Fantasy football managers are now five weeks into their respective seasons but are still looking to make significant changes to their rosters as they fight for championship glory.
As always, the new waiver wire darlings these fantasy managers are hoping to add will come at the expense of players already on their rosters. Sometimes, decisions about who to release can be easy, as injuries often create roster spots managers must fill.
That said, it can be harder to part with underperformers, regardless of position. Often, these are players in which fantasy managers have invested significant resources, be it draft picks, waiver claims, or FAAB money but may no longer be useful for fantasy purposes.
Who are some potential sunk costs managers can part
with ahead of the Week 6 waiver wire? Here are five players to consider parting with – or at least downgrading – as the season progresses.
Waiver wire players to drop: Week 6
QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has played in five games thus far during the 2026 NFL season. He has not yet recorded multiple touchdowns in any of those games. He is also averaging a paltry 187.4 passing yards per game as he continues to struggle to adapt to Mike McDaniel's offense.
Herbert is also playing behind a severely banged-up offensive line that has been one of the NFL's worst so far. As long as that remains the case, it will be impossible to trust the 28-year-old as a QB1.
So, while some may be tempted to exercise patience with Herbert after he racked up 54 yards on six carries against the Broncos, his baseline simply hasn't been good enough to justify rostering him.
RB RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Should you blindly cut Harvey? Probably not, but it's worth noting that his role within Denver's offense changed rapidly after Sean Payton took over play-calling from offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Harvey was targeted 21 times in his first three appearances of the 2026 NFL season. Against the Chargers, he saw just one target while J.K. Dobbins dominated Denver's rushing workload, handling 18 carries to Harvey's three.
Perhaps Payton will look to get his 2025 second-round pick more involved as the season progresses, but with rookie Jonah Coleman lurking as a backfield option once he returns from IR, it's easy to envision Harvey eventually being phased out of the backfield rotation. Fantasy managers can still stash him for his PPR upside, but if you are already deep at RB, don't hesitate to part with him.
WR Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Meyers remains a rock-solid receiver in real life, but his fantasy upside appears to be capped in Jacksonville's offense. The 29-year-old veteran has received more than four targets in a game only once this season, and he has eclipsed 40 receiving yards only once.
Against the Eagles in London, Meyers tied for fourth on the team in targets with three. That was well behind Parker Washington (9 targets), Brenton Strange (7) and rookie Josh Cameron (6). Unless Meyers can carve out a larger role in the pecking order, he will merely be a low-upside bench stash who will only be viable as a touchdown-dependent flex.
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara inspired hope among fantasy managers against the Falcons in Week 4, when he racked up 58 total yards and two touchdowns. That good will quickly dissipate in Week 5, as he took a back seat to Kendre Miller in New Orleans' backfield rotation.
Miller handled 10 touches and turned them into 30 yards and a touchdown. By comparison, Kamara racked up six yards on five touches, including a disappointing negative-6 yards on two receptions.
The juice simply isn't worth the squeeze with Kamara anymore, as he's no longer the elite receiving back he once was. Add that Travis Etienne Jr. will eventually return from a hamstring injury to take on lead-back duties, and Kamara's utility seems unlikely to have much of a shelf life.
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Ferguson racked up three touchdowns across a two-game span in Weeks 2 and 3, which led many fantasy managers to cling to him as a potential solid starter in a high-octane Dallas offense.
However, Ferguson is averaging just 4.2 targets and 20.4 receiving yards through five games this season. He also had a couple of ugly drops in the Cowboys' 24-16 Week 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which could entice Dak Prescott to look elsewhere or Brian Schottenheimer to give Brevyn Spann-Ford or Luke Schoonmaker more opportunities to prove themselves.
Either way, Ferguson is currently a touchdown-dependent option at tight end. That may be good enough for some given the thin nature of the position but those seeking more upside can certainly find it on the waiver wire.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 6 drops: 5 players you need to consider cutting
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