We are through five weeks of football, with plenty left to go. Regardless of whether you are 5-0, 0-5, or somewhere in between in your Fantasy Football League… keep pushing. Activity wins leagues. Consistently improving your roster gives you a league edge. An easy way to do that is to use the waiver wire effectively.
Each week, I highlight players worth picking up for Fantasy Football who are rostered in 50% or fewer of various Redraft formats. Every league is different in terms of size, scoring, and other settings, so I give you plenty of options. Let’s get it!
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2026 Fantasy Football: Week 6 Waiver Wire Winners
Kendre Miller (RB, Saints)
Kendre Miller rushed 10 times for 30 yards and a touchdown in Week 5. Miller out-touched Alvin Kamara nine to five, with Travis Etienne Jr. on the IR, in a game the Saints had to chase. With Etienne out, Miller can be in line for better days ahead in games that are tighter as the early-down running back. Miller now has two rushing touchdowns in four games played.
Dameon Pierce (RB, Eagles)
Dameon Pierce was inefficient for the Eagles in Week 5, rushing 11 times for 14 yards and catching two of his five targets for negative yardage, but he did play 77% of the snaps. Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury, Tank Bigsby is on the IR, and Will Shipley exited Week 5 with a partial tear of his plantar fascia. Pierce could be in line to start Week 6 as the RB1.
CJ Stroud (QB, Texans)
CJ Stroud has scored 20+ Fantasy Points for two weeks in a row. Stroud threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, then for 261 yards and both a passing and rushing touchdown in Week 5. Stroud will also have Marvin Harrison Jr. added to his weapons, who could rise in a new environment. We have seen Stroud be very fantasy-relevant, back in his rookie year.
Germie Bernard (WR, Steelers)
Germie Bernard led the Steelers in targets for Week 5 with nine, and he caught six of those for 80 yards and added another four rushing yards for 14.4 Fantasy Points. With Roman Wilson set to miss a couple of weeks due to injury, and Michael Pittman Jr. on the IR, the rookie can carve out a substantial role in this offense.
Tyler Allgeier (RB, Cardinals)
Quiet Week 5 for Tyler Allgeier after rushing for 42 yards and a touchdown in Week 4. The game script was one that the Cardinals had to chase. There could be weeks where Allgeier can earn complementary work and have stand-alone value, but at minimum he is a solid handcuff to stash that has had a historic Fantasy Football impact.
Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, Falcons)
In Week 4, Brian Robinson Jr. rushed 14 times for 62 yards and three touchdowns, for 25.7 Fantasy Points. Robinson has had three weeks of 50+ rushing yards as the backup to Bijan Robinson, and two weeks with double-digit Fantasy Points. Clear stand-alone value when the game script allows, with Week 5 being an example when it does not. Minimum a solid handcuff.
Jonah Coleman (RB, Broncos)
Jonah Coleman is currently on the IR, but could return in Week 7. Coleman is not a bad running back to stash, especially if you can keep him in your league’s IR slot(s). Back in Week 2, Coleman rushed 10 times for 39 yards and a touchdown with three catches for 19 yards. JK Dobbins had an impressive Week 5, but otherwise has been underwhelming.
Samaje Perine (RB, Bengals)
Samaje Perine out-produced Chase Brown in Week 5 and finished with more rushing attempts. Perine rushed 14 times for 68 yards and caught two balls for 10 yards and a receiving touchdown for 15.8 Fantasy Points. I am not going to go nuts and speak on Perine taking over the backfield, but he proved why he can be a valuable handcuff in a good offense in Week 5.
Brenton Strange (TE, Jaguars)
Brenton Strange has earned eight targets in back-to-back games, caught seven in both, produced 95 then 68 receiving yards, and scored 16.5 then 13.8 Fantasy Points. On the rise despite a “crowded” receiving room. Strange has proven to be reliable for Trevor Lawrence, who has no reason to not keep feeding him.
Emmett Johnson (RB, Chiefs)
Emmett Johnson is an extremely smart running back to stash as a high-upside handcuff. Johnson’s prospect profile is that of an explosive, dual-threat back. 7.5 yards per carry in Week 2 and 2 games of 10+ yards per catch show that. Kenneth Walker III operates as a true workhorse, but has had some injury history. Johnson in the RB1 role for KC would be a weekly starter.
Aaron Rodgers (QB, Steelers)
Aaron Rodgers has scored 22+ Fantasy Points for three straight weeks, which shows some Fantasy Football consistency vs. just streaming potential. Rodgers has produced 292, 299, and 235 passing yards the last three weeks, with three passing touchdowns in each of those games. The upside through the air for the veteran is evident.
Pat Freiermuth (TE, Steelers)
Pat Freiermuth has scored three touchdowns across the last two weeks, and has four in total this season. Muth earned a season-high seven targets in Week 5, which is an important note with both Roman Wilson set to miss a few weeks and Michael Pittman Jr. on the IR. Muth has finished three weeks with 10+ and two weeks with 15+ Fantasy Points this season.
Malik Washington (WR, Dolphins)
Malik Washington caught six of his eight targets for 43 yards and rushed once for another 18 yards in Week 5. This was Washington’s third game with eight+ targets, fifth straight game with 43+ yards, fourth straight game rushing the ball, and third straight with 11+ Fantasy Points. The upside isn’t high, but if you need some safe points, Washington can be FLEX’d.
Antonio Williams (WR, Commanders)
Antonio Williams scored 16.4 Fantasy Points in Week 1 due to 64 receiving yards and a touchdown, but has not scored seven points since. I am still a big believer in Williams as a playmaker, as a fan of his prospect profile. The rookie has played 69% and 68% of the snaps the last two games, and with Stefon Diggs dealing with an injury, we can see better days to come.
Keaton Mitchell (RB, Chargers)
This Chargers backfield between Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal is extremely murky. Mitchell led the backfield in touches in Week 4, and Vidal in Week 5. 11, 15, and nine touches in the last three weeks for Mitchell show consistent involvement. Mitchell has the pass-catching role, which feels the safest in that backfield for touches.
Kendrick Bourne (WR, Cardinals)
Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to become a Texan via trade, which opens up the door for Kendrick Bourne to fill in as the team’s WR2. In Week 5, Bourne caught five of his eight targets for 70 yards. Week 1, Bourne caught all eight targets for 75 yards, so this is the second time this season we have seen good usage and production. More of a deeper league suggestion here.
Hunter Henry (TE, Patriots)
Hunter Henry caught three of his four targets for 44 yards and a touchdown for 13.4 Fantasy Points in Week 5. Henry caught five balls for 62 yards in Week 4, for 11.2 Fantasy Points. We have seen historic streaming potential from Henry, and while other receivers stepped up for Drake Maye in Week 5, I still believe Henry has the stickiest role.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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