Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
for that elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp.
The waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players that
might be available in 12-team PPR leagues. I’ll also provide
a brief update on the players I covered the previous week.
Jimmy Garoppolo,
SF – With Trey Lance out for the season (broken ankle), Garoppolo
will be the top pickup for QB-needy teams. Upcoming 49ers schedule:
@DEN, LAR, @CAR, @ATL.
Carson Wentz,
WAS – He was my top add last week but just in case he’s still
sitting out there in your league, grab him. After another 300-yard,
multi-TD game, this will be the last week he’s on the wire. The
schedule is still favorable the next few weeks: PHI, @DAL,
TEN.
Tua Tagovailoa,
MIA – I had Tua in the “Other QBs to consider” section last week.
He’s got two game-breakers for weapons and is an ideal QB2 in
most leagues with QB1 upside in the right matchup against suspect
defenses. We just saw his ceiling game in Week 2 (469-6-2) and
home for the Bills isn’t ideal in Week 3, but @CIN (Wk4) and @NYJ
(Wk5) seems more palatable.
Carson Wentz
(30-46, 337-3-0; 2-23): Wentz finished as the QB6 on the week
and has another nice matchup in Week 3 (PHI) in what should be
a high-scoring game.
Marcus Mariota
(17-26, 196-2-2; 6-16): Mariota finished as the QB16 and was largely
contained by the Rams-D. His rushing upside makes him fantasy
viable.
Matt Ryan (16-30,
195-0-3; 0-0): Oof. Ryan was also sacked 5 times and finished
as the QB30. I should’ve placed more emphasis on the Colts recent
struggles with Jacksonville (last win in JAX was in 2014). Losing
Michael Pittman Jr. in practice this week certainly didn’t help.
Cooper Rush
(19-31, 235-1-0; 1-2): Rush finished as the QB22. After two TD
drives to start the game, the offense fell flat. He doesn’t offer
much running ability and is lacking weapons. TE Dalton Schultz
left late in the game with a knee injury.
Cam Akers,
LAR: Akers was left for dead after barley playing in Week 1 but
he got the start in Week 2 and ending up sharing time with Darrell
Henderson against the Falcons. A committee approach with these
two is likely moving forward. It’s doubtful Akers was dropped
in your league, but if so, he’s worth a pick-up. Upcoming schedule:
@ARI, @SF, DAL.
Raheem Mostert,
MIA – Chase Edmonds played second fiddle to Mostert against the
Ravens. Mostert got the start and out-carried Edmonds 11-to-5
despite both playing a similar number of snaps. There isn’t likely
to be a lot of volume in this rushing attack making both RBs weak
Flex options. Upcoming schedule: BUF, @CIN, @NYJ.
Darrel Williams
/ Eno Benjamin,
ARI – With James Conner leaving Week 2 with an ankle injury, both
Arizona RBs will be sought after on the wire - depending on the
severity of Conner’s injury. They played almost evenly in Week
2 but Williams was used around the goaline giving him priority.
If Conner returns this week, then Williams and Eno will be lower
priority.
Update:Jordan
Mason, Marlon
Mack, SF: Tyrion Davis-Price is going to miss some time with
a high ankle sprain and we know how much San Francisco loves to
run the ball (2nd in the league through two weeks). It doesn’t
seem like the 49ers trust Mason to be a significant contributor
on offense, so Mack may make an appearance on the active roster
sooner rather than later.
Other RBs to consider (Week 3 opponents in parentheses):
Tyler Allgeier,
ATL (@SEA), Mark
Ingram, NO (@CAR)
Players recommended last week:
Jeff Wilson,
SF (18-84-0; 2-19-0): Wilson operated as the lead back for the
49ers and finished as the RB15 in PPR leagues. Upcoming schedule:
@DEN, LAR, @CAR, @ATL
Rex Burkhead,
HOU (0-0-0; 2-9-0): Role reversal. Dameon Pierce dominated the
carries and Burkhead mainly played on passing situations. Burkhead
will be hard to trust moving forward given the shaky offense.
Kenyan Drake,
LV (6-8-0; 0-0): The Ravens don’t currently have a running game
outside of Lamar Jackson. Perhaps the return of J.K. Dobbins will
alter the situation, but until that happens, Drake, Mike Davis
and Justice Hill can be avoided.
Khalil Herbert,
CHI (4-38-0; 1-3-0): Playing behind David Montgomery, Herbert
made the most of his opportunities, but only five touches isn’t
going to help us.
Update: The Bears are
running more than any team in the league (69.6%), but they’ve
also run only 92 plays in two games - tied for last. Herbert remains
an upside bench stash.
Dontrell Hilliard, TEN (N/A): Hilliard is Out with a hamstring
injury.
Breshad
Perriman, TB – With Mike Evans being suspended for his dust
up with Marshon Lattimore, the Bucs will be searching for WR answers
in Week 3 against the Packers. Julio Jones (knee) is already dealing
with injury and Chris Godwin (hamstring) is unlikely to suit up.
The matchup isn’t great but Perriman should find himself in the
starting lineup.
Noah Brown,
DAL – With the Cowboys searching for answers outside of CeeDee
Lamb, Brown caught all five of his targets in Week 2 for 91 yards
and a TD. He could have more spiked weeks like this, but he’ll
be hard to trust as a WR3 or Flex option especially with Michael
Gallup likely to return soon. Week 4 against the Commanders will
be his next best opportunity.
Garrett Wilson,
NYJ – There are plenty of options in the Jets passing game and
who knows how the offense will play when Zach Wilson (knee) returns,
but you can’t deny the usage Garrett received in Week 2 – 14 targets.
The rookie will be a WR4/5 option moving forward. Upcoming schedule:
CIN, @PIT, MIA
Update:Treylon
Burks, TEN – It’s hard to takeaway much from the pounding
the Bills put on the Titans but Burks usage with first team is
encouraging. He led the Titans with 6 targets (4-47-0) and a decent
matchup against the Raiders is on tap for Week 3.
Greg Dortch,
ARI – I had Dortch in the “Other WRs to Consider” category last
week. He is operating in the role Rondale Moore will play whenever
he returns. Dortch now as 11-118-1 in two games and is currently
the WR21 this week heading into Monday night. He’ll be a Flex
option in Week 3 (LAR) if Rondale is out.
Chris Olave,
NO – The 13 targets in Week 2 were nice but the Saints’ passing
game has some issues, most notably Jameis Winston’s back problems.
Consistent targets will be an issue for Olave with Michael Thomas
and Jarvis Landry still in the mix but a spike week is coming.
The schedule does look promising: @CAR, MIN (London), SEA, CIN
TE Juwan Johnson, NO – Johnson (4-40-0) is operating as
the pass-catching tight end for the Saints. He doesn’t have
a ceiling but does have 12 targets in two games.
Curtis Samuel,
WAS (7-78-1; 1-21): Finished as the WR10. With 20 targets and
5 rushing attempts in two games, Samuel is looking like a solid
PPR option moving forward. Ride this train while you can.
Jahan Dotson,
WAS (4-59-1): Dotson finished as the WR21 thanks to his TD grab.
Schedule remains favorable outside of the Cowboys in Week 4: PHI,
@DAL, TEN
Josh Palmer,
LAC (4-30-1): Palmer finished as the WR32. He appeared to be out
of sync with Justin Herbert to start the game but did receive
8 targets.
Sterling
Shepard, NYG (6-34-0): Shephard led all Giants receivers with
10 targets. This offense just stinks at the moment.
Donovan
Peoples-Jones, CLE (0-0-0): Goose eggs. Amari Cooper (9-101-1)
operated as the main receiving target against the Jets.
TE Gerald
Everett, LAC (6-71-0): Everett finished as the TE8 and should
have low-end TE1 value moving forward.
TE Taysom Hill,
NO (3-14-0; 0-0-0): I’m actually surprised the Saints didn’t involve
Hill more in gameplan considering Alvin Kamara (ribs) was out
and Mark Ingram (ankle) was banged up.
Devin Duvernay, BAL (2-42-0): Duvernay took the opening kickoff
back for a TD. Otherwise, he was largely quiet in the shootout
against Miami with Rashod Bateman commanding 7 targets and Mark
Andrews 11.
