FFT Express - Beat the Waiver Wire! MUST-STASH Players Before Week 6 (10/02 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today Express - Beat the Waiver Wire! MUST-STASH Players Before Week 6 (10/02 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer (B) and Dave Richard (C)
Length: ~12 minutes
Topic: Essential "stash now, win later" players to add before Week 6, focusing on options across every position (RB, WR, QB, TE, and DST) so fantasy football managers can outmaneuver their league rivals on the waiver wire.

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Episode Overview

This rapid-fire episode delivers actionable waiver wire advice for fantasy football Week 6, with a focus on under-the-radar pickups and injury-driven opportunities. Adam and Dave debate the best players to stash at every position, discuss injury news and its fantasy implications, and highlight possible breakout candidates for deeper leagues. Banter, running jokes, and strategic analysis combine to make it both entertaining and highly informative for serious fantasy managers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Top Priority Stashes: Running Backs

[01:10–03:17]

• Chuba Hubbard Injury Watch: The week’s top priority depends on Hubbard’s availability.
  • Dave Richard: “Until we know that Chuba Hubbard is definitely going to play... Rico Dowdle is the add to get. 57% available. Taking on Miami this week, they've allowed 16 or more PPR points to a running back each of their last three games.” [01:34]
  • If Hubbard is out, Dowdle is a strong pickup both for immediate use and possibly longer.
• Michael Carter (Arizona):
  • 50% available, likely to be "the running downs back" for the Cardinals.
  • Dave: “I like him better in non-PPR leagues than in full PPR leagues.” [02:12]

2. Wide Receivers to Stash

[02:19–04:46]

• Darius Slayton (NYG):
  • 51% available, next week plays New Orleans (favorable pass defense matchup).
  • “Slayton is going to end up playing a lot now with Malik neighbors off the field.” [02:57]
  • Rest of season value: “This is a rest of season play when it comes to Slayton.” [03:22]
  • Caveat: Schedule gets tougher: Philadelphia twice and Denver coming up. [03:33]
• Ellis I.O. Manor (IOM, team not stated):
  • Another wideout who could lead his team in targets.
  • “There aren’t that many WRs on the waiver wire... that could lead their team in targets rest of season. One is Slayton, one is Ellic IO Manor.” [03:49]
• Other WRs (deeper leagues):
  • Malik Washington (67% available): "He's a long term add." [04:06]
  • Marvin Mims & Isaiah Bond named but not recommended as priority adds.

3. Rashee Rice Reminder

[04:46–05:06]

• Only 93% rostered: check if he’s available, as he’ll be “100% rostered” soon.
  • “Just take a look at all of your leagues for Rashee Rice. He’ll be back in week seven.” [04:50]

4. Quarterbacks to Beat the Waiver Wire

[05:58–06:51]

• Bryce Young:
  • Good matchup Week 6 vs. Dallas; all QBs have scored well against them.
  • “He’s got Dallas in week six. We know that they’ve given up 24 or more fantasy points to each of the first four quarterbacks this year.” [06:04]
• Sam Darnold:
  • Plays Jacksonville (secondary is suspect lately).
  • “Sam Darnold’s the other name... Jacksonville... allowed at least 21 fantasy points to a quarterback in 2 of their past 3 games.” [06:19]

5. Additional Running Backs to Monitor

[06:54–08:00]

• Kenneth Gainwell:
  • 48% available. “It’s about long-term. Could his role increase?”
• Tajie Spears:
  • 51% available, good matchup vs. LV (if not activated this week, keep in IR).
• Others:
  • Kendre Miller, Brashard Smith, Isaiah Davis (as long as Braylon Allen is out).

6. Wide Receivers—Deep League/Dynasty Notes

[08:05–08:13]

• Malik Washington: dynamic, fits Miami’s offense, “like him a little bit more in PPR and deeper leagues.” [08:13]
• Dave will post a broader WR stash list on social later (“I’ll tweet that on Saturday... at Dave Richard.”) [04:41, 08:10]

7. Tight End Streamers & Stashes

[08:43–10:44]

• Kyle Pitts:
  • 32% available, “probably only available in smaller leagues anyway.” [08:43]
• Brenton Strange:
  • 45% available; “He’s had at least 10 PPR points each of his last two games. Seattle is his matchup in week number six.” [08:54]
• Tommy Tremble:
  • 96% available, increased route rate and target volume. “Almost 70% last week he had six targets from Bryce Young. Last week, five of them, he was the first read.” [09:21]
• Colston Loveland:
  • 29% rostered, “maybe you take a shot.” Rookie TE, usage could rise out of bye. “We see it every year when these rookies come out of the bye, they get more involved.” [10:30]

8. Defense/Special Teams (D/ST) to Stash

[10:44–11:47]

• Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers:
  • Great matchups vs. Ohio teams in Week 6. Available in 20–25% of leagues.
• New England Patriots:
  • “Available in 65% of leagues... at New Orleans Saints, who give up points to DSTs.” [10:50]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
  • Could be a sneaky play vs. injury-depleted 49ers. [11:22]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dave Richard, on RB injuries and waiver urgency:
  “It’s been a weird week for injuries, but if [Hubbard’s] not available or if Dowdle’s not available... Michael Carter is your guy.” [01:54]

• Adam Aizer, on the scarcity of waiver WRs:
  “There aren’t that many wide receiver waiver wire targets. I think there are two... that could lead their team in targets rest of season.” [03:44]

• Dave Richard, on deep-league WRs:
  “I’ve got a whole list of wide receivers... I’ll tweet that on Saturday. So look for that on X at Dave Richard.” [04:41]

• Adam & Dave’s “twinning” banter:

  • Adam: “Are we wearing the same thing?”
  • Dave: “That’s a navy hoodie.”
  • Adam: “I wear this a lot.”
  • Dave: “I wore this a lot... but you weren’t on the show this morning.” [01:10–01:36]
    (Lighthearted, human touch to the analysis.)

• On Tommy Tremble’s sleeper case:
  “Almost 70% route rate last week, six targets from Bryce Young, five were first read.” [09:34]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10 – Top RB stashes: Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard injury, Michael Carter
• 02:19 – WR stashes: Darius Slayton, Ellic IO Manor
• 04:46 – Rashee Rice: check all leagues
• 05:58 – QBs to beat the waiver: Bryce Young, Sam Darnold
• 06:54 – More RBs: Gainwell, Spears, others
• 08:43 – TE stashes: Pitts, Strange, Tremble, Loveland
• 10:44 – DSTs: Packers, Steelers, Patriots, Buccaneers

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Conclusion

This express episode delivers a barrage of actionable waiver wire tips across all positions. The focus is on proactive adds who can fill bye week gaps, take over due to injuries, or simply outproduce expectations down the stretch. Adam and Dave bring analysis, humor, and a sense of urgency—ideal for fantasy managers seeking a competitive edge ahead of Week 6.

For a full list of deeper stashes and weekly updates, follow Dave Richard’s Saturday threads on X (@daverichard).

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Let's go ahead and beat that waiver wire for week six right now on Fantasy Football Today Express. What's up, everybody? Welcome to the show. It's Thursday and we're going to try to get ahead of the game. Last week was a very productive week of beat the waiver wire. We talked about Woody Marks and Darren Waller and hope. Hopefully we gave some good advice. All right, Dave, who's the top priority for beating the waiver wire for next week?

[C]

So obviously, until we know that Chuba Hubbard is definitely going to play, then. Are we wearing the same thing?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. Honestly, like, is it. That's a navy hoodie. Yeah.

[B]

I've never seen you wear anything like that. I wear this a lot.

[C]

I wore this a lot.

[B]

I wore this this morning.

[C]

I didn't wear this this morning.

[B]

But you weren't on the show this morning.

[C]

Yeah, that's right. You kicked me off of Thursday shows. Thanks a lot. All right, back to it. If you're listening to this, go to YouTube. Find the video. It's hilarious. We're. We're twinning. It's unbelievable. Look, we're recording this Thursday afternoon. Chuba Hubbard hasn't practiced yet this week until we know that Chuba Hubbard is definitely going to play. Rico Dowdle is the AD to get 57% available. Taking on Miami this week, they've allowed 16 or more PPR points to a running back each of their last three games. And then next week, they've got a good matchup, too. So I think that Chuba Hubbard, it all comes down to him. If he's out, Rico Daddle's in and then you've got a running back for this week and then however long Chuba Hubbard's out. We don't know. Sometimes these things can linger. It's been a weird week for injuries, but if he's not available, if Dowdle's not available or if Chuba Hubbard practices on Friday and looks like he's going to play and you need a running back. Michael Carter is your guy. 50% available. He's taking on the Titans. We've talked a lot about him. I like him better in non PPR leagues than in full PPR leagues. Our audience on CBS gravitated heavily toward Imari Di Mercado. He's already rostered. This is D. Mercado. They did in 86% of leagues. Carter is available in 50% of leagues and he might be the running downs back for Arizona. But if you need a wide receiver or if you just need somebody rest of season on the bench, maybe a flex, It's Darius Slayton, 51 available. He plays against New Orleans. They are bottom five in catch rate, defensive pass, EPA, PPR per target to wide receivers. And Slayton is going to end up playing a lot now with Malik neighbors off the field.

[B]

But that's this week's matchup. Next week they get Philadelphia on a Thursday, which certainly won't be easy.

[C]

No point in Slayton is. You've got somebody who could live on the bench at minimum rest of season. So yes, you can use them this week, but this is a rest of season play when it comes to Slayton.

[B]

Yeah. In fact, you can use Slayton this week and then I don't know about the next three weeks it's Philadelphia twice and then Denver. Keep that in mind. But if you're just there aren't that many. Why is there a wide receiver on the waiver wire? I think there are two. Thinking out loud here.

[C]

Go ahead.

[B]

That could lead their team in targets rest of season. Two that I can think of. One is Slayton, one is Ellic IO Manor.

[C]

Those are the two.

[B]

Yeah. I can't think of any other wide receiver that might be available that could. Unless Stefan Diggs is available in shallower leagues that could lead their team in targets rest of season.

[C]

I don't think I can make the case for Malik Washington. He's available in 67% of leagues. He's a long term AD. I. I know I can't make the case for Marvin Mims. I don't think I can make the case for Isaiah Bond either. Maybe that's a little bit closer. He's definitely exciting in Cleveland, but the Browns have a tough matchup this week. And then next week after that, they get the Steelers coming off of a buy. I'm with you. I don't, I don't think there's another wide receiver that's on the waiver wire that could be that guy. I've got a whole list of wide receivers that you can go and take a look at. I'll tweet that on Saturday. So look for that on X at Dave Richard. But nobody that's as good as Slayton or I.O. manor.

[B]

Okay, and this is ridiculous, but a guy who's going to eventually be 100 roster is only 93 rostered. And that's Rashee Rice. Just take a look at all of your leagues for Rashee Rice. He'll be back in week seven. And we'll be back in just a minute after this break on Fantasy Football TODAY Express.

[C]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans. Send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's 60th. And never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] all right, Dave, you said.

[B]

You had a riddle. Was that a joke?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Okay. Dave says to me that he's got this riddle to give and that he's. It was very funny, but it's literally.

[C]

The same riddle that I gave you earlier today and it's complete nonsense.

[B]

But you never actually told me the answer, so I thought you were going to tell me the answer today.

[C]

I don't even. I don't even know how the riddle finishes. What do you want to talk about next? Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. ESTs.

[B]

Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. And listen, we only have two teams on by Houston and Minnesota, so we're not missing huge quarterbacks here. But what do we got?

[C]

Well, if you're streaming replacements for Lamar Jackson or Brock Purdy, then maybe this will be of interest to you. But Bryce Young is the top name on the list. He's got Dallas in week six. We know that they've given up 24 or more fantasy points to each of the first four quarterbacks this year. Remember, we're recording this on Thursday. We don't know how they're going to do in week five, but I would imagine that Justin Fields, who I believe is Jamie Eisenberg start of the week, will have a very good game. Sam Darnold's the other name that I would give. He's at Jacksonville. They've allowed at least 21 fantasy points to a quarterback in two of their past three games. That includes Jake Browning, by the way. So I'm not sure how good that secondary is for Jacksonville. And we don't know if Trayvon Walker is going to play. And that's somebody who gets after the quarterback a little bit. Yeah, the other two names I don't even want to name. They're embarrassing and I don't want to recommend adding them.

[B]

How about running backs?

[C]

Running back? We already talked about Dowdle, we talked about Carter. How about Kenneth Gainwell, who's available in 48 of leagues the schedule, not great. He's got Cleveland in week six, but it's about long term. Could his role increase after what happened in week four? Could he end up overtaking Jalen Warren or putting Jalen Warren in a smaller role? Look, I don't know and I would guess the answer is no. But with what he did last week, I don't think the Steelers should completely ignore him. Somebody to think about putting on your bench. Maybe if he's available you can do that. But I like the names that I gave you at the beginning of this show a lot better. Tajie Spears also out there, 51% available. He's at Las Vegas in week number six. If he's activated week five, then you can't stash him in your IR anymore. But if he's not activated, then you go ahead and keep him in that IR spot. Las Vegas is a good matchup. Some other running backs that you could just keep a look at for long term. Stash play. Kendra Miller, Brashard Smith and then as however long that Braylon Allen is out. Isaiah Davis is the backup to Bree hall in New York.

[B]

Okay. And wide receiver. We've. We have given some names.

[C]

We gave a lot of names and I'll give the rest of the names on Saturday on X.

[B]

Okay. Just trying to think there's any way. What do you think about Malik Washington?

[C]

I like his game. I think he's a good fit for what the Dolphins generally try to do. He's another one of these lean, fast, shifty receivers and he should get an opportunity to play quite a bit. So definitely like him a little bit more in PPR and deeper leagues than your typical 10 team, half or non PPR. But if he ends up having a good game this week, it's A favorable matchup for Miami. People are going to be much more interested in adding him next week. We're trying to beat the waiver wire here. Okay.

[B]

And tight ends.

[C]

Kyle Pitts is someone you can check to see. He's not playing this week. 32% available. Has a tough matchup against Buffalo in Week 6, but you know how it is at tight ends. If you don't have one of the studs, you're struggling. He's probably only available in smaller leagues anyway. Brenton Strange is still out there, Adam. 45% available. He's had at least 10 PPR points each of his last two games. Seattle is his matchup in week number six. First of all, I think he can be okay in week number five. But then he's got Seattle in week six. They've given up three touchdowns in their last four games to tight ends. So maybe Brenton Strange can end up being more than just a complimentary piece in this Jacksonville offense. At least until Brian Thomas becomes a stud again or until Travis Hunter gets his act together. One other tight end name to give you. 96% available. Oh, Tommy Tremble. Go ahead, Adam. Go ahead and Tremble. While I tell you that his route rate has been rising every week this season, almost 70%. Last week he had six targets from Bryce Young. Last week, five of them. He was the first read. He's got Miami this week, Dallas next week. Two very good matchups.

[B]

There's one other guy I want to talk about at tight end and there's.

[C]

A couple more that I'm willing to talk about, but go ahead.

[B]

It's Colston Loveland. You know, we know his potential, right? So he barely played in week three and he got three targets right, right out of the gate and he had a 31 yard catch. And then last week, I think Cole commit had nine targets. Like a very quiet nine target game for Cole Comet. Three catches for 46 yards. So it seems like they, they said it. Ben Johnson said we, I want to get the tight ends more involved. He has done that and I don't think it's going to be commit, I hope. Well, that's the thing. I do think Cadet's gonna be part of that. But loveland, you know, 29 rostered, maybe you take a shot.

[C]

We see it every year when these rookies come out of the buy, they get more involved in what their offenses are doing. Washington going into week five has allowed the most PPR points per target to tight ends this year.

[B]

Okay, and how. That's a good stat. How about DSTs there aren't many two.

[C]

To check for because they're available between 2020 5% of leagues are the packers and the Steelers Amazing matchups against Ohio teams in Week 6. The Patriots are available in 65% of leagues they play at. New Orleans Saints give up points to DSTs and the Patriots DST looks pretty good.

[B]

And yeah, I mean unfortunately Houston and Minnesota are two DSTs that people are that are roster in just about every league so we only have two teams on by. However, those two teams have good DSTs and you're going to have to replace them next week.

[C]

I can give you one more I don't know what their offense is going to look like in Week 6, but the 49ers take on the Bucks. I don't know if the Bucks defense is going to look like because they've got all kinds of injuries too, but if all the 49ers injuries are still there. No Pierce, all no Jennings, no Purdy. We don't know if Kittle will be back. He's eligible. We don't know if he'll be back. That makes me think that the that the Bucks DST rather. Excuse me. Could end up being pretty good.

[B]

All right, Dave, Richard, thank you very much. Thanks for your time. Blue hoodie.

[C]

Man walked.

[B]

You look good. Great fashion sense. Thanks so much to everybody. Are we using the same mic? Holy cow. Thanks so much to everybody for watching and listening. We will talk to you tomorrow on.

[C]

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