Fantasy Football: Playing the waiver wire for Week 6

Week 5 will finish with the Green Bay Packers and the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. So it's time to look toward Week 6, and fantasy football waiver wire options. The Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers have their bye in Week 6.

Here is Week 6's "Playing the Waiver Wire."

RB Roschon Johnson/D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears

The Bears were down to Khari Blasingame as their only healthy running back by the time their Week 5 game against the Washington Commanders was over. Johnson was placed in concussion protocol during the game, Foreman was a healthy scratch, Travis Homer suffered a hamstring injury and Khalil Herbert suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from coming back.


Herbert is expected to miss multiple weeks.

Johnson hasn't done much since Week 1, but he has lingered as someone who could be more involved. If he can clear concussion protocol, with some extra days before the Bears play next since they played last Thursday night, he'd be in line for a big role.


Foreman has been a healthy scratch in four straight games for the Bears. But he has been productive when he has had opportunities in the past. After Christian McCaffrey was traded last season, he topped 900 rushing yards as he became a fantasy commodity.

Johnson would be the more appealing addition over Foreman, as long as he is healthy. But both Bears' backs deserve a long look on the waiver wire this week.


Johnson ESPN Ownership: 37.1%
Johnson Yahoo! Ownership: 41%

Foreman ESPN Ownership: 5.1%
Foreman Yahoo! Ownership: 7%

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford has his season-low for yardage in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he did have two touchdown passes for the first time this season and he posted a respectable 16.88 fantasy points.

In Week 6 Stafford gets the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed over 280 passing yards and/or multiple passing touchdowns in three of their last four games (over 300 yards twice). An opposing signal caller has accounted for multiple touchdowns in four of five games this season.

Stafford has some multi-week appeal, with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 his only particularly tough matchup before a Week 10 bye.

Based on his career body of work, It's weird to have Stafford in waiver wire columns. But he still qualifies this week, and with Cooper Kupp back healthy he has all his weapons now.

ESPN Ownership: 33.9%
Yahoo! Ownership: 57%

QB Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

Ridder went 28-for-37 for a career-high 329 yards with a touchdown against the Houston Texans in Week 5, along with 10 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has now topped 22 fantasy points twice in his last four games, supplemented by a rushing touchdown both times.

In Week 6 Ridder gets a very favorable matchup against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed multiple touchdown passes and over 280 yards through the air in three of their last four games. Four straight opposing signal callers have rushed for more than 30 yards, and topped 22 fantasy points against them.

A low-passing volume Falcons' offense naturally lowers Ridder's fantasy ceiling if he doesn't run more himself on a consistent basis. But from here through Week 10, there are no absolutely stifling matchups for him. He's a streaming option for Week 6, and at least a usable QB2 in two-quarterback/super flex leagues afterward before a Week 11 bye.

ESPN Ownership: 2.5%
Yahoo! Ownership: 5%