Mike Fanelli | Sat, Oct 12th 2024, 6:03am EDT

6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 6)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 6.

Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (25.7% Rostered)

Many, including myself, had no interest in starting Jones in Week 5, with Malik Nabers unable to play because of a concussion. Yet, he had his best game this season, totaling 257 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 22.1 fantasy points. Furthermore, the veteran had his best outing on the ground, with 11 rushing attempts for 38 yards. More importantly, Jones has played well since Week 1. He has had two passing touchdowns and at least 18.3 fantasy points in three of the past four games.

Unfortunately, Nabers won’t return this week. Yet Jones has top-12 appeal against a Bengals’ defense that has gotten obliterated by quarterbacks lately. They have surrendered 274 passing yards, 2.7 touchdowns, and 25.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past three weeks, giving up 28.1 or more twice. Last week, Lamar Jackson had 348 passing yards and four touchdowns against Cincinnati, scoring 29.9 fantasy points with his arm. While Jones won’t score 30 fantasy points Sunday night, he should have his second consecutive game with 20 or more.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYG) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (25.5% Rostered)

Let’s stay in New York and turn our attention to the backfield. Devin Singletary is questionable to play Sunday night because of a groin injury. The veteran was a limited participant in practice all week, which might keep him out of the lineup for the second consecutive game. Meanwhile, Tracy was outstanding as the starter in Week 5, totaling 18 rushing attempts for 129 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. More importantly, the rookie finished the week as the RB16, scoring 13.5 half-point PPR fantasy points.

Tracy ranked first in rushing yards (129), fifth in explosive run rate (11.1%), 11th in missed forced tackle per attempt rate (22%), and sixth in yards after contact per attempt rate (3.11) among running backs with at least 10 attempts in Week 5 (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Bengals have allowed the sixth-highest missed forced tackle per attempt rate (18%) and the third-most rushing yards per game (151.4) over the first five weeks. The rookie should have a meaningful role even if Singletary can play Sunday night.

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (16.9% Rostered)

Chicago has found a running game after struggling earlier this season. D’Andre Swift has been on fire during the team’s two-game winning streak. However, Johnson has had a significant role despite the veteran’s recent hot play. The second-year pro has been the RB18 over the past two weeks, averaging 11.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has carved out a role as the Bears’ goal-line running back, scoring three touchdowns over the past two weeks. All three of his rushing scores have come from within the three-yard line.

Last week, Johnson took advantage of an awful Carolina Panthers run defense, totaling two touchdowns and 14.5 fantasy points. Thankfully, the former Texas star has another appealing matchup in Week 6. He faces a Jaguars defense in London that has surrendered 24 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the sixth-most in the NFL. Last week, they gave up a rushing touchdown and 22.5 fantasy points to the Indianapolis Colts backfield without Jonathan Taylor. Expect Johnson to find the end zone at least once Sunday morning.

Michael Wilson (WR – ARI) vs. Green Bay Packers (14.4% Rostered)

While Marvin Harrison Jr. has been solid, the star rookie receiver hasn’t lived up to his fantasy football draft capital this year. Unfortunately, Wilson’s recent play has cut into Harrison’s production. The second-year pro has been a solid flex option over the past three weeks, averaging eight half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has averaged 7.3 targets per game in those contests, totaling six or more in every matchup. More importantly, Wilson scored double-digit fantasy points twice, including last week against a talented San Francisco 49ers defense.

Meanwhile, the Packers have struggled to slow down opposing passing attacks in 2024 despite their offseason additions. They have surrendered 31 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the eighth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Green Bay has given up 14.5 receptions for 188.5 receiving, 1.5 touchdowns, and 37.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past two weeks. More importantly, Jordan Whittington (12.4 fantasy points), Demarcus Robinson (10.3), and Tutu Atwell (9.5) all finished inside the top 40 wide receivers last week against the Packers.

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (8.8% Rostered)

Unfortunately, the Giants will be without Malik Nabers for the second consecutive game because of a concussion. Hopefully, the star rookie returns to the lineup next week. However, Slayton has top-24 appeal until Nabers is healthy. Last week, the veteran was the WR7, scoring 22.2 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Seattle Seahawks, finishing ahead of several big-name wide receivers, including Mike Evans (20.7) and Brandon Aiyuk (18.7). Slayton was a go-to target for Daniel Jones, catching eight of his 11 targets for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Furthermore, the veteran led the Giants in target share (32.4%), air yards (71.6%), and first-read target share (37%) in their Week 5 win (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Bengals have struggled to slow down wide receivers over the past three weeks, giving up 188.7 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 34.5 fantasy points per game. More importantly, they have had no answers for opposing outside No. 1 wide receivers, surrendering six receptions on 10.3 targets for 98 receiving yards and 17.1 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks.

Cade Otton (TE – TB) vs. New Orleans Saints (22.3% Rostered)

While the tight end position is starting to turn the corner, fantasy players are always looking for options off the waiver wire. Otton is one of the top streaming options in Week 6. He is the TE23 for the year, averaging 4.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per contest. However, Otton has been the TE12 over the past three weeks, averaging 6.8 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, his role on offense has expanded, seeing seven targets per game over the past three weeks after totaling four in the first two contests.

More importantly, Otton could see an increased workload because of the matchup. Otton faces a New Orleans defense that has gotten obliterated by tight ends lately. The Saints have surrendered 7.3 receptions for 91.3 receiving yards and 12.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past three weeks despite Kyle Pitts putting up a goose egg against them in Week 4. Otton had a receiving touchdown in two of his past three games against the division rivals. Don’t be surprised if he has a top-five finish.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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