Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season was highlighted by some of the league’s rookies playing some really good football. This first-year quarterback class is beginning to look as good as advertised, and many of the highly-anticipated breakout candidates are finally achieving fantasy relevance. 

As usual, if your fantasy team is in need of a spark, you’ve come to the right place. Playing the waiver wire is almost essential to season-long success in fantasy football. Adaptability is paramount to putting together a playoff run later in the season, and that’s exactly the purpose of waivers, to make a change in the middle of your season. Don’t be afraid to make a change. It could save your season. I hope you’ve avoided the injury bug so far; let’s get to this week’s list. 

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye - QB, NE

Many had extremely low expectations for rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s first start on Sunday. After all, he was facing off against the Houston Texans, a team with one of the best edge-rushing duos in all of football in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. As if this matchup couldn’t get any worse, the Patriots have fielded one of the league’s worst offensive lines in the league so far and had just lost star veteran center David Andrews to injury for the season coming into Sunday. So it’s safe to say that the odds couldn’t have been stacked further against Maye in his NFL debut.

However, the rookie quickly quieted the doubters, posting 243 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and 38 rushing yards. He did add on two interceptions, but a quick look at the plays themselves would tell you that only one of them was truly Maye’s fault. Overall, it was a fantastic debut for Maye, and the future is beginning to look bright in New England despite the loss. 

If Maye continues to impress, this offense should continue to run through the passing game. It’s also worth noting that the rookie quarterback led the Patriots in rushing, so there’s fantasy value across the board. If Maye can continue to impress, it’s worth having him on your fantasy radar. This surprising performance could lead to a solid fantasy season.

Bo Nix - QB, DEN

Denver’s rookie quarterback continues to have solid performances both on the field and in the world of fantasy football. After a disastrous first half, Nix finished with 216 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and a season-high 61 rushing yards. Nix has accounted for five total touchdowns over the last two weeks and has been trending up fantasy-wise since a strong Week 3 game in a win against Tampa Bay. 

Nix has also only thrown one interception since Week 2 and hasn’t yet logged a fumble. The Broncos rookie quarterback is a true playmaker whose rushing presence will continue to lead to fantasy relevance.

Don’t overlook the fact that Nix has been quietly putting together a strong rookie season. He should be on all fantasy radars and is a dark-horse candidate to finish as a top-12 quarterback in fantasy football this season. 

Running Backs

Kimani Vidal - RB, LAC

Continuing with this list’s trend of rookies, Chargers first-year back Kimani Vidal had a very solid performance on Sunday, posting 13.1 PPR points. Most of those points can be attributed to a 38-yard receiving touchdown on Vidal’s first career touch. Fellow Chargers running back Gus Edwards was placed on IR earlier this week with an ankle injury, giving Vidal this opportunity. The rookie made the most of it and is worth a pickup in deeper fantasy leagues. 

Vidal is still a long way from taking the job from J.K. Dobbins, but this was a good debut from the rookie. If he continues to make big plays, he could be a solid asset for fantasy managers.

Sean Tucker - RB, TB

It’s safe to say that not many saw this fantasy performance coming. The second-year running back out of Syracuse put up a monster fantasy performance with 136 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. Tucker also saw 17 total opportunities as the Buccaneers had a huge offensive performance against New Orleans in a 51-27 victory. 

At this point, it would be hard for this Tampa Bay backfield to become more crowded. Rachaad White could be eyeing a return next week and Bucky Irving put together a strong game in Week 6. This means that there’s no guarantee that Tucker will continue to see this type of volume. For now, it’s worth adding and holding onto Sean Tucker. This is a low-risk, high-reward type of move. 

Wide Receivers

DeMario Douglas - WR, NE

It was extremely encouraging to see Douglas have a strong game during his rookie quarterback’s rookie debut. Douglas had six receptions on nine targets with 92 yards and a touchdown against Houston on Sunday. Douglas has been arguably New England’s most consistent wideout over the past two seasons and should continue to be featured in this offense until further notice.

If he is able to develop a connection with Drake Maye, the two could make a dangerous offensive duo. This New England offense could grow more and more dangerous with each passing week, so it’s worth rostering Douglas to see if he becomes their top receiver. For now, he’s receiving a solid amount of targets and has proved himself as a playmaker. Pick him up in case this offense explodes.

Romeo Doubs - WR, GB

After serving a one-game suspension in Week 5, Doubs put together a strong performance against Arizona, including two receiving scores. This high-volume passing offense has led the way for multiple receivers to be fantasy-relevant. 

Quarterback Jordan Love has created the ideal environment for a wide receiver to succeed in. Doubs has been a solid option for fantasy owners over the last few years, and he should continue that if he continues to see volume. Doubs obviously has a connection with his quarterback, so rostering Doubs is a solid bet if continues to receive a solid amount of targets. 

Tight Ends

Ja’Tavion Sanders - TE, CAR

The tight-end position has been slightly less volatile over the last few weeks, but it is still important to look for a solid option on the waiver wire if you have a hole at the position on your fantasy team. A rookie breakout could be the key to taking home a fantasy championship.

Sanders has received 12 targets over the last two weeks and has become increasingly involved in Carolina’s offense. Sanders posted 49 receiving yards on Sunday and could serve as a breath of fresh air in Carolina, a team that has been looking for a solid tight end for years. 

It’s tough to find a solid tight end in fantasy football, so picking up Sanders is a low-risk move. If he doesn’t work out, no harm has been done. If he becomes a more consistent part of this offense, you should expect big things from the rookie tight end. If you need a tight end, take a chance on the rookie with a limited amount of competition. 

Dalton Schultz - HOU, TE

Similar to Sanders, Schultz has seen an uptick in targets over the last few games. This could continue after star wideout Nico Collins was placed on IR last week. This offense is looking for a third option in the passing game until Collins comes back, and Schultz could be their guy. The tight end has a history of production and could be an under-the-radar option at the tight end position. 

After receiving eight targets in Week 6, Schultz could continue to see a good amount of volume moving forward. With Collins out, we could see Schultz have similar production to what we saw over the last few years. If you’re looking for an option on the waiver wire that has been a starting-level tight end before, Schultz is a great option.