Week 6 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Waiver Adds: Should You Add Josh Downs, Jalen Tolbert, Ja’Lynn Polk?

This week’s wide receiver waiver options for fantasy football league feel like deja vu. We’re just five weeks into the season, but almost all of the names I’m about to mention have already made an appearance or two on this list. 

That is partially a good sign that past articles have featured players who continued to perform, but it’s also a sign that this week’s options are simply a bit stale. Still, they’re worth considering, as all of these players could help your fantasy team. Let’s get started.

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Week 6 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Waiver Adds

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (37.5% Rostered)

Since his Week 3 return from an ankle injury, Josh Downs is the WR26 in Half-PPR. He is averaging nearly nine targets per game and is third behind only Cooper Kupp and Malik Nabers in targets per route run. 

I’m still concerned about Downs’ fit with Anthony Richardson — A-Rich’s accuracy issues do not bode well for someone who relies on consistent underneath targets. But at this point, Downs is playing too well to ignore. He should be rostered in all leagues. 

Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys (7.3% Rostered)

Tolbert was already overtaking Brandin Cooks as the Cowboys’ WR2, but the veteran heading to IR fully cleared the runway for his breakout. The 2022 third-rounder caught seven of 10 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night, posting an elite 40.6% air yards share.

Just like with Downs, there are a few reasons not to get too excited about Tolbert. Most importantly, although he is the Cowboys’ WR2, I don’t think he’s Dak Prescott’s second target. That honor goes to Jake Ferguson, who is easily outpacing Tolbert in both targets per route run (27% vs. 17%) and yards per route run (2.04 vs. 1.52). In fact, both of Tolbert’s per-route metrics are fairly mediocre. Being the WR2 on the team with the fourth-highest pass rate in the league and a great QB makes him absolutely worth adding, but don’t expect him to ever be more than a flex option. 

Ja'Lynn Polk, New England Patriots (10.3% Rostered)

Polk played 100% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps on Sunday, further confirming that the second-round rookie is already the team’s top receiver. He also saw six targets, although he caught just one for 13 yards. Over the last two weeks, he has posted an 84.2% route participation rate and a 45.2% air yards share, both elite numbers.

However, the main reason to add Polk this week has nothing to do with what he’s done on the field. Instead, it’s down to the growing whispers that Drake Maye might take the field sooner rather than later. Jerod Mayo’s actual comments aren’t as bullish for Maye’s chances of starting as many are interpreting them, but this is still a step in the right direction. If Maye is able to add some life to this Patriots offense, his fellow rookie Polk is perfectly positioned to take advantage. In deep leagues, now is the time to add him.

Jordan Whittington/Tutu Atwell/Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (13.1%/22.2%/20.1% Rostered)

I’m lumping all three of these Rams receivers together because they are very tough to separate. In the three weeks without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, Robinson has paced the team in routes with an 87.2% participation rate. However, he ranks far behind the other two in both targets and yards per route run. Despite his large role, he’s probably the least exciting for fantasy.

Whittington, as a rookie, has the most exciting upside. He has also seen his role expand over the last two weeks, with an 86.3% route participation rate and 24.3% target share. However, it is Atwell who paces the group in both first-read target share (28.6%) and air yards share (34.0%) in the last three games. Atwell also leads in yards per route run, while Whittington leads in targets per route run. 

And, of course, the lurking issue with all three of these receivers is that Kupp and Nacua will be back eventually. Given how terribly the Rams’ defense has been playing, there is room for all three of these receivers to have flex value in the short term. But with LA on bye in Week 6, their super-short-term value is literally zero. They can all be worth adding in deep leagues, but don’t expect too much.    

Allen Lazard, New York Jets (37.1% Rostered)

Surprisingly, Lazard is one of the few receivers on this list whom I haven’t already featured. After Week 1, when he was one of the hottest waiver pickups thanks to his two-TD game, I consciously avoided featuring the former Packer. After all, we’ve seen Lazard serve as the undisputed WR1 for a younger, better Aaron Rodgers … and he never finished inside the top 30 receivers. I didn’t see him performing better while competing for targets from a now-40-year-old Rodgers with Garrett Wilson. 

However, at this point, Lazard’s production means I have to mention him. With his fourth touchdown of the season on Sunday, he is now the WR18 in half-PPR formats (pending Monday Night Football). I honestly don’t think he’ll keep it up, but there are certainly worse options to add to your lineup if you’re desperate in a deep league. He clearly has better chemistry with Rodgers than any of the Jets’ other WRs, Wilson included. That may be enough to carry him to deep-league flex value (as long as they don't trade for Davante Adams).