Spend for usable volume
FAAB ranges assume a competitive 12-team league. Bid toward the high end when the player immediately enters your starting lineup.
What happened in Week 5
Buffalo finished the slate by beating the Rams 37–34 in overtime. Josh Allen accounted for 331 total yards and two touchdowns, while Puka Nacua drew 24 targets and caught a career-high 17 passes for 138 yards and a score. San Francisco survived Seattle 32–29, Baltimore beat Atlanta in overtime, and New England routed Las Vegas 45–17. The scores were loud; the role changes below are what should shape your claims.
Woody Marks · RB, Texans
85% SNAP SHAREMarks played 85% of Houston's offensive snaps, handled 19 touches and ceded almost nothing after David Montgomery injured his groin.
Montgomery is considered week-to-week. That creates the rare waiver profile worth paying for: a back with immediate volume and a path to keeping useful work after the starter returns.
Fantasy move: Spend 25–40% of remaining FAAB. Push higher only if running back is a weekly lineup emergency.
Germie Bernard · WR, Steelers
ROLE EXPANSIONBernard played 92% of the snaps, led Pittsburgh with nine targets and turned six catches into 80 yards.
Michael Pittman Jr. is on injured reserve and Roman Wilson is expected to miss time. Bernard now has both a full-time route and real target opportunity in a pass-heavy offense.
Fantasy move: Bid 10–18% in PPR leagues. He is more than a one-week bye replacement.
Brenton Strange · TE, Jaguars
FIRST-READ TARGETSStrange has 14 catches for 163 yards over the past two games and has led Jacksonville in receptions in both.
NBC Sports reports that he has commanded 32% of the Jaguars' first-read targets during the breakout. That is a repeatable reason to buy, not a touchdown chase.
Fantasy move: Bid 10–16% if tight end is costing you points. He is playable immediately against Houston.
The Week 6 waiver priorities
1. Woody Marks · RB, Texans
25–40% FAABThe injury-created workload and 85% snap rate put Marks first. NFL Fantasy ranks him third overall, but the direct path to lead-back volume makes him Fballer's top claim.
The move: Treat him as a Week 6 RB2 with upside against Jacksonville, not merely a bench stash.
2. Zach Charbonnet · RB, Seahawks
18–28% FAABNFL Fantasy again ranks Charbonnet first among players rostered in fewer than 60% of ESPN leagues. Scarce running-back access keeps him near the top even after a difficult Week 5 matchup.
The move: Check availability before chasing lower-ceiling receivers. Seattle plays Thursday, so resolve the decision early.
3. Brenton Strange · TE, Jaguars
10–16% FAABTwo weeks of receptions and first-read involvement give Strange a sturdier case than the usual touchdown-dependent tight-end streamer.
The move: Add over low-volume veterans and start him against Houston if your usual tight end is on bye or in concussion protocol.
4. Germie Bernard · WR, Steelers
10–18% FAABNine targets and a 92% snap share make Bernard the receiver to prioritize. Tampa Bay offers another opportunity for Pittsburgh's passing volume to stay elevated.
The move: Add as a PPR flex with room to grow, especially if you must replace a Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami or Minnesota receiver.
5. Dameon Pierce · RB, Eagles
5–10% FAABPierce played 77% of the snaps and handled 16 touches after Will Shipley left with a foot injury. Saquon Barkley is already dealing with a hamstring injury.
The move: Pierce is an opportunity bet, not a talent bet. Cap the bid unless Philadelphia confirms both Barkley and Shipley will miss Week 6.
6. Jordan Love · QB, Packers
4–8% FAABLove threw for 367 yards in Green Bay's 31–7 win and now gets Dallas on Sunday night. NFL Fantasy ranks him fourth overall among eligible Week 6 claims.
The move: He is the preferred one-week quarterback add and a viable longer hold if your starter has been volatile.
Injury watch: the replacements depend on Wednesday
- David Montgomery, groin: He is considered week-to-week. Marks becomes the Houston back to start while Montgomery is sidelined.
- CeeDee Lamb, quadriceps: Dallas has extra recovery time after playing Thursday. Hold Lamb and monitor official practice participation before elevating a replacement.
- Deebo Samuel, hamstring: Prepare for a possible multi-week absence. The 49ers' remaining healthy receivers and Christian McCaffrey gain target opportunity.
- Will Shipley, foot, and Saquon Barkley, hamstring: Pierce is the immediate add, but Philadelphia's practice reports must determine whether he is startable.
- T.J. Hockenson, concussion: Minnesota's bye gives him time to clear protocol without forcing a Week 6 replacement into your lineup.
Streamers, stashes and trending edges
Aaron Rodgers at Tampa Bay
Rodgers has thrown three touchdowns in three straight games and remains available in many one-quarterback leagues.
Chiefs vs. Chargers
NFL Fantasy lists Kansas City as the top eligible D/ST claim. The Chiefs return rested from their bye.
Dylan Sampson
The Browns rookie ranks 11th on NFL Fantasy's Week 6 board. Add where bench size allows patience.
CIN · DET · MIA · MIN
Four offenses are unavailable. Preserve season-long starters and cycle the final bench spot for coverage.
Three trends to use beyond waivers
- Do not sell Puka Nacua just because the total looks unsustainable. Twenty-four targets confirm that the Rams' passing game is built around him.
- Hold Braelon Allen. An 86% snap share and roughly 25 touches show a true workhorse role even when the Jets' offense is uneven.
- Matthew Stafford is back in the QB1 conversation. He has attempted at least 51 passes in three straight games and draws Arizona next.
The winning order of operations
- Check Marks, Charbonnet and Strange before spending on a one-week streamer.
- Cover the four-team bye without dropping a player who belongs in your normal lineup.
- Use Wednesday participation to decide whether Pierce is a start or merely a stash.
- Claim Bernard before another high-route, high-target game removes all doubt.
- Recheck inactives and late-game contingencies before Sunday's early window.
Bottom line
Marks is the player worth stretching for because his opportunity is already visible. Charbonnet and Strange are the best blend of availability and season-long value, while Bernard is the receiver whose role grew before his fantasy price fully caught up. Spend on work you can project; stream the rest cheaply.
Sources and update policy
This article reflects free public information available early Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Injury designations and depth charts can change. Confirm official practice reports before waivers process or lineups lock.