Fantasy Football Week 6 waiver wire: Oliver is just one of many

Published Oct. 7, 2014 12:05 p.m. ET

Ryan Fowler

What do we know? Fantasy football owners will line up around the waiver wire corner to be the first to snag Chargers running back Branden Oliver on Wednesdays around the country.

The guy racked up 30-plus fantasy points against the Jets and is the paint-by-number waiver wire selection – no question. However, Ryan Mathews (sprained MCL) should return in 2-3 weeks and presents a long-term production problem after Oakland and Kansas City not to mention the Chargers Week 10 BYE. I’m not saying Oliver should be avoided, but No. 43 isn’t a long-term lock in a pass-friendly offense with the team’s first-string running back set to return. He peaked early and could no question post 20 fantasy points against the horrid Raiders in Week 6, but Philip Rivers has many mouths to feed aside from Oliver.

Oliver’s four receptions for 68 yards with a touchdown got me to thinking about which running backs led the league in receiving over the last four weeks. Included in the Top 25 are:

The info may not help you directly on the waiver wire in Week 6, but could positively position owners on future trade offers placed in front of unprepared competitors.

Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham

Eli Manning is averaging 252 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions over his last four games. The time to act on Randle (available in 50 percent of leagues) and Beckham (widely available) is tonight.

Randle is averaging nearly 13 fantasy points per game over the past month (PPR), while Beckham caught four passes for 44 yards with a touchdown in his NFL debut. With Rashad Jennings sideline (knee), Andre Williams will get some work, but look for Eli to continue a heavy dose of pass attempts to Victor Cruz, Randle, Larry Donnell, and Beckham.

Brian Quick – available in 77 percent of leagues

Quick’s NFL schedule ahead is a gauntlet of 49ers, Seahawks, Chiefs at Arrowhead, Broncos, and Chargers, but this gentlemen believes garbage points do count …

Let’s be honest, Quick’s first four matchups against the Vikings, Buccaneers, Cowboys and Eagles were uber-friendly, but despite the challenges ahead he still ranks 20th in fantasy points scored among WR in PPR leagues and the targets from Austin Davis are there – nine more in Week 6 plus three touchdowns over the last two weeks. He isn’t the answer to your troubles, but who truly is on the waiver wire.

Tim Wright –available 98 percent of leagues

It was just a matter of time. With few options in the passing game and lack of consistency in the rushing game plus meltdowns on defense, the Patriots remembered they gave up a stud in Logan Mankins to bring the TE/WR hybrid to New England.

Wright – wearing No. 81 which (unfortunately) happened to be his number during his first season with the Buccaneers – embraced the WR/TE role with five receptions for 85 yards with a touchdown. The 19.5 PPR fantasy points are his second-best effort in his career (21.2 vs. SF 2013).

Ronnie Hillman and Andre Williams

Montee Ball (groin) and Rashad Jennings (knee) are going to miss some time. Most know by now that the clubhouse favorites to benefit from the two absences are Hillman and Williams.

Although most expect Hillman to carry the bulk of the time, Juwan Thompson lingering as a drive closer inside the 10 yard line could mute some of his fantasy football value.

Once Jennings carried the ball 34 times in a game, Williams hit the waiver wire as a what-if wonder and remains available in 89 percent of leagues.

So, without hesitation, the waiver wire edge goes to Williams in New York.