Week 6 kicks off a fast-paced waiver-wire sprint, delivering high-priority adds across RB, WR, TE, QB and D/ST. The spotlight shines on Rico Dowdle, Michael Carter, Romeo Doubs, Darren Waller, and Matthew Stafford as immediate Week 6 options, with injury notes on Worthy, Slayton, and Hampton shaping lineups. A dedicated Who Should I Pickup tool accelerates decisions, offering side-by-side comparisons to optimize this week’s moves.

Expect a steady trickle of updates as teams practice and rosters shape up, with pickups ranked by shallow-to-deep formats. The approach blends short-term fill-ins with longer-term upside, so managers should balance floor with ceiling while tracking bye weeks and matchups.

Week 5 arrives with multiple byes forcing instant lineups shuffles and urgent waivers. Rico Dowdle steps in as Carolina’s RB1 with Chuba Hubbard sidelined, while Rachaad White projects an RB1 role in Tampa Bay amid injuries. Emari Demercado could thrive as a fantasy RB2 in Arizona, and Darren Waller returns in Miami, potentially soaking up targets after Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury. Meanwhile, Marvin Mims Jr. and Romeo Doubs offer speculative upside during byes, with Jaxson Dart and Woody Marks presenting intriguing micro-stashes.

Beyond the obvious names, several deeper plays emerge in Week 5: Wan’Dale Robinson could emerge as Giants’ primary target in Nabers’ absence, Jayden Higgins and Parker Washington hold bench-by-week appeal, and Cam Ward/Jake Browning provide dart-throwing stash options at quarterback. The waiver landscape tilts toward short-term gains, but a handful of long-term stashes (Etienne, Corum, Davis) reward patience as the schedule tightens.

Week 5 waiver watchlist centers on emerging backfields and sleeper WRs across the NFL. Kendre Miller looks to siphon early-down work in New Orleans as Kamara’s efficiency dips, while Emari Demercado appears primed to lead Arizona after Conner’s season-ending injury. Sean Tucker could become a deeper-league spark for Tampa Bay if Bucky Irving’s injury lingers. Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Kenneth Gainwell provide mid-season depth and potential flex appeal in Washington and Pittsburgh, respectively. Malik Washington could grow in Miami with Hill sidelined, and Darius Slayton, Romeo Doubs, and Isaiah Bond offer late-season stash upside for NYG, Green Bay, and Cleveland. All are widely available in under 50% of leagues, making Week 5 a prime window to pounce.

Pair these names with a cautious eye on workload splits and injury news. The list favors players with a clear path to touches or targets in the coming weeks, especially in deeper formats where a handful of reliable options can swing matchups. Fantasy managers should weigh Week 5 projections against long-term roles, resting on team context and quarterback stability as Week 5 approaches.

Green Bay enters the bye at 2-1-1 after two uneven performances. Three surprises anchor the surge: Romeo Doubs has become Love’s top target, totaling 179 yards and four TDs on 13 catches with a 137.9 passer rating when targeted. Lukas Van Ness has finally unlocked his pass-rush potential, posting 13 pressures with a 16.7% win rate. Jordan Love has lifted his timing and efficiency, producing big-number stats behind a banged-up line.

Three disappointments surface: Edgerrin Cooper’s tackling has spiked, Rasheed Walker has absorbed consistent pressure (13 allowed, 10.3% of snaps), and Elgton Jenkins is still finding his footing at center after a long guard stint. The bye week offers a chance to stabilize protection, keep Love on schedule, and push Green Bay back toward NFC contention.