Week 6 Flavor of the Week is headlined by two running backs whose roles have drastically changed due to an injury, a quarterback who has been lights out since retaking his starting job, a wide receiver who started the year as an unknown but has quickly become a favorite target of his quarterback, and a tight end who has been among the best at the position the past few weeks.  Let’s take a look at the top added players heading into Week 6.

Quarterbacks

Josh McCown, CLE – McCown opened the season as the Browns' starting QB but was injured during the first quarter and was forced to miss the remainder of the game and all of Week 2.  He was cleared to play in Week 3 and earned back his starting job and boy has he produced, throwing for 1,154 yards and six touchdowns since that point while averaging 25 fantasy points per game.  The Browns have some tough matchups coming up for them as they face off against the Broncos in Week 6, followed by the Rams and Cardinals so McCown will certainly be tested but as a bye week replacement he is worth the look.

Blake Bortles, JAC – Bortles has been a mainstay on this list as owners are quickly finding out that the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft has taken quite the leap in year two.  Through five games Bortles has thrown for 1,299 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions after throwing for 2,908 yards with 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over 14 games as a rookie.  In Week 6 Bortles finds himself with a favorable matchup against the Texans and follows that up with a Week 7 matchup against a Bills defense that has struggled to stop the pass despite their impressive pass rush.  Bortles is more than a bye week replacement as he ranks among the top 10 scoring QBs in fantasy this season.

Running Backs

Charcandrick West, KC – The season-ending injury to Jamaal Charles has opened the door for West to be the Chiefs starting running back heading into Week 6 against the Vikings.  West carried the ball seven times for 31 yards in relief of the injured Charles in Week 5 and despite the presence of Knile Davis is expected to see the majority of the carries going forward.  West went undrafted in 2014 and was signed as a free agent.  He appeared in six games for the Chiefs as a rookie, playing primarily on special teams so there is little production to project just how well West will play, but for Week 6 he will open as the starter.

Knile Davis, KC – Davis was the running back Charles owners likely drafted as a handcuff prior to the season after he finished 2014 with 610 total yards and seven touchdowns so it was likely seen as a shock that when Jamaal Charles did get hurt that the Chiefs have turned to Charcandrick West to be their lead back. Davis still has value as head coach Andy Reid stated that both players will share the backfield and given that owners know Davis can be successful in the NFL, he still likely has more upside but for now he will likely be relegated to being a change-of-pace and receiving back for KC.

Christine Michael, DAL – Michael appears on this list despite seeing just two carries over the last two weeks due to a report from ESPN Dallas that stated Michael could come out of the Cowboys' Week 6 bye as the team’s starting running back in place of Joseph Randle.  There was plenty of hype around Michael following his trade from the Seahawks to the Cowboys prior to the start of the season due to his career 4.8 yard per carry average in limited work behind Marshawn Lynch and because he was taken in the second round of the NFL draft just two years ago.

Wide Receivers

Willie Snead, NO – What’s more surprising about Snead being the top-claimed WR in Week 6 is that it took this long for him to get noticed by the fantasy world.  Snead went undrafted in 2014 and spent time with the Browns, Panthers and Saints practice squads during his rookie season.  Snead really impressed during the preseason and made the roster out of camp as a relative unknown but he quickly became one of Drew Brees’ top receiving targets.  In Week 5 Snead had his career game, catching six of 11 targets for 141 yards.  Overall this season, Snead has caught 22 of 33 targets for 381 yards and a touchdown and he should continue to produce as a starting caliber fantasy wide receiver as long as Drew Brees is healthy.

Marquess Wilson, CHI – Wilson started the season as the Bears' No. 4 receiver behind Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and Eddie Royal but due to injuries to all three he has seen his stock move up to the Bears' No. 1 receiver over the past two weeks and he has not disappointed, averaging six catches for 82.5 yards on 8.5 targets.  As long as Jeffery or Royal remain out of the Bears' starting lineup, Wilson should maintain some semblance of fantasy value given his ability to stretch the field.

Tight Ends

Gary Barnidge, CLE – Barnidge has been a staple on this list since his explosive Week 3 performance against the Raiders.  Barnidge has now caught a total of 22 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns over the last three weeks which has ranked him among top scoring tight ends in all of fantasy.  Given how shallow the position is there is little reason for Barnidge to still be available in any league format as he finds himself as Josh McCown’s favorite target.

Julius Thomas, JAC –  Thomas returned to the Jaguars' roster in Week 5 after a hand injury saw him sidelined for each week prior.  Thomas was a big free agent signing in the offseason after two successful seasons in Denver.  The improvement of Blake Bortles this season should bode well for Thomas, who is a matchup nightmare for most defenses due to his size and speed at the tight end position but he will be forced to compete for targets with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns who are currently having career years.