For a player to be listed, he must be owned in 50 percent (or less) of Yahoo! leagues. The goal is to provide recommendations of players that have a greater chance of being available on your league's waiver wire. Of course, your league's size and settings could significantly impact whether these players (or better options) are available in your particular league(s).
With that said, here are some quarterback waiver-wire options that I like heading into Week 6 (Yahoo! ownership in parenthesis):
[Note: Players listed below are sorted by my preference to add.]
1. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (44 percent)
In terms of fantasy expectations, Bortles has made a history out of proving his doubters wrong. In his three previous seasons, Bortles has finished as the QB4, QB10 and QB13, respectively. Through Sunday's games, Bortles is the QB11 this season.
Always a threat to make plays with his legs, Bortles has more than 25 rushing yards in all five games this season and he rushed for a score in Week 5 as well. His rushing production helps to boost his fantasy floor when he has poor passing performances. As an example, Bortles threw four interceptions on Sunday yet finished with more than 20 fantasy points.
While the Jags had the lowest pass-play percentage in 2017, the passing volume has been there for Bortles this season as he has slung the rock 33-plus times every week this season including 61 attempts vs. the Chiefs in Week 5. Fantasy owners will have to deal with some inconsistency from Bortles, but he now has three games with at least 377 passing yards including both of his past two games.
2. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18 percent)
The NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league as Ryan Fitzpatrick was pulled mid-game following an unprecedented three-game streak of 400-yard games. As Winston takes over for Fitzmagic as the starter, he gets a plus matchup against the banged-up Falcons defense. Through Sunday's games, only three teams -- Bucs, Saints and Steelers -- have allowed more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. If you're looking for a bye-week replacement for Drew Brees or Matthew Stafford, both on bye in Week 6, Winston is a great streaming option this week.
3. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (23 percent)
With a Week 5 bye, Trubisky was left off our waiver-wire list last week. Before the bye, however, Trubisky had a lights-out performance with six touchdown passes. Before that outing, the second-year quarterback had only two touchdowns, more interceptions (three) than touchdowns and no games with over 220 passing yards in his first three games this season.
In other words, fantasy owners shouldn't expect 354-yard and six-TD games every week. Or any other week this season. That said, his Week 4 performance provides owners with reason for optimism going forward as he becomes more comfortable in his fantasy-friendly offense that has a more talented cast of offensive weapons in his second season than he had as a rookie.
4. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (37 percent)
Mayfield has failed to reach the 14-point mark in either of his fantasy starts, although he has now led the Browns to two regular-season wins in the past three weeks. At this point, the biggest positive for the No. 1 overall pick is the passing volume. Mayfield has 41 and 43 pass attempts, respectively, in his past two games. Against the Chargers in Week 6, Mayfield and the Browns could once again air it out 40-plus times.
5. C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers (four percent)
For all intents and purposes, the 49ers season is over with the ACL injury to Jimmy Garoppolo. But that doesn't mean there won't be some fantasy success for his (normal) backup. Through two games as the starter, Beathard has thrown for 298 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4 and 349 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5. As nearly double-digit underdogs against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in Week 6, Beathard could be forced to throw early and often as he posts another better-than-expected fantasy performance.
- More Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Advice Heading Into Week 6
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