Week 6 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2026 Fantasy Football Team
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Week 6 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2026 Fantasy Football Team

By Optimus Staff · October 12, 2026

Welcome to Week 6, where the bye weeks have officially stopped being chill.

The Lions, Bengals, Dolphins, and Vikings are all taking the week off, which means some of you are about to find out just how thin your bench really is. If you were feeling good about your lineup last week, congratulations! Now go check it again.

a woman is standing in front of a bulletin board and says " the lord is testing me "

Four teams on bye means we're doing a little more lineup shuffling this week, and those bench spots are suddenly looking a lot more important. We also have a few injuries opening the door for some pickups, whether you're looking for a one-week fill-in or someone worth stashing in case things don't go as planned. Nothing that requires you to empty your FAAB account just yet, but enough to make this week's waiver wire worth a look.

And look, not every pickup needs to be some hidden gem who's going to carry your team to a championship. Sometimes you just need a guy who can get you through a week with four teams on bye without putting up a zero in your flex. We've all been there.

Let's get into it.

Week 6 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2026 Fantasy Football Team

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Quarterbacks:

With the Bengals and Lions on bye in Week 6, the waiver wire for QBs starts getting especially thin this week, and heaven help your soul if you've been starting the QBs for Miami and/or Minnesota. With that in mind, if either C.J. Stroud or Jacoby Brissett is on your waiver wire, they should be snapped up immediately, because things are only gonna get worse. Stroud has been great all year and just got a new toy in Marvin Harrison Jr., and Brissett doesn't have his bye until Week 14.

If not, we have the best of the rest. Prepare yourself, it ain't pretty.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper: 37% | ESPN: 19.3% | FAAB: 3%

As you can tell from the FAAB recommendation, Aaron Rodgers is by far the preferred option for waiver wire QB for Week 6. He's also the only one who carries real upside for rest-of-season performance, too, so keep that in mind when you're evaluating who you go after this week.

In Week 6, Rodgers gets the Tampa Bay defense, which just did a surprisingly good job limiting the Dallas passing attack, although they did still allow for 300 yards passing. Rodgers is on a bit of a TD tear with 3 passing TDs in each of his last 3 games after throwing only 1 in his first two combined. So don't necessarily expect a 20+ point game from him, but with at least 31 passing attempts from him in every game, the volume is there even if Pittsburgh leads wire to wire again.

Jameis Winston, New York Giants| Sleeper: 12% | ESPN: 4% | FAAB: 1%

And now we get to the truly stinky part of QBs for the week. We know who Jameis Winston is. He's going to throw some TDs, and he's going to throw some of the worst interceptions you're ever gonna see, and take way too many sacks. But he's learning the "just throw the ball to Malik Nabers" offense, and that's enough to keep him relevant in these dark days.

In Week 6, the Giants get to play New Orleans, who have been middling against opposing QBs. The upside for Jameis is that one of those games was against the Falcons, who ran the ball all over the Saints, so Michael Penix's score was depressed because the Falcons simply didn't need to throw the ball. Cam Skattebo is 16th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards/game, so this isn't the dominating rushing offense of Atlanta.

Like anything else you just can't quit but you know is bad for you, Jameis is always there when you need him.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts| Sleeper: 17% | ESPN: 18.8% | FAAB: 0%

So apparently Alec Pierce is the key to the Colts' offense. Who knew?

To be clear: I do not recommend picking up ole "Danny Dimes." But I do recognize that desperate times can call for desperate measures, and he does get the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. While they don't have a great defense or anything, they've been OK against opposing QBs. And for some reason, Indianapolis is throwing the ball a ton this year, with Jones throwing the ball at least 31 times in every game.

This could also very well be a Jonathan Taylor game if Indianapolis decides to try and impose their will, and Jones has already had 2 sub-10-point games this year. So you may be tempted by one of the dumpster-diving names below….

Other Options:

Running Backs:

Woody Marks, Houston Texans | Sleeper: 57% | ESPN: 48% | FAAB: 15%

Just when the bloom was coming off Woody Marks, David Montgomery goes and suffers a groin injury in Week 5. Now, according to the Injury Response Protocol I developed, we can probably assume a three-week absence for Monty unless it's a severe injury, which we don't know yet. Once Monty left with his injury, Marks saw 100% of the snaps at the RB position for Houston and was able to turn 15 carries into 62 yards. Not exactly impressive, but his 4.1 yards/carry is a far cry from Montgomery's 2.7 YPC on the year.

Hope you've been holding Woody Marks

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— Lou (@brewpython27.bsky.social) October 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM

Houston has its bye in Week 8, so if Montgomery is only out for 3 weeks, you lose a week of potential production in Marks. However, Houston plays Jacksonville and the New York Giants in Weeks 6 and 7. Jacksonville is a top-10 team vs. opposing RBs, but the best RB they've faced this year was Chase Brown. So there's an element of "good vs. the run, or just bad RBs?" to their success. Meanwhile, the Giants are in the middle of the pack. So that's why it's only a 15% recommendation for Marks.

There is a possibility that Marks doesn't give the starting job back to Montgomery, though. As I said before, Marks is performing much better in terms of efficiency than Montgomery has so far this year, and the team may decide to turn to the 2nd-year RB fully.

Pierre Strong, Green Bay Packers | Sleeper: 0% | ESPN: 0.1% | FAAB: 0%

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I'm including both Green Bay RBs of note in order of my preference. I have Pierre Strong lower because you can probably get him for less than Marshawn Lloyd. It says a lot when a player is brought in and immediately gets relied upon. Despite just joining the team this week, Strong saw nine opportunities, compared to 'starter' Lloyd's 12. Even though Kaleb Johnson saw seven, that was more a function of the score than skill and trust. He saw 24 snaps to Lloyd's 26, and was even in on 75% of the third downs.

In Week 6, Green Bay gets the Dallas Cowboys, who are bottom 10 against limiting RB production in the NFL. Even better, the Cowboys have allowed seven combined rushing and receiving TDs to RBs on the young season. Only Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry have more than 7 combined TDs so far. Strong is a desperation-only start for Week 6, but on the chance his role continues to grow? You could do worse.

Marshawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers | Sleeper: 55% | ESPN: 48.7% | FAAB: 1%

With all that said about Pierre Strong, it is Marshawn Lloyd who got the TD opportunities in Week 5, and that's valuable when it comes to RBs. Especially in tough injury and bye weeks like Week 6. Lloyd is still a bad RB; he's among the worst in the NFL in rushing yards over expected and is 60th in terms of rushing yards/game behind "stalwarts" Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Samaje Perine. 

But everything I said above about the matchup with the Cowboys is still true. And if you're desperate enough at RB that you're considering Lloyd or one of the RBs after him, that's not nothing.

Other Options:

Wide Receivers:

Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles | Sleeper: 53% | ESPN: 49.7% | FAAB: 10-20%

Makai Lemon dropped below 50% ownership on ESPN, so I get to write about him. Those are the rules.

Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award in college last year, which is the award given to THE BEST WR in the nation. The Eagles traded up in front of the Steelers, who were on the phone with Lemon to draft him in the first round. Lemon missed most of the offseason with a hamstring injury. A slow start should have been expected for the rookie.

Now, in back-to-back weeks, he's drawn six-plus targets, earning himself a film breakdown this week. I know the Eagles' offense historically doesn't pass at a high clip, but Jalen Hurts is on pace to throw 500 passes this year, and the Eagles face four burnable secondaries before they go on a bye in Week 10. The film showcased his elite route running and impeccable hands.

🍋 Makai Lemon Week 5 Film Breakdown🦅

The route running and technique at the catch point are elite. Yeah, elite. He made difficult catches & was open frequently against a mean Jags D.

Routes:
Deep 7
Intermediate 12
Short 16

Curl 11
Out 8
Dig 7
Drag 2
Slant 2
Screen, Crosser, Corner, Post, Go 1 ea.

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— Cameron Templar (@whiteheatff.bsky.social) October 12, 2026 at 3:11 PM

In the short term, if Smith is out again with a hamstring injury, or re-aggravates it midseason, Makai Lemon instantly becomes a top-three target earner in the offense. Lemon should see his role naturally expand over the course of the season, and I would expect him to push Wicks to be the WR2. He shouldn't be in the free agent pool after Week 6 waivers clear. He's talented enough to be a league winner down the stretch.

Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper: 62% | ESPN: 39.3% | FAAB: 10-20%

In Week 4, I recommend spending 5-10% of your FAAB on Washington. Over five weeks, he's had a very safe eight-point PPR floor. He is the Miami Dolphins' No. 1 WR and is their short-intermediate weapon. If he's still on your waiver wire in Week 6, he's worthy of a roster spot in medium-deep bench leagues.

Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper: 6% | ESPN: 3% | FAAB: 5-10%

Michael Pittman went on IR the day before the Steelers played in Cleveland. He will miss the next four weeks. Roman Wilson dislocated his finger.

Enter the Steelers' second-round pick, Germie Bernard, who hauled in six of his nine targets for 80 yards. 

From Bernard's rookie prospect profile over at tools.optimusfantasy.com:

"If Bernard lands in a West Coast offense that uses him in the short and intermediate areas of the field, there is a chance he is a fantasy contributor in year two."

Well, guess what? Pittsburgh's HC, Mike McCarthy, runs a West Coast offense. Bernard was thrust into the perfect role in the optimal offense to deploy him in, with the potential to play to his strengths.

Cam Templar did a film breakdown of Bernard Monday morning to understand how the Steelers deployed him in Week 5. In short, the Steelers used him exactly as he should be deployed, with 62.5% of his routes run within 10 yards of the LOS. The stars are aligning for fantasy production.

⚫ Germie Bernard Week 5 Film Breakdown🟡

Injuries to the Steelers WR room allowed Germie Bernard to run as the WR2 in the offense from the 3rd Q on. He went 6/9 for 80 yards.

Routes:
Deep 5
Intermediate 4
Short 15!

Dig 5
Slant 4
Curl 4
Out 4
Go 2
Screen, Flat, Post, Corner ea. 1

🎞️On to the film!

[image or embed]

— Cameron Templar (@whiteheatff.bsky.social) October 12, 2026 at 3:16 PM

If you're struggling at WR, there's a window to play Germie Bernard until Michael Pittman returns. Roman Wilson's finger is likely to keep him out in Week 6, and now that we've seen Germie targeted eight-plus times in two games over 75% of the snaps and be productive, he may start playing over Wilson. With so many injuries popping up at WR and bye weeks underway, you may find yourself interested in starting him during Weeks 6-7.

Jalen Royals, Kansas City Chiefs | Sleeper: 0% | ESPN: 0.2% | FAAB: 0-5%

Rashee Rice suffered a hamstring injury before going into the Chiefs' Week 5 bye. Depending on the severity of the hamstring strain, Rice may miss multiple weeks after the bye. Maybe it's partially healed, and he can play on it. I'd bet it isn't, and I believe Jaylen Royals' skillset is the closest to Rice's between him and Cyrus Allen. There were rumors Tyreek Hill may be rejoining the Chiefs, but if those rumors were true, we probably would've seen a deal get done last week. This is your sneaky opportunity to potentially acquire the high-volume target in the Chiefs' offense. Throw $2 of FAAB on him and see what happens.

Other Options:

Tight Ends:

Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers| Sleeper: 30% | ESPN: 20.8% | FAAB: 7-12%

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Fresh off a bye, Waller and the Panthers go north to Philadelphia to play the reeling Eagles in Week 6. At first glance, it seems to be a tough matchup. The Eagles have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends thus far in 2026. But, looking a little closer, it appears the Eagles have run into some luck versus the position. Their opponents to this point have not featured their tight ends (yes, even Chicago) in the way Carolina has since bringing in the twelfth-year vet. 

With 19 targets to date, he's well on pace to stay within streaming range at the very least. The Panthers rank sixth in passing percentage (64.9%), indicating the volume will remain stable. Furthermore, after a bit of a two-week ramp-up period, Waller has run at least 25 routes in each of the last two games. If that number changes, it will only go up.

Given that Carolina's bye is now in the rearview mirror, I've given a slight edge to Waller over Freiermuth. 

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper: 18% | ESPN: 20.3% | FAAB: 5-10%

Yes, Pat Freiermuth is still widely available on waiver wires. He's had at least five targets in all but the Steelers' Week 3 matchup with the Bengals, in which he had four. This week, Monday night's contest notwithstanding, he's tied with Brock Bowers for TE2. He's the TE8 to date this season.

As long as Aaron Rodgers (see above!) is this competent version of his old self, Freiermuth carries a reasonable floor for a streaming tight end. Furthermore, the former Nittany Lion is the team's primary option for their QB sneak. That could create extra red-zone opportunities.

His Week 6 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, allows the eleventh-most points to opposing tight ends.

Other Options: 

Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

New York Giants | Sleeper: 10% | ESPN: 6.3% | FAAB: 0-1%

For the second time in two weeks, I'm recommending the New York Giants defense as a quality streaming option for your fantasy squads.  To be clear, they are not, and will not be, a reasonable, long-term addition to your fantasy football rosters this season. However, this week the Giants face the Saints, who are coming off an embarrassing performance against a decent, but not great, Vikings defense.

Unfortunately, teams are catching on to the fact that New Orleans can't run the ball, and that's put pressure on QB Tyler Shough. Judging from this past weekend, that's not going to go well for the second-year QB or the Saints. Shough threw for just 96 yards and two INTs, and the team managed only 55 rushing yards. 

Again, with a Week 7 matchup against Houston and then a bye week, the Giants are a one-week rental here. But for this week, the New York defense should be able to replicate their 14-point fantasy output in Week 4 against Arizona, or at least get close. 

Green Bay Packers | Sleeper: 18% | ESPN: 12.9% | FAAB: 0-1%

Week 6 brings the Dallas Cowboys to Lambeau Field, fresh off an embarrassing loss to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Some might say this is a week for the Cowboys to exercise those demons, but this is a rivalry game, even if it isn't a divisional matchup. And Green Bay has demons of their own, though last week seemed to be a good start to getting out of their hole.

The Packers were gifted the Tyler Bagent-led Chicago Bears in Week 5, and the Packers defense feasted.  The unit collected four sacks, two fumbles, and three INTs, allowing only 26 yards of offense and only seven points. In fact, in their last two games, the Packers defense has allowed only 21 total points while logging seven total sacks and five total INTs.

The Dallas offense has been good, but last week showed holes, and I expect the Packers saw the same things everyone else saw. This will be a plus matchup for this Packers defense. You can also hold this unit through Week 7, when they play the Detroit Lions. You might be able to hold them longer, but we'll need to see if this defense is actually competent or has just benefitted from good matchups. That's a problem for Week 8 and beyond.

Other Options:

  • Kansas City Chiefs, FAAB 0-1 %
  • Atlanta Falcons, FAAB 0%
  • Carolina Panthers, FAAB 0%

Kickers:

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper: 42% | ESPN: 27.4% | FAAB: 0-1%

Like any position you're streaming through the fantasy football season, you're chasing boom games with Steelers veteran kicker Chris Boswell, and this week that seems more likely than not. The Steelers, who have been better than anyone expected, face Tampa Bay in Week 6, a team that gives up 12 fantasy points per game to the position, tied for the league's most (with Pittsburgh, ironically). 

In his two previous plus matchups (Cincinnati in Week 3 and Indianapolis last week), Boswell had 13 fantasy points in each, and in a quality Week 1 matchup against Atlanta, he logged eight fantasy points. When the opportunity is there, Boswell produces, and that should be the case this week. 

The veteran Pittsburgh kicker is a risky long-term investment. The Steelers offense doesn't move the ball consistently, and against better teams, he's unlikely to get much opportunity. However, Tampa Bay isn't one of those teams, and you can safely stream Boswell this week without worrying about a bust. 

Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper: 26% | ESPN: 20.2% | FAAB: 0-1%

While he hasn't been a quality starter every week this season, Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has been more consistent than the aforementioned Bowell.  While he is coming off two down games from an opportunity standpoint, the veteran kicker has been perfect through five weeks, sitting at 10-for10 on both field goals and extra points. 

Tampa Bay's last two matchups, Dallas and Green Bay, both allow fewer field-goal opportunities than Pittsburgh and rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to kickers. Yes, this presents a risk with no Baker Mayfield (thumb). Rookie UDFA QB Jadon Daniels was fun last week, but his limitations are clear, and he struggled to move the offense. However, McLaughlin's matchup this week is good enough that I'm not worried. He's an adequate Week 6 streamer with top-five kicker upside, and you can roll him out against Carolina in Week 7 as well.  

Other Options:

For more waiver wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

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