We are almost five entire weeks of game action into the 2025 NFL season, and the landscape of football remains ever-changing as usual. Players are seeing their values rise and fall on a weekly basis, and knowing which move to make can help you take home a fantasy football championship.
This is especially true when considering the waiver wire. Seasons can be saved by adding an under-the-radar asset who pays dividends down the road, especially during the fantasy playoffs.
While I can’t guarantee that these players will be among the special few who do end up as staples of your weekly starting lineup, the four priority pickups ahead of Week 6, as well as some honorable mentions we will break down in this article, could have a major impact over the next few weeks. Let’s get into the list!
Michael Carter (RB, ARI)
41.8% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
After entering the NFL as a draft pick of the New York Jets back in 2021, Michael Carter has spent the last few seasons as a backup running back for the Arizona Cardinals. After significant injuries to running backs James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) left the backfield depleted, Carter stepped up to handle most of the carries during Arizona’s loss to Tennessee on Sunday.
While he wasn’t incredibly efficient, Carter received plenty of volume, and it’s not hard to imagine that continuing until Trey Benson is ready to re-enter the lineup later this season. Carter logged 18 carries and five targets, amounting to a total of 23 touches in his first start of the season. If these numbers continue, he could be a strong start for the next few weeks if you’re in need of help at the running back position.
He’ll be a name to watch for on the waiver wire, and is among the highest-priority additions of the week heading into Week 6 of the fantasy football season.
Kendrick Bourne (WR, SF)
6.5% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Veteran wideout Kendrick Bourne appears to feel right at home in San Francisco. He’s currently on his second stint with the team after spending four years in New England, but it’s looking like he never left the team in the first place, with how productive he was on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams defense.
Bourne had plenty of opportunities with top wideouts Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings sidelined with injuries on the short week, and he made the most of them, totaling 10 receptions off of 11 targets for 142 receiving yards.
I’m sure it helped Bourne to have Mac Jones at quarterback in place of the injured Brock Purdy. Bourne and Jones spent several years together on the Patriots, and their chemistry was clear, as Bourne tied with tight end Jake Tonges as the team’s leading target.
Going forward, I expect Bourne to have a reduced role with Pearsall and Jennings back in the lineup. However, if this turns out to be a multi-week absence for either receiver, Bourne has some serious value, especially if Jones is starting at quarterback.
Overall, Bourne’s performance has been a pleasant surprise as San Francisco has continued to find ways to win with one of the most injured rosters in all of football.
Darren Waller (TE, MIA)
48.2% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Since coming out of retirement, veteran tight end Darren Waller has re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with, especially in the red zone. In his first game action of the 2025 season, Waller put up two touchdowns during Miami’s Week 4 win over the New York Jets in primetime. This week, against the Carolina Panthers, Waller found the end zone once again and saw a slight boost in targets, leading to a boost in yardage.
With wide receiver Tyreek Hill out for the remainder of the season, Waller seems to be a major factor in the team’s passing attack after recording 78 yards against the Panthers. If this role is going to be consistent in terms of fantasy production, Waller will be a valuable asset if the team can find a way to keep getting him the ball in the end zone this year.
Waller has become one of the most unexpected values of the young season so far. After seeing how valuable tight end Jonnu Smith was to this team back in 2024, the sky is the limit for Waller in a Dolphins offense in need of a new playmaker in light of Hill’s absence.
Mason Taylor (TE, NYJ)
8.1% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Mason Taylor was one of my favorite targets in the last round of fantasy football drafts before the season began. After a slow start to the season, he’s seen a massive increase in volume over the last three weeks.
Taylor has seen a jump in targets every single week this season, recording 25 over his last three games. He’s also racked up 132 receiving yards over his last two contests, putting together some solid fantasy finishes along the way.
The LSU product was a very well-rounded prospect and was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by New York. He is a good blocker, but also has impressive skills as a receiver, which have allowed him to earn a role early in the season as a pass-catcher.
Quarterback Justin Fields has a tendency to target the tight end position, and if Taylor is able to make the most of his expanded role in New York’s offense, he could absolutely finish as a top-15 tight end in 2025.
It is fair to point out that New York’s offense has had some fairly easy defensive matchups over the past two weeks with Miami and Carolina. They also struggled mightily against Buffalo’s defense back in Week 2.
But if Fields can get the ball to Taylor with some consistency in the passing game, I won’t be worried about the rookie’s value whatsoever. He’s a great under-the-radar pickup if you have a hole at the tight end position on your roster. Taylor and Waller are my top waiver targets ahead of Week 6 for good reason.
HM. Spencer Rattler (QB, NO)
HM. Ryan Flournoy (WR, DAL)
HM. Theo Johnson (TE, NYG)