Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, Week 6: Germie Bernard, Dameon Pierce among top pickups

Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Key injuries to consider

• Tyler Shough (hand)

• Michael Penix Jr. (ribs)

• Quinshon Judkins (foot)

• Raheim Sanders (hip)

• David Montgomery (groin)

• TreVeyon Henderson (ankle)

• Will Shipley (ankle)

• CeeDee Lamb (quad)

• Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring)

• KC Concepcion (head)

• Roman Wilson (finger)

• Tre’ Harris (hamstring)

• TJ Hockenson (concussion)

• Kenyon Sadiq (concussion)

Bye weeks

• Cincinnati Bengals

• Detroit Lions

• Miami Dolphins

• Minnesota Vikings

Pickups by position

• Quarterbacks

• Running backs

• Wide receivers

• Tight ends

• Defense/Special teams

• Kickers

Top-10 overall pickups for Week 6

1. Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers

2. Dameon Pierce, RB, Eagles

3. Kendrick Bourne, WR, Cardinals

4. Jameis Winston, QB, Giants

5. Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars

6. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers

7. Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers

8. Raheim Sanders, RB, Browns (if healthy)

9. Kirk Cousins, QB, Raiders

10. Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos 

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston, Giants

Yes, I’m actually recommending picking up Winston. While you’re never going to feel comfortable starting him, the results have been there with at least 250 yards and three touchdowns in each of his past two outings.

The 32-year-old journeyman has played his usual brand of chaotic football since taking over as the Giants starter, but the production has led to consecutive top-12 fantasy finishes. 

The Saints’ uptempo style should lead to another solid stat line for Winston in Week 6. Just know, he’s more of a one-week streamer than a rest-of-season solution in your lineup. 

Kirk Cousins, Raiders

Cousins is coming off his first down game in a blowout loss to the Patriots, but he’s still a top-10 fantasy quarterback on the season after throwing for multiple touchdowns in his first four appearances. 

You can expect the veteran to rebound in Week 6 against a Bills defense that’s been a plus-matchup for fantasy QBs and will be playing on a short week. Buffalo-Las Vegas is also tied for the highest projected point total early in the week at 52.5. 

Though it’s only a matter of time before Fernando Mendoza takes over, Cousins will be a solid fantasy streamer until that happens. 

Risky streaming options

• Aaron Rodgers at TB (27% rostered)

• Daniel Jones vs. TEN (19% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out)

• Tyler Huntley at CLE (3% rostered)

• Jalon Daniels vs. PIT (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy)

• Michael Penix Jr. vs. CHI (11% rostered)

Desperation streaming options

• Deshaun Watson vs. BAL (13% rostered)

• Geno Smith at NE (8% rostered)

• Cam Ward at IND (9% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out)

• Tua Tagovailoa vs. CHI (1% rostered)

• Spencer Rattler at NYG (0% rostered)

Deep stashes 

• Fernando Mendoza (5% rostered)

• Carson Beck (0% rostered)

Running Backs

Dameon Pierce, Eagles

Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is sidelined, Tank Bigsby (core) is on injured reserve and now Will Shipley (plantar fascia) is expected to miss multiple weeks. That’s on top of the injuries to Philly’s offensive line and receiving corps. 

Enter Pierce, who is the literal definition of next man up. It’s easy to forget, but Pierce was once the Texans starter during his rookie season back in 2022. During that campaign, he posted 1,104 scrimmage yards, 30 receptions and five touchdowns. Since then he’s mostly bounced around the league as a depth piece and practice squad player. 

While we’ll have to monitor Barkley’s health to see if he has a chance to suit up in Week 6, at the moment it seems like Pierce will get the start. 

Fortunately for him, the matchup with Jacksonville can help explain away his embarrassing efficiency on Sunday with just 14 rushing yards on 11 carries, as well as negative two yards on two receptions. His next opponent, the Panthers, have allowed at least 75 scrimmage yards to every starting RB they have faced in the opening month. If Pierce gets the call, he’ll be a low-end RB2 for fantasy. 

Kimani Vidal, Chargers

The Chargers backfield is the definition of a hot-hand committee with Vidal, Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell splitting snaps almost evenly the last two weeks. 

Vidal gets the mention here coming off his best game of the season, thanks to 57 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. He’s also increased his snaps each week since the opener (7%, 10%, 25%, 35%, 42%). 

You shouldn’t expect any of the Chargers backs to run away with the lead job, but each are usable in fantasy as RB3 options. 

Raheim Sanders, Browns (if healthy)

The Browns backfield is a mess, so much so that I had to give them a writeup in this section. Quinshon Judkins left the stadium in a walking boot on his right foot, which is the side his season-ending ankle injury occurred on last year. It’s possible it’s just precautionary, but it puts his Week 6 status in doubt until we get an update. 

With Dylan Sampson on IR until later this year, Sanders is the No. 2 back in Cleveland for the time being. However, Sanders also came out of this game with a hip injury that we’ll need to get more information on. If Judkins is out and Sanders is healthy enough to start, he would be in the high-end fantasy RB3 mix. 

If Judkins and Sanders can’t suit up, then we’re looking at a tandem of Jaleel McLaughlin and Jaret Patterson (practice squad). In that scenario, McLaughlin would be a dart-throw flex at best against Baltimore. 

Jonah Coleman, Broncos (IR)

Given the current state of the waiver wire options, I want to make sure managers are considering some of the sneakier options available in a lot of leagues. 

If Coleman was dropped, you should be stashing him in your IR spot. J.K. Dobbins found the end zone in Week 5, but he hasn’t played well this season. RJ Harvey has also failed to make a case for the lead-back role. 

Meanwhile, Coleman flashed with 58 yards, three catches and a touchdown the last time he was on the field. The rookie is a no-risk investment that could pay off in a big way in the second half of the season. 

James Conner, Cardinals (IR)

This is an extreme long shot, but Conner is a potential trade candidate who’s sitting on IR in Arizona. I have the veteran stashed in several leagues, just in case the Cardinals send him to an RB-needy roster before the deadline.

Woody Marks is 54% rostered but would be the No. 1 RB add, if available. 

Best one-injury away backup RBs to stash

• Brian Robinson Jr. (50% rostered) 

• Kaelon Black (45% rostered)

• Emmett Johnson (24% rostered)

• Mike Washington Jr. (42% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Kendre Miller at NYG (7% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell at KC (42% rostered)

• Tyjae Spears at IND (22% rostered)

• Justice Hill at CLE (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. HOU (35% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Jaleel McLaughlin vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Upside stashes

• Ray Davis (7% rostered)

• Roschon Johnson (5% rostered)

• Najee Harris (7% rostered)

Deep stashes

• Tyler Goodson (0% rostered)

• Dylan Laube (1% rostered)

• Corey Kiner (0% rostered)

• Nicholas Singleton (1% rostered)

• Jahwar Jordan (0% rostered)

• Jaret Patterson (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes

• Samaje Perine (3% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Germie Bernard, Steelers

Bernard is a nice combination of an intriguing rookie, a new opportunity and some proof of concept already with his six-catch, 80-yard effort on nine targets in Week 5. 

That was aided by injuries to Michael Pittman Jr. being on IR and Roman Wilson leaving the game with a finger issue that’s expected to keep him out multiple weeks. 

In the meantime, Bernard ran a season-high 94% of the routes on Sunday. He’s also earned praise from Aaron Rodgers, who can be mercurial with his pass-catchers. 

Until Pittman or Wilson are back, Bernard can be started as a fantasy WR3 with upside. 

Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals

Even before the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade, you could have made the argument that Bourne was the more valuable fantasy asset. Now that MHJ is headed to the Texans, Bourne is solidified in his role behind the top two pass-catchers, Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. 

Jalen Brooks saw the biggest change in his role with Harrison out of the way, but Bourne was by far the more productive option — catching five of his eight targets for 70 yards against the Lions. That’s the second time this season Bourne has reached those totals. 

Some harder matchups are on the way, but moving forward, Bourne can be started as a fantasy WR4/flex option. 

Jordyn Tyson is 49% rostered but would be the No. 1 WR add and can be stashed in your IR spot, if available. 

Malik Washington is 49% rostered but would be the No. 2 WR add behind Tyson, if available. 

Wan’Dale Robinson is 52% rostered but would be the No. 3 WR add behind Tyson and Washington, if available. 

Khalil Shakir is 50% rostered but would be the No. 4 WR add behind Tyson, Washington and Robinson, if available. 

Jakobi Meyers is 50% rostered but would be the No. 5 WR add, behind Tyson, Washington, Robinson and Shakir, if available. 

Flex options

• Tre Tucker vs. BUF (36% rostered)

• Keenan Allen vs. TEN (31% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out)

• DeMario Douglas vs. NYJ (2% rostered)

• Kyle Williams vs. NYJ (0% rostered)

• Dontayvion Wicks vs. CAR (44% rostered)

• Darius Cooper vs. CAR (8% rostered)

• Makai Lemon vs. CAR (42% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Ryan Flournoy at GB (8% rostered)

• Keon Coleman at LV (40% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy)

• Adonai Mitchell at NE (21% rostered)

• Tre’ Harris at KC (28% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Antonio Williams at SF (9% rostered)

• Efton Chism III vs NYJ (1% rostered)

• Brandin Cooks vs. WAS (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Rashod Bateman at CLE (16% rostered)

• Jaylin Noel at JAX (4% rostered)

• Rashid Shaheed at DEN (32% rostered)

• Jerry Jeudy vs. BAL (4% rostered)

• Cody White vs. BUF (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Isaiah Bond vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• Ja’Kobi Lane (8% rostered)

• Christian Kirk (2% rostered)

• Omar Cooper Jr. (3% rostered)

• De’Zhaun Stribling (30% rostered)

Deep stashes

• Jalen Royals (0% rostered)

• Cyrus Allen (2% rostered)

• Jalen Brooks (0% rostered)

Tight Ends

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange is making a case to be in the low-end TE1 conversation, following a pair of quality outings with at least eight targets both times. That resulted in back to back top-12 fantasy finishes thanks to stat lines of 7-95-0 and 7-68-0. 

While many non-elite tight ends have fantasy success due to touchdown-scoring, Strange is earning the kind of volume that could make his production more sustainable. Given his role in one of the best offenses in the league, Strange needs to be rostered. 

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers

Speaking of tight ends who are boosting their fantasy numbers with TDs, Freiermuth found the end zone twice on Sunday to bring his season total to four. 

His seven targets are also notable, making it the fourth time in five outings he’s had at least five passes thrown his way. 

Even with Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined, it’s hard to project a significant yardage total for Freiermuth, but his steady role combined with the TD upside makes him a fantasy starter through the bye-week gauntlet. 

Hunter Henry is 52% rostered but would be the No. 2 TE add behind Strange, if available. 

Risky streaming options

• Chig Okonkwo at SF (16% rostered)

• Tyler Higbee vs. ARI (4% rostered)

• Darren Waller at PHI (16% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options

• Michael Mayer vs. BUF (10% rostered)

• Darnell Washington at TB (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out)

• Mason Taylor at NE (0% rostered)

Upside stashes

• Eli Raridon (0% rostered)

Week 6 streamers

Defenses

Patriots are 51% rostered but would be the No. 1 D/ST add, if available. 

Ravens are 59% rostered but would be the No. 2 D/ST add behind the Patriots, if available. 

Kickers

Drop candidates

Quarterbacks: Bo Nix, Justin Herbert, Sam Darnold

Running Backs: David Montgomery, Jadarian Price, Jonathon Brooks

Wide Receivers: Chris Godwin Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., Michael Pittman Jr.

Tight Ends: Jake Ferguson, Dalton Schultz

• Bo Nix has been held under 15 fantasy points in four of his five games this season and now has to face the Seahawks defense in Week 6. 

• Meanwhile, Justin Herbert can only dream of putting up 15 fantasy points. He’s failed to accomplish that feat in all five outings this year. 

• David Montgomery left Sunday’s game with a groin injury that could sideline him for multiple weeks. Even prior to leaving that game, the veteran back had been struggling to generate production. Since his three-touchdown game in Week 1, Montgomery has averaged just 32 scrimmage yards per game (never topping 50 yards) and hasn’t scored another TD. 

• At this point, the only hope for Brian Thomas Jr.’s fantasy outlook would come through a trade, but the Jaguars remain adamant that they aren’t interested in dealing him away. Over his last three games, BTJ had managed stat lines of 1-8-0, 2-17-1 and 0-0-0 while playing limited snaps.