Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)
by Nate Polvogt
If you like winning, come back every week for under-the-radar fantasy waiver wire pickups to keep you in contention until the final contest. We leave no stone unturned to ensure we give you the BEST chance to win week in and week out. Let’s get to it with our Week 6 waiver wire pickups.
The Week 6 waiver wire is open for business, folks.
Are you bogged down by injuries and underperformance at QB? We’re here to help! Here is a breakdown of the Week 6 waiver wire options at QB and what to do about them to keep your team in contention.
Week 6 Waiver Wire QBs
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)
ESPN | 14%
Yahoo! | 9%
We’re nearing the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season, and Giants QB Daniel Jones is heating up just in time.
Jones locked in a surprising fantasy performance in Week 5. His 22.1 fantasy points against Seattle have him sitting as the overall QB1 – his third top-12 finish this season if it holds – ahead of Monday Night Football. More impressive, Jones locked it down without rookie phenom WR Malik Nabers and starting RB Devin Singletary.
Jones went undrafted in the majority of fantasy football leagues this season. It makes sense, given he averaged a weak 10.5 fantasy points per game in 2023. However, through five weeks of 2024, Jones is averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game, tied with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes for 18th overall.
This isn’t a sexy, league-winning type of waiver wire pickup. This is a survival addition. Jones can reliably slot into a Superflex or QB slot and deliver a reliable floor weekly, potentially becoming an every-week starter down the road. Don’t go wild with your FAAB; know your leaguemates and plan accordingly. Three to five percent of your remaining FAAB cash should get Jones on your squad.
Jameis Winston (QB – CLE)
ESPN | 0%
Yahoo! | 0%
It’s getting dire in Cleveland, folks.
Overpriced and overhyped quarterback Deshaun Watson turned in his worst performance of the season in Week 5 against a weak Commanders defense. The Browns faithful’s calls to give veteran quarterback Jameis Winston a shot behind center are getting louder, and it’s hard to argue with them.
Winston hasn’t started much since 2019, when he was a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. That season, however, he was the overall QB4 in fantasy football. Winston was given the starting nod eight times in four subsequent seasons with New Orleans, averaging 18.3 fantasy points in those games. Winston would be the overall QB13 in today’s landscape, tied with Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
In real football terms, Winston is a turnover liability. In that 2019 season, while his 5,109 passing yards and 33 TDs were impressive, he turned the ball over 35 times (30 INTs, five fumbles lost).
That said, it cannot be worse than what Watson has brought to the table so far. Among qualifying QBs (minimum 100 dropbacks), he ranks 27th in completion percentage (60.3), 25th in passing yards (852) and 30th in yards per attempt (4.8) behind rookie QB Bo Nix in Denver. At the very least, Winston could help score some points and move the ball down the field.
While change isn’t necessarily imminent, reason dictates it will come. Watson has shown no signs of improving or becoming more comfortable on the field, and this team won’t compete with him behind center. You might be a little early to the party in grabbing Winston off waivers, but right now, it’ll be near free, which won’t be the case when he takes over the starting job.
Bo Nix (QB – DEN)
ESPN | 8%
Yahoo! | 10%
Nix wasn’t supposed to be good in his rookie season, and while good is relative, he is now at least relevant in 2QB and Superflex formats. While Nix is the overall QB22 in fantasy football through five weeks, he has three top-20 finishes this season, and Week 5 saw him finish as the overall QB8.
Andy Dalton (QB – CAR)
ESPN | 8%
Yahoo! | 14%
Carolina isn’t good, regardless of whether it’s Andy Dalton or Bryce Young behind center. That doesn’t matter for fantasy. Dalton isn’t going to knock your socks off, but he’s a nice bench piece for an emergency start. His floor is reliable, and that’s all you need from a bench QB.
Joe Flacco (QB – IND)
ESPN | 5%
Yahoo! | 8%
If you’re an Anthony Richardson manager, you should get veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on your roster. Richardson plays hard and throws his body around, lending himself to a higher chance of injury. Flacco is a reliable stand-in who could put up a top-10 fantasy football week every time he starts.
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the lead senior analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on X (formerly Twitter) @NatePolvogt and on Optimus Fantasy.
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If you like winning, come back every week for under-the-radar fantasy waiver wire pickups to keep you in contention until the final contest. We leave no stone unturned to ensure we give you the BEST chance to win week in and week out. Let’s get to it with our Week 6 waiver wire pickups.
The Week 6 waiver wire is open for business, folks.
Are you bogged down by injuries and underperformance at QB? We’re here to help! Here is a breakdown of the Week 6 waiver wire options at QB and what to do about them to keep your team in contention.
Week 6 Waiver Wire QBs
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)
ESPN | 14%
Yahoo! | 9%
We’re nearing the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season, and Giants QB Daniel Jones is heating up just in time.
Jones locked in a surprising fantasy performance in Week 5. His 22.1 fantasy points against Seattle have him sitting as the overall QB1 – his third top-12 finish this season if it holds – ahead of Monday Night Football. More impressive, Jones locked it down without rookie phenom WR Malik Nabers and starting RB Devin Singletary.
Jones went undrafted in the majority of fantasy football leagues this season. It makes sense, given he averaged a weak 10.5 fantasy points per game in 2023. However, through five weeks of 2024, Jones is averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game, tied with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes for 18th overall.
This isn’t a sexy, league-winning type of waiver wire pickup. This is a survival addition. Jones can reliably slot into a Superflex or QB slot and deliver a reliable floor weekly, potentially becoming an every-week starter down the road. Don’t go wild with your FAAB; know your leaguemates and plan accordingly. Three to five percent of your remaining FAAB cash should get Jones on your squad.
Jameis Winston (QB – CLE)
ESPN | 0%
Yahoo! | 0%
It’s getting dire in Cleveland, folks.
Overpriced and overhyped quarterback Deshaun Watson turned in his worst performance of the season in Week 5 against a weak Commanders defense. The Browns faithful’s calls to give veteran quarterback Jameis Winston a shot behind center are getting louder, and it’s hard to argue with them.
Winston hasn’t started much since 2019, when he was a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. That season, however, he was the overall QB4 in fantasy football. Winston was given the starting nod eight times in four subsequent seasons with New Orleans, averaging 18.3 fantasy points in those games. Winston would be the overall QB13 in today’s landscape, tied with Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
In real football terms, Winston is a turnover liability. In that 2019 season, while his 5,109 passing yards and 33 TDs were impressive, he turned the ball over 35 times (30 INTs, five fumbles lost).
That said, it cannot be worse than what Watson has brought to the table so far. Among qualifying QBs (minimum 100 dropbacks), he ranks 27th in completion percentage (60.3), 25th in passing yards (852) and 30th in yards per attempt (4.8) behind rookie QB Bo Nix in Denver. At the very least, Winston could help score some points and move the ball down the field.
While change isn’t necessarily imminent, reason dictates it will come. Watson has shown no signs of improving or becoming more comfortable on the field, and this team won’t compete with him behind center. You might be a little early to the party in grabbing Winston off waivers, but right now, it’ll be near free, which won’t be the case when he takes over the starting job.
Bo Nix (QB – DEN)
ESPN | 8%
Yahoo! | 10%
Nix wasn’t supposed to be good in his rookie season, and while good is relative, he is now at least relevant in 2QB and Superflex formats. While Nix is the overall QB22 in fantasy football through five weeks, he has three top-20 finishes this season, and Week 5 saw him finish as the overall QB8.
Andy Dalton (QB – CAR)
ESPN | 8%
Yahoo! | 14%
Carolina isn’t good, regardless of whether it’s Andy Dalton or Bryce Young behind center. That doesn’t matter for fantasy. Dalton isn’t going to knock your socks off, but he’s a nice bench piece for an emergency start. His floor is reliable, and that’s all you need from a bench QB.
Joe Flacco (QB – IND)
ESPN | 5%
Yahoo! | 8%
If you’re an Anthony Richardson manager, you should get veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on your roster. Richardson plays hard and throws his body around, lending himself to a higher chance of injury. Flacco is a reliable stand-in who could put up a top-10 fantasy football week every time he starts.
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the lead senior analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on X (formerly Twitter) @NatePolvogt and on Optimus Fantasy.
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