Week 6 Waiver Wire Steals, The 2024 fantasy football season has reached its first major turning point. As injuries pile up and bye weeks take effect, your waiver wire decisions in Week 6 could make or break your championship hopes. After studying all 32 teams’ depth charts, snap counts, and upcoming schedules, we’ve identified five must-add players who are widely available but poised for breakout performances. These aren’t your typical fantasy advice clichés – these are the under-the-radar gems that will give you a decisive edge.
The Fantasy Landscape Heading Into Week 6
Before we reveal our top targets, let’s examine why this particular week is so crucial:
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Bye Week Hell: 6 teams off (Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, Vikings, Eagles, Jaguars)
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Injury Epidemic: 12 starting RBs and 8 WR1s currently banged up
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Emerging Trends: Several backup QBs taking over, creating new weapon opportunities
According to NFL Newsz, fantasy managers have been slower than usual to adapt to these changes, leaving legitimate difference-makers on most league waiver wires. Here’s who you need to prioritize.
1. RB Ty Chandler (Minnesota Vikings) – 43% Available
Why He’s a Must-Add:
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Alexander Mattison’s inefficiency (3.1 YPC) has coaches frustrated
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Chandler’s explosive plays (4.7 YPC, 12 receptions)
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Upcoming schedule: Bears (28th vs RB), Packers (22nd) next two weeks
Stat That Matters: Chandler leads all RBs with 2.8 yards after contact per attempt – higher than Christian McCaffrey
FAAB Bid Recommendation: 18-22% of budget
2. WR Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers) – 51% Available
Breakdown:
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Mike Williams’ season-ending injury opens 120+ targets
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Justin Herbert’s trust growing (8 targets in Week 5)
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Schedule goldmine: Cowboys (31st vs WR), Chiefs (25th) next
Eye-Opening Metric: Johnston’s 18.3 yards per reception would rank top-10 if qualified
FAAB Bid: 15-20%
3. TE Luke Musgrave (Green Bay Packers) – 68% Available
The Next Big Thing at TE:
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Leads all TEs in routes run (87% snap share)
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Jordan Love’s safety blanket (7 red zone targets)
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Bye week fill-in perfect: vs Broncos (allow most TE fantasy points)
Hidden Gem Stat: Musgrave’s 2.31 yards per route run beats Travis Kelce
FAAB Bid: 12-15%
4. QB Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – 65% Available
Resurgence Real:
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Top-10 QB past 3 weeks (21+ points each game)
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Weapons healthy: Evans/Godwin both over 90% snaps
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Juicy matchup: Lions allow 2nd most QB fantasy points
Advanced Insight: Mayfield’s 8.1 yards per attempt ranks 4th in NFL
FAAB Bid: 8-10%
5. DEF New York Jets – 72% Available
Why They’re Elite Rest of Season:
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Sauce Gardner lockdown corner (QB rating against: 48.1)
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Upcoming schedule: Eagles (hurt O-line), Giants (turnover machine)
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Robert Saleh effect: Defense gets healthier each week
Dominance Indicator: Jets allow fewest yards per play (4.1) in NFL
FAAB Bid: 5-7%
Week 6 Waiver Wire Strategy Session
Priority Order If You Need:
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RB Help: Chandler > All (volume is king)
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WR Depth: Johnston > Downs > Reynolds
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TE Upgrade: Musgrave > Henry > Conklin
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QB Streamer: Mayfield > Howell > Ridder
Players to Avoid (Fool’s Gold):
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire (still behind Pacheco when healthy)
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Michael Gallup (targets declining weekly)
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Any Patriots RB (Bill Belichick roulette)
Advanced Analytics: Why These Picks Work
Using NFL Newsz proprietary metrics, we’ve identified these waiver targets as having:
✅ Elite Opportunity Scores (snap share + routes run)
✅ Positive Touchdown Regression Coming (red zone looks vs actual TDs)
✅ Schedule Advantage (next 3 weeks vs weak defenses)
For example, Quentin Johnston’s +28% target premium (targets vs coverage) suggests massive upside Week 6 Waiver Wire Steals.
FAAB Spending Guide: League-Specific Advice
League Type | Priority | Max Bid % |
---|---|---|
Standard | Chandler > Johnston > Musgrave | 25% |
PPR | Johnston > Chandler > Musgrave | 22% |
Superflex | Mayfield > Chandler > Johnston | 30% |
TE Premium | Musgrave > Chandler > Johnston | 35% |
Pro Tip: In leagues with shallow benches, handcuff RBs like Tank Bigsby gain value.
The Long-Term Play: Stash These Guys Now
While our top 5 help immediately, these under-15% owned players could win you weeks down the stretch:
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WR Jayden Reed (GB) – Christian Watson’s hamstring issues linger
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RB Zach Charbonnet (SEA) – Walker’s groin injury bears watching
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TE Michael Mayer (LV) – Targets increasing every week
Read More: NFL International Games 2024: London & Germany Matchups
Final Waiver Wire Takeaways
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Don’t overthink Chandler – Minnesota’s backfield is changing
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Johnston’s breakout coming – Herbert makes stars out of WRs
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Musgrave is this year’s rookie TE star – Like Dalton Kincaid 2023
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Mayfield better than streaming options – Schedule stays soft
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Jets DST set and forget – Championship-level unit
For real-time waiver wire updates and personalized fantasy advice, visit NFL Newsz.
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