Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 6: Michael Carter, Jaxson Dart, Troy Franklin, and Mason Taylor Lead Must-Adds

Week 6 fantasy football waivers: Michael Carter, Jaxson Dart, Troy Franklin, and Mason Taylor headline the top bye-week replacements and breakout adds. With the Texans and Vikings on bye and key injuries to Trey Benson, Malik Nabers, and Bucky Irving impacting rosters, fantasy managers must stay proactive and one step ahead of their league mates on the waiver wire.

Quarterbacks

Jaxson Dart (Giants) – 44% rostered, FAAB: 6–8%

Dart followed up a strong NFL debut with another productive outing, totaling 257 yards and two touchdowns while adding 55 yards on the ground. His rushing upside gives him a weekly top-12 fantasy ceiling, especially with the Giants likely to play from behind in most games. Dart’s dual-threat ability has quickly stabilized an offense that lost Malik Nabers for the season, and his connection with TE Theo Johnson is growing by the week. He’s a priority pickup in all formats.

Bryce Young (Panthers) – 19% rostered, FAAB: 3–5%Young’s production hasn’t been consistent, but the matchup with Dallas puts him squarely on the Week 6 streaming radar. The Cowboys have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season, surrendering 300+ passing yards per game. With rookie Jalen Coker set to return and the Panthers’ offense finally showing signs of rhythm, Young has sneaky top-10 upside this week for fantasy managers in need of a spot start.

Running Backs

Michael Carter (Cardinals) – 41% rostered, FAAB: 15–20%

Carter has emerged as the clear early-down leader in Arizona’s backfield after Trey Benson’s injury. He logged 23 touches for 73 total yards and a touchdown in Week 5, while Emari Demercado saw just three carries and fumbled near the goal line. With James Conner already on IR, Carter’s role is secure — he’s a plug-and-play RB2 in PPR formats and the top waiver add of the week.

Kendre Miller (Saints) – 21% rostered, FAAB: 8–10%

Miller’s usage is trending up as the Saints lean toward a committee approach. He led New Orleans in carries in Week 5 while Alvin Kamara played a season-low snap share. The rookie’s explosiveness and short-yardage work hint at a growing role, and if Kamara is moved before the trade deadline, Miller could take over the backfield entirely. He’s a strong stash with league-winning upside.

Hassan Haskins (Chargers) – 1% rostered, FAAB: 3–5%

With Omarion Hampton exiting Week 5 in a walking boot, Haskins becomes the next man up in Los Angeles. The bruising back handled the bulk of post-injury snaps and profiles as the goal-line option should Hampton miss time. While Kimani Vidal could mix in, Haskins offers short-term Flex value and immediate volume if the Chargers’ RB1 sits in Week 6.

Wide Receivers

Troy Franklin (Broncos) – 44% rostered, FAAB: 8–10%

Franklin continues to solidify his role as Denver’s top young playmaker. The rookie has logged a 70%+ route share in consecutive games and averages nearly 50 receiving yards per contest. With Bo Nix improving and favorable matchups ahead (Jets, Giants, Cowboys), Franklin offers consistent WR3/Flex production with the potential for more as the Broncos offense heats up.

Kendrick Bourne (49ers) – 4% rostered, FAAB: 6–8%

Bourne erupted on Thursday Night Football with 10 receptions for 142 yards, stepping up as the 49ers’ WR1 amid injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. While he won’t post those numbers every week, San Francisco’s passing game remains aggressive, and Bourne should see another heavy workload if the injuries linger. He’s a solid PPR add and potential spot starter in Week 6.

Ryan Flournoy (Cowboys) – 0% rostered, FAAB: 3–5%With CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin sidelined, Flournoy delivered a breakout performance — six catches for 114 yards on nine targets. The rookie’s speed and separation ability were evident, and even if Lamb returns, Flournoy has likely earned a role in Dallas’ rotation. He’s a speculative pickup with immediate WR4/Flex potential against Carolina’s vulnerable secondary.

Tight Ends

Mason Taylor (Jets) – 13% rostered, FAAB: 8–10%Taylor is emerging as one of the best young tight ends in fantasy, commanding 12 targets and catching nine passes for 67 yards in Week 5. He’s now second on the Jets in receiving yards behind Garrett Wilson and has posted back-to-back top-10 finishes at the position. Taylor is a reliable TE1 option with rising volume and strong matchups ahead.

Theo Johnson (Giants) – 11% rostered, FAAB: 6–8%

Johnson has become Jaxson Dart’s go-to red-zone option, scoring three touchdowns over his last two games. His usage spike coincides with Malik Nabers’ injury, and his chemistry with Dart gives him weekly touchdown upside. Johnson’s floor is rising, making him a top streaming add and a viable rest-of-season TE1 candidate.

A.J. Barner (Seahawks) – 2% rostered, FAAB: 3–5%

Barner has quietly scored four touchdowns in his last four games and just posted a career-high seven receptions for 53 yards and two scores in Week 5. He’s firmly established as Seattle’s TE1 and is seeing increasing red-zone usage. In a position starved for consistency, Barner’s touchdown equity keeps him in the weekly streaming conversation.