Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Stafford has had three nice games in a row, passing for a combined
10 TDs during that span, including going 294-3-0 in an overtime
shootout with the Ravens. Up next, he’ll face a Commanders
defense that has given up the most points to opposing QBs, so
Stafford should keep the good times rolling.
Flacco got another start with Deshaun Watson out, and delivered
a nice win against the Jaguars by going 311-3-1. Up next is a
great matchup against the Bears, who have allowed the 3rd-most
passing TDs.
Jameis Winston,
NO vs CAR: Winston ended up not being needed as Derek Carr was
able to suit up against Carolina.
Baker Mayfield, TB @ ATL: Mayfield ended up with a solid day
by going 144-2-0 through the air and rushing for a TD on 3 carries.
Up next, he gets a much tougher matchup against the Packers.
Jake Browning, CIN @ IND: Browning delivered another nice day,
going 275-2-1 passing and chipping it 3-7-1 rushing. He has continued
to be efficient throwing the ball in his three starts. He gets
another potential playoff team when the Vikings come to town this
week.
Chandler went 12-35-0 on the ground and 3-3-7-0 through the air
in relief of Alexander Mattison, who left early with an ankle
injury. If Mattison was forced to miss the game against the Bengals,
Chandler would most likely handle a three-down role, especially
if the Vikings turn to 3rd string QB Nick Mullens with Joshua
Dobbs struggling.
White hasn’t seen many touches, but with starter Josh Jacobs
going down with a knee injury, White will see more action. He’ll
get a favorable matchup versus the Chargers in Week 14, although
expectations should be tempered as the passing game work would
largely be dominated by Ameer Abdullah.
Ezekiel Elliott,
NE @ PIT: Elliott carried the load since Rhamondre Stevenson was
out with an ankle injury, going 22-68-0 rushing and 8-7-72-1 receiving.
Elliott’s three-down skill set is well known, and he still appears
to have something left in the tank. He should be a solid asset
for as long as Stevenson is out, and that continues this week
against the Chiefs.
Update:Tyjae
Spears, TEN @ MIA: Spears had a solid outing on Monday Night
Football as Will Levis had 38 attempts, delivering 8-6-89-0 receiving
and chipping in 7-29-0 rushing. Levis clearly trusts Spears out
of the backfield and when the Titans are playing from behind,
his targets are likely to spike. He may be called on again this
week against the Texans.
Roschon Johnson, CHI vs DET: Johnson was largely invisible against
the Lions, getting 1 carry for 6 yards. D’Onta Foreman returned
from injury and led the team in touches with 13. It appears they
have a three-headed RBBC between Johnson, Foreman, and Khalil
Herbert, with each of them being a touch leader in the last three
games. Good luck if you have to use one of them in the fantasy
playoffs.
Keaton Mitchell, BAL vs LAR: Mitchell led the Ravens backfield
in touches, going 9-54-0 on the ground to go with 2-1-8-0 through
the air. It appears he’s taken control of this backfield,
but it might be tough to use him with upcoming games against the
Jaguars, 49ers, and Dolphins.
OBJ has started to heat up, as he’s scored double-digit
PPR points in four of his last five games, including going 10-4-97-1
against the Rams. He should be able to put up another solid fantasy
showing against the Jaguars, who have allowed the 6th-most points
to opposing WRs.
Jones led the Jaguars in targets going 14-5-29-0 as Trevor Lawrence
was hampered by a high ankle sprain but still ended up with 50
attempts (albeit only 28 completions). Up next is another tough
matchup against the Ravens before a great matchup Week 16 against
the Buccaneers.
Likely had another big day with Mark Andrews on the shelf, catching
7-5-83-1 in the OT win over the Rams. Likely is still available
in nearly half of Yahoo leagues, but he won’t be after this week.
He’s finished 2nd and 3rd in targets in his two starts this year,
and figures to be a consistent performer for the rest of the year.
Up next is a date against the struggling Jaguars that just allowed
David Njoku to grab 2 TDs.
Thomas was on bye Week 14 and had a dud in Week 13, but averaged
6 targets per game in Weeks 7-12. He gets a great matchup against
the Rams, who haven’t allowed a lot of catches, but have
given up the 4th-most yards and tied for the most TDs to tight
ends on the season.
Jaxon
Smith-Njigba, SEA @ SF: JSN led the Seahawks in targets, but
only managed a 7-4-25-0 against a tough 49ers defense. It was
surprising he didn’t do more, considering DK Metcalf was held
in check and the Seahawks were playing from behind for most of
the game, but having Drew Lock under center probably contributed.
He gets a cupcake matchup against the league-worst Eagles up next.
Elijah Moore,
NYJ vs JAX: Moore came back to earth against the Jaguars, as Joe
Flacco targeted Amari Cooper a whopping 14 times. Moore’s 6-3-42-0
receiving line was his lowest-targeted game in the last five,
so look for him to rebound against the Bears this week.
Noah Brown,
HOU @ NYJ: Brown didn’t earn a reception for the 2nd straight
game, on a laughable 5 targets. It didn’t help that C.J. Stroud
only had 10 completions against a stifling Jets defense and was
knocked out of the game with a concussion. Up next is a dream
matchup against the Titans, and with Nico Collins leaving the
game early with a calf injury, Brown has a chance at redemption
this week.
Update: Romeo
Doubs and Jayden
Reed, GB @ NYG: Reed and Doubs finished 1st/2nd in targets
on Monday Night Football, with Reed leading the way with 10-8-27-0
receiving and even getting a rushing TD on 4 carries. Doubs saw
7 targets but could only manage 4 catches for 32 yards as the
Giants were keeping everything in front. Up next is a great matchup
against the Buccaneers in Week 15 where both could be useful again.
Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ LAC: Jeudy led the Broncos in targets yet
somehow still managed a dismal 6-2-16-0 line against a terrible
Chargers secondary. He has another positive matchup against the
Lions but he’s been difficult to trust with performances
like this week.
Gerald Everett, LAC vs DEN: Everett had another solid day, going
8-5-39-0 in a loss to the Broncos. With Justin Herbert likely
missing this week with a broken finger on this throwing hand,
Everett may see more looks from backup Easton Stick when the Chargers
travel to Las Vegas.
Darren Waller, NYG vs GB: Waller doesn’t look like he’ll
play tonight on Monday Night Football, but expects to return for
Week 15. Pick him up now if he’s available.
Defense/ Special Teams
LA Rams vs WAS
The Rams lost a heartbreaker in overtime versus the league-leading
Ravens. They get a much easier Commanders team this week that
leads the league in D/ST points against, mostly because of their
league-leading 5 defensive TDs allowed. But, they’re also
2nd in sacks and 4th in interceptions allowed, so there will be
opportunities for the Rams defense.
Falcons @ CAR
Atlanta had a tough day losing to the division rival Buccaneers,
but a match this week against the pitiful Panthers is a cure for
that (see what the Saints did to them, below). Carolina has allowed
the 4th-most sacks, scored the 3rd-fewest points, and is tied
for 2nd in defensive TDs allowed. The Falcons had 2 sacks, 2 interceptions
and a fumble recovery while holding them to 10 points in Week
1.
Colts vs PIT
The Colts saw their four-game winning streak snapped, as they
didn’t get a sack against the Jake Browning-led Bengals.
They saved their fantasy day with an interception returned for
a TD, marking their 4th defensive TD in the last five games. Up
next is a reeling Steelers team that hasn’t given up a lot
of sacks or turnovers, but also doesn’t score a lot. Look
for an opportunistic Colts defense to take advantage of Mitchell
Trubisky.
Last week’s waiver adds:
Saints vs CAR: New Orleans had the best showing
of the weekend, getting 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and a TD
while only allowing 6 points. You can ride them again this week
against the lowly Giants if you picked them up.
Colts @ CIN: See above.
Update:Packers
@ NYG: The Packers defense flopped against the most forgiving
offense in the league on Monday Night Football. Green Bay had
been heating up, and although the Giants had allowed the most
sacks, Green Bay didn’t get one. They managed 2 fumble recoveries
but it wasn’t enough to get the victory. Green By still
has a forgiving schedule for the fantasy playoffs.