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.

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.

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]

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]

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

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).