Kimani Vidal on his knees with a football in his hands near the end zone wearing the blue L.A. Chargers uniform.

Kimani Vidal reacts in the second half against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images

I’m old enough to remember when running backs weren’t getting hurt at every turn. Yes, it’s another waiver wire week with a major running back injury. This time, it’s Omarion Hampton. We have other worries too, including what to make of Woody Marks. But don’t fret, there’s good stuff too, like Jacory Croskey-Merritt saving the day. Just be forewarned, the Week 6 waivers are a bit thin.

Heads Up

  • Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
  • Listed in order of preference: I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
    • RB backups have a separate secondary list based solely on the lead option getting hurt
  • No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
  • Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
  • Emojis for brevity
    • 😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him, or don’t
    • 🫡 = Next Man Up but with deeper startability

BYES: Houston, MinnesotaWorry Report
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)

  • Woody Marks, RB, HOU: 🦆🦆 — Don’t fully panic. Marks still out-snapped Nick Chubb (25 to 23) with a large 17-to-10 gap in the passing game. Of course, we know Chubb had the better fantasy game, but maybe surprisingly, Marks actually had a better EPA/Play than Chubb (1.47 to 0.56). Sure, that shows a bit of the problem of trusting only EPA as the be-all-end-all, but it does add some context to the situations both were in. The backfield will continue to be a near-even split, but Marks still has the higher ceiling and more appealing value given his passing game work.
  • Chris Godwin, WR, TB: 🦆🦆🦆 — Godwin looks pretty close to his pre-injury self, but even so, he has a mere 6-for-52 receiving on 14 targets. The good news is that he’s clearly the No. 2 option, but the bad news is that Mike Evans is another week closer to returning. Given Emeka Egbuka’s terrific rookie season, Godwin could easily be the odd man out, similar to Tyler Boyd the year the Bengals drafted Ja’Marr Chase. That would make Godwin a WR4.
  • Justin Herbert, QB, LAC: 🦆🦆🦆 — Over the past three weeks, no quarterback has a higher percentage of plays where they were hit or sacked than Herbert (25.2%). Joe Flacco would be higher (27.0%), but he was replaced in Week 5. Additionally, Herbert has the eighth-highest Sack% (8.6) and is the only quarterback inside the Top 13 with fewer than 2.3 rushes and scrambles per game (the more they try to scramble, the more likely a sack is — hence, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Drake Maye as No. 1-3). One more point of evidence: Herbert is only behind Jackson in Pressure% on dropbacks (Russell Wilson and Flacco would rank higher if starting) at 43.5%. As seen with Daniel Jones, a good offensive line can help get the best out of a quarterback. Conversely, a bad offensive line can hurt even the more accomplished players. Herbert has one touchdown in each of the past three games, with four interceptions, after 5 TDs and zero interceptions in the first two games. The Dolphins might appear to be a good matchup, but they’re actually seventh-best at QB Pressure% with only four rushers (39.8%), and then the Vikings are up after them. The schedule is up-and-down in that regard, and that’s what Herbert’s play could easily be.

Power Up Players
(Scale 1-5: more Mario mushrooms = more excitement)

  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, WAS: 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — Finally! Not only did Croskey-Merritt get the start and not Chris Rodriguez, but he out-touched the combination of Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols 16-to-7. Even more encouraging: JCM had two targets (catching 2-for-39), equaling McNichols’ two targets. Lastly, players with more Yards per Touch than JCM in Week 5? Saquon Barkley with 9.8 to his 9.4. Oh, by the way … what the hell, Eagles?
  • Theo Johnson, TE, NYG: 🍄🍄 — Even before Darius Slayton left late with an injury, Johnson was a top-three option for Jaxson Dart and the only one with end zone targets (two). With Slayton likely sidelined this week, Johnson can easily be Dart’s No. 2 weapon, putting him in the TE1 conversation. Even with Slayton back, Johnson — who was putting up numbers at Penn State before many knew of Tyler Warren — can keep a fringe TE1 value, as the Giants trudge on without Malik Nabers.
  • Darren Waller, TE, MIA: 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — Speaking of being a team’s No. 2 … Waller might be the Dolphins’ No. 1 option some weeks. Waller and Julian Hill were the only Dolphins players with an end zone target in Week 5. Waller now has a receiving line of 9-8-105-3 through two games, with targets on 24.3% of his routes and three end zone targets (Hill still being second … with one). Waller is inside the Top 10 tight ends until further notice. Heck, only the snap share is keeping him from being guaranteed the top tier.

Streaming Quarterbacks“Thou Shall Not… Pass!”
(No thanks, not worth the risk)Waiver Wire Running Backs

  1. Michael Carter, ARI — Of all the Cardinals talk, one thing was true: Carter was/is the lead option. Emari Demercado did see passing game work, and possibly saw his role diminish after thinking he’d crossed the goal line and dropping the ball on the one-yard line. The Cardinals have the Colts and Packers before their bye and another favorable matchup against the Cowboys for Week 9. Carter is an RB3 with weekly RB2 upside given the offense and his workload (74.2 RBTouch% in a well-controlled game … until the end … sorry, survivor pickers).
  2. Kimani Vidal, LAC — Vidal is a better version of Demercado for the Chargers, in that his involvement would be higher. So Vidal potentially has the higher ceiling than Hassan Haskins, especially in half and full-PPR. Don’t be surprised if this is a hot-hand situation, though, and rather infuriating.
  3. Hassan Haskins, LAC — Haskins has ties to Jim Harbaugh from Michigan. He could be the early-down and short-yard option or a complete secondary piece. As mentioned, it could be who has the hot hand, so grab Vidal and Haskins if you can, but don’t expect league-changing value.
  4. Rico Dowdle, CAR — Third in Yards Per Touch (9.0), first in YPR (9.0), first in total yards (234), first in our hearts? Dowdle kicked the door open and ripped it off the hinges on his way to a likely timeshare with Chuba Hubbard once he returns.
  5. Kenneth Gainwell, PIT — Don’t forget about his game before the bye. Gainwell could have forced the Steelers to give him more of the share, especially in an effort to keep Jaylen Warren healthy.
  6. Kendre Miller, NO — Up to 47.8 RBTouch%, compared to 52.2% for Alvin Kamara.
  7. Kyle Monangai, CHI — Sometimes teams make personnel changes out of the bye, and D’Andre Swift has been the definition of volume-reliant.
  8. Tyjae Spears, TEN — Only 18.2 RBTouch% in his first game back, but Spears’ ability will push for more opportunities.
  9. Emari Demercado, ARI — Still saw 70.6 Snap% on passing downs. He’ll be a desperation play in the right matchup.
  10. Tyler Allgeier, ATL 🫡
  11. Blake Corum, LAR 🫡
  12. Ollie Gordon, MIA 🫡
  13. Isaiah Davis, NYJ — Next up with Braelon Allen done, and Breece Hall has a few past injuries to his name.

Eagles Situation

Sounds like we don’t need to fret about Saquon Barkley, but just to address the situation in case it happens in the future …

  • AJ Dillon, PHI — As with the Chargers, the Eagles’ backfield would likely be a full-blown split and hot-hand situation if Saquon Barkley were to miss Week 6. We shouldn’t panic over an estimated missed practice, but depending on when your waivers run, you might need to take action. Will Shipley would be more of the pass-catching value, and Dillon the early-down and goal-line option, not to say both can’t do both things — hence, the hot hand (and hence for the second time).
  • Will Shipley, PHI — Gave Dillon the slight edge for his former all-around use in Green Bay, but again, we don’t know for sure.

Purely Next Man Up Ranks
(If an injury ahead of them)

  1. Tyler Allgeier, ATL
  2. Rachaad White, TB — once Bucky Irving is back
  3. Blake Corum, LAR
  4. Brian Robinson, SF
  5. Rico Dowdle, CAR
  6. DJ Giddens, IND
  7. Ray Davis, BUF
  8. Tyjae Spears, TEN
  9. Ollie Gordon, MIA
  10. Kareem Hunt, KC
  11. Kendre Miller, NO
  12. Miles Sanders, DAL
  13. Tahj Brooks, CIN
  14. Zavier Scott, MIN

Bait Loot
(Leave them on waivers)

  • Bam Knight, ARI — Barely more involved than Demercado, just got a goal-line carry (and converted it).

Junk Drop

  • Jaydon Blue, DAL — Was worth grabbing if the Cowboys allowed him to impress, but they like him less than Blue likes his Louis Vuitton blisters.

All In Speed Run Pod

Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

  1. Romeo Doubs, GB 😏
  2. Troy Franklin, DEN — Among Broncos receivers (WR and TE), only Courtland Sutton has more routes, targets, receptions, yards, and fantasy points than Franklin does. It has yet to be amazing, but the Broncos now get the Jets, Giants and Cowboys the next three weeks.
  3. Darnell Mooney, ATL — Boom/bust WR4, as per usual.
  4. Tyquan Thornton, KC — Only here as a one-week play with Rashee Rice about to return. As seen, Thornton is boom/bust already, but the Lions game presents good boom potential. If it were anything more than just Week 6, Thornton would merely be a “stash” below.
  5. Isaiah Bond, CLE — Dillon Gabriel treated Bond as his top wideout, but the connection wasn’t there yet. As Gabriel improves and the rapport builds, Bond could turn into a fantasy WR4 given his ability.
  6. Tre Tucker, LV — As long as Brock Bowers is sidelined, Tucker is in play as a WR4 and even more in the right matchup.
  7. Elic Ayomanor, TEN — Still worthy of WR4 value, but as Calvin Ridley’s best game of 2025 showed, it’s either Ayo or Ridley (not both) until Cam Ward improves.
  8. Dontayvion Wicks, GB — Until Christian Watson or Jayden Reed returns, Wicks and Matthew Golden are the Packers’ versions of Ridley and Ayomanor.
  9. Ryan Flournoy, DAL — Only here as long as Kavontae Turpin remains sidelined. With Turpin back, all three (Jalen Tolbert included) will be like predicting the Packers receivers when all are healthy. It was Flournoy’s week, as the matchup helped (Jets defense stinks outside of Sauce Gardner spending most of the game on George Pickens), so Flournoy and the other two won’t see consistent targets.
  10. Xavier Legette, CAR — Back from injury and back into our hearts — at least, those of us who love listening to every interview of his! Legette’s struggles could lead to Jalen Coker usurping him, but for now, Legette is a fine bench stash to see if it’s all finally clicking for this former first-round pick.
  11. Darius Slayton, NYG — Sounds likely to miss Week 6, but Slayton was the de facto No. 1 wideout with Nabers out. Still, he’s no more than a WR4. Slayton ranks up by Mooney if you don’t need him this week.
  12. Jalen Coker, CAR — As mentioned, Coker could return as soon as this week and has the talent to start, even outside, and kick Legette to the No. 3 role if Legette struggles again.
  13. Xavier Hutchinson, HOU — Reminder, while he’s on a bye, Hutchinson remains the No. 2 wideout for the Texans, and C.J. Stroud has a level of trust in the red zone.

StashesBait Loot
(Leave them on waivers)

  • Kendrick Bourne, SF — First 100-yard game since 2022. Okay, take a flier on Bourne if Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are out again, but that sounds unlikely.
  • Sterling Shepard, TB — Not interested in most teams’ No. 3 wideout and, as mentioned above, the real worry is if that means Godwin once Evans is back.

Junk Drop

  • Malik Washington, MIA — As mentioned, there was a chance that Nick Westbrook-Ikhine could leapfrog Washington, and he did. Yes, that equaled zero targets, but Washington equaled zero yards on five targets and four receptions. No, I wouldn’t drop Washington for anyone after Legette on the above list. NWI isn’t a beast for Washington to push past, but Jaylen Waddle and Waller are the top two, plus De’Von Achane out of the backfield, leaving little for Washington or anyone else.

Streaming Tight EndsStreaming DST
(First team listed is streamer)Week 6

  • LAR at BAL — only if it’s Cooper Rush, otherwise, behind Browns
  • GB vs CIN
  • IND vs ARI
  • NE at NO
  • LV vs TEN
  • CLE at PIT
  • LAC at MIA

Week 7

  • KC vs LV
  • LAR at JAX
  • IND at LAC
  • CHI vs NO
  • GB at ARI
  • CLE vs MIA
  • LAC vs IND
  • SF vs ATL

Connections: Sports Edition LogoConnections: Sports Edition Logo

Oct 7, 2025

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

Play today’s puzzle