Week 6 Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Targets: Rico Dowdle, Hassan Haskins vs. Kimani Vidal, and More

Overall, Week 6 is shaping up to be a rough week for fantasy football waiver wire adds. As we get deeper into the season, it's harder and harder to find genuinely valuable players who are still widely available. The beginning of bye weeks makes things even tougher, as there are fewer games than usual to search for breakout performances. 

However, the running back position is a clear exception to this trend, with many intriguing options. Unfortunately, many of those options are injury-related, as we saw another spate of injuries to starting RBs this week. However, that's just the game we play; when opportunity knocks, we have to answer. Without further ado, here are the top running back waiver pickups for this week.

Check out fantasy football waiver wire targets all season on FantasySP. 

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (74.2% Rostered)

It took longer than we might have guessed, but the Commanders' backfield officially belongs to Bill Croskey-Merritt. The rookie racked up 27.0 half-PPR points on Sunday, turning 14 carries and two targets into 150 total yards and two TDs.

While his usage still was by no means elite, he set a new career-high with a 48% snap share. His 31% route participation rate was also easily a career high. 

Meanwhile, Chris Rodriguez Jr., who had been in essentially a 50/50 split with JCM prior to this week, saw all five of his carries on Washington's final drive of the game. Especially given that he keeps producing when given the ball, Croskey-Merritt should lead this backfield going forward. He's probably already rostered in most competitive leagues, but you should be willing to spend all of your FAAB if your league is one of the 25% where he isn't.

Rachad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69.1% Rostered)

Bucky Irving missed this week with a combination of foot and shoulder injuries that is expected to sideline him for at least one more week. In his absence, White stepped back into his old role as the Buccaneers' RB1.

He played 81% of the snaps, handled 14 carries to three for Sean Tucker, and saw four targets on a 55% route participation rate. With two TDs on the ground, this workload turned into a very healthy 21.1 half-PPR points.

Going forward, White is a high-end RB2 or even borderline RB1 as long as Irving isn't healthy. That is what he was considered before Irving emerged in this backfield, after all. And, although it's certainly not conclusive, White has actually been more efficient on the ground so far in 2025 than he was in years past. He is a must-add and a startable option in all formats.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (48.2% Rostered)

With Chuba Hubbard sidelined, Dowdle was the obvious choice to step in as the Panthers' RB1. However, expectations were not high. Carolina's offense is bad, Dowdle is considered a replacement-level back, and rookie Trevor Etienne might steal some passing-down work. Put it together, and Dowdle looked like a fill-in flex option, nothing more. 

Instead, he was the RB1 on the week (pending MNF), with over 30 half-PPR points. Albeit against a terrible Dolphins defense, he racked up an absurd 206 rushing yards on 23 attempts, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. He got involved in the receiving game, too, with three catches on four targets. Etienne was an afterthought, with five opportunities on a 20% snap share. 

With a performance like this, Dowdle is at least a must-add while Hubbard remains sidelined. Based on head coach Dave Canales' postgame comments, he might remain Carolina's RB1 even when Hubbard comes back. The Panthers' offense is still bad, and Hubbard will be back, so there's a chance Dowdle's long-term value isn't great. But this is absolutely a situation where we should add him first and figure the rest out later. 

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (46.4% Rostered)

Trey Benson joined James Conner on IR in the middle of Week 5, leaving a gaping hole in the Cardinals' backfield. And, based on Sunday, Carter is the man to fill that hole. He led in snap share (59%), carries (18, a 72% share), route rate (35%) and targets (five). He wasn't hugely efficient, but that volume plus a goal-line rushing TD allowed him to finish with 15.8 points.

Carter's workload wasn't perfect. Both Bam Knight and Emari Demercado were involved, with the former scoring a goal-line TD of his own and the latter serving as a passing-down back. But it was certainly good enough that he can be considered a flex option as long as Benson remains out, which makes him a must-add in all formats. 

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (37.8% Rostered)

After missing the first four weeks of the season with an ankle injury, Spears made his 2025 debut this week. It wasn't anything special, as he managed just 14 yards on four carries. Despite being considered a talented pass-catcher, he saw zero targets and ran less than half as many routes as Tony Pollard. 

Especially considering the Titans' overall offensive struggles this year, this debut means Spears isn't a must-add. But in deeper leagues, he's worth considering.

Pollard hasn't been hugely efficient this year, and he does have an injury history. Even if Spears isn't likely to carve out standalone value — this offense can hardly support one RB right now, let alone two — he has plenty of handcuff appeal as a theoretical three-down back if Pollard misses time. 

Hassan Haskins vs. Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (0.8%/1% Rostered)

First-round rookie Omarion Hampton is officially headed for the injured reserve with an ankle injury. With Najee Harris already done for the season, the big question is who will take over as the lead back in the Chargers' offense. Assuming LA doesn't look outside their roster (which is certainly possible), the top candidates are Haskins and Vidal.

On Sunday, with Hampton exiting early, Haskins and Vidal each played exactly 14 snaps. Haskins saw one more carry (five to four) and ran two more routes, while they each saw one target. If this is anything to judge by, they will each get a shot to earn the lead role while Hampton is sidelined. 

And, honestly, I have no good way to distinguish between the two. It's tempting to say that Vidal, a popular sleeper pick last year as a rookie for his pass-catching upside, will beat out Haskins, a career journeyman. But nothing that Vidal has actually done in his NFL career necessarily indicates that he is more than a replacement-level talent.

I do still recommend you add Vidal over Haskins if given the choice, but both are worth adding until we see how things shake out. 

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets (7.5% Rostered)

With Braelon Allen on IR and set to miss the majority of the rest of the season, Davis is now the Jets' RB2. On Sunday, he played nearly half of the team's snaps, 44%. Of course, he didn't see half of the work — he had just one carry to Breece Hall's 14. On the bright side, he was used as a passcatcher, with four targets on a 43% route participation rate (Hall's rate was 35%). 

A mostly receiving role on this Jets offense probably isn't enough for Davis to have standalone value. But I wouldn't be surprised if he sees a few more carries if the game script ever allows for it — he and Allen have combined for just about five carries per game so far this season.

In deep PPR formats, Davis could have flex appeal. In shallower leagues, he at least brings handcuff value if Breece were to miss time.