Another Sunday has come to a close. And while owners are anticipating a win or a loss after Monday Night Football, lets take a look at those players who are worthy of getting picked up off the Waiver Wire for Week 6.
As the weeks go on, this list will find itself radically changing, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Coaches will continue to search for those hidden gems on their roster, while us owners continue our search for that next big fantasy football option who can be the missing piece to our current rosters. Keep in mind that some of these players must absolutely be grabbed in all league formats, while others are either better off being picked up in deeper leagues or left on the wire for another week.
QUARTERBACKS
Austin Davis - St. Louis (Yahoo Owned - 5%/ESPN Owned - 1.8%)
After his second-straight 300+ yard game against the Eagles, it's time to take Davis seriously. Although don't go nuts. He's still a QB2, although one that has pretty good upside. He's completed 67.8% of his passes and has a 6:3 TD:INT ratio, but he still makes too many mistakes to be considered a low-end QB1. Pick him up as a backup, who could be a streamer QB1 in the right scenario.
Brian Hoyer (Yahoo Owned - 5%/ESPN Owned - 2.7%)
Once again, Hoyer shows up in the waiver wire list. Yet he still isn't anything more than a QB2 due to the lack of talent and options in the passing game. Hoyer did show come-from-behind skills, however, as his 292 passing yards, three touchdowns, and an interception rallied Cleveland back to a 29-28 win over the Titans. Like Austin, Hoyer isn't the worst QB2 to play if the situation is right. He's thrown at least one touchdown in every game, while notching his first interception of the year Sunday.
Mike Glennon - Tampa Bay (Yahoo Owned - 6%/ESPN Owned - .5%)
Glennon looked impressive enough to almost lead the Bucs to another victory, but eventually lost to the Saints in overtime. Glennon looked good early, throwing for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, but took a costly safety after getting sacked in the endzone in the fourth quarter when the Bucs were up 31-20. Once again, Glennon is a QB2 in Week 6 against the Ravens.
RUNNING BACKS
Branden Oliver - San Diego (Yahoo Owned - 12%/ESPN Owned - .4%)
After starter Donald Brown was knocked out with a concussion against the Jets, it was all Oliver needed to show that he should get more touches in the offense going forward. The undrafted free agent out of Buffalo racked up 114 rushing yards off just 19 carries, caught four passes for 68 yards and reeled in two total touchdowns. Lets face it, Brown was never much of a talented running back going all the way back to his days in Indy. He's a plodder who offers close to zero upside after so many years in the league. Whether or not Brown can play against the Raiders, Oliver should be picked up in ALL league formats.
Ronnie Hillman - Denver (Yahoo Owned - 6%/ESPN Owned - .9%)
After Montee Ball was knocked out with a groin injury against the Cardinals, Hillman rushed for 64 yards as the featured back due to C.J. Anderson being a healthy scratch. Juwan Thompson also rushed three times for 15 yards and a touchdown, but he doesn't figure to see much work if/when Anderson plays. A source tells the Denver Post that Ball's groin injury could keep him out for awhile, so we could be seeing a bit of a committee between Anderson and Hillman next week. Hillman should be the one to pick up and start due to his rushing and pass-catching abilities, with Anderson coming in for deeper leagues. Hopefully we know more on the Broncos' plans before the weekend.
Andre Williams - N.Y. Giants (Yahoo Owned - 24%/ESPN Owned - 36.4%)
Rashad Jennings was bound to suffer some sort of injury due to his workload. That injury came in the form of a knee injury Sunday against the Falcons. There is no word yet on the severity, but it looks like Williams might get his shot after steamrolling the Falcons for 65 yards and a score off 20 carries. He surprisingly chipped in 2 receptions. He wasn't known for his ability to catch a pass, so that came as a shock. The schedule looks good for Williams as the Giants face the Eagles, Cowboys and Colts. If Jennings is out, Williams moves up to an RB2. His ypc average won't be great, but the amount of touches Williams could see will make up for it. The guy is a bulldozer much like Rams RB Zac Stacy.
Benny Cunningham- St Louis (Yahoo Owned - 5%/ESPN Owned - 1.4%)
Zac Stacy left the game against the Eagles in the third quarter with a calf injury and was immediately shutdown for the rest of the game. Cunningham took over featured duties, touching the ball 10 times for 71 total yards and a rushing touchdown. The fact that Stacy was done so quickly could mean he will miss Week 6 against the 49ers. The matchup wouldn't be the best for Cunningham if he had to start, but he would still be very worthy of a flex spot. We'll know more about Stacy's status by midweek.
Antone Smith - Atlanta (Yahoo Owned - 8%/ESPN Owned - 1.9%)
This is more for owners who have been holding on desperately to Devonta Freeman. I could say Smith is an every-week fantasy option simply because of the stats he puts up every time he touches the ball. That's the problem. Despite tallying 277 total yards and 4 touchdowns, Smith has only touched the ball 17 times in five games. That's a ridiculously low number. Smith is clearly a sink-or-swim option who will need an injury to really get going for league owners. But if you've been holding onto Freeman this long as a stash, you're better off dropping him and picking up Smith instead.
George Winn - Detroit (Yahoo Owned - 0%/ESPN Owned - 0%)
Joique Bell missed Week 5 due to a concussion. After tallying 8 total touches, Reggie Bush was knocked out against the Bills because of an ankle injury. With Theo Riddick currently dealing with a hamstring injury, Winn is the only healthy running back left in Detroit's backfield. Originally in a committee with Bush, Winn ran the ball 11 times for 48 yards as the lead back. No word on if any of the three players above will be ready for Week 6, so it wouldn't hurt to pick Winn up now just in case he miraculously gets the nod against the Vikings.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Justin Hunter - Tennessee (Yahoo Owned - 45%/ESPN Owned - 71.1%)
Hunter was given the starting job over Nate Washington Sunday against the Browns and didn't disappoint. Targeted five times, Hunter caught 3 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Hunter is clearly a pickup, but I'd like to see more out of him than just one game. Backup Charlie Whitehurst connected with Hunter on the touchdown. Keep that little tidbit in mind. Certain quarterbacks usually have their favorites.
Allen Robinson - Jacksonville (Yahoo Owned - 13%/ESPN Owned - 1.4%)
Robinson is becoming a favorite of Blake Bortles after being targeted 11 times Sunday against the Steelers. Robinson was only able to reel in 5, but those 5 now make a total of 17 catches in the last 4 games. Robinson will be boom-or-bust with a rookie quarterback under center, but he's worth a start as a WR4 while Bortles continues to develop.
Odell Beckham - N.Y. Giants (Yahoo Owned - 10%/ESPN Owned - 3.8%)
Beckham had the talent, it was just a matter of getting over a hamstring injury to show it. In his debut against the Falcons, Beckham caught four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. It's going to be hard to see where Beckham fits in the offense with Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and Preston Parker (for now) in front of him, but Beckham should be picked up in all leagues as he continues to see more snaps come his way.
Make sure to stay tuned as more players are added Tuesday morning.