Week 6 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Football's Top Breakout Candidates and Pickups

As fantasy football gamers celebrate a hard-earned victory, lament an agonizing loss or hold their breath for Monday night, they'll also start assembling a waiver-wire list for Week 6.

Sunday's latest action cemented some sneaky grabs as essential adds going forward, and a major injury opens the door for a new starting running back. Even if there's no 5-star acquisition ready to save the season, several players made a convincing case for a pickup.

Take a look at these players, all of whom entered Week 5 owned in under 50 percent of ESPN.com leagues. 

POS	Player	Team	Week 6 OPP	% Owned*
QB	Blake Bortles	Jaguars	Bye	27.1
QB	Josh McCown	Browns	Broncos	4.1
RB	Charcandrick West	Chiefs	Vikings	0.3
RB	Javorius Allen	Ravens	49ers	1.4
RB	Charles Sims	Buccaneers	Bye	39.0
RB	Antonio Andrews	Titans	Dolphins	21.5
WR	Willie Snead	Saints	Falcons (Thursday)	27.5
WR	Ty Montgomery	Packers	Chargers	6.7
WR	Jamison Crowder	Washington	Jets	4.1
TE	Gary Barnidge	Browns	Broncos	37.2
TE	Jacob Tamme	Falcons	Saints	1.0

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Charcandrick West, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The Kansas Chiefs suffered a devastating blow on Sunday when Jamaal Charles exited the game on a non-contact injury. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, head coach Andy Reid is preparing for the worst:

If the MRI confirms those fears of the second ACL tear of his career, Charles won't play again in 2015.

Bad news for those who responsibly purchased Knile Davis as an insurance policy: He's no longer the top handcuff. While the third-year Chiefs reserve compiled two yards on as many carries on Sunday, Charcandrick West totaled 36 yards on eight touches.

After spelling Charles with West in Week 4, Reid commented on what was then the backup situation, per ESPN.com's Adam Teicher:

"

We like what Charcandrick has been doing. We also like Knile. On certain situations, we like to use them all. In those situations, we chose to go with Charcandrick. We haven’t lost any confidence in Knile. You saw some of the things we were doing with him, and we think Charcandrick does a pretty good job with those things.

"

Kansas City knows what it has with Davis. He's averaging a pedestrian 3.4 yards per carry over his career, turning 11 carries into 27 yards this season. Sitting at a wildly disappointing 1-4, the Chiefs might as well see what they have in West. 

This is hardly an open-and-shut case. Reid may give both backs an opportunity to seize the day or operate in a committee. Anyone stashing Davis should keep him around a bit longer, and he's worth a flier in most formats.

West, however, warrants the top waiver priority. If Reid commits to either rusher off the bat, he immediately becomes a viable Week 6 starter against the Minnesota Vikings, who have relinquished 4.7 yards per carry this season. In shallower leagues, it might be best to stash West and see how the situation plays out.

Willie Snead, WR, New Orleans Saints

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

Early in the season, fantasy gamers wondered whether Marques Colston or Brandon Coleman would step into the limelight as the New Orleans Saints' No. 2 wide receiver. Turns out neither, as rookie Willie Snead has instead claimed the role.

The undrafted newcomer shined during Sunday's blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, corralling six catches on 11 targets for 141 yards. Through five games, he leads the team with 381 receiving yards. He has nearly accumulated as many looks as Brandin Cooks over the past few weeks, as noted by DraftKings' Adam Levitan:

Snead's outburst shouldn't stun anyone, as he surpassed Colston and Coleman with 89 yards in Week 4. ESPN.com's Mike Triplett touted the 22-year-old a deep-league play prior to Week 5.

"Snead is reminiscent of former Saints receiver Lance Moore as a sure-handed receiver who can catch intermediate routes and occasional deep balls," Triplett wrote. "And he has earned the all-important trust of both Sean Payton and Drew Brees."

With Drew Brees back under center, a prominent New Orleans pass-catcher can't stay unclaimed. Grab Snead in late-adopter leagues where he remains available, and be prepared to quickly assess Week 6's lineup. The Saints play the Thursday night tilt against the Atlanta Falcons, a solid matchup putting Snead in flex consideration.

Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns

Gail Burton/Associated Press

When Gary Barnidge trounced the Oakland Raiders for 105 yards and a score in Week 3, rational onlookers wrote off the afternoon as an outlier. Oakland's troubles defending tight ends have become a weekly talking point, and the 30-year-old entered that game with a career 10.4 yards per bout. 

Then he followed up the career showing with six receptions for 75 yards and a score against the San Diego Chargers. Interesting, but still...Gary Barnidge? What are the chances this keeps going?

One week longer, at least. For the second time in three games, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown targeted his tight end 10 times. The veteran responded with a career-high eight catches and 139 yards. He also extended his touchdown streak to three on a play that will permeate the highlight reels all week.

The fantasy world can't keep ignoring a tight end with 319 yards and three scores over his last three games. Those are also the only three games started and finished by McCown, who left Week 1 early with a concussion and missed Cleveland's next contest.

A brutal Week 6 matchup with the Denver Broncos, who have allowed three passing touchdowns this season, will test Barnidge's surge. Don't go crazy and start him over Jimmy Graham, but he's a borderline low-end No. 1 tight end while hot.