Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. These players include potential bye-week fill-ins, players who are returning from injury, and defenses to look at in advance. 

Week 6 Byes: Cowboys and Bears

Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers

In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.

TE Cole Kmet, Chicago (74% rostered on Sleeper)

With Chicago going on a bye this week, there will be some managers who don’t want to roster two tight ends. Kmet was the TE1 last week, and after the bye, he gets to face Washington and Arizona, whose defenses have allowed the 4th and 5th most passing EPA per play. Caleb Williams has had his coming out party, and if you can grab a part of that offense, consider yourself lucky.

TE David Njoku, Cleveland (73% rostered on Sleeper)

Amari Cooper is headed out of town, and Njoku could step in to be the number one target. The passing game still needs to improve with Deshaun Watson under center, but Njoku could be a gold mine on targets alone. Managers who had him down the stretch last season will remind us how great Njoku was with good matchups, and Cleveland has some of the best for tight ends again this year.

RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina (71% rostered on Sleeper)

Brooks was undoubtedly drafted and stashed if your league has IR, but if you don’t have IR, he might still be out there. The Panthers activated Brooks this week, opening his 21-day window. The team is taking it slow with Brooks, who tore his ACL last November, but if you have room to stash him, he might be able to help you in the fantasy playoffs.

Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, New England  (22% rostered on Sleeper)

I mentioned Maye last week, so he might have been scooped up in your league, but if not, he could be a good stopgap for bye weeks and injuries. He started slow on Sunday but finished with 243 yards passing and three touchdowns. He also showed off his legs, making him a good prospect coming into the league, rushing for 38 yards. It isn’t the best schedule for the Patriots moving forward, but that rushing baseline might be enough to make it worthwhile. Keep an eye on the injury report regarding his knee.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh (7% rostered on Sleeper)

Wilson took first-team reps for Pittsburgh, suggesting he might make his first start this weekend. As underwhelming as Wilson may have seemed last season in Denver, he finished the season as QB14. He threw for over 3000 yards and ran for 341. He loves throwing it deep, and that could prove fruitful with George Pickens downfield.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami (45% rostered on Sleeper)

This one is a gamble, but if Tua does return, he will still be working with some of the best offensive weapons in the league. This week, it was reported that head coach Mike McDaniel expects Tua to play again in 2024, but the question is when. The Dolphins have a nice matchup against Arizona in Week 8, a defense that has given opposing quarterbacks the eighth-longest amount of time to throw and fourth-fewest quarterback pressures on the season.