Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Pickups

Things don’t always go according to plan. Apparently. And that’s why you need backup plans. Lots of them. Drafted David Wilson? Look at Brandon Jacobs. Counted on Maurice Jones-Drew, pick up Willis McGahee. And how about Mike Wallace? A guy like Justin Blackmon can help.

Fantasy success starts with your draft day wizardry. But you also need calculated game planning. And you need quick, resourceful thinking when nothing goes to plan, when injuries or mediocrity plagues your team. Or in some case, multiple teams. I mean, hypothetically, of course.

For the frustrated and annoyed, here are this week’s waiver wire gems:

Willis McGahee, RB, Cleveland Browns – Look, I never intended to write about the Browns in this many consecutive articles, but it’s open waiver wire season and Cleveland players are everywhere. On Thursday, McGahee ran the ball 26 times for 72 yards and a score. His YPC, I know, was not particularly impressive. But they kept giving McGahee the ball, and he kept piling on the yards. With Brian Hoyer out, McGahee’s workload should increase. Available in 52 percent of Yahoo leagues.   

Legarette Blount, RB, New England Patriots – His fumble led to benchwarming in Week 5, but keep him on your radar if Stevan Ridley’s thigh bruise keeps him out of Sunday’s contest. Available in 62 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears – Alshon, wow. You outperformed your spectacular Week 4 performance with an even more spectacular performance in Week 5, totaling 218 yards and a touchdown. Awesome, super, wonderful, amazing! I could go on. Let me just say this. Stop whatever you’re doing and claim him while you can. Available in 32 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals – Ellington is on his way to becoming the Cards’ featured back, outperforming Rashard Mendenhall on Sunday with 83 combined yards. While only an RB3/flex play right now, he’ll be promoted once the Cards do the same. Available in 77 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars – Nice debut for Blackmon, who reeled in five receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown. Blackmon had been overlooked because of the suspension, but not any longer. Available in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants – Why so many running backs on this list? Because you can never have too many. Jacobs didn’t impress on Sunday with 37 yards and a fumble. But if David Wilson is sidelined on Thursday with a neck injury, then Jacobs is the guy. Yes, it has come to this. It’s a bye week, so consider the waiver wire skimpy. Available in 94 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She’ll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.