Woody Marks and the Best Week 6 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

With Week 6 on the horizon, the 2026 fantasy football season is approximately a third of the way through. It's becoming quite clear which teams have the inside track to make a championship run and which are facing uphill battles to even reach the postseason.

However, there is still plenty of time for the landscape to shift before the playoff race truly heats up.

Injuries have been a major storyline during this fantasy campaign, with a variety of ailments sending an inordinate number of the NFL's top stars to the sidelines.

Because of the toll these injuries are taking, the true title contenders may not be the squads with the top full-strength starting lineup, but those with depth to withstand the loss of several key players.

The beginning of bye weeks represents another obstacle for managers to tackle. While only two teams were out last week, the many fantasy-relevant talents who play for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings will all be on break in Week 6.

Whether you need a one-week streamer to fill in for one of your usual starters or a longer-term replacement for an injured star, you'll be able to find plenty of suitable options in the free-agent pool.

With that in mind, let's look at the top waiver-wire pickups for Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 starting budget.

Jameis Winston, New York Giants (6 Percent Rostered)

Winston has rapidly developed into a highly viable fantasy asset. While he didn't look prepared to be Big Blue's starter in Week 3, he turned things around and is now coming off a pair of top-eight finishes.

The veteran has legitimate QB1 upside for the remainder of the 2026 season.

While the gunslinging signal-caller will have his turnover troubles and accuracy issues—he tossed a pair of interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 and lost a fumble to the Washington Commanders this past week—that same high-risk play style also leads to plenty of fantasy points.

Winston is averaging 21 points over his past four starts dating back to last season. To put that in perspective, only four quarterbacks averaged more points during the 2025 campaign.

Although he won't put up week-winning numbers every start, Winston is the best free-agent choice for Week 6 and even has season-saving upside for managers who are truly desperate for a QB upgrade.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (27 Percent Rostered)

After a shaky start to his 22nd season, Rodgers has locked in and put together his best fantasy stretch in years.

In the wake of his 22-point outing against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Rodgers has now ripped off three consecutive QB12 or better finishes.

One would have to go back to the 2021 campaign—the most recent of the future Hall of Famer's four NFL MVP seasons—to find the last time he went on that type of streak.

The upcoming showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers represents one of Rodgers' tougher tests of the season—the Bucs are only allowing an average of 14 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers—but any manager needing to stream the QB position in Week 6 shouldn't hesitate to fire up the 42-year-old.

Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders (5 Percent Rostered)

Mendoza finally made his highly anticipated NFL debut late in the Raiders' blowout loss to the New England Patriots.

While he didn't move the needle much, the Indiana product completed a respectable six of eight throws for 48 yards and added three more yards on a lone rushing attempt.

Kirk Cousins is expected to remain Vegas' starter despite his struggles and is even a solid streaming choice for a Week 6 clash against the Buffalo Bills, but managers in deep formats can consider stashing Mendoza now.

Cousins' leash may have been shortened significantly by the rookie's promising performance, opening the door for the No. 1 overall pick to take the reins if the veteran continues to stumble.

Woody Marks, Houston Texans (54 Percent Rostered)

Marks' disappointing sophomore season started to get back on track in Week 5 thanks to his 85-yard, 19-touch performance against the Tennessee Titans.

Although his usage had been inconsistent over the first month of play, the second-year back saw a major bump in volume after starter David Montgomery picked up a groin injury.

Montgomery is now considered week-to-week , opening the door for Marks to take control of the backfield up until Houston's Week 8 bye.

Despite the likelihood of becoming the platoon's clear leader for a stretch, Marks should only be considered a fringe RB3 for Week 6. He has the misfortune to come up against a ferocious Jacksonville Jaguars front that has limited opposing running backs to a league-leading 10.6 fantasy points per game this year.

Despite the tough matchup, Marks should still be your top waiver-wire target for Week 6. He not only has short-term volume-based upside during Montgomery's absence, but the starter's inefficiency in recent weeks also gives Marks ample opportunity to secure a larger rest-of-season role.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (7 Percent Rostered)

With starter Travis Etienne Jr. on the IR with a hamstring strain and veteran backup Alvin Kamara severely limited by a back issue, Miller has become the healthiest and most productive option left in the Big Easy.

While Miller only saw the field for 14 offensive snaps during Sunday's disappointing loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he made the most of them by turning in 30 yards and a touchdown on 10 totes. He vastly outperformed Kamara, who only mustered six total yards on his five touches.

Expect head coach Kellen Moore to ride the hot hand and make Miller a far larger part of his offensive game plan in Week 6.

If the Saints are going to snap their three-game losing skid, they'll need Miller to go off against a New York Giants defense that is allowing 17.5 points per game to opposing RBs in 2026.

Dameon Pierce, Philadelphia Eagles (2 Percent Rostered)

Pierce may have spent the first month of 2026 on Philadelphia's practice squad, but he's poised for a huge Week 6 role within an Eagles offense that is quickly running out of backfield options.

Superstar starter Saquon Barkley is still rehabilitating his hamstring, Tank Bigsby remains on IR after undergoing core muscle surgery and Will Shipley could reportedly miss multiple weeks after partially tearing his plantar fascia on Sunday.

That leaves Pierce, who mustered just 14 yards on 11 carries against the Jags this past weekend, as the top option against the Carolina Panthers.

Although working behind a patchwork offensive line isn't ideal, managers can expect a far better performance from Pierce against a soft Panthers front.

Carolina has given up an average of 23.3 points per game to opposing RBs, tied for the third-most in the league this season.

With so many backs out on bye this week, managers could do far worse than rolling the dice on Pierce having a breakout game.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (2 Percent Rostered)

The Chargers' offense may be imploding during a miserable 0-5 start to the season, but Vidal has been one of the team's few bright spots.

Although his ceiling is still capped by his place in L.A.'s three-man backfield platoon, Vidal saw his heaviest usage of the season in Week 5. He amassed 57 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, putting on a far more efficient performance than that of starter Omarion Hampton (33 yards on 14 totes) and fellow backup Keaton Mitchell (11 yards on six carries).

While that showing isn't likely to result in Vidal taking the top spot in the Bolts' rotation, he should see enough volume to make a fantasy impact when his squad squares off with the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.

Consider Vidal a high-risk, high-reward flex choice as the Chargers try to find a way to secure their first win of 2026.

Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints (49 Percent Rostered)

Tyson's much-anticipated NFL debut has been delayed by a hamstring injury he suffered late in the preseason.

Although New Orleans' brass is taking a "patient, long-term approach" to the receiver's recovery, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Tyson could return as early as Week 7, with Week 9 potentially the "most logical" option.

Expect the No. 8 overall pick to make an instant impact when he does get on the field, sliding right into a fantasy-relevant role as the Saints' No. 2 WR behind superstar Chris Olave.

While managers will have to wait a few more weeks to see returns on this waiver claim, that patience should be rewarded with a starting-caliber receiver who can put up big numbers in the back half of the season.

Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers (1 Percent Rostered)

With several Pittsburgh pass-catchers sitting out or hobbled by injury, Bernard more than adequately filled the void.

He finished a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts with six catches and 80 receiving yards on nine targets. No other Steelers wideout recorded more than three catches, 12 receiving yards or four targets in the contest.

Head coach Mike McCarthy recently raved about the second-rounder's development, stating : "[Bernard has] acclimated very well to the offense, can play all three positions, and sticks his nose in there. I've been very impressed."

With that vote of confidence and a clear need for someone to step in this receiving corps, expect Bernard to become a larger part of Pittsburgh's plans each week.

Kendrick Bourne, Arizona Cardinals (3 Percent Rostered)

Bourne was already Arizona's No. 2 WR in terms of volume over the first four weeks, but he just had one of his best games yet with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined while awaiting his trade to the Houston Texans to be finalized.

Bourne finished the Cardinals' 21-45 loss to the Detroit Lions with five catches, eight targets and a team-high 70 receiving yards.

Although his floor is low—he was held without a target in Week 4—he has notched top-25 finishes in two of the first five games and should only see more looks with Harrison out of the picture.

Bourne is worth an add as a bye week and injury fill-in who can pad out your squad's depth.

Efton Chism III, New England Patriots (1 Percent Rostered)

Chism has a chance to become the next unheralded, diminutive slot receiver to thrive in New England.

With injuries taking their toll on the Patriots' receiving corps, he stepped up and became a hero with his game-winning touchdown catch against the rival Buffalo Bills in Week 4.

Chism followed that up with a steady five-catch, 57-yard Week 5 outing and has plenty of momentum going into this week's matchup with the New York Jets.

While he could fade back into irrelevance upon the eventual return of Mack Hollins and A.J. Brown, the wideout is worth a look and could pay massive dividends if he carves out a stable role in New England's offense.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (52 Percent Rostered)

Henry landed on the free-agent scrapheap in many leagues after he mustered a meager 71 yards on seven catches over the first three weeks of the 2026 campaign.

Cutting ties was understandable at the time, but two straight games with double-digit fantasy points makes him worth rostering again.

The New England tight end just wrapped up his best performance of the season, tallying 13.4 fantasy points against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Henry reeled in three of his four looks for 44 yards and scored his first TD of 2026 in the contest. That came on the heels of a five-target, five-catch, 62-yard performance that helped his Pats topple a tough Buffalo Bills opponent.

Even if you don't plan to utilize Henry as a weekly starter, he's still a fantastic streaming choice for Week 6. With the New York Jets on deck, the veteran is a strong bet to set more season-high marks.

Gang Green allows an average of 9.6 points per game to opposing TEs this year and gave up seven catches, 94 receiving yards and a score to Henry across two games last season.

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (16 Percent Rostered)

Strange didn't live up to his preseason sleeper status over the first three weeks of the season, but over the last two games, he's established himself as a critical piece of Jacksonville's offense.

Strange saw a season-high eight targets in Week 4, converting them into seven catches and 95 receiving yards. He received the same number of looks on Sunday, tallying another seven receptions in addition to 68 receiving yards.

Although Strange hasn't found paydirt since the opener, he's still on the TE1 radar following back-to-back top-10 finishes.

Unfavorable scheduling—which includes a battle with a tough Houston Texans defense in Week 6 before a Week 7 bye—prevents him from being a must-add waiver target, but he's still a fine investment for those seeking a long-term solution at the position.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (15 Percent Rostered)

Freiermuth had his best outing of 2026 in Week 5, catching five passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The 21.5-point outing marked his first top-five finish of the campaign.

Although Freiermuth isn't putting up much yardage this season, he's averaging nearly four receptions per game and has four touchdowns in five contests. That pass-catching consistency and penchant for scoring gives him a respectable PPR floor that other waiver-wire tight ends lack.

Consider Freiermuth a low-upside, safe Week 6 streaming option against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has been allowing nearly 10 fantasy points per game to the TE position.

Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (16 Percent Rostered)

Managers looking to gamble with their streaming tight end choice should look no further than Waller.

The boom-or-bust Carolina tight end is capable of massive fantasy performances due to his incredible scoring upside, but his inconsistent receiving production and a relatively low offensive snap share prevent him from emerging as a reliable starter.

Prior to Carolina's Week 5 bye, Waller recorded 13 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 19 targets. Although he averaged seven targets and four catches over his last two appearances, that workload figures to come down with the Panthers coming out of the break with a healthier crop of pass-catchers.

Waller will need to find the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles to make a Week 6 fantasy start worthwhile.