UPDATE: The Chargers have signed Nyheim Miller-Hines (you may remember him as just Nyheim Hines) to the practice squad; he initially made the team's practice squad to start the season before being released. Himes missed the last two seasons recovering from a knee injury. Speculation is he might play this week, so desperate teams (perhaps you had Omarion Hampton AND Najee Harris?) low on waiver priority might want to put a low-risk claim or $1 bid on him. 

UPDATE 2: Brenton Strange, the Jaguars' team leader in receptions (with 20) was put on IR Tuesday. If you insist on claiming the Jags' TE for leagues with very restrictive rules, look to Hunter Long (who has two TDs) over Johnny Mundt (an excellent blocker). But look elsewhere first, please. Like, for instance, the rest of this column... 

Well … at least when I said it couldn't get worse on the injury front compared to last week — I was right! So, let's go through the good news: there are only two teams on a bye heading into Week 6 — the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings. The bad news? We had a lot of injuries in between the Week 5 and Week 6 waiver wire article.

We learned that Bucky Irving is dealing with a significant injury that could keep him out another week or more. Fantasy managers were also without Lamar Jackson, Chuba Hubbard, Brock Bowers,  KaVontae Turpin and Trey Benson.

This was the first week we also saw players from IR activated. You'll read more about Jalen Coker's potential return below, but we also got Tyjae Spears back for the Tennessee Titans. As always, try and stay a week ahead of the waiver wire if you can, and be grateful if you weren't burned over the weekend by injuries or bye-week woes. Or Mariners losses.

All rostership percentages are from Yahoo. 

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Week 5 Injuries

• Omarion Hampton (ankle)
• Carson Wentz (shoulder)
• Brenton Strange (hip)
• Mariners (pride)

Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers (58% rostered)

Chuba Hubbard was kept out of practice all week leading up to the Panthers' Week 5 matchup against the Dolphins and eventually was ruled out with a calf injury. Rico Dowdle might be rostered in your league, but we always have to talk about the next man up and if Hubbard is held out another week — or even limited — then Dowdle is the guy we're turning to. Because WOW WHAT A SUNDAY FOR DOWDLE! He rushed 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown while catching three of four targets for 28 yards — good for 32.4 fantasy points. The Panthers take on the Cowboys in Week 6 which is a matchup we want to pick on.

Hassan Haskins / Kimani Vidal, RBs, Chargers (both are 1% rostered)

Omarion Hampton has been placed on IR, which means he will be missing a minimum of four games. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the Chargers will turn to running backs Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal (and they signed Nyheim Hines to the practice squad). I lean slightly to Haskins on the waiver wire for Week 6, but I'll be putting in bids for both, as they should be heavily rotated. Haskins finished Sunday with five carries for 13 yards and Vidal finished with four carries for 18 yards. Both running backs also had one reception. I also wouldn't rule out the Chargers bringing back Gus Edwards in the coming weeks, for those in deeper leagues.

For whatever this is worth, more people are searching for Haskins, so I would assume he is the bigger bid and higher priority of your opponents. Here's Google:

And here's CBS' most-viewed players:

Kendrick Bourne, WR, 49ers (4% rostered)

The 49ers managed a huge win against the Rams on Thursday Night Football without their top two receivers, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. Kendrick Bourne — Mac Jones' former teammate in New Engalnd (the announcing team mentioned this a few times) — stepped in and finished with 10 receptions off 11 targets for 142 yards and 19.2 fantasy points. Should we expect this kind of performance every single week? Absolutely not, but if injuries keep striking this 49ers offense then he is definitely worth a waiver add.

Michael Carter, RB, Cardinals (39% rostered)

In a surprising move last week, the Arizona Cardinals placed Trey Benson on IR with a knee injury that he suffered against the Seahawks, which means he'll be out a minimum of four games. Emari Demercado was already heavily rostered, but we knew he wasn't going to be the only running back carrying the workload for the Cardinals. And after that dropped would-be touchdown, he could very much be in the doghouse. Michael Carter is the name to know here. He locked down 18 carries for 51 yards and one touchdown while also catching five passes for 22 receiving yards. Sorry Demercado managers... just look away.

Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Steelers (36% rostered)

We can't forget about the performance that Kenneth Gainwell put on for the Steelers when they were without Jaylen Warren (wayyyy back in the Ireland game in Week 4/September). He is clearly the RB2 in this offense after he notched a 77% snap share, took over 73% of rushing attempts, and locked down a 27% target share on a 68% route participation rate. Kaleb Johnson fans, you're going to have to wait a little longer.

Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (30% rostered)

I am adding Tyjae Spears just in case on of your leaguemates couldn't wait long enough for him to come off IR. This offense just looks downright bad and that is not me blaming Cam Ward. I think head coach Brian Callahan's days are numbered for the Titans, but it also has not been great for Tony Pollard, either. Coming into Sunday's game, Pollard had averaged only 10.4 points … BUT WAIT, that's with an 89% snap share with 19 opportunities per game. If Spears, for whatever reason, is on your waiver wire then pick him up immediately.

Ryan Flournoy, WR, Cowboys (0% rostered)

The Cowboys lost KaVontae Turpin due to a foot sprain and with CeeDee Lamb also unable to return for Week 5, Ryan Flournoy stepped up for Dallas. He reeled in 114 receiving yards on six catches — that included 104 receiving yards in the first half! According to the Cowboys, combined with the 108 rushing yards from Javonte Williams in the first half, Williams and Flournoy became the first duo in any game since 1978 to have both a 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher in the first half of a single game.

We can't ignore how involved Flournoy was in this game. The Cowboys get the Panthers on the road next week. Plus, he's easy to root for.

Mason Taylor, TE, Jets (13% rostered)

If you start any Jets players you might not want to actually watch the games, but when you check back you could be pleasantly surprised! Mason Taylor was targeted 12 times by Justin Fields in the Jets' loss to the Cowboys. In Week 4 he was targeted seven times, which means he looks to be the second option in the passing game for Fields. He finished Sunday with nine receptions for 67 yards and a 27% target share. And every single week we have seen that target share grow. Buy him now!

Mason's first four weeks of Utilization: 

Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (12% rostered)

It looks like the Panthers will be getting back another weapon for Bryce Young soon. Jalen Coker's practice window has been opened after he injured his quad in late August. Head coach Dave Canales said they will open the 21-day window and also said Coker is "hitting some top speeds… now, it's about capacity."

This Panthers team isn't exactly one we're rushing to target week in and week out, but any potential receivers that can step in we need to pay attention to. The Panthers play the Cowboys in Week 6 then the Jets in Week 7.

Isaiah Davis, RB, Jets (5% rostered)

Braelon Allen was placed on IR and reports have said the Jets don't expect him back until potentially December. Breece Hall briefly left the game on Sunday with an injury, but was able to return. With Allen no longer in the picture, Isaiah Davis is someone to stash in case we find Hall injured in the future — but he is not startable at the moment. He finished Sunday's game with one carry for five yards and added three catches for 28 yards.

Theo Johnson, TE, Giants (11% rostered)

Hello there, Theo Johnson! It might not have been the prettiest day for Jaxson Dart and the Giants, but Johnson was a bright spot for fantasy managers as he recorded 21.3 fantasy points! The Dart-Johnson connection seems strong — he has nine catches on 12 targets for 50 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. The Giants don't get an easy schedule ahead, though. They take on the Eagles twice and meet with the Broncos, as well.

Sean Tucker, RB, Buccaneers (13% rostered)

It's gone from bad to worse for Bucky Irving GMs this week. Before Tampa Bay took on Seattle, Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Irving's shoulder injury is actually worse than his foot injury. Irving did not report his shoulder injury to the team until Tuesday last week, and this new information might keep him out against the 49ers in Week 6. What's more is that the tweet indicates Irving did not inform the Buccaneers about his injury until last Tuesday. Rachaad White is the RB1 now for the Buccaneers, but the theme of the waiver wire article this week is focusing on next players up — and Sean Tucker is on that list.

Waiver Wire Options For Deeper Leagues

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons
• Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
• Christian Kirk, WR, Texans
• Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers
• Tahj Brooks, RB, Bengals