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Eric Moody, ESPN
Justin Jefferson left the Vikings game against the Chiefs on Sunday with a hamstring injury and didn’t return. It was reported on Tuesday morning that the team plans to place the receiver on injured reserve, which would keep him out of action for at least the next four weeks. Managers who have Jefferson on their roster or those in need of a receiver should prioritize K.J. Osborn (rostered in 21.6% of ESPN leagues). Jordan Addison has gotten a lot of attention from managers this season, but it’s worth mentioning that he’s mostly played in 11 personnel (when three WRs are on the field), while Osborn has served as the Vikings’ No. 2 receiver. Against the Chiefs, Osborn set season highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards. Minnesota leads the league with 40.8 pass attempts per game and Osborn will play a significant role in the Vikings’ passing game while Jefferson is out.
Here are some other WR options to consider:
DJ Chark Jr., Carolina Panthers (41.0%): Chark has collected six or more targets and 13 or more fantasy points in two of his past three games. Although Adam Thielen is the top receiver in Carolina, Chark is a solid flex option for fantasy managers in deeper formats. The Panthers will likely trail the Dolphins in Week 6, which bodes well for Chark’s fantasy prospects.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (40.2%): The Chargers are coming off their bye week and will be playing their first game without Mike Williams. Palmer played 86% of the offensive snaps and led the Chargers in targets. He has averaged 67.7 receiving yards per game when targeted seven or more times in his career and should not be overlooked by fantasy managers in deeper formats.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (24.5%): Amon-Ra St. Brown missed Sunday’s game against the Panthers with an abdominal injury, so Reynolds and Jameson Williams are intriguing pickups. Reynolds has a rapport with Jared Goff dating back to their time with the Rams and can pick up the slack for the Lions when the team needs it. He has scored 10 or more fantasy points in four of five games and leads Detroit in receiving yards.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders (14.7%): Samuel has put together two solid games with 18 or more fantasy points. He has also accumulated 15 targets over that time period. Howell has shown he’s looking to spread the ball around to all of his wide receivers, with 11 having at least one catch and eight having at least two. Right now, Samuel is worth stashing, especially for managers in deep formats.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (10.9%): Downs is the type of receiver who is an excellent route runner who can separate and make tough contested catches. He caught all six of his targets for 97 receiving yards from Richardson and Minshew. Downs has a strong matchup against a Jaguars defense that just gave up 24 fantasy points to Stefon Diggs and 22 fantasy points to Gabe Davis.
Quick hit
Against the Panthers, Jameson Williams (40%) had three targets and ran 15 routes while playing 47% of the offensive snaps. His role should grow moving forward since that was his season debut.
Running backs
Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos(48.4%): The rookie delivered for fantasy managers against the New York Jets with Javonte Williams out due to a quad injury. He was one of the top waiver wire pickups last week and has scored 18 or more fantasy points in two straight games. McLaughlin has played well enough to maintain a role in the Broncos’ backfield even when Williams returns. That said, with the Broncos playing on Thursday night this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s possible he’ll remain sidelined.
Roschon Johnson (37.1%) and D’Onta Foreman (5.1%), Chicago Bears: The Bears will be without Khalil Herbert for multiple weeks due to an ankle injury. This was unfortunate news because he was thriving behind a Chicago offensive line that ranks second in run block win rate. Johnson left Thursday night’s game against the Commanders due to a concussion, but it is possible he will return for this week’s game against the Vikings. Johnson has averaged 5.0 yards per rush and is my preferred target on the wire. In deeper formats, managers should not hesitate to pick up Foreman since he’ll also have a role in the Bears’ backfield. If Johnson is unavailable, Foreman would be the top option.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (25.1%): Spears had a career game with 11 touches, 69 total yards and 17 fantasy points. Throughout the season, Derrick Henry and the rookie have split snaps, routes run and touches in the Titans’ backfield. Henry played around 59% of the snaps against the Colts, while Spears played about 53%. It would be prudent for the Titans to keep Spears active in the backfield in the final year of Henry’s contract.
Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins (29.7%): Wilson’s 21-day practice window is expected to be opened this week in his return from injured reserve. Unfortunately, this news coincides with De’Von Achane‘s knee injury against the Giants on Sunday. Due to the injury, the rookie is expected to miss multiple weeks. Achane has averaged 33.2 fantasy points per game over the past three games. Since the Dolphins average a league-leading 186 rushing yards per game and 7.0 yards per attempt, you should prioritize Wilson on the wire this week.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (7.3%): Miller had 16 touches and 13 fantasy points in New Orleans’ blowout win over the Patriots. He is an ideal bench stash with Jamaal Williams on injured reserve until at least Week 7. The Saints face a Texans defense in Week 6 that ranks in the top 10 of fantasy points allowed to running backs.
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Why Emari Demercado should be a waiver wire target
Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why Emari Demercado should be high atop fantasy managers’ waiver priority list after James Conner’s injury.
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals (0.3%): Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that James Conner is expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury placed on injured reserve. Demercado, who has primarily played the role of a passing-down back for the Cardinals, is my preferred target on the waiver wire this week. With Conner out of the lineup and Keaontay Ingram dealing with a neck injury, Demercado’s fantasy outlook is promising.
Quick hits
Ezekiel Elliott (42.5%) finished with more opportunities (rushing attempts plus targets) than Rhamondre Stevenson against the Saints. This is notable because the two continue to play a fairly even number of snaps. It might be time for the Patriots to make some changes to jump-start their offense, which could include more touches for Elliott.
Justice Hill (24%) finished with 11 touches and 12.5 fantasy points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In spite of being in a committee backfield with Gus Edwards, Hill is often relied upon as a pass catcher, so I prefer him over Edwards.
Chuba Hubbard (18.1%) continues to have a fairly even split with Miles Sanders when it comes to snaps, routes run and rushing attempts. He led the Panthers in rushing yards against the Detroit Lions.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (34.2%): Stafford has scored 16 or more fantasy points over the past two games. He now has Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua as his two top receivers. Stafford and the Rams face a Cardinals defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Stafford can be viewed as a QB1.
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders (17.4%): Howell has scored 15 or more fantasy points in four of five games, including three with 19 or more points. With Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Logan Thomas around him, Howell provides fantasy managers with a high floor. The Commanders are about to face the Atlanta Falcons, who have done a pretty good job containing quarterbacks, but Howell remains a high-end QB2.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (9.7%): The Panthers wide receivers were finally healthy, and Young scored a season-high 18.2 fantasy points. In the fourth quarter, the rookie’s performance was very encouraging. Young faces a Dolphins defense in Week 6 that ranks in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to quarterbacks. The rookie might find himself playing from behind against Miami.
Quick hits
Gardner Minshew (0.5%) should be on the radar of fantasy managers in deeper formats with Anthony Richardson expected to miss at least the next month with a strained AC joint. The Colts face the Jaguars’ defense in Week 6, which has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Tight end
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders (8.1%): Thomas finished with a season-high 11 targets and 20.7 fantasy points against the Bears on Thursday night. The tight end has been a key component of coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offenses in the past, and we saw it against the Bears. Thomas played 78% of the offensive snaps and ran the second-most routes for the Commanders. A Falcons defense that gives up the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in Week 6 is a favorable matchup for the veteran tight end.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (2.6%): Fant has scored eight or more fantasy points in three consecutive games. But over that period, he has accumulated only 11 targets. Yet Fant ranks among the top five tight ends in yards after catch per reception. He has a favorable Week 6 matchup against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Quick hit
Jonnu Smith (9.8%) has scored 9.0 or more fantasy points in four consecutive games, including one with 15.5 points. Although he doesn’t have the name recognition of Kyle Pitts, Smith plays a similar number of snaps and runs a similar number of routes.
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