Fantasy Football: Playing the Waiver Wire for Week 6

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There weren't many Fantasy owners who knew Charcandrick West's name before this week, but now he could become the most popular player in every league. Jamaal Charles is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 5 against Chicago, and West is expected to replace him as the starting running back in Kansas City's offense.

The Chiefs will likely use West and Knile Davis in tandem, but Fantasy owners should target West as the No. 1 priority off the waiver wire in every format. It's time to use a significant portion of your FAAB budget and make it rain to get West. He could be a tremendous difference maker, and spending close to 50 percent of your budget is worth it.

Now, Davis is going to play a role, and he's been good every time Charles has missed time the past two years. There have been six times over that span where Davis has gotten at least 16 carries, and he has reached double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league every time. But that production could go to West now.

The Chiefs have started using West as the backup to Charles the past two weeks. In Week 4 at Cincinnati, West had 5 carries for 17 yards and one catch for 4 yards, and he had seven carries for 31 yards and one catch for 5 yards against the Bears. Meanwhile, Davis went two games without an offensive touch before getting two carries for 2 yards against Chicago.

Coach Andy Reid made it clear the Chiefs "need both of them" to replace Charles, who was an elite Fantasy running back with 71 carries for 364 yards and four touchdowns and 21 catches for 177 yards and a touchdown. Reid said "both their games are different," and we're just going to have to wait and see how this all plays out.

The Chiefs could still add another running back for depth, and they are looking at Pierre Thomas and Ben Tate, which could complicate matters. But based on what we know following Charles' injury, West (1 percent ownership on CBS Sports) is the running back to target first in all leagues, and Davis (51 percent) should be No. 2 where he's still available.

Quarterbacks

Injuries Blake Bortles (shoulder) and Josh McCown (ankle)
Key players on bye: Derek Carr and Jameis Winston

Priority list (add them in this order)

• Blake Bortles (47 percent ownership)

• Jay Cutler (53 percent)

• Josh McCown (17 percent)

Potential drop candidates

• Peyton Manning (100 percent)

• Matthew Stafford (88 percent)

Blake Bortles

NO • QB • #9

Week 523/33 COMP/ATT, 303 YDS, 4/1 TD/INT, 36 FPTS

Bortles is dealing with a sprained shoulder, but he's expected to be fine heading into Week 6 against the Texans. And hopefully this minor injury doesn't hinder his progress. He's now scored at least 19 Fantasy points in four games in a row, including 36 points in Week 5 at Tampa Bay. And he gets to face a Texans defense that has already allowed multiple touchdowns to three quarterbacks this season, including Matt Hasselbeck last week.

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Of note

• You're going to have to gauge your roster and your league when it comes to dropping someone like Manning or Stafford, and I wouldn't be surprised if both played well this week. Manning faces a Browns defense that has allowed multiple touchdowns to every opposing quarterback this season, and Stafford faces a Bears defense that has allowed multiple touchdowns to three quarterbacks. But I can understand every owner who is frustrated with Manning and Stafford, especially in 10-team leagues, and they are ready to move on if a quality replacement is available.

• Cutler has scored 21 Fantasy points in consecutive games with a scaled down receiving corps, and he was without Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (ankle) in Week 5 at Kansas City. We hope both are able to return this week, but even if they remain out then Cutler can still do well against the Lions. Detroit has allowed three quarterbacks to score multiple touchdowns and three to pass for at least 287 yards already this year.

• McCown is expected to be fine with his ankle injury, but I'm concerned about his matchup with the Broncos. Even though standout pass rusher DeMarcus Ware (back) is expected to be out, the Broncos have yet to allow a quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns this season. McCown has been great the past three games with at least 23 Fantasy points in each game over that span, including 39 points in Week 5 at Baltimore with 457 passing yards and two touchdowns and 12 carries with a rushing score. But his balloon will likely pop this week, and even if you add him for quarterback depth you don't need to start him against Denver.

Running backs

Injuries: Jamaal Charles (knee), T.J. Yeldon (groin), Justin Forsett (ankle), Ronnie Hillman (hamstring) and Matt Jones (toe)
Key players on bye: Todd Gurley, Latavius Murray, Doug Martin and Joseph Randle

Priority list (add them in this order)

• Charcandrick West (1 percent ownership)

• Knile Davis (51 percent)

• Thomas Rawls (57 percent)

• Javorius Allen (5 percent)

• Antonio Andrews (22 percent)

• Theo Riddick (30 percent)

Potential drop candidates

• Alfred Morris (96 percent)

• Rashad Jennings (95 percent)

• Darren Sproles (80 percent)

• Joique Bell (60 percent)

• Bishop Sankey (60 percent)

Charcandrick West

IND • RB • #36

Week 57 ATT, 31 YDS, 0 TD, 3 FPTS

You're kind of banking on hope here that West not only takes over for Charles but produces somewhere close to Charles' level. If you can get 70 percent of Charles out of West, that should make him a weekly starter for you in the majority of leagues. But as stated above, don't discount adding Davis also.

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Of note

• There's a report that Marshawn Lynch (hamstring) should return this week, but if he's out again, Rawls has a chance to be the featured rusher for the Seahawks. It worked out well in Week 5 at Cincinnati when he had 23 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown and now has double digits in Fantasy points in two of his past three games. I'd stash Rawls even if Lynch is active since he's clearly the handcuff over Fred Jackson.

• Forsett is expected to play in Week 6 at San Francisco, but if he's out then Allen would likely be the starter in a timeshare with Lorenzo Taliaffero, who was a surprise inactive in Week 5 against Cleveland. Allen had eight carries for 58 yards against the Browns.

• Andrews is the running back to own in Tennessee now ahead of Bishop Sankey and Dexter McCluster. Even though all three had at least seven carries against Buffalo in Week 5, Andrews got the touchdown and led the team in receiving with three catches for 45 yards on four targets. He has a great matchup against Miami in Week 6.

• Riddick is part of a crowded backfield in Detroit, especially with Bell (ankle) expected back in Week 6. But his role is defined based on his ability to catch the ball, and he had 10 catches for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 against Arizona. He now has at least eight catches for 50 yards in two of his past three games.

• Some other running backs who could be available that are definitely worth adding are Duke Johnson (69 percent), Shane Vereen (63 percent), Charles Sims (63 percent), Darren McFadden (60 percent) and David Johnson (59 percent). Most of these running backs are more valuable in PPR leagues, but David Johnson looks locked in as the short-yardage back for the Cardinals after he scored two touchdowns against the Lions in Week 5. Sims and McFadden are on bye this week, but McFadden clearly is the replacement for Lance Dunbar (knee) after he had nine catches for 62 yards on 10 targets against the Patriots in Week 5. I like Vereen a lot in Week 6 since the Eagles are tough to run on, and he has two games this season with eight catches for at least 75 yards.

• I wouldn't drop Morris in most 12-team leagues, especially with Jones battling a toe injury, but owners in 10-team leagues can definitely get better production elsewhere. He's combined for 14 Fantasy points over the past four games.

Wide receivers

Injuries: Julio Jones (hamstring), Odell Beckham (hamstring), Rueben Randle (hamstring), Nelson Agholor (ankle), Marques Colston (shoulder) and Kenny Britt (shoulder)
Key players on bye: Amari Cooper, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Terrance Williams and Tavon Austin

Priority list (add them in this order)

• Willie Snead (38 percent ownership)

• Kamar Aiken (34 percent)

• Andre Johnson (65 percent)

• Brandon LaFell (30 percent)

• Marquess Wilson (4 percent)

• Dwayne Harris (1 percent)

• Jamison Crowder (6 percent)

• Ty Montgomery (19 percent)

• Josh Huff (1 percent)

• Chris Hogan (1 percent)

Potential drop candidates

• Golden Tate (93 percent)

• Percy Harvin (82 percent)

• Roddy White (70 percent)

• Michael Floyd (66 percent)

• Victor Cruz (64 percent)

Willie Snead

Week 56 REC, 141 YDS, 0 TD, 14 FPTS

Snead continues to be a go-to guy for the Saints, and he had six catches for 141 yards on 11 targets at the Eagles. He now has six catches in his past two games for at least 89 yards, and he has 24 targets over his past three games. It's time to consider Snead as a potential starter in all leagues, at least as a No. 3 option in three-receiver leagues.

Of note

• Steve Smith (back) could return this week, but if he's out Aiken will again be the No. 1 option for Joe Flacco at receiver at San Francisco in Week 6. Aiken had nine targets against the Browns in Week 5, and no other receiver had more than four. He only had four catches for 78 yards, but four receivers have already scored at least nine Fantasy points against the 49ers this season.

• We'll find out if Johnson's game against the Texans, his former team, was a fluke or that was a sign of things to come. He had six catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets, but it came with Matt Hasselback playing for the injured Andrew Luck (shoulder). Luck is expected back this week against the Patriots, but T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief still have more value than Johnson. He's worth picking up if you have a need at receiver and want to hope it took five weeks for him to come around. Remember, prior to facing the Texans, Johnson had seven catches for 51 yards on the season.

• LaFell could return in Week 7 from the foot injury that put him on the PUP list in the preseason. It's not like the Patriots have missed him, but last year he did have 74 catches for 953 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 targets. He's worth stashing now if you have an open roster spot.

• Wilson has stepped up with Jeffery and Royal out, and he's worth adding in all formats if they continue to miss time. He has 12 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets in his past two games, including six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs in Week 5.

• Harris could be the No. 1 receiver for the Giants if Beckham and Randle somehow miss Week 6 at the Eagles. Beckham is expected to play, but Harris did well in Week 5 against the 49ers with six catches for 72 yards on eight targets. He had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown on six targets in Week 4 at Buffalo.

• Crowder continues to do a nice job replacing DeSean Jackson (hamstring), especially in PPR leagues. He has 15 catches for 152 yards on 20 targets in his past two games. We'll just have to see if he can keep this up once Jackson returns.

• Montgomery had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown on five targets against the Rams, and we'll see what his role is once Davante Adams (ankle) is healthy. He's worth a look in deeper leagues.

• The same goes for Huff and Hogan. The Eagles could give Huff more playing time with Agholor banged up, and he had four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on five targets against the Saints. And Hogan scored for the second game in a row with three catches for 52 yards against the Titans in Week 5. Hogan will lose targets when Sammy Watkins (calf) is healthy.

• If you want to add Austin (48 percent) while he's on a bye you can do so since he scored his third touchdown in his past two games in Week 5. Just keep in mind he finished with two catches for 6 yards on five targets and three carries for 22 yards at Green Bay, and he needs more targets before Fantasy owners can fully trust him.

Tight ends

Injuries: Delanie Walker (hip)
Key players on bye: Jason Witten and Jared Cook

Priority list (add them in this order)

• Gary Barnidge (57 percent ownership)

• Zach Ertz (42 percent)

• Richard Rodgers (50 percent)

• Jacob Tamme (3 percent)

• Derek Carrier (2 percent)

• Brent Celek (3 percent)

• Garrett Celek (1 percent)

Potential drop candidates

• Coby Fleener (65 percent)

• Owen Daniels (61 percent)

Jared Cook (46 percent)

Gary Barnidge

CLE • TE • #82

Week 58 REC, 139 YDS, 1 TD, 19 FPTS

Like McCown, I'm expecting Barnidge to struggle this week against the Broncos, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't add him where available based on his performance the past three weeks. He had eight catches for 139 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets at Baltimore in Week 5, and he's now scored at least 13 Fantasy points in three games in a row. He has 26 targets during this three-game stretch from McCown, and it's clear he's a fixture in this passing game. Just be wary of a letdown this week against Denver, but he should provide consistent production for several more weeks this year.

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Of note

• I'm looking at Ertz and possibly Brent Celek if I need help at tight end this week given the matchup with the Giants. New York has allowed a tight end to score at least seven Fantasy points in every game this season, including Garrett Celek in Week 5 when he had three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Ertz and Brent Celek combined for eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets against the Saints in Week 5. I would lean toward Ertz first since he had seven targets compared to three for Celek, who happened to be the one who scored.

• Rodgers only had six catches for 45 yards in Week 5 against the Rams, but he had a team-high eight targets. If that continues then Rodgers should have the chance for some big stat lines, including this week against the Chargers. San Diego allowed three touchdowns to tight ends through the first four weeks of the season.

• Tamme has two games this season with more than five targets, and he's scored at least seven Fantasy points in a standard league in both of those outings, including Week 5 against • Washington with eight catches for 94 yards on 10 targets. Tamme faces the Saints this week, and New Orleans has already allowed four touchdowns to opposing tight ends and four to have at least 57 receiving yards.

• Carrier and Garrett Celek have done a nice job as injury replacements for Jordan Reed (concussion) and Vernon Davis (knee), respectively, with both scoring touchdowns in Week 5. We'll find out if Reed and Davis can return this week, but if they're out again you could look at Carrier and Celek as options in deeper leagues even with tough matchups.