NFL Waiver Wire Workout: Week 6

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Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Cameron Meredith, WR, CHI (owned in 4% of Yahoo leagues). It just hasn't been a super-enticing year for the waiver wire. I wouldn't burn the No. 1 waiver spot in a fantasy league for Meredith, or spend a huge chunk of my FAAB money. He's a big kid who had a nice game against a poor Colts secondary; more specifically, he tormented the awful Patrick Robinson for three quarters. Kevin White is probably done for the year and Eddie Royal is a pure slot guy, so there's plenty of outside work available for Meredith. But I doubt the Bears offense is ready to support multiple week-to-week starting fantasy receivers. We've almost certainly seen Meredith's best week. I'd probably add Chris Hogan (see below) first.

James Starks, RB, GB (9% owned). Initial indication is that the ankle injury that drove Eddie Lacy out of Sunday night's game isn't serious, and he could be ready as soon as Week 6 versus the Dallas Cowboys. But maybe not, in which case Starks gets a sizable workload and could be worth a spot start. The problem with this logic is that it would probably be a one-week venture, plus we've been down this road with Starks plenty of times before. He looks great coming off the bus, and every so often he'll throw down a terrific-looking run, but his vision is inconsistent and he drops the ball too much. Meh.

Titans Defense (6% owned). This is a connect-the-dots streamer, but the so-so Tennessee defense has a home game against a Browns squad with questions at QB. It sounds like Cody Kessler has a chance to be ready for this game, but one more shot on his throwing shoulder could knock him out. Facing Cleveland hasn't been a goldmine for fantasy defenses, but you won't have to fear a big negative effort. Using the Lions at home against Case Keenum and the Rams isn't a bad plan, either.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still adds: Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA (32%); Dwayne Washington, RB, DET (13%); Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR (23%); Chris Hogan, WR, NE (25%); Hunter Henry, TE, SD (28%); Jesse James, TE, PIT (23%).

Dion Lewis, RB, NE (19% owned). Lewis will be eligible to return from the PUP list in Week 7. Will he return then? I have no idea! Welcome to life trying to interpret what the Patriots will do! Lewis tore his ACL right around this time in 2015, and then had pain and swelling in his knee throughout training camp and needed another procedure. We don't even know what the procedure was, let alone whether he'll be back this season, so whether or not you add Lewis depends on how comfortable you are using a bench spot on him. After you own him, the next step will be to see whether he practices, and even then, you'll need to see Lewis with an aggressive workload in a game before you can think about starting him.

Jeremy Kerley, WR, SF (9% owned). Kerley is what passes for a go-to option in the Niners offense, and if you subscribe to the theory that Blaine Gabbert has been the major hindrance by the Bay, maybe Colin Kaepernick getting a start Week 6 against Buffalo will unleash a competent NFL attack. I doubt it. But Kerley has at least six grabs in three of five games and has nine-plus targets in those same three contests.

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, TB (19% owned). The Bucs came out running Monday night: Rodgers carried it on the game's first six plays from scrimmage and touched it on 11 of Tampa's 13 opening-drive plays. And he was pretty good for a while. Charles Sims is on injured reserve and Doug Martin will probably return from his injured hamstring after the Bucs' Week 6 bye, which means Rodgers is in line to be the team's No. 2 back. He's too small to hold up to every-down pounding for a full season and remain effective, but in smaller doses he could render value.

Nelson Agholor, WR, PHI (6% owned). I mean, I don't really want to add this guy, either, but if you're looking for an "upside" future receiver as opposed to someone you can feel good about using right away, Agholor is not an awful idea. Coming out of Philly's bye, he saw seven targets, including one in the end zone (though he only caught two of those passes). The former first-rounder is lost in a sea of other Eagles receiving options so I'm not holding my breath, but he does still have a high ceiling.

Breshad Perriman, WR, BAL (2% owned). On my podcast, I've taken to referring to Perriman as "Kaiser Soze" because it seems like he's been more rumor than man since being selected in the first round of the '15 draft. But when Steve Smith hurt his ankle Sunday, Perriman got some real run and made a couple plays. He also nearly scored the winning touchdown in Baltimore's final drive but couldn't get his feet inbounds. His size/speed combo isn't in doubt, even if his polish and durability are.

Mike Gillislee, RB, BUF (3% owned). Gillislee probably isn't ownable by himself, but he belongs to the list of must-handcuff running backs. Every LeSean McCoy owner should pick up Gillislee. He'd have value should Shady get hurt.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Alfred Morris, RB, DAL (16%); Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI (15%); Devontae Booker, RB, DEN (9%); Andre Ellington, RB, ARI (3%); Matt Asiata, RB, MIN (16%); Paul Perkins, RB, NYG (2%); Fozzy Whittaker, RB, CAR (32%); Zach Zenner, RB, DET (1%); Davante Adams, WR, GB (10%); Anquan Boldin, WR, DET (20%); Adam Humphries, WR, TB (7%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (14%); Will Tye, TE, NYG (4%).

Pierre Garçon, WR, WAS (15% owned). Garçon caught Kirk Cousins' best throw Sunday for a touchdown and at least you know he'll get you between five and seven targets every week. That gives him a "floor of opportunity" that's higher than most deep-league wavier adds.

Adam Theilen, WR, MIN (2% owned). The Vikes are off in Week 6 and Stefon Diggs should return from his groin injury after that, but Theilen has made a case to be involved as a secondary weapon all year. Theilen is gritty, gutty, solid, and a couple times against the Texans Sunday he proved he can win occasionally on the outside.

Charles Clay, TE, BUF (12% owned). Clay has been a slack-picker-upper in Sammy Watkins's absence. With Tyrod Taylor throwing it, I don't love any Bills receiving weapon not named Watkins, but Clay made a big play in the middle of the field Sunday.

Richard Rodgers, TE, GB (19% owned). Jared Cook will miss multiple weeks even after resting through Green Bay's Week 4 bye, so it won't be a shock if Rodgers matches his five Week 5 targets on a regular basis. He's been a good red-zone weapon in the past.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, SF (1% owned). Cue the thinkpieces! Kaepernick will get a start Week 6 in Buffalo and try and prove that the past two seasons were figments of our imagination. Once the most feared dual-threat quarterback in the land, Kaep is coming off multiple surgeries and a fractured confidence level that belies non-physical limitations. I tend not to believe in narratives like this, but maybe his national anthem protests have focused him.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (8%); Jalen Richard, RB, OAK (21%); Bobby Rainey, RB, NYG (5%); Travaris Cadet, RB, NO (1%); Dexter McCluster, RB, SD (1%); Kenneth Farrow, RB, SD (0%); Robert Woods, WR, BUF (29%); Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (13%); Brandon LaFell, WR, CIN (4%); Josh Doctson, WR, WAS (3%); Brian Quick, WR LA (12%); Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, NYJ (3%).

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