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.
Richardson only threw 11 passes in a 38-30 win over the Titans,
putting up a 131-1-1 line through the air. But you’re starting
him because of his rushing upside, where he delivered 9-70-1 (his
3rd straight game with a rushing TD). Up next is a tanking Giants
team that has given up the 11th-most points to QBs, and got torched
by Lamar Jackson two weeks ago for 5 passing TDs and 65 rushing
yards.
Young has been steadily improving since a midseason benching,
culminating with his best performance of the year this week in
a win over the Cardinals, where he went 158-2-0 and 5-68-1 on
the ground (that’s 3 rushing TDs in the last four games). Up next
is a Bucs defense that has given up the 2nd-most points to QBs,
including a 292-1-0 line to Cooper Rush in a loss.
Rodgers hasn’t been winning much but he’s been playing
mistake-free football (1 INT in his last 8 games). He threw for
256-1-0 in a loss against the Rams. This week he’ll have
to play catch-up with a rolling Bills team that he passed for
294-2-1 against in a tight loss back in Week 6.
Jameis Winston,
CLE @ CIN: Winston ended up getting benched in favor of Dorian
Thompson-Robinson. The results weren’t much different, other than
the impact to the supporting cast. The Browns will face a tough
Dolphins pass defense this week.
Cooper Rush,
DAL vs TB: Rush had a steady performance in an upset win over
the Buccaneers, passing for 292-1-0 on a 74% completion rate.
He’ll face a much tougher test against the Eagles this week, whom
he passed for 45 yards against in Week 10.
Russell Wilson, PIT @ BAL: Wilson had another solid day at the
office, totaling 217-2-1 through the air and chipping in 27 rushing
yards in a loss to the Ravens. Up next is a short turnaround against
the No.1 seed Chiefs, who have been dominant against the run and
more forgiving against the pass.
With Tony Pollard limited with an ankle concern, Spears has forced
a committee backfield and paid off this week for managers, going
10-27-2 on the ground and 4-3-39-0 through the air. That’s now
4 TDs in the last two weeks, as Spears is looking like a championship
winner. Up next he’ll get a Jaguars defense that has allowed the
2nd-most points to opposing RBs.
With Sincere McCormick and Zamir White both on IR, Mattison and
Abdullah were both usable fantasy assets in a win over the Jags.
Both scored touchdowns, and Abdullah had 85 yards on 12 touches
while Mattison had 56 on 16 touches. They’ll share the load again
this week versus the Saints, who have been a neutral matchup for
RBs.
Edwards had his best output of the season in a Week 16 win over
the Broncos, going 14-68-2 on the ground and even catching a pass
(his 3rd of the year). He should find some room to run against
a Patriots team that has allowed the 3rd-most rushing yards to
RBs.
Carter took over the RB1 role after James Conner left with a
knee injury, and went 5-18-0 on the ground and 5-5-30-0 through
the air. If Conner is out and Trey Benson can’t return (he didn’t
practice at all last week), Carter should get the first crack
at starter reps for the Cardinals against a Rams team that has
allowed the 9th-most points to RBs.
Jerome Ford,
CLE @ CIN: Ford got the start with Nick Chubb going on IR, and
delivered a nice 11-92-1 rushing line paired with a 5-5-39-0 receiving
line in a blowout loss to the Bengals. Up next is a neutral matchup
against the Dolphins.
Update:Kendre
Miller, NO @ GB: Miller (along with the entire Saints offense)
was ineffective in a shutout loss to the Packers on Monday Night
Football. He rushed for 8-15-0 and caught his only 2 targets for
16 yards. Jordan Mims saw the bulk of the targets at the RB spot
(8), so this may be a true committee while Alvin Kamara is out.
Neither holds much value while Spencer Rattler is the QB, even
in a favorable matchup against the Raiders this week.
Coker tied for 2nd on the team in targets, but was only able
to catch 2 for 8 yards in a shootout win over the Cardinals. Thielen
had a better day, with a 6-5-43-1 line, totaling 34 targets in
his last four games. With Bryce Young surging, both WRs could
be an option against the Bucs, who have given up the 7th-most
points to opposing WRs. Thielen went 10-8-99-1 against them in
Week 13.
McMillan did it again, scoring his 4th touchdown in the last
three games. He caught 5-of-7 targets for 57 yards in a win over
the Cowboys. Feel free to fire him up again against the Panthers
in a home rematch of their Week 13 close win.
We’ll just keep rolling Henry out in this space again,
as he’s still under 50% owned on Yahoo despite being the
TE7 on the year in PPR leagues and leading the Patriots in all
receiving categories except touchdowns. He’s been by far
the most underrated player of the year. He was the top targeted
receiver in a tight loss to the Bills, going 9-4-39-1. He gets
a tough matchup against the Chargers defense but he’s had
a solid floor (albeit a rather low ceiling) and has been largely
matchup proof.
Woods saw increased playing time this week with Metchie out and
Tank Dell getting injured, going 6-3-19-0 receiving in a loss
to the Chiefs. When healthy, Metchie saw more snaps over Woods
and would be the preferred add, but it’s tough to say if he’ll
be available on a short week. If not, Woods should be a solid
option against a Ravens team that has allowed the 2nd-most points
to opposing WRs.
Schultz has scored twice in his last three games, and had a nice
8-5-45-1 stat line in a loss to the Chiefs. With Tank Dell out
with a knee injury, Schultz should see more looks this week against
the Ravens, who have allowed the 10th-most points to the position.
Chig has exploded with 21 targets over the last two games, including
a 11-9-81-0 line in a shootout loss to the Colts. He should see
heavy targets again in a matchup against the Jaguars, who have
allowed the 7th-most points to TEs.
Malik Washington, MIA vs SF: Washington got the start with Jaylen
Waddle out, but only managed a 4-3-28-0 line in a win over the
49ers. He may get another start against the Browns, but that game
is likely to be a run-heavy affair.
Josh Downs, IND vs TEN: Downs put up a 4-3-61-1 line as the WR1
in a shootout win over the Titans as Anthony Richardson only threw
11 passes. Up next he’ll get a hapless Giants team.
Jalen McMillan,
TB @ DAL: Things are starting to click for McMillan, as he’s totaled
a 13-9-134-3 line over the last two games, both blowout wins.
Up next is a struggling Dallas defense that has given up the 9th-most
points to opposing WRs.
Update:Romeo
Doubs / Christian
Watson, GB vs NO: Doubs and Watson (knee) combined for only
4 targets in a 34-0 drubbing of the Saints on Monday Night Football,
as the Packers got 3 rushing TDs so the passing game wasn’t
needed. They should be called upon more in a division matchup
versus the Vikings this week.
Marquise Brown, KC vs HOU: Brown had a nice game in his first
action of the season, going 8-5-45-0 in a win over the Texans.
He’ll have a much bigger test against the Steelers on Christmas
day.
TE Brenton
Strange, JAX @ LV: Strange ended up 3rd on the team in targets
on a day when Mac Jones targeted 10 different players. He ended
up with a 4-2-22-0 line and lost a fumble, so it wasn’t a great
day for him. He should be better going forward, but might be tough
to trust against a Titans team that defends TEs well and held
him to 1 catch 3 games ago.
The Colts faced the more conservative Mason Rudolph at QB, but
still managed to get 3 turnovers in what ended up being a shootout.
If you started them in Week 16 you can roll them out again this
week against a Giants team that has given up. They’ve allowed
the 3rd-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, led by their
league-leading 5 defensive TDs.
Chargers @ NE
The Chargers won a tough game at home against the Broncos, and
they’ve been generating plenty of sacks (6th in the NFL).
They’ll hope to convert that pressure to turnovers when
they face the Patriots, who have allowed the 6th-most points to
DSTs.
Dolphins @ CLE
The Dolphins defense was flying around in a win over the 49ers,
getting 3 sacks and a turnover. Up next they’ll face the
crumbling Browns, who have allowed the most fantasy points, sacks,
and interceptions in the league. It won’t matter whether
they start Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Other DST to consider: Saints vs LV
Last week’s waiver adds:
Bengals vs CLE: With the Browns starting Dorian
Thompson-Robinson, the Bengals D feasted to the tune of 5 sacks,
3 turnovers, and 6 points allowed. Up next they’ll face
the spry Broncos team in a tough matchup.
Falcons vs NYG: The Giants are actively tanking,
so getting beat up by the Falcons wasn’t a surprise. Allowing
3 sacks, 3 turnovers, and 2 defensive TDs enabled the Falcons
to be the DST of the week; congrats if you had them. Up next they
get a tough Commanders team.
