Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire: Time to catch a break

There are plenty of guys to pick up in Week 6, especially at WR, but Jamey Eisenberg says we could get some injured stars back this week like Carson Palmer and Cam Newton.

Week 6 Rankings: Standard | PPR

It was fun to see Tom Brady back on the field in Week 5 after his four-game suspension, and he dominated the Browns as expected. Ben Roethlisberger was also dominant against the Jets, and Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers and Derek Carr also had standout performances.

But overall it was a bad week for quarterbacks, which was expected with Drew Brees and Russell Wilson on a bye and Cam Newton (concussion) and Carson Palmer (concussion) hurt. Sure, we got some surprise performances from Marcus Mariota, Sam Bradford and Blaine Gabbert, who all scored more than 20 Fantasy points in a standard league. But we also had Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan and Eli Manning score 19 points or less, which was disappointing. Clearly the latter three are started more than the former in most leagues.

This week, help should be on the way, especially with Brees and Wilson back (along with Blake Bortles and Alex Smith), and it looks like Palmer and Newton will return to action. And running back could get some reinforcements if Rashad Jennings (hand), Arian Foster (groin) and Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) are able to play in Week 6.

We appeared to avoid serious injuries to Eddie Lacy (ankle), Jeremy Hill (shoulder) and Randall Cobb (head), although you'll want to check their status during the week. And our only major injury news came from Steve Smith (ankle) and when the Buccaneers placed Charles Sims (knee) on injured reserve, which likely ends his season.

Now, just because some guys might be getting healthy shouldn't prevent you from being active on the waiver wire this week, and Minnesota and Tampa Bay are on bye. You can either speculate on some players with future upside like Bilal Powell, Devontae Booker or Tony Romo, or you can pick up some of the hot receivers from Week 5 like Chris Hogan, Cameron Meredith or Jeremy Kerley.

For our purposes here at CBS Sports, we only discuss players on waivers in 65 percent of leagues or fewer. But if you see guys like Zach Miller (72 percent ownership), Sammie Coates (67 percent), Cole Beasley (67 percent) or James White (66 percent) available, make them a priority at their positions.

Coates would be the No. 1 player to add at any position based on his performance for the Steelers the past two weeks when he had 19 targets for 12 catches, 218 yards and two touchdowns over that span. He's leaving too much production on the field with dropped passes, but he's benefiting from an elite quarterback in Roethlisberger and plenty of single coverage opposite Antonio Brown. Coates is worth at least 15 percent of your remaining FAAB budget.

Quarterbacks

Names of note on bye: Jameis Winston and Sam Bradford

Injuries of note: Cam Newton (concussion), Carson Palmer (concussion) and Trevor Siemian (shoulder)

Priority list

* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.

Hoyer has been mentioned here for the past two weeks after he took over for the injured Jay Cutler (thumb) and been outstanding against Dallas, Detroit and Indianapolis with at least 22 Fantasy points in a standard league each week. He's passed for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in each outing, and he has a favorable matchup this week against the Jaguars. There's talk he could keep the job even when Cutler is back, which would be great given his recent level of play. But as long as he's starting and playing well, Fantasy owners should continue to trust him.

• Marcus Mariota (54 percent): He faces CLE this week. Every QB vs. CLE this year has been awesome.
• Alex Smith (35 percent): He's scored at least 20 FPTS in four in a row vs. OAK.
• Trevor Siemian (33 percent): If healthy he faces a depleted secondary for SD.
• Tony Romo (17 percent): He might be starting again as early as Week 8. Add him now.
• Colin Kaepernick (3 percent): The 49ers should give him the job now. He could help in 2-QB leagues.

Drop list

* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.

• Jameis Winston (93 percent): There's no reason to stash him while he's on a bye.
• Joe Flacco (89 percent): He's not worth starting this week on the road at NYG.
• Ryan Tannehill (70 percent): He continues to look worse each week. Is it Matt Moore time?

Running backs

Injuries of note: Charles Sims (knee), Latavius Murray (toe), Eddie Lacy (ankle) and Jeremy Hill (shoulder)

Priority list

* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.

There really isn't a running back to add this week who is a must-start option, Maybe it's Cameron Artis-Payne after his standout performance Monday night against Tampa Bay and his matchup in Week 6 at New Orleans. Or maybe it's Bobby Rainey in PPR leagues after his performance the past two weeks. If you need either guy, make him a priority, including James White. But if you just want to speculate on the next lottery ticket, add Powell now where available. Matt Forte has slowed down the past three weeks, and Powell has been better in the passing game with 18 catches to six over that span. If Forte gets hurt then Powell could be a star, and he's worth stashing now in all leagues. I would take White if he's available over Powell for the short-term production, but Powell is worth at least five percent of your remaining FAAB budget.

• Devontae Booker (45 percent): He's cutting into C.J. Anderson's workload and remains a lottery ticket if Anderson gets hurt. Stash him now in all leagues, and he's right behind Powell in terms of a top add.
• Cameron Artis-Payne (56 percent): I was wrong to put him on the drop list last week. He's a flex vs. NO after 85 yards and two touchdowns vs. TB on Monday night.
• Bobby Rainey (9 percent): As we said last week, he's Shane Vereen's replacement with 13 catches in two games. He's a low-end starter in PPR leagues.
• James Starks (33 percent): His value will rise if Lacy is out in Week 6 against the Cowboys. The problem is he's not that good and would only be a flex if he starts.
• Jay Ajayi (55 percent): Foster could return this week but he also has a tough matchup vs. PIT. If he starts, he remains a flex option.
• Jalen Richard (41 percent): DeAndre Washington played more snaps in Week 5 but Richard was better. We'll see what happens this week if Murray remains out, but both are flex options vs. KC.
• Jacquizz Rodgers (38 percent): Martin is expected to return from his hamstring injury in Week 7, but Rodgers will replace Sims as the No. 2 RB. He had 139 total yards in Week 5 at CAR.
• Mike Gillislee (12 percent): This is another lottery ticket running back in case something happens to LeSean McCoy.
• Dion Lewis (36 percent): White has nine catches for 113 yards in his past two games. That could be Lewis if he's healthy in two weeks. He's worth stashing now.

Drop list

* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.

• Charles Sims (89 percent): It's too bad his season ended early. Even with Martin healthy he had a role.
• Thomas Rawls (72 percent): Christine Michael is the Seahawks starter. Rawls is not worth stashing.
• Jeremy Langford (59 percent): Jordan Howard is the Bears starter. Langford is not worth stashing.

Wide receivers

Names of note on bye: Stefon Diggs and Mike Evans

Injuries of note: Steve Smith (ankle) and Mike Wallace (ribs)

Priority list

* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.