Week 6 is here and we’re back to look at the bye week teams and potential replacements.
Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 6: Bye week replacements for Raiders, Cowboys, Rams, Buccaneers
The Raiders, Cowboys, Rams and Bucs are all on bye this week. We explore potential one-week replacements for their players on the waiver wire.
As usual, four teams are on bye this week: the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams. There aren’t as many stud players out this week as usual, but fantasy owners will be missing Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, Joseph Randle, Doug Martin and Mike Evans, among others.
So let’s go through the waiver wire and pick out players owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues who might help our your fantasy team this week.
Quarterbacks
Players on bye: Derek Carr, Brandon Weeden, Nick Foles, Jameis Winston
Waiver wire options
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears: Always a meltdown risk, but has good matchup with Detroit Lions. Fantasy ceiling will rise if Alshon Jeffery comes back.
Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars: Shoulder injury must be monitored, but Bortles has plus matchup with Houston Texans if he’s able to play.
Josh McCown, Cleveland Browns: Enjoying a red-hot stretch of play, but a nightmare matchup with fierce Denver Broncos defense.
Running backs
Players on bye: Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Latavius Murray, Roy Helu, Todd Gurley, Doug Martin, Charles Sims
Waiver wire options
Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns: His role in the passing game is secured. Almost an every-week flex starter in PPR.
Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks: Has earned a role in the offense even when Marshawn Lynch comes back. A must-own handcuff.
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals: The backfield committee remains muddy, but Johnson appears to have won the goal line vulture job.
Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs: With Charles tearing his ACL, West -- not Knile Davis -- is the next man up.
Dan Herron, Buffalo Bills: Karlos Williams and LeSean McCoy might miss another week and Anthony Dixon did nothing to impress. Herron could win starting job this week.
Wide receivers
Players on bye: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson
Waiver wire options
Rishard Matthews, Miami Dolphins: Held in check by the New York Jets in London, but could get back on track this week.
Willie Snead, New Orleans Saints: Should run away with the No. 2 job with Marques Colston suffering a separated shoulder.
Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals: Not as consistent as we were hoping, but carries WR3 upside as long as Andy Dalton keeps balling.
Dorial Green-Beckham, Tennessee Titans: The bye-week hype for DGB resulted in ... zero targets in Week 5. Better luck against the Miami Dolphins this week.
Ty Mongtomery, Green Bay Packers: Will continue to operate as a boom-or-bust WR4 while Davante Adams is out.
Marquess Wilson, Chicago Bears: Stepping up big with Jeffery and Eddie Royal out, but will go back to fantasy obscurity once those two come back. Watch the injury reports this week.
Tight ends
Players on bye: Jason Witten, Mychal Rivera, Jared Cook, Brandon Myers
Waiver wire options
Larry Donnell, New York Giants: As frustrating as ever, but could see more targets with Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle nursing hamstring ailments.
Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers: Getting close to returning from a knee injury, but he’s more name than game at this point.
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions: Not a guarantee to return this week, but monitor him for now. The Lions need him as much as fantasy owners need decent TE2 starters.
Derek Carrier, Washington: Is the ostensible starter with Jordan Reed out, but only a dart throw in DFS.
