Not many significant injuries during week 5 of the NFL season makes the waiver wire a bit less of a place to find hidden gems.
But there were some players who finally showed some promise during week 5, allowing decent fantasy options in the future.
Here’s the best week 6 waiver wire adds.
Sammie Coates, Pittsburgh, WR
Pittsburgh has a good enough offense that four players can legitimately be starters on fantasy football rosters. It has shown that in the past and it is happening once again this season.
Without Martavis Bryant in the lineup, fantasy owners have been seeking that viable fourth option. Coates looks to be fitting that role.
Coates broke out in week 5 with 139 yards receiving and two touchdowns against New York’s reeling defense. He has 19 targets in the last two weeks and his big-play potential is something Pittsburgh does a good job of utilizing.
The Steelers are going to put up points on a weekly basis. Antonio Brown is the bell-cow among wide receivers for the Steelers. But Bryant’s former role is now fit for Coates, meaning he can be a reliable fantasy option each week.
He’s owned in less than 10 percent of fantasy leagues, so he should be available in your league.
Cameron Meredith, Chicago, WR
The wide receiver position will be a popular pick-up this week on the waiver wire.
Meredith started in Kevin White’s place in week 5 and became a monster in targets and catches. Meredith generated 12 targets, grabbing nine catches for 130 yards and one touchdown.
Those aren’t numbers we can count on each week, but if defenses focus squarely on Alshon Jeffery, like Indianapolis did in week 5, then Meredith should get plenty of looks. Finding receivers who can garner seven to 10 targets each game on the waiver wire is a coup at this time of the season.
What makes this a nice pickup, too, is that Chicago will likely be trailing a lot this season. That means it will air it out, giving Meredith an opportunity to keep picking up targets and catches.
He’s barely owned in fantasy football leagues, meaning he will be the biggest pickup from the week 6 waiver wire.
Jeremy Kerley, San Francisco, WR
Here’s another wide receiver who is making a mark in hauling in plenty of targets on a weekly basis.
Have you watched San Francisco play? There is no one at the wide receiver position who can make a player, other than Kerley at times.
It tells you a lot about the state of the 49ers if Kerley is the top option, but fantasy owners don’t have to worry about San Francisco’s ability to win games. They just want to know who will tally big fantasy totals.
Kerley has been a target beast this season, albeit under the radar. He has nine or more targets in three of five games this season, with the most targets of the season coming in week 5 against Arizona. He mustered more than 100 yards in week 5 and notched a touchdown catch for the second consecutive game.
He’s the only option for Blaine Gabbert in San Francisco. That’s important because San Francisco will trail a lot this season, forcing plenty of passes. Kerley is owned in less than 10 percent of leagues, but he deserves a spot at on your fantasy team.
