Waiver Wire Tuesday: Fantasy Football Week 6

Joseph McLaughlin
Oct 7
3 min read

Photo Caption: Miami Dolphins Tight End Darren Waller catching a touchdown pass against the New York Jets on September 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Marta Lavandier/AP

The 2025 NFL season enters its sixth week, and more players are out or are stepping up in ways no one expected. It is times like these that we are all grateful to have the waiver wire. Here are some great players that can give you both a long-term and a short-term boost in your quest for a fantasy championship.

Quarterback:

Matthew Stafford - LAR

Stafford has been consistently solid all season at the quarterback position, ranking in the top five in points total. However, he is only rostered on just over 52% of fantasy teams. If he is still available in your league, pick him up immediately, especially for this week’s matchup against a battered Baltimore Ravens defense.

If he is not available, Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) is another solid option. Only rostered on 21%, Tua has had a solid couple of weeks with five touchdowns and no turnovers, finding targets like De’Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, and Darren Waller. He will have a tough challenge against the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, but his recent trends do look promising for fantasy managers in need of a quarterback.

Running Back:

Rico Dowdle - CAR

With starting running back Chuba Hubbard sidelined due to a calf injury, Dowdle got most of the touches in Carolina’s previous matchup against Miami. Dowdle took the opportunity and ran with it, literally. The running back ran 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown on top of three catches for 28 yards receiving. Dowdle is red-hot right now and has a favorable matchup against a struggling Cowboys defense next week. Get him now while you still can.

Wide Receiver:

Kendrick Bourne - SF

The 49ers have been battling injuries all season, and their wide receiver room is no different. With Ricky Pearsall (Knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle) both out for the time being, someone had to step up to catch passes from Mac Jones. That someone in Week 5 was Jones’ former Patriots teammate, Kendrick Bourne. Bourne performed well against the Rams last Thursday, catching 10 passes for 142 yards. He will likely be the No. 1 target for the 49ers as they face the Buccaneers this weekend, so he is worth picking up.

Tight End:

Darren Waller - MIA

Waller is the newest addition to the Dolphins’ offense and played his first game of the season against the New York Jets in Week 4. In that game, he scored 17.7 PPR on three catches for 27 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up again with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown (18.8 PPR) against the Panthers this past Sunday. With the Dolphins’ offense experiencing injuries, and Waller looking sharp during both of his starts this season, he is becoming a fantasy must-have at the tight end position.

Defense/Special Teams:

-Los Angeles Rams

The Rams’ defense had an off week against the 49ers last Thursday. However, they have a chance to bounce back against a weakened Baltimore Ravens offense. The Rams have put up at least six points on defense in the first four weeks of the season, and it is expected that they will do that again against the Ravens. Pick up the Rams if they are available on waivers, because they can be a great fit for any team, especially those with the Vikings’ defense on their bye week.