Week 6 Waiver Wire (Oct 14): Kimani Vidal headlines priority adds after injury shakeups

Waiver wire plan for Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. Updated October 14, 2025.

Week 6 delivered big role changes and a few major injuries that open immediate opportunity. Below are priority targets rostered in roughly 60% or fewer leagues, with Week 6 context, Week 7 outlooks, contingency notes, and FAAB guidance. Use mutually exclusive bids where players’ roles depend on the same injury news.

[Tier 1 — Every-league adds (bid aggressively)]

Clear paths to volume/production after Week 6 developments.

Kimani Vidal, RB — LAC

• →FAAB: 28–40% FAAB (higher if you need an RB2 now)
• →Availability: Available in a majority of leagues pre-Week 6
• →Monitor: Committee risk if game script flips or Haskins regains short-yardage work.

With Omarion Hampton placed on IR, Vidal not only started in Week 6 but handled lead-back duties (18 carries for 124 yards; 3-14-1 receiving) and out-snapped Hassan Haskins. This isn’t a fluke—team sites and beat coverage confirmed he drew the start and the bulk of early-down work. Week 7 brings a neutral matchup and, more importantly, a strong signal that the job is his while Hampton is out. Contingency: if the Chargers add a veteran or flip back to a committee, reduce bids, but usage in Week 6 makes Vidal the priority. citeturn7search6turn1search1turn7search2

• →Source: Chargers: How Kimani Vidal Envisioned Career Day in Win at Miami

Rico Dowdle, RB — CAR

• →FAAB: 22–32% FAAB (bump +5–8% if Chuba Hubbard remains sidelined)
• →Availability: Climbing but still <60% in many formats
• →Monitor: Role compression once Hubbard returns to full practices.

Back-to-back explosion weeks have likely pushed Dowdle onto competitive managers’ radar, but he’s still under-rostered in many leagues. With Chuba Hubbard ruled out in Week 6 and game-day inactives confirming Dowdle’s bell-cow role, he set a franchise record with 239 scrimmage yards vs. DAL after 234 the prior week. Expect continued featured usage while Hubbard (calf) ramps up. Schedule note: upcoming opponents have been league-average vs the run—volume should carry him. citeturn11search1turn11search3turn11search0

• →Source: Panthers: Inside the Numbers from Week 6 (Dowdle’s historic two-game run)

Cam Skattebo, RB — NYG

• →FAAB: 18–28% FAAB
• →Availability: Widely available in standard leagues
• →Monitor: TD-dependent weekly ceiling if Giants trail; Wan’Dale/TE usage can siphon short-area targets.

Week 6 TNF showcased the rookie’s role consolidation: 19-98-3 rushing with additional receiving work as the Giants leaned on him at the goal line. With Malik Nabers out for the season, the offense has skewed run-heavy around Skattebo and RPOs with Jaxson Dart. Broncos await in Week 7; NYG’s OL showed improved push Thursday. Contingency: monitor any late-week injury updates out of the mini-bye, but usage/TD equity are bankable. citeturn18search3turn18search4

• →Source: Giants: Cam Skattebo nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week (Week 6)

[Tier 2 — Strong adds (volume/role trending up)]

Startable depth with room to grow.

Michael Carter, RB — ARI

• →FAAB: 12–20% FAAB
• →Availability: Sub-60% in many formats
• →Monitor: Efficiency concerns on a banged-up offense; Demercado can cap receiving work.

The Cardinals lost James Conner for the season and then placed Trey Benson on IR (knee), elevating Carter as the primary early-down option with Emari Demercado in passing situations. He drew heavy touches in Week 6 despite a tough Colts front. Usage should persist until Benson returns post–IR window, making Carter a volume-based RB3/FLEX. Upcoming: GB then a bye (manage roster depth accordingly). citeturn5search0turn6search1

• →Source: NFL: Cardinals place Trey Benson on IR (backfield outlook)

Romeo Doubs, WR — GB

• →FAAB: 8–12% FAAB
• →Availability: Hovering around 50–60% on major sites
• →Monitor: Targets can flatten when Tucker Kraft/Matthew Golden are featured; Watson’s eventual return reduces ceiling.

With Christian Watson still out and Jayden Reed sidelined earlier, Doubs has functioned as Jordan Love’s most trusted perimeter option, leading GB in Week 6 targets (9) and securing 5-55 in a win. Red-zone work keeps his weekly TD path intact. Short week bumps volatility, but usage is sticky while Watson’s ramp-up continues. citeturn8search0turn8search1

• →Source: CBS Sports: Romeo Doubs logs team-high 9 targets in Week 6 win

Josh Downs, WR — IND

• →FAAB: 7–10% FAAB
• →Availability: Under 50% in several platforms
• →Monitor: Target competition from Pittman/Mitchell can make him game-script sensitive.

Downs posted his second straight 6-catch game and scored in Week 6 (6-42-1). His route share/first-read rate spiked in Week 5 and held, and the Colts’ offense (5–1) sustains multiple WR3/FLEX outcomes weekly. Next up: LAC (secondary has leaked explosive plays). citeturn13search0turn13search4

• →Source: CBS Sports: Josh Downs finds end zone in Week 6 win

[Tier 3 — Streamers and matchup plays]

Short-term starts with situational/contingent value.

AJ Barner, TE — SEA

• →FAAB: 6–10% FAAB or 1–2% in TE-deep leagues
• →Availability: Generally <40% rostered
• →Monitor: Target volatility behind JSN/Kupp; TD reliance week to week.

Barner’s red-zone role was already surging (4 TDs through Week 5). In Week 6 he added a 61-yard dagger and set a new career high in yards (71). With Sam Darnold hot and Seattle using him vertically and in scoring areas, he’s a top streamer. Week 7 MNF vs. HOU. citeturn15search2turn15search4

• →Source: Seahawks: 12 Numbers of Note from Week 6 (includes Barner’s 61-yarder)

Theo Johnson, TE — NYG

• →FAAB: 6–9% FAAB
• →Availability: Widely available
• →Monitor: Wan’Dale/Skattebo siphon short-area targets; TD variance is real.

Post–Malik Nabers injury, Johnson’s red-zone usage spiked and he caught two TDs in Week 5; he remained a full-time route runner through Week 6. With Dart leaning on TEs and a condensed target tree, Johnson profiles as a TD-or-bust streamer with usable floor. Next: DEN. citeturn4search4turn4news13

• →Source: CBS Sports: Theo Johnson snags two TDs (Week 5)

Mason Taylor, TE — NYJ

• →FAAB: 4–7% FAAB (stream with upside while WR room is thin)
• →Availability: Under-rostered in most leagues
• →Monitor: QB volatility; if Wilson returns earlier than expected, volume dips.

Taylor’s role climbed into Weeks 4–5 (21–26% target share range), then the entire Jets’ pass game cratered in the London loss. With Garrett Wilson diagnosed with a hyperextended knee and expected to miss a couple weeks, Taylor projects as the primary underneath option if Justin Fields can stabilize. Watch practice reports; if Wilson beats timeline, dial bids back. Next: CAR. citeturn2search1turn2search2

• →Source: Reuters: Jets’ Garrett Wilson avoids serious injury, expected to miss a couple of weeks

Sam Darnold, QB — SEA

• →FAAB: 3–6% FAAB (1QB leagues); 8–12% in SFlex
• →Availability: Available in most 1QB formats
• →Monitor: Volume can dip if Seattle leans run or defense dominates; still high-efficiency, low-attempt risk.

Darnold has four straight games with a passer rating ≥111 and is top-3 in YPA through Week 6. Seattle’s play-action and vertical game (JSN/Kupp, Barner seam shots) raise his weekly ceiling. He’s a viable Week 7 MNF streamer vs. HOU while byes bite. citeturn15search2

• →Source: Seahawks: 12 Numbers of Note from Week 6 (Darnold efficiency)

[Deep League Radar & Streaming Watch]

• →

  Hassan Haskins (RB — LAC) — Secondary add behind Vidal. Pre-Week 6, local projections leaned Haskins for a slight edge, but Sunday’s usage swung heavily to Vidal. Keep Haskins as the contingency back on an efficient offense. citeturn7search1turn7search4 (FAAB: 3–6% FAAB stash)

  • →Source: DraftKings Network: Pre-Week 6 usage lean Haskins; Box score confirms Vidal’s lead
  • →Monitor: Needs an injury or sudden committee shift to matter.
  • →Availability: Deep leagues
• →

  Kendrick Bourne (WR — SF) — With Ricky Pearsall out in Week 6 and Jauan Jennings banged up, Bourne has spiked targets/yardage and graded as one of SF’s best offensive players vs. TB. Monitor Kittle/Purdy statuses; Bourne remains a flexible WR3 if SF stays short-handed. citeturn9search0turn10search1 (FAAB: 3–6% FAAB)

  • →Source: 49ers Webzone: Week 6 PFF grades — Bourne among highest-graded on offense
  • →Monitor: Target share could compress when SF gets healthier.
  • →Availability: Under-rostered given recent surge
• →

  Rashid Shaheed (WR — NO) — Field-stretcher who entered Week 6 with 200+ yards across his previous three and remains a schemed shot-play option. Viable FLEX vs. forgiving secondaries; volume swings with game script. citeturn14search6 (FAAB: 3–5% FAAB)

  • →Source: FOX Sports: Rashid Shaheed player page/news (post-Week 6)
  • →Monitor: Low-target volatility on a week-to-week basis.
  • →Availability: Boom/bust bye-week fill

[Close it out]

Bids should reflect need and league economics, but Week 6 clarified several backfields: prioritize Kimani Vidal everywhere, chase Carolina’s hot hand in Rico Dowdle while Hubbard ramps, and use Giants pieces (Skattebo/Theo) where TD equity is concentrated. Stream TE with AJ Barner, and stash Haskins only if you missed Vidal. As always, verify midweek practice reports before finalizing FAAB.

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Good luck on the wire—let's build championship depth.