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Waiver Wire
2018 Week 6 fantasy football waiver-wire targets
After a white-hot start to the season, Week 5 was a bit of a downer. At press-time (pending Monday Night Football), only two quarterbacks on the slate scored 25 or more fantasy points. In Weeks 1-4 combined, an average of 7.5 fantasy QBs scored 25 or more points each week. Thankfully, though -- we had a light Sunday for injuries. Let's get to the Week 6 adds:

Coutee should have been stashed in all leagues after his breakout debut in Week 4. If he somehow wasn't added over the last week, make sure you remedy that when your waivers clear. Houston is scheming touches to the rookie, sending him in jet-motion, lining him up at running back, and exclusively featuring him in the slot. In two games, Coutee has commanded 26 percent of Texans targets, he's lined up in the slot on 68 percent of his snaps, and his 4.3 air yards per target indicates a desperately needed underneath presence for Houston compared to DeAndre Hopkins (13.6 air yards per target) and Will Fuller's respective roles (14.2).

Matt Breida's (ankle) status is in limbo at press-time, but after battling shoulder, knee, and now an ankle injury over the last two months -- it's safe to say Breida is less than 100 percent. Breida left after just 13 snaps in Week 5, allowing Alfred Morris to set a three-week high in snaps (46 percent), he tied a season-high in routes run (18), and he easily set a season-high in touches (21) and yards from scrimmage (91). If Breida misses time, San Francisco will be forced to form a quasi-running back by committee with Morris, Kyle Juszczyk, and Raheem Mostert. Morris was dropped in about 25 percent of NFL.com fantasy leagues over the last three weeks. If he was dumped by one of your leaguemates, place your waiver claim or bid now.

In 11 full starts last year, Winston was the QB8 (in fantasy points per game), he was second in YPA (8.1), second in PFF's QB Rating under pressure, and he led everyone in passing yards per game (306.8). This year, offensive coordinator Todd Monken has installed a high-flying, high-upside aerial attack. When Winston was suspended, Ryan Fitzpatrick led all QBs in air yards per pass attempt (10.7), per Next Gen Stats. Tampa's upcoming schedule is gorgeous in Weeks 6-9, too. Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Carolina all rank bottom-10 in passing yards allowed per game. Playing with one of the three best supporting casts in the NFL, Winston and Co. should shred their upcoming schedule.

This is a layup. Valdes-Scantling hit 7/68/1 receiving (on 10 targets) while Randall Cobb (hamstring) and Geronimo Allison (concussion) missed Week 5. Over the last two weeks, Scantling has somewhat taken over Cobb's vacated role in the slot, running 58 percent of his routes from the interior. If Cobb and/or Allison misses Week 6, 'MVS' will be an attractive WR3 play against San Francisco's shoddy secondary.

Brate's production with and without Jameis Winston in the lineup over the last two years is stark. With Winston under center, Brate has seen 14 percent of Bucs' targets and averaged 10.7 fantasy points per game. For reference, that equates to a low-end TE1 (top-12) in PPR -- which most fantasy managers would beg for at this point of the season. On the other hand, Brate's target share plummets to just 7.5 percent and he's averaged only 3.6 FPG with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the controls. Now, O.J. Howard (sprained MCL) is out multiple weeks, Jameis Winston is starting, and Tampa's schedule could not be any better in Weeks 6-9. Atlanta, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Carolina all rank bottom-10 in passing yards allowed per game.

Without T.Y. Hilton (hamstring, chest) in the lineup in Week 5, Chester Rogers turned in perhaps the quietest top-24 weekly fantasy performance of the season (14.6 PPR points; WR21). Over the last two weeks, Rogers has seen 11 targets in each contest and has turned in 8/85 and 8/66 receiving lines. Meanwhile, Andrew Luck is averaging 49.0 pass attempts per game, putting him on pace for 784 attempts over the full season. The NFL record is 727 attempts, set by Matthew Stafford (2012). The Colts receiver room is ... less than situated, especially with Hilton banged up. Rogers' 18 percent target share trails only Eric Ebron (21 percent) on the Colts over the last two weeks.

Rashaad Penny was active in Week 5, but you wouldn't have known it. The rookie first-round pick didn't play a single snap for Seattle against the L.A. Rams, giving way to Mike Davis. Now officially the No. 2 for the Hawks, Davis (14 touches; 25 snaps) played the "1B" fiddle to "1A" Chris Carson (20 touches; 35 snaps). For better or worse, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer are intent on a committee. Davis has supplanted Penny, and is the second-best waiver add among RBs for Week 6.

Over the last two weeks with Josh Rosen under center, the rookie Kirk is tied for third on the Cardinals in targets (9; 17 percent share) and he's formed a near full-time role in Arizona's barren receiver corps. In Weeks 4-5, Kirk has run a pass route on 77 percent of Rosen's drop backs (per PFF), which included a 75-yard TD bomb against San Francisco. While Larry Fitzgerald has battled injuries (hamstring, back) all season, Kirk could emerge as Arizona's lone fantasy-viable receiver.

Walton only played 12 snaps in Week 5 (two touches), but he's worth a speculative add in deep leagues. With Giovani Bernard (knee) sidelined multiple weeks and Joe Mixon (knee) likely playing at less than 100 percent after undergoing a minor surgery post-Week 3, Walton is Cincinnati's clear No. 2 on the depth chart. Thomas Rawls remains a distant No. 3. Walton is not in play for weekly lineup decisions, but he'd obviously have a near-workhorse role if Mixon has a set-back.