Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 6
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Here are my top 10 waiver adds in Week 6 for 10- and 12-member fantasy football leagues.
1. Sammie Coates (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers) – We mentioned Coates last week in this column and now 11 targets, six receptions, 139 yards and two scores later, he's the top add for this week. Coates is a payer who will have mental lapses and some heartbreaking drops, but he can also win you your week. With defensive attention on Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, Coates will see plenty of single coverage and can take any pass to the house. You want a piece of this high-powered offense? Here's your chance.
2. Chris Hogan (WR, New England Patriots) – Hogan was second to only Julian Edelman in percentage of offensive snaps played for receivers, but he also missed a series for a possible concussion. Hogan tallied four receptions on five targets for 114 yards and led the team in receiving yards. This isn't much different than Coates' situation. You want a piece of this high-flying offense now that the Tom Brady revenge tour is in full effect, and Hogan is about the only viable piece likely on the waiver wire. Go get him.
3. Bilal Powell (RB, New York Jets) – Powell continues to hover around that 50-percent mark for snaps over the last two weeks and is consistently seeing work in the passing game. He's seen 10 touches in each of the last three games and has totaled 18 receptions and 136 yards over that span as well. On top of all that, he's a top-tier backup to 31-year-old Matt Forte, and if Forte were to go down, Powell would be an immediate RB1 in all formats.
4. James Starks (RB, Green Bay Packers) – Eddie Lacy has performed well this season, averaging more over five yards per carry. He was well on his way to a big night Sunday, but he injured his ankle and Starks took the reins. As of now, coach Mike McCarthy says the ankle injury isn't considered serious, but you never know. Right now Lacy's status is "uncertain," and Starks piled up 15 touches against the Giants. He will be the bell cow if Lacy is unable to go.
5. Cameron Meredith (WR, Chicago Bears) – Kevin White was recently placed on injured reserve, and Meredith was the beneficiary. He saw a whopping 12 targets and turned them into 130 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He led the team in every major category and looked every bit the part of an athletic receiver who had Brian Hoyer's eye. Going forward, he will be a large part of the offense, and he's the healthiest of all the pass game options given the nagging injuries Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal and Zach Miller are dealing with. Meredith played 95 percent of the snaps, leading all offensive players not named Hoyer and Jordan Howard.
6. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Rodgers had 10 carries in five minutes to start the Monday night game. With Charles Sims making his way to injured reserved and Doug Martin still battling a hamstring injury, Rodgers is the focal point of the ground game. Now, there's one caveat: The Buccaneers have a bye next week, and it's likely Martin will return as the starter in Week 7. Rodgers should take over Sims role as the pass receiving back and maintain some RB4 value in fantasy leagues, especially in PPR formats. Don't get too excited. While he saw an insane 35 touches, he totaled a mere 129 yards and 3.69 yards per touch.
7. Davante Adams (WR, Green Bay Packers) – Adams is playing 74 percent of the snaps this season and played 75 percent this past Sunday night. He snagged five of eight targets for 85 yards and added a trip to pay dirt in the Packers' win over the Giants. Adams has seen at least seven targets in every game this season with the exception of only one. He has value as a WR4/WR5 and is always worth a flier during the bye weeks, given the offense he plays in.
8. Matt Asiata (RB, Minnesota Vikings) – Asiata played 46 percent of the snaps compared to Jerick McKinnon's 55 percent, so he still has a sound role, and we know he's going to be used around the goal line too. The Vikings are a team that plays nasty defense and controls the time of possession with the run game, so there's plenty to go around for the notorious plodder. Asiata totaled 101 yards and a touchdown on 17 touches. You can't expect that every week, but with the inconsistency at running back for fantasy, you can plug him and hope for a score during the bye weeks. Speaking of which, the Vikings' bye is this weekend.
9. Devontae Booker (RB, Denver Broncos) – In a game we all thought set up perfectly for C.J. Anderson, Booker played a season-high 41 percent of snaps and Anderson a season-low 51 percent. While Anderson racked up 62 yards on 14 touches, Booker almost matched him with 10 touches for 59 yards. This is a situation to keep an eye on, as it seems to be turning into a bit of a timeshare. And if anything happens to Anderson, Booker would be the big winner, along with his fantasy owners.
10. Jalen Richard (RB, Oakland Raiders) – Dwayne Washington and Richard saw 14 touches apiece even though Washington saw 51 percent of the snaps to Richard's 31 percent. The key here is Richard looked like the more explosive player and did more with his touches, piling up 97 yards to Washington's 62. Washington is owned in far more leagues, but with "starter" Latavius Murray only "hopeful" to play in Week 6, Richard is worth a pick-up and a stash, as he has looked like the best back out of the three.
Just missed: Sam Bradford, Bobby Rainey, Paul Perkins, James White, Adam Thielen, Jeremy Kerley, Dorial Green-Beckham, Cordarrelle Patterson, Hunter Henry and C.J. Fiedorowicz.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
