The Week 6 waiver wire doesn’t have a clear top option that fantasy football managers should drop the proverbial hammer on. The options are fewer guys you can definitely start going forward and more players who have the potential for their roles to grow. Here are a couple of potential RB targets on the wire this week.
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Top RB Waiver Wire Targets in Week 6
More Waiver Wire Targets: QBs | WRs | TEs
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (12% Rostered)
It’s admittedly risky to read too much into anything from this game, as the New England Patriots are an unserious football team. But there is no denying Kendre Miller is looking good as the team’s RB2 behind Alvin Kamara.
Miller carried the ball 12 times for 37 yards, but the real story is his four receptions for 53 yards. Sixteen opportunities is very encouraging. He is the clear RB2 now that the team finally realized Tony Jones Jr. has no business being on an NFL roster. There may be standalone RB3 value here, plus the contingent RB2 upside if Kamara were to go down.
FAAB Recommendation: 20-30%
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals (1% Rostered)
James Conner left in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. In his stead, Emari Demercado played nearly every snap. That obviously won’t happen every week, but if Conner has to miss time, Demercado sure looks like the next man up.
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Every starting running back should be rostered, and Demercado may be one. We don’t yet know how long Conner is out, if at all. So, I can’t give a concrete FAAB recommendation. Figure it would be somewhere in the 30-50% range, depending on how long Conner is out.
Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears (41% Rostered and 7% Rostered)
It was a running back apocalypse for the Chicago Bears last Thursday night. Khalil Herbert was lost due to an ankle injury. Roschon Johnson was concussed. Even Travis Homer wasn’t immune.
The worst injury of them all belongs to Herbert, who is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with his ankle issue.
If Johnson is able to get cleared, he will start and could be an every-down back. If not, D’Onta Foreman would be active and likely start.
At this point, it is too early to know whether Johnson is going to play. As a result, fantasy managers would be wise to target both off the waiver wire.
FAAB Recommendation: 25-35% for Johnson; 10-20% for Foreman
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (26% Rostered)
Tyjae Spears’ role continues to grow each week. He’s now seen at least four targets in four of his five games this season. This week, he caught four passes for 35 yards.
Spears’ ground role is about the same, but he found the end zone this week.
The main appeal of Spears is he’s the clear RB2 and would arguably be an RB1 if Derrick Henry went down. I definitely want him on my bench if possible.
FAAB Recommendation: 18-25%
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (28% Rostered)
The Baltimore Ravens played a very weird game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Justice Hill only handled seven carries, but he did rip off a respectable 32 yards. He also caught four passes for 13 yards.
Hill looked like the clear lead back ahead of Gus Edwards. Most notably, he was the preferred option near the goal line.
The volume will never be completely what you want, but the role is good enough to warrant being on fantasy rosters and startable during bye weeks.
FAAB Recommendation: 15-20%
Which RBs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?
Should You Roster Justice Hill or Gus Edwards?
After returning from injury in Week 4, Hill barely played and was clearly behind Edwards. However, before Hill got hurt, he appeared closer to the lead back.
Evidently much healthier in Week 5, Hill returned to that role. He played 56% of the snaps to Edwards’ 43%.
It wasn’t that clear-cut, though. Although Hill was on the field more, Edwards saw five more carries. Hill was more active in the passing game with four targets, while Edwards saw zero.
Ultimately, this is a situation where both should be rostered, but fantasy managers can never be confident in starting either. Despite Edwards being the bigger back, it does appear as if Hill has the edge at the goal line. For that reason, I prefer Hill.
Should You Roster Kendre Miller or Kenneth Gainwell?
These are two running backs in similar situations. There is an established starter ahead of them. If he were to go down, each of these backs would immediately see an increase in fantasy value.
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The difference is Kenneth Gainwell is now in his third NFL season, and the Eagles have never made it a point to feed him significant work. We know who he is. The same cannot be said about Miller.
It’s clear, based on Gainwell’s usage, that there is no hope of standalone value as long as D’Andre Swift is healthy. As for Miller, there is a world where he can be an RB3, even with Alvin Kamara on the field.
Surprisingly, Miller out-targeted Kamara in Week 5. Game script allowed the Saints to run the ball 37 times, but it’s clear Miller has a meaningful role in this offense.
It remains to be seen how things shake out when Jamaal Williams returns, but I would expect the more talented rookie to maintain his role. At this point in the season, give me Miller.