This is the time of year when things start to separate a little bit. You can see who’s rising, who’s fading, and who’s holding steady. These are the names that stood out this week and should be considered when making NFL picks: the ones worth making a move for or moving on from. Grab your cigar, pour your bourbon, and let’s get into it.
Buyers
AJ Barner, TE, Seahawks
AJ Barner has turned in back-to-back solid outings and is showing signs of becoming a key part of Seattle’s passing attack. After posting a career-high seven receptions in Week 5, he followed that up with three catches for 71 yards against Jacksonville. He now has 17 receptions for 205 yards and four touchdowns on the season, making the most of his 19 targets. With his size and steady hands, he’s proving to be a reliable red zone option and one of the few tight ends trending up right now.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
Kendre Miller might be one of the better buy options right now while his numbers stay quiet. He had eight carries for 21 yards and one catch for 11 yards in the loss to New England, but that does not tell the full story. He is averaging close to 10 carries a game over the last three weeks and has remained active behind Alvin Kamara. His role is steady, and the Saints clearly trust him. If Kamara slows down or misses time, Miller’s touches and value will rise quickly, making this a good time to get him before that happens.
Darren Waller, TE, Dolphins
Darren Waller has quietly been one of the few bright spots in Miami’s passing game. Even with just 3 targets last week, he made the most of them, scoring a touchdown late in the game to keep the Dolphins close. He now has four touchdowns on only 10 catches this year, showing he’s still a go-to weapon in key moments. At 33, he’s not the explosive tight end he once was, but the production is still there when it matters. If you’re contending and need a steady red zone option, this is a good time to scoop him up while his price is still reasonable.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
Michael Pittman Jr. has 28 catches for 293 yards, four touchdowns, and is averaging 10.46 yards per catch this season. Week 6 was quiet with just three targets for 20 yards, but that’s more of a blip than a trend. When the Colts move the ball, Daniel Jones seems to find him, and he remains the most trusted option in that offense. His usage and track record make this the right time to buy while the numbers look down, because it won’t stay that way for long.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars
Travis Etienne has rushed for 470 yards on 89 carries, averaging 5.28 yards per carry. with two touchdowns and added 13 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Over the last two weeks, he’s had his quietest outings, but nothing has changed in his role. He’s still seeing between 54 and 66% of the snaps and has yet to dip below 15 touches in a game. The workload and efficiency are there, and the recent dip is matchup-driven, not usage-related. This is the kind of player contenders should be buying now, before he gets rolling again.
Sellers
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
George Pickens has 32 catches on 48 targets for 525 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 16.41 yards per catch. Since CeeDee Lamb went down, Pickens has looked the part of a WR1, but that likely ends once Lamb returns in Week 7. Before the injury, Pickens averaged 6.5 targets per game, and that jumped to nearly nine per game in Lamb’s absence. The boost in volume has made him a weekly difference maker, but it’s temporary. His production is inflated, and now is the time to move him for a more consistent option before that window closes.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
Ladd McConkey has 28 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns on 43 targets this season. He’s coming off his best game of the year and has now scored in back-to-back weeks. This recent stretch came with Quentin Johnston sidelined and against a weak Miami defense that makes almost any wideout look good. With Johnston soon returning from injury and set to merge back into the offense, this is the time to move McConkey while others are still chasing his recent numbers.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Raiders
Meyers has gone quiet, and the box score shows it. Over the last two weeks, he’s had four targets for 39 yards each game and hasn’t topped 40 yards in three straight. For the season, he sits at 43 targets, 29 catches, 329 yards, and 0 touchdowns. Even with Brock Bowers out, the volume didn’t climb. Geno’s poor quarterback play hasn’t helped him at all, either. If someone in your league still remembers last year’s 1,027 yards and thinks a rebound is coming, move him now while the name still carries weight.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings
Hockenson has been steady but not special. Through 6 games, he’s caught 19 of 24 targets for 153 yards and one touchdown, averaging just over 25 yards per game. He’s been consistent in volume but hasn’t topped 49 yards in any contest this season. His short-area usage keeps him involved, but it also limits his upside. With the Vikings offense spreading the ball around and his name value still strong, this is the time to move him before his quiet stretch starts to drag down his trade appeal.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs
Pacheco led Kansas City in rushing again, logging 12 carries for 51 yards while splitting time with Kareem Hunt. That workload is fine, but it’s clear this backfield is turning into a frustrating timeshare. Even as the lead back, Pacheco’s touches are capped, and his (4.2 yards per carry) this season doesn’t leave much room for upside. The Chiefs’ offense continues to lean heavily on the passing game, leaving Pacheco as more of a role player than a difference maker. His touches and yardage look steady enough to sell, but the ceiling just isn’t there. This is the time to move him while the box scores still look respectable before the backfield rotation eats further into his production.
Closing
That wraps up Week 6. The season is starting to show who’s for real and who’s just flashing for a week or two. The key is staying ahead of the curve, not chasing last week’s points. Buy the steady risers, sell the inflated names, and keep stacking wins.
Win now, brag later.
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