas City is facing a Houston defense that is giving up big time fantasy points left and right to QBs. Cassel does also have a 3 TD, 0 INT performance this year, so he is capable of fantasy goodness in the right situation. If you’re in a bye week pinch, you could do worse than this matchup.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleepers: RB
Willis McGahee, Baltimore (33%, at New England)
Ray Rice has been healthy two straight weeks, and Willis McGahee has scored touchdowns in two straight weeks. McGahee was particularly effective in Week 5, rumbling for 67 yards on 10 carries. That makes 24 carries over the last two weeks, and he faces a defense that hasn’t done a great job of stopping the run. Solid flex option.
*** Sleeper Special *** Ryan Torain, Washington (18%, vs Indianapolis)
I am shocked that Ryan Torain is only owned in 18% of leagues. He is starting for Mike Shanahan folks! And he’s already scored one touchdown! I know that he wasn’t overly impressive in Week 5, garnering just 40 yards on 16 carries, but he faced a decent Green Bay defense. In Week 6 Torain faces the Colts, who can definitely be run on. It makes him a very useful starter.
Considering the fact that Clinton Portis could be done for the year, I would definitely use a high waiver position on Torain. It’s very possible this guy is a top-25 running back from here until the end of the season.
Mike Hart, Indianapolis (0%, at Indianapolis)
This one is totally dependent on the health of Joseph Addai and Donald Brown…but neither guy is exactly Brett Favre in terms of Iron Man status. Brown has been hobbled all year and Addai had to leave the Colts’ Week 5 game early. Hart came in and ran for 50 yards and a TD. He’s no stud, and won’t have great long-term value, but he could help out if you’re in a Week 6 pinch.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleepers: WR
Mike Williams, Tampa Bay (45%, vs New Orleans)
I was not a believer in Mike Williams before the season began because I do not trust rookie WRs. And while I still don’t completely trust him, it’s hard for me to argue with 19 receptions and 3 TDs through 4 games. And a matchup against New Orleans isn’t terrible. If you need WR depth or a spot starter, Williams now needs to be owned in the majority of leagues.
Kenny Britt, Tennessee (35%, at Jacksonville)
Britt was in the doghouse at the beginning of the season but not anymore. Scoring touchdowns in three straight games will do that. As Vince Young has rounded into form, it has helped Britt. A matchup against Jacksonville means that a fourth straight game with a TD is probably more likely to happen than not.
Danny Amendola, St. Louis (18%, vs San Diego)
I know I had Amendola in this spot last week, but he warrants special mention this week. Sam Bradford’s top target, Mark Clayton, was forced to leave the Rams’ Week 5 game early. Who did Bradford go to? Amendola. Though he didn’t get into the end zone, Amendola caught 12 passes for 95 yards. This comes on the heels of a few similarly productive games in which Amendola had nice catch totals and provided solid value. Amendola looks like the guy you want in St. Louis, and they’ll throw enough to make him valuable.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleepers: TE
Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit (29%, at New York Giants)
Pettigrew has been startable in three straight weeks. In Week 5 he didn’t have as many catches or yards as in the previous two weeks, but he compensated with a score. Stop sleeping on this guy. As long as Shaun Hill is the QB, and even after, he’s proven he’s a solid TE option.
Tony Moeaki, Kansas City (24%, at Houston)
The rookie from Iowa has consistently been involved over the last three weeks in the Chiefs’ offense. The Texans give up a lot of yards through the air, and right now he is Matt Cassel’s most reliable target. (Umm, did you see all the dropped passes by Dwayne Bowe last week?)
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire Sleepers: D/ST
Miami Dolphins (45%, at Green Bay)
Keep your eye on this one. The Packers offense is struggling without a running game to provide balance and take some pressure off of an offensive line that struggles to pass block. Green Bay also may be without Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a concussion in Week 5. If he is out, the Dolphins become a solid play. They are inconsistent, but they can rush the passer.
Seattle Seahawks (30%, at Chicago)
I rarely recommend anyone from Seattle if the Seahawks are on the road; but, if Todd Collins is playing QB for the Bears, you have to play Seattle’s defense. Sure, the Bears can still score, as evidenced by the 20+ points they put up against Carolina, but Collins threw 4 INTs and the Bears’ O-Line problems are far from solved. There is potential here for a good day for the Seahawks D.