There's no silver lining in the major ankle injury to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. But in the moments following his gruesome injury in the second half of Sunday's game against the Giants, it was abundantly clear just how much respect Prescott carries within the Cowboys' locker room and across the league.
Tweets poured in from the game's brightest stars as they sent their well-wishes to Prescott, who was having a tremendous season to that point. To see any player suffer a major injury is unsettling, and this was certainly no exception. So here's a tip of the hat to a player who has not only done countless things right on the field, but even more off it -- he's a true class act.
For fantasy purposes, those who were riding Prescott's hot hand now have a massive hole to fill. We'll dive into the names to know.
Here are the Week 6 waiver-wire adds you need to know.
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Note: Since the Bills and Titans are slated to play on Tuesday night, ESPN waivers will run overnight Wednesday, rather than overnight Tuesday.
Week 6 byes: Chargers, Raiders, Saints, Seahawks
Note: All players listed are available in at least 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.
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Quarterbacks
Let's start by addressing players who can help you replace Prescott or fill in as your starter with Russell Wilson and Drew Brees on a bye and Cam Newton -- as of this writing -- still on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans (34.4%): We now have a 14-game sample size of Tannehill as the Titans' starting quarterback and he's yet to slow down, accounting for multiple touchdowns in all but one of those games and coming off of another incredible performance in Week 5, during which he was QB1 for the week. He's a talented thrower, a very capable runner and the Titans are a steamrolling offense right now. He's a weekly starting consideration.
Andy Dalton, QB, Dallas Cowboys (0.2%): The Cowboys will hand the keys to their offense to Dalton, a player they brought to Dallas this offseason with a deal reflective of his standing as a capable player, as he can make up to $7 million this season. Dalton won't replicate Prescott's production this season, but he's set up for success with a talented group of pass-catchers and a defense that has no answers for even the most average of offenses. Real points will be needed for the Cowboys to win, and that should lead to opportunities to pile up fantasy points too.
Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams (47.7%): There's a compelling case for Goff as the quarterback to add this week because there's always a chance that one poor performance could send Ryan Fitzpatrick to the bench (see below), and Dalton has to prove it still, while Goff has been really solid. He has three games with at least 20 fantasy points and has excellent wideouts and a dynamite playcaller in Sean McVay. Goff is a talented dude.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Miami Dolphins (20.7%): The man needs no introduction, as Fitzy has been on the quarterback roller-coaster for over a decade now. But he's riding hot with more than 20 fantasy points in four straight games, doing so in a pair of games (Buffalo and San Francisco) where you might have had some caution, given the matchup. Nope. FitzMagic just finds a way and has a savory matchup against the Jets in Week 6.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Carolina Panthers (40.5%): Back-to-back outings with 20-plus points have put Bridgewater on the fantasy radar, as he has capably guided the Panthers to three straight victories. The Panthers have plenty of passing game playmakers and -- potentially -- return Christian McCaffrey to the lineup in Week 6. Bridgewater doesn't add much as a runner, but he has been efficient and is at least on the list of quarterbacks to consider.
Non-QB free agents
Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings (41.5%): The most important add at any position this week is Mattison, as Dalvin Cook left the Vikings' game due to a groin injury that will lead to an MRI on Monday. Mattison is an excellent young player who pounded his way to 112 yards on 20 carries after Cook left the game, reminding many of why he's regarded as perhaps the best insurance-policy back in fantasy. If Cook is going to miss any games, Mattison's value would climb as high as a weekly top-10 running back consideration. If you play in a league with a FAAB waiver format, use much of it to try to acquire Mattison.
Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (8.9%): It would appear that Claypool is good at football. With four -- four! -- touchdowns on Sunday, Claypool burst onto the scene after taking on a larger role with Diontae Johnson (back) leaving the game. The touchdowns won't repeat like that again, but Claypool is a dynamic talent in a capable offense and might need to be a starter if Johnson misses any time. He's a high-upside add in all leagues.
Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots (42.4%): The Patriots have a ton of backs to sort through, but with Sony Michel on injured reserve, Harris is in line for a steady workload. They're optimistic about his overall outlook as a player, and he showed his talent in a 100-yard effort in Week 4. The mitigating factors are not just the team's backfield depth but also his role in the passing game (zero targets in Week 4). That being said, this is a talented player and a worthwhile option to pad your depth with.
Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals (44.5%): We have not yet reached the point where Edmonds is the go-to back in Arizona, but when he does receive opportunities, he just keeps producing. While Edmonds had just eight touches on Sunday (compared to Kenyan Drake's 19), he managed over 20 fantasy points with five catches and a lengthy touchdown run. For those who like to plan ahead, Edmonds is an add in the event Drake's role reduces going forward -- just last season we saw Arizona do an about-face in the backfield and move David Johnson to the bench. Perhaps it becomes a hot-hand situation where Edmonds gets a chance at a more prominent role. File it away.
Travis Fulgham, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (0.2%): One of the great recent stories in the NFL is Fulgham's rise, as perhaps no team could use the receiver boost more than Philly. Fulgham put on a show in Week 5 with 10 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles continue to navigate the reality of a razor-thin and banged-up depth chart. It would appear that Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson are due for a return soon, but there's no certainty of when, and Fulgham might be needed as one of Carson Wentz's go-to targets in Week 6.
Robert Tonyan, TE, Green Bay Packers (48.2%): Logic suggests Davante Adams will return in Week 6, as he was close to playing in Week 4 and now has had an extra week of rest. So Tonyan -- who has five touchdowns already this season, including three in Week 4 -- might see his passing-game volume reduced a little bit in red zone situations. But he's still playing a lot, and his production is not merely tied to Adams', as Tonyan seems to have a trust and rapport with Aaron Rodgers. With injuries at the position and the usual assortment of inconsistent tight end play, Tonyan has a chance to be a usable weekly player for now.
Preston Williams, WR, Miami Dolphins (38.0%): It was great to see Williams look like the player who was off to such a promising start as a rookie in 2019 prior to an ACL tear midseason. He posted more than 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in the team's blowout win over the 49ers, which served as a good reminder that he has plenty of talent. Stephania Bell suggested it might take some time for Williams to get back to full speed following the ACL tear, which might be what contributed to his slow start in 2020. A pass-friendly offense should keep the targets steady for Williams going forward.
Henry Ruggs, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (48.4%): An injury kept Ruggs off the field for back-to-back games, but it would seem to be behind him with the speed he showed off on Sunday, as he needed just two catches to sail past 120 receiving yards. The electric rookie, a field-flipping nightmare for opposing defenses, made two highlight-reel plays that serve as a template of what could be going forward. Volume is still something to monitor, but he's a worthwhile stash as his role and chemistry with Derek Carr continues to grow.
Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (31.1%): Shenault is a frequent guest in this column and is steadily climbing toward being rostered in 50% of leagues, but he's not there yet. Let's change that! He had a career-best seven catches in Week 5 and now has four games with at least 10 fantasy points during this young season. He's explosive, he's used in a litany of ways and he's due to stay busy for an offense that will have to throw it a lot while playing from behind.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (40.5%): Even before A.J. Green left Sunday's game due to a hamstring injury, it was becoming apparent that Higgins was stepping into a No. 2-wideout role for the Bengals. Now Green's status is uncertain, and that should mean even more work for Higgins, who has at least six targets in four straight games and three straight games with at least 10 fantasy points. He's clearly a talented dude, and there's a blossoming connection with Joe Burrow. All aboard.
Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (37.5%): With news from Adam Schefter that Sammy Watkins could miss a couple of weeks due to a hamstring injury from Week 5, each of the subsequent Chiefs wide receivers should be in line for an expanded role. Though Demarcus Robinson will factor into the mix, Hardman's game-changing speed makes him the most intriguing add for me. The ever-creative Chiefs have found fun ways to utilize him in the past and I expect that to continue in a more prominent role.
La'Mical Perine, RB, New York Jets (1.2%): With the news Tuesday night that the team had released Le'Veon Bell, someone must press on as the Jets' starting running back. My sense is Frank Gore will be prominently involved, but Perine is the add I'm more interested in -- but let me stress that I'm tempering expectations. It's a poor offense in terms of talent, creativity and execution; if Perine becomes a bright spot this season, it will be a true testament to him as a player. But the opportunity alone is enough to put him on the fantasy radar, so he's a speculative add for anyone looking for running back depth and counting on some of the talent we saw during his time at Florida translating as a pro.