Footballguys Fantasy Football Show: Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 6 (2025)

Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Date: October 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Footballguys Fantasy Football Show dives deep into the fantasy football waiver wire for Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. Alfredo Brown and Dave Kluge break down the most important waiver pickups, emphasizing the difference between fleeting “fool’s gold” options and those with sustainable value. They share actionable insights on how to spend your waiver budget (FAB), analyze key trends, tackle running back and tight end chaos, and vent about the rollercoasters and frustrations of this fantasy season. Laughter and candor abound as they work to help listeners stay two steps ahead in a season where waiver wire gold is increasingly rare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of the Waiver Wire in 2025

• Fantasy managers are sharper than ever. Many are “playing weeks ahead,” making true breakout waiver gems rarer. Much of waiver success now is about picking up on subtle usage trends.
  • “People are playing weeks ahead ... that’s just the fantasy football climate we play in these days.” – Dave [04:58]
• Weekly cycle of disappointment. Almost every “priority” add underwhelms by the following week.
  • “You can almost get to a point where you’re just a fantasy football nihilist ... every week that priority ad disappoints.” – Alfredo [05:29]

2. Top Priority Waiver Wire Adds

Mason Taylor (TE, New York Jets)

• Breakdown: Rookie TE with strong snap rates (80%), routes run (75% of dropbacks), rising target rate (27% in most recent week), and excellent production (18 receptions, 25 targets over last 3 weeks – 3rd among TEs).
• Role is sustainable despite a mediocre offense. Second on team for targets is well within reach.
  • “This feels like the most sustainable role going forward, even though it’s not in a great offense for Mason Taylor.” – Alfredo [06:42]
  • “He can block, he can get dirty in the run game, ... not just the receiving.” – Dave [07:38]
• FAAB Recommendation: 12–15%
  • “This isn’t like an injury-away RB with league-winning upside ... I think 12–15% is about where I’m comfortable.” – Dave [11:09–11:41]

Theo Johnson (TE, New York Giants)

• Red zone weapon and leading team in receptions since Jackson Dart became QB (12 targets, 9 receptions, 3 TDs over last 2 games).
• “There’s something here ... I’m probably willing to spend 10–12% of my FAB on Theo Johnson.” – Alfredo [13:05]

3. Running Back Targets

Brashard Smith (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)

• Rising usage, especially as pass-catcher. Chiefs coaches and Mahomes have voiced interest in making him a bigger part of the offense. Opportunity could spike as usage and efficiency trend up.
  • “Andy Reid historically doesn’t like putting too much on a rookie’s plate too early ... but if he comes on over the second half ... it could really open up.” – Dave [16:57]

Kendre Miller (RB, New Orleans Saints)

• Snap share increasing as Alvin Kamara’s decreases. Out-carrying Kamara, more efficient post-contact and statistically stronger.
  • “When you just see a role that’s increasing for an aging veteran, you have to pay attention to this.” – Alfredo [19:36]
  • “Right now, Kendre Miller is just the more efficient running back.” – Dave [21:00]
• “Kendre Miller needs to be rostered in 100% of leagues.” – Alfredo [20:39]

Isaiah Davis (RB, Jets)

• Next man up behind Breece Hall; Braylon Allen out long-term.
• Generally a stash unless Hall is traded (frequent speculation, but considered unlikely).

LA Chargers Backfield: Hassan Haskins & Kamani Vidal

• Situation mirrors Arizona’s RB chaos—likely a committee, matchup-dependent, best for desperate teams.
  • “Probably going to get Haskins on early downs, Kamani Vidal on passing downs ... Just throw a couple bucks on each of them and good luck.” – Alfredo [30:05]
  • “Haskins ... feels much more like a Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman running back than Kamani Vidal does.” – Dave [31:38]

4. Wide Receiver Targets

Isaiah Bond (Browns)

• Emergent usage: Every week, targets rise (now at 8 in his latest game), with an explosive skillset and soft schedule ahead.
  • “He’s a talented player in a wide open opportunity ... could be something really good.” – Alfredo [34:00]
  • “When you see a rookie getting more targets every single week, that’s something you want to chase here.” – Dave [35:44]

Other WRs: Pumpkins or Gems?

• Ryan Flournoy (Cowboys) and Kendrick Bourne (49ers): Both excelled due to injuries elsewhere, seen as ephemeral options (“pumpkins”).
  • “I don’t want these wide receivers.” – Dave, on picking between Bourne & Flournoy [37:47]
• Jalen Coker (Panthers): Deep-league stash, especially in case of further attrition.
  • “Coker is the only one that I really care about here.” – Dave [43:51]
• Jack Bech (Panthers), Troy Franklin (Broncos): Deep league only, unlikely to have sustained or reliable value.

5. Tight End: Additional Deep Streamers

• Jake Tonges (49ers): Short-term streamer if George Kittle remains out (scores in last two games; Kittle’s return timeline uncertain).
• AJ Barner (Buccaneers): Intriguing, quietly seeing usage spikes; possible dynasty stash.
  • “If you need somebody this week...I think Tonges is the guy that I do like.” – Dave [46:08]
  • “If you’re ... looking for somebody who could have like season long value, I do like AJ Barner a little bit better.” – Dave [46:08]

Taysom Hill (Saints)

• Remains the ultimate “what the heck” tight end streamer.
  • “You know my answer here, it’s Taysom Hill for sure.” – Dave [47:39]

6. Drop Candidates & Roster Churn

• Key Droppable Players (based on trends, usage, or injury):
  • Jerry Jeudy, Mark Andrews, Juwan Johnson, Chris Rodriguez, Amari Demercado, Darius Slayton (injury), Braylon Allen (extended IR), and potentially Calvin Ridley.
  • TJ Hockenson: Dave says droppable; Alfredo leans “hold” unless you need the spot. [50:37–52:00]

Quote:
“There's a lot of churn right now in fantasy and you’re just swapping out bad players for more bad players.” – Dave [52:43]

• On Calvin Ridley: Week 5 blowup not sustainable. Both hosts see him as a potential drop/roster clogger unless things change drastically soon.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You can almost get to a point where you’re just a fantasy football nihilist ... every week that priority ad disappoints in one way or another.” – Alfredo [05:29]
• “He can block, he can get dirty in the run game ... not just the receiving.” – Dave, on Mason Taylor [07:38]
• “We want the guy who could actually be a tight end, draw those mismatches ... that's exactly what Mason Taylor does.” – Dave [10:31]
• “You can just add [Brashard Smith] to your roster prior to tonight’s Monday Night Football game ... it just might be too late [after].” – Alfredo [15:08]
• “Garbage time counts too. Especially when you are the starter.” – Alfredo, defending Isaiah Bond’s fantasy points [36:32]
• “Good luck trying to predict any of this. Sorry I’m just a crotchety old man ... none of it matters.” – Dave, reflecting on the randomness of the 2025 season [39:49]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Waiver Wire Process/State of the 2025 Wire: [04:54–05:29]
• Mason Taylor Deep Dive: [06:02–11:53]
• Theo Johnson Analysis: [11:53–13:28]
• Chiefs RB Brashard Smith, Usage & Outlook: [14:17–17:55]
• Kendre Miller’s Opportunity in NO: [19:24–22:10]
• Jets Backfield / Isaiah Davis / Breece Hall Trade Spec: [23:12–26:23]
• Chargers RBs (Haskins/Vidal): [27:23–32:16]
• Isaiah Bond and Other WRs: [32:48–37:47]
• WR “Pumpkin” Candidates (Flournoy, Bourne): [37:47–40:19]
• Deep WRs: Coker, Besh: [41:43–43:51]
• TE Streamers: Barner, Tonges, Hill: [44:20–48:45]
• Drops & Roster Churn: [50:02–53:59]

Summary Table: Top Waiver Adds & Priorities

| Player | Position | Team | Pickup Priority/FAB | Why Add? | |---------------------|----------|------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Mason Taylor | TE | NYJ | Top, 12–15% | Consistent usage/targets, signal-caller trust | | Theo Johnson | TE | NYG | High, 10–12% | Red zone usage, emerging rapport w/ QB | | Brashard Smith | RB | KC | Priority stash | Trending role, upside in KC offense | | Kendre Miller | RB | NO | Stash, 10%+ | Snap share/efficiency trending up | | Isaiah Bond | WR | CLE | High for WRs | Targets rising, explosive upside | | Hassan Haskins | RB | LAC | Deep league/emergency | Temporary volume, possible goal line work | | Kamani Vidal | RB | LAC | Deep league | PPR potential, matchup-dependent | | Jalen Coker | WR | CAR | Deep PPR bench | Opportunity emerging, team injury crisis | | AJ Barner | TE | TB | Dynasty/deep stash | High snap %; possible long-term usage | | Taysom Hill | TE | NO | Streamer | Multi-role oddball, TD and gadget play upside |

Final Word

This week’s waiver landscape is more about savvy stashing and tracking upward trends than “league-winning” breakout bids. Tight ends Mason Taylor and Theo Johnson are this week’s few “gems” in a tough year for the position. At RB, opportunistic stashes like Brashard Smith and Kendre Miller could pay dividends, especially if situations shift via trade or injury. Isaiah Bond is the wide receiver to watch for volume, while deeper options abound for desperate rosters. More than ever, patience, flexibility, and playing the matchups are the keys to surviving—and thriving—in the churn-heavy fantasy season of 2025.

Need more detail? Check specific timestamps above for segment deep-dives and quote contexts!