With Lamar Jackson and the Ravens winning an overtime thriller against the Colts Monday night, Week 5 is officially in the books. Now is that glorious time of the week when we turn our attention to Week 6 and attack the fantasy football waiver wire.
Here are my top targets with their rostered percentage (via Sleeper) and the percent of your FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) I’d recommend spending on said player.
Let’s begin!
Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs (19% rostered, 25% FAAB)
With Clyde Edwards-Helaire set to miss a few weeks with a MCL sprain, Williams instantly becomes this week’s top waiver target. Williams already was splitting red zone carries with CEH and now that this is his backfield, he easily becomes a weekly high-end RB2. Jerick McKinnon isn’t a bad waiver target if you’re in a deep PPR league given that he’ll see his work in the passing game. Still, fantasy managers shouldn’t worry about McKinnon stealing touches when deciding how much FAAB to spend on Williams. The correct answer is all of your FAAB.
Kadarius Toney, New York Giants (33% rostered, 20% FAAB)
It is long past the time for it to be socially acceptable to have Toney available on your waiver wire. Toney is the only offensive weapon left on an injury riddled Giants team. He’s seen at least 9 targets in back-to-back weeks and is coming off an absurd 189 yard game against the Cowboys. With full season fantasy value, Toney is the perfect guy to spend big on and have on your roster for the rest of the season.
kadarius toney’s target share this season:
wk1: 5.4%
wk2: 0.0%
wk3: 8.5%
wk4: 22.5%
wk5: 34.2%32% rostered in sleeper leagues. he should be a top priority in every damn league.
— pete astronaut aboard the pitts-8 rocket rogers (@petemrogers) October 11, 2021
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals (54% rostered, 15% FAAB)
After starting with a bang, it’s been a couple of quiet weeks from the Cardinals rookie receiver. However, against the 49ers Sunday, Moore made his presence felt once again, catching 5-of-6 targets for 59 yards and adding 38 yards rushing. Sadly, breakout tight end Maxx Williams suffered a serious injury against the 49ers and is likely done for the year. This opens up more work for Moore to step into, building upon the rookie’s already strong start. The Cardinals offense is firing on all cylinders right now and Kyler Murray is playing like the league’s MVP. Buy a piece of this passing game before it’s too late.
Devontae Booker, Giants (12% rostered, 15% FAAB)
Saquon Barkley will likely miss Week 6 with a low-ankle sprain, opening the door for Booker to see most of the Giants’ backfield touches. Against the Cowboys, Booker played 88% of the team’s snaps filling in for Barkley, and carried the ball 16 times for 42 yards and a touchdown. He also added 16 yards and a touchdown through the air. The volume Booker might see alone puts him in RB2 territory, which is well worth rostering even if it’s just for Week 6. However, don’t go overboard with your FAAB here if you can help it. Barkley might be just out a week and the Rams aren’t an easy team to run the football on.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (21% rostered, 5% FAAB)
Damien Williams was last week’s top waiver target with the news of David Montgomery’s injury. While Williams still managed to put forward the best fantasy performance of the Bears’ backfield in Week 5, it should be noted that it wasn’t solely his backfield.
bears backfield w/o david montgomery:
damien williams
18 touches
84 yds
1 td
48% snaps
79% rosteredkhalil herbert
18 touches
75 yds
53% snaps
21% rostered— pete astronaut aboard the pitts-8 rocket rogers (@petemrogers) October 11, 2021
If you missed out on Williams last week, try sneaking Herbert onto your roster this week. There’s risk with Herbert given that we don’t know if the Bears are committed to the running back committee or if it was just a one-off against the Raiders. Still, 18 touches shouldn’t be ignored and is worth stashing just in case.
Honorable Mentions
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (51% rostered) — Henry has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games and seen at least five targets in three straight. He’s the top tight end target in New England and should be rostered and started moving forward.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos (43% rostered) — Patrick has been the WR31 in .5PPR so far this year. Patrick has scored a touchdown or gone over 80 yards receiving in 4 out of his 5 games this season. He’s well worth rostering as the Broncos’ clear No. 2 guy.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (20% rostered) — The Lions wide receivers have become more involved in the passing game and St. Brown has seen eight targets in back-to-back games. The rookie might be emerging as the Lions’ top WR target.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (0% rostered) — With Russel Wilson set to miss six weeks, it’s Geno time in Seattle. Smith didn’t look terrible in Week 5 against the Rams and with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as targets, he’s not a bad option if you’re in a deep Superflex league.