Week 6 Waiver Wire
Week 5 is not over just yet as the Bills and Titans play tonight. I pushed most of my leagues waivers to Wednesday night in order to compensate for this. Week 5 saw an awful injury to Dak Prescott that will finish his season. Players such as Andy Dalton and Chase Claypool are a sure thing to see the top claims in leagues, and rightfully so. If you had Dak this is the week you need to go all in securing a QB. Yes, you can play matchup based, but this early in the season, options and luck may run out.
QUARTERBACK
Andy Dalton / Cowboys / 0% rostered
Dak is done for the year. Insert Andy Dalton. It felt weird to type Cowboys under his name. Dalton led a game winning drive against the Giants Sunday. While Dalton is no Dak, he enters one of the best offenses in the league and is a reliable backup option for the Cowboys. He was 9 for 11 with 111 yards in relief. Dalton needs to be rostered at minimum in Sflex leagues and especially teams who rostered Dak. He's a good buy in dynasty if you need the stop gap. There will be results that border a top 10 QB. Safe to go all in if need is there in superflex or dynasty. For one QB, it's maybe 10% of FAAB
Justin Herbert / Chargers / 52% rostered
I have had him on here almost every single week. This is the last week you will see him on here after his performance last night against the Saints. Herbert looked sharp and is meriting QB1 status. Very surprised to see his accuracy and poise, what I thought werer weaknesses have become strengths. Go all in if needed in superflex. 10-15% in 1 QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick / Dolphins / 21% rostered
Fitzmagic keeps doing it! Against the defending NFC Champions, Fitzmagic went 22 of 28 for 350 yards and 3 touchdowns. Next up? The winless New York Jets who can’t stop anything. I expect big numbers for Fitzmagic against one of his old teams next week. The Tua hype train remains on hold, but bid small because it's not a claim for the whole season. If Fitz lays an egg against the Jets, the week 7 bye would be a natural spot to insert Tua.
RUNNING BACK
Alexander Mattison / Vikings / 41% rostered
Odds are, the person who drafted Dalvin Cook has Mattison. In the off chance he is available, you need to grab him. Cook left Sunday with an injury, and early indication is that he is fine. However, the Vikings have a bye week coming up after week 6, and could be inclined to rest Cook for their upcoming matchup with the Packers. 20 carries for 112 yards to go with 3 catches for 24 yards is enough for me to merit him to be one of the top adds of the week. Could be a week winner for you if Cook sits this week, worth 30% of remaining FAAB or more if it sounds like a multi week injury
Chase Edmonds / Cardinals / 45% rostered
If Edmonds is available, this needs to be a priority pickup. He had 3 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown to go with 5 catches for 56 yards. Kenyon Drake had an ok game against the Jets, but it was Edmonds who impressed and made the impact for the cardinals. He continued to out-target Drake for the fifth consecutive game. Let's face it, targets are more predictive and ultimately more important in fantasy than even touchdowns. It is only a matter of time before Edmonds has a firm grasp on the starting job on the high-powered offense, he is already the best fantasy back on the team. Last week we told you he was your best shot at an RB2....right now he sits at RB #28 so we're basically there. 35% of FAAB
Damien Harris / Patriots / 54% rostered
An unexpected bye week has put a slight delay on this hype train. He had 17 carries for 100 yards last week, and with Sony Michel on IR, Harris is looking to continue his takeover of the backfield (if that’s possible in NE). You may get lucky if your league mates forgot about him. 15% of FAAB
Justin Jackson / Chargers / 44% rostered
He showed up on Monday as the trusted RB in the Chargers backfield, out touching, out snapping, out targetting, and out rushing Jushua Kelley. Similar To Edmonds, there is a clear RB2 rest of season right here. I'll take 20 touches, 104 yards every day with 5 catches, even if Kelley ends up getting some goal line touches. 35% of FAAB
WIDE RECEIVER
Chase Claypool / Steelers / 17% rostered
The rookie made his impact on Sunday in a big way! He saw 11 targets and turned it into 9 catches for 110 yards and two TD and added 3 carries for 6 yards and another touchdown. Claypool did what everyone expected Juju to do. With an injury to Diontae Johnson, more reps may open up for Claypool. However, when Johnson got hurt early in the game, Juju Smith-Schuster was moved to Johnson's X position and Claypool replaced Juju in the slot, this will not be the alignment going forward. The situation is going to be dicey, as there are many talented mouths to feed in this offense so Claypool isn't going to give you double digit points EVERY week as some are expecting. He is likely going to be the top add this week, I'd let someone else go nuts and limit my bid to about 20-25% of remaining FAAB
Travis Fulgham / Eagles / 3% rostered
Who the Fulgh? The Eagles only healthy WR at this point, that’s who. Fulgham broke out in a big way on Sunday seeing 13 (!!) targets, turning it into 10 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. With Alshon Jeffery, Jalen Reagor, and Desean Jackson out, Fulgham took over and made a huge impact. Fulgham plays the Ravens this coming week, so he will not repeat these numbers, but he is worth a flier all over. Temper your expectations as Jeffery will return this week, possibly Jackson as well. 10% of FAAB
Brandin Cooks / Texans / 44% rostered
He is only on here because he was massively dropped after his goose egg. This Sunday, Cooks went off and tilted all of his owners who anger dropped or benched him, myself included. He saw 12 targets which he turned into 8 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. Maybe a coaching change is the spark Cooks needed? 15% of FAAB
Henry Ruggs / Raiders / 44% rostered
Ruggs showed how boom or bust he could be. Three targets were turned into 2 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, a very Desean Jackson-type day. He had a 72 yard touchdown grab, and is slowly getting chemistry with Derek Carr. Ruggs is on a bye week this coming week, and should return from the bye week fully healthy. 15% of FAAB
Tee Higgins / Bengals / 53% rostered
This is the final week he will be on here. I have had Tee Higgins in this spot for weeks, and he continues to be involved in the offense. While the Bengals did not do so well this Sunday, Higgins had his fourth straight game of 6 or more targets. He had 8 targets which he turned into 4 catches for 62 yards. Higgins came out of a rough matchup with the Ravens with decent numbers, and looks to continue his chemistry with Joe Burrow as he does the famous #85 Cincy jersey proud. If you are lucky enough to see him on your waiver wire, I would prioritize him over Claypool, you'll reap the benefits of his increasing consistency. 30% of FAAB
Preston Williams / Dolphins / 22% rostered
Preston is benefitting on the resurgence of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Williams saw 5 targets which he turned into 4 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Williams gets the Jets this weekend who allowed an easy 30 points to the Cardinals. I expect a big week for the Dolphin wideouts. 15% of FAAB
TIGHT END
Jimmy Graham / Bears / 40% rostered
Jimmy showed he still has it. He didn’t put up huge numbers, but if you need a bye week replacement, Graham showed he can still play. 5 targets for 3 catches and 33 yards with a touchdown. He is not worth an immediate add, but is worth a flier if you need a fill in. 5% of FAAB
Irv Smith / Vikings / 11% rostered
Smith seems to be overtaking Kyle Rudolph in the pecking order for catches. He had 5 targets thrown his way for 4 catches and 64 yards. Rudolph still out snapped Smith, but seemed to be used more as a blocker. He is a dart throw add in deeper leagues. $1
Cameron Brate / Buccaneers / 12% rostered
With OJ Howard out for the year, and Gronk not his old self, insert Brate. He saw 6 targets for 5 catches and 44 yards against the Bears. He is starting to get more involved in the offense. With Godwin still out, Brate could see more targets coming his way. $1
STREAMING DEFENSES
Dolphins
Their pass rush was absolutely explosive last week, with 5 sacks and 8 QB knockdowns. This week they play the Jets, doesn't matter whether it is Joe Flacco or Sam Darnold. They’re tanking, play Miami with confidence.
Patriots
Denver may not have Drew Lock back yet making the Patriots defense a decent streaming option.
Football Team
They’re playing the Giants. While the Giants took advantage of the weak Cowboy defense, this could be a flier worth taking if absolutely needed as Danny Dimes is one of the worst at protecting the football.
Rams
The 49ers are looking like a mess. They got rocked by the Dolphins, making the Rams a decent streaming option this week. They may not be available as many owners picked them up going into week 4 against Giants and held them for week 5 against Washington.
Giants
It’s ugly if you need to resort to this, but they’re playing the Washington Football team with an unclear QB situation.