Fantasy waiver wire Week 6: Marks, Pierce lead top adds
Key takeaways
- Woody Marks tops Week 6 waiver lists after David Montgomery hurt his groin.
- Dameon Pierce leads the Eagles backfield with Barkley and Shipley hurt.
- Four teams are on bye in Week 6: the Bengals, Lions, Dolphins, and Vikings.
Week 6 waiver wire lists are out. Woody Marks and Dameon Pierce sit at the top. Injuries opened big roles for both backs.
The waiver wire is the pool of free players in fantasy football. Fantasy football is a game where fans build teams from real NFL players.
Each week, managers can claim free players. Claims run on a set day, often Tuesday night or Wednesday. The best claims fix holes caused by injuries and bye weeks.
A bye week is a week when a team does not play. Four teams are on bye in Week 6. They are the Bengals, Lions, Dolphins, and Vikings.
That means many fantasy teams need fill-ins this week. The names below are the ones analysts list most.
What happened
The top name is Woody Marks. He plays running back for the Houston Texans. A running back carries the ball and catches short passes.
Marks stepped up in Week 5 against Tennessee. Starter David Montgomery left with a groin injury. A groin injury hits the muscles near the hip.
Marks then handled 15 carries for 62 yards. He also caught all four of his targets for 23 yards. A target is a pass thrown to a player.
His 19 touches and 85 scrimmage yards were season highs. Scrimmage yards are yards from runs plus catches.
Marks has been growing into the role for weeks. He scored rushing touchdowns in Week 3 and Week 4. His snap share has climbed since Week 1.
This season he has 43 carries for 149 yards. He averages 3.5 yards per carry. He has two touchdowns on the ground.
He has also caught 11 of 13 targets for 54 yards. That pass-catching role gives him a safe floor. A floor is the lowest score you can expect.
Week 6 brings a tough test. The Texans face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Jaguars have yet to allow 40 yards to one rusher this season.
But volume matters more than matchup. Volume means how often a player touches the ball. Marks should see a big share while Montgomery is out.
The second name is Dameon Pierce. He plays running back for the Philadelphia Eagles. His rise is about need, not flash.
Saquon Barkley is out with a hamstring injury. A hamstring is a muscle at the back of the thigh. Barkley is week to week.
Will Shipley hurt his foot in Week 5. Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve. Injured reserve means a player must miss games.
Pierce became the last man standing. He played 48 snaps against Jacksonville.
He carried 11 times for 14 yards. He caught two passes for minus 2 yards.
Those numbers look poor. But the role is what counts. Pierce was the only Eagles back to play after Shipley left.
Week 6 brings the Carolina Panthers. That matchup is softer than Jacksonville. Volume could turn into points if Pierce finds the end zone.
The third name is Brenton Strange. He plays tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A tight end blocks and catches passes.
Strange has eight targets and seven catches in each of his past two games. He topped 65 receiving yards in both games. He scored double-digit half-PPR points in both weeks.
PPR stands for points per reception. Half-PPR gives half a point per catch. It rewards pass catchers a bit more.
Strange faces Houston in Week 6. Then he has a bye in Week 7. Managers should plan around that off week.
Other names fill out the lists. Germie Bernard plays wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A wide receiver catches deep passes.
Bernard caught 6 of 9 targets for 80 yards in Week 5. Injuries opened his role.
Michael Pittman is on injured reserve. Roman Wilson left with a hand injury.
MarShawn Lloyd plays running back for the Green Bay Packers. He had 10 carries and two touchdowns against Chicago. He scored 16.2 half-PPR points in that game.
Samaje Perine plays running back for the Cincinnati Bengals. He had 14 carries for 68 yards against Miami. He also scored a receiving touchdown.
But Perine will not help in Week 6. The Bengals are on bye.
He is a stash for Week 7. A stash is a player you hold for later.
Aaron Rodgers plays quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Week 5.
He is a streamer option. A streamer is a short-term fill-in at one spot.
Wan'Dale Robinson plays wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans. He has at least 11 full-PPR points in three straight games. He is a steady PPR play.
Why it matters
Waiver weeks like this one shape fantasy seasons. Injuries hit every team at some point. The managers who act fast get the replacements.
Running backs lead the lists for a clear reason. One injury can hand a backup 15 or more touches. That is rare at other spots.
Marks is the best case. He has already shown he can produce. He has pass-catching skill and goal-line work.
Pierce is the risk case. His role is huge, but his Week 5 numbers were weak.
Volume can fix poor efficiency. It cannot fix it every week.
Tight end is the thinnest spot in fantasy. A tight end with eight targets is rare. That is why Strange draws so much talk.
Wide receivers matter most in PPR leagues. Targets are the key stat. Bernard's nine targets in Week 5 show real trust from his team.
Bye weeks add pressure. Four teams sit out this week. Managers must cover those gaps with waiver adds.
The Bills also made news this week. Read how the Bills beat the Rams in overtime. See the Week 6 preview for Browns vs Ravens.
What happens next
Waiver claims run on the usual schedule. Most leagues process them on Tuesday night or Wednesday. Check your league settings for the exact time.
Managers should rank their claims by need. A team short at running back should chase Marks first. A team short at tight end should chase Strange.
FAAB is the budget for claims in many leagues. FAAB stands for free agent acquisition budget. Spend more on players who can start each week.
Do not spend big on a one-week fill-in. Save budget for the next injury wave. Injuries keep coming all season.
Watch the injury reports before kickoff. Montgomery could return sooner than feared. Barkley could return for the Eagles.
If Barkley returns, Pierce loses most of his value. If Montgomery returns, Marks still keeps a share. Marks has earned a role on his own.
The waiver wire never sleeps. New names will rise in Week 7. The best managers keep one eye on next week while they fix this week.
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