Fantasy football Week 6: Add and drop

Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free-agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.

Here’s my NFL Week 6 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:

ADD

— TE Darren Waller, Dolphins (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 67%): Waller followed up his two-touchdown performance in his debut with Miami with five receptions for 78 yards and another TD against the Panthers. He’s averaging 14.3 fantasy points in standard formats (18.3 in PPR) through two games. No other tight end is currently averaging double-digit points in standard, and only the Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson is close to Waller in PPR. The former Pro Bowler has a chance to be the best tight end in fantasy going forward as long as he stays healthy, which has always been the issue.

— RB Michael Carter, Cardinals (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 39%): Carter played more snaps than Emari Demercado (39-19), had more carries (18-3) and finished with five receptions on five targets while Demercado played all of the third-down snaps — Demercado finished with zero targets. Carter should have RB2/flex upside considering his workload.

— QB Jaxson Dart, Giants (ESPN: 44%; Yahoo: 39%): Dart has ran for at least 54 yards in each of his first two starts, and is the overall QB14 since Week 4. The talented rookie will deserve weekly streaming consideration, even without Malik Nabers, if he keeps this type of production up with his legs.

— RB Hassan Haskins, Chargers (ESPN:

— WR Romeo Doubs, Packers (ESPN: 45%; Yahoo: 51%): Doubs typically plays around 75% of snaps, but that rate has been closer to 85%-90% since Jayden Reed broke his collarbone. He may not ever catch three TD passes again, but he’s the only Green Bay receiver I trust. Matthew Golden and Dontayvion Wicks are weekly dart throws until further notice.

— BONUS: QB Matthew Stafford, Rams (ESPN: 52%; Yahoo: 63%): Stafford is the overall QB6 through five weeks and faces a depleted Ravens defense this week allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

— BONUS: RB Rico Dowdle, Panthers (ESPN: 59%; Yahoo: 59%): Chuba Hubbard is still day-to-day with a calf injury that kept him from playing against the Dolphins on Sunday. Dowdle took advantage, rushing for 206 yards and a TD on 23 carries. He also added an additional 28 yards on three receptions in his career-best performance. If Hubbard is out again, Dowdle gets a revenge opportunity against a Cowboys defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs this season.

— BONUS: TE Mason Taylor, Jets (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 14%): Taylor has become the Jets’ No. 2 option behind Garrett Wilson in a pretty concentrated passing game. The rookie is the overall TE11 in standard formats (TE8 in PPR) since Week 4. Taylor has 14 receptions for 132 yards on 19 targets in the last two games, and he’s seen his targets and receptions increase in every game this season.

— BONUS: WR Troy Franklin, Broncos (ESPN: 44%; Yahoo: 30%): Franklin is currently on pace to produce 71 receptions and has three solid-to-great matchups on the horizon with the Jets, Giants and Cowboys. Dallas has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, while the G-Men have allowed the third-most.

— BONUS: QB C.J. Stroud, Texans (ESPN: 61%; Yahoo: 54%): Stroud is the overall QB11 since Week 2, and has completed 81.8% of his passes for 477 yards, six TDs and no interceptions in the last two games.

— BONUS: RB Kendre Miller, Saints (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 31%): Miller’s snap share has increased every game and he’s had double-digit carries in each of the last two games. He’s flirting with flex appeal, but the real upside is if New Orleans decides to trade Alvin Kamara.

— BONUS: Alec Pierce, Colts (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 5%): The Colts “X” receiver has produced 14 receptions for 322 yards on 22 targets this season, a whopping 23 yards per reception, with Pierce playing the first three games. With Pierce missing the last two games due to a concussion, Adonai Mitchell and Ashton Dulin stepped up. My point here is the resurgent Daniel Jones is targeting the “X” consistently, and Pierce will likely exit concussion protocol this week.

— BONUS: TE Theo Johnson, Giants (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 11%): Johnson is the overall TE8 in standard formats (TE10 in PPR) since Week 2 with nine receptions for 50 yards and three TDs on 12 targets in Dart’s two starts.

— BONUS: QB Mac Jones, 49ers (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 4%): Jones is averaging 19.4 fantasy points per game in his three starts, which ties him with Daniel Jones for 11th at the QB position. With how well he’s played, the Niners might not rush Brock Purdy back like they did in Week 4 against the Jaguars.

— BONUS: RB Tyjae Spears, Titans (ESPN: 28%; Yahoo: 29%): Spears was activated off IR last week and played 17 snaps, finishing with 14 yards on four carries. Head coach Brian Callahan discussed Tennessee’s potential use of a committee backfield this offseason. Considering his playmaking ability, Spears should have plenty of opportunity in an offense with a rookie quarterback still searching for its identity.

— BONUS: WR Tyquan Thornton, Chiefs (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 19%): Thornton is the overall WR15 in standard formats (WR22 in PPR) since Week 2, with at least 90 receiving yards or a TD in four straight games. It’s clear Patrick Mahomes trusts him.

— BONUS: QB Bryce Young, Panthers (ESPN: 18%; Yahoo: 19%): I’m not super excited to write this, but if you’re desperate at QB this week, Young faces a Cowboys defense allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

— BONUS: RB Kyle Monangai, Bears (ESPN: 4%; Yahoo: 5%): Talented rookies usually see a bump in opportunities coming out of a bye, and Monangai has performed better on a per-play basis than D’Andre Swift this season. Also, it’s only a matter of time before Luther Burden III (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 11%) supplants Olamide Zaccheaus as the third receiver behind Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore. Both Monangai and Burden are worth stashing.

— BONUS: WR Kendrick Bourne, 49ers (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 4%): Bourne finished as Week 4’s WR9 in standard formats (WR6 in PPR) after producing 10 receptions for 142 yards on 11 targets in a big win against the Rams on Thursday night. As long as Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are banged up, Bourne has flex appeal, as does Demarcus Robinson (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 10%).

— BONUS: WR Isaiah Bond, Browns (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 6%): Bond has an almost 20% target share in the last two games, and Cleveland is in the middle of a youth movement on offense with a rookie starting quarterback, running back and tight end as well.

— BONUS: TE Michael Mayer, Raiders (ESPN:

— BONUS: WR Jalen Coker, Panthers (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 9%): Coker (calf) was eligible to return from IR last week, and it looks like Carolina will open his practice window ahead of a matchup with the Cowboys, who are allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. He could eventually replace Xavier Legette as the WR2 in the Panthers’ offense.

— BONUS: RB Brashard Smith, Chiefs (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 17%): Andy Reid has had a lot of success in the past with the running back position, helping backs like Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles all achieve All-Pro status. Smith fits the archetype and is a stash candidate with huge upside. Reid has already made it clear he wants to get the talented rookie more involved, and he has three receptions in two straight games.

— BONUS: RB Brian Robinson Jr., 49ers (ESPN: 35%; Yahoo: 39%): Christian McCaffrey is currently on pace for 442 touches, averaging 26 per game. Robinson’s ownership is much too low considering McCaffrey is universally rostered.

— BONUS: D/ST Rams (ESPN: 49%; Yahoo: 54%): Lamar Jackson will likely be sidelined at least one more week.

— BONUS: D/ST Packers (ESPN: 46%; Yahoo: 47%): A really good Green Bay defense hosts the Bengals coming off a bye after allowing 40 points in a tie with the Cowboys in Week 4. Micah Parsons and Co. should be fired up against Jake Browning, who has thrown five interceptions and been sacked eight times in three starts since taking over for an injured Joe Burrow.

— BONUS: D/ST Patriots (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 17%): New England’s defense has been better in fantasy than reality, scoring the seventh-most fantasy points this season. The Patriots face the Saints, Titans and Browns the next three weeks, i.e. Spencer Rattler and two rookie QBs.

— BONUS: D/ST Raiders (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 3%): Las Vegas has lost four straight, including a 40-6 laugher at Indianapolis last week. However, the Raiders deserve streaming consideration against a Titans’ offense allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses.

DROP

— QB Geno Smith, Raiders: Smith has finished as the weekly QB15, QB31, QB4, QB23 and QB27 so far.

— WR Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys: I expected Tolbert to have flex value with CeeDee Lamb out, and he did fine against the Packers with four receptions for 61 yards on six targets. However, he only received a single target against the Jets and was overshadowed by Ryan Flournoy, who was Dallas’ leading receiver with six receptions for 114 yards on nine targets.

— RB Braelon Allen, Jets: Allen is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks after being placed on IR last week with what is believed to be an MCL injury.

— TE Juwan Johnson, Saints: I’m a big fan of Johnson’s talent, but consistent production has been elusive during his six seasons in New Orleans. He got off to a really hot start before fading the last two games with only 45 yards on five receptions and seven targets. Also, Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau were active against the Giants, which lessens his appeal going forward.

— RB Emari Demercado, Cardinals: Demercado only had three carries and no targets against the Titans. He finished with 82 yards, but most of it came on a 72-yard run. Demercado dropped the football inches short of scoring, and possibly saw his role diminished after the fumble.