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.
Nix had a monster game against one of the league’s worst defenses,
throwing 284-3-0 and rushing for a TD at home versus the Panthers.
Up next is another great matchup against the Ravens, who were
just torched by backup Jameis Winston and who have allowed the
3rd-most points to QBs.
Rodgers had a solid day against a Patriots secondary, going 233-2-0
in a tight loss. Up next he gets a much easier matchup against
the Texans, who have allowed the 8th-most points to QBs.
Carr has been out the last three weeks with an oblique injury,
but is expected to be back this week (or else the Saints would
have put him on IR). If he plays, he gets a terrible Panthers
defense that was torched for 3 TDs by Bo Nix and gave up 3 TDs
to Carr in a Week 1 blowout.
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs ARI: Tua had a solid return against the
Cardinals, although it didn’t result in a win. He managed
234-1-0 through the air (and 3-13-0 rushing) as the Dolphins scored
more than 20 points for the first time since Week 1. Up next is
a tougher matchup against the Bills, who he struggled against
before getting hurt in Week 2.
Jameis Winston,
CLE vs BAL: Winston got the start with Deshaun Watson out for
the year and made the most of it in a comeback win over the Ravens,
throwing for 334-3-0. Up next is a much tougher test against the
Chargers, but Flacco showed last year this offense can be dangerous
when they stay balanced.
Spears has been out the last few games due to a hamstring injury,
but if he returns this week, he’ll share touches with Tony
Pollard against a Patriots team that has allowed the 2nd-most
points to RBs.
Tracy has taken over the Giants backfield, as he out-touched
Devin Singletary 22-4 on Monday Night Football, en route to a
20-145-1 rushing line. Up next is a tough matchup against the
Commanders, but the week after he gets the cupcake Panthers defense.
He may be in the concussion protocol so monitor reports on his
status this week.
Guerendo got a ton of snaps against the Cowboys with Jordan Mason
(shoulder) leaving early. Guerendo carried the load thereafter,
going 14-85-1 on the ground and 4-3-17-0 through the air. The
49ers are on bye this week, and it is expected that both Mason
and Christian McCaffrey will be available for their next game,
which would make Guerendo a distant bench stash. However, he has
shown that if both are injured, he can deliver.
Alexander Mattison, LV vs KC: Mattison dominated RB touches again,
although he only managed 14-15-0 on the ground. He saved his fantasy
day by catching all 5 targets for 29 yards. Up next is a neutral
matchup against the Bengals on the road.
JaMycal Hasty,
NE vs NYJ: Antonio Gibson ended up playing against the Jets, so
Hasty didn’t see a touch. He can be left on waivers as the third
RB option on a bad offense.
UPDATE:
Jaylen Warren, PIT vs NYG: Warren had a decent output, rushing
for 9-46-0 and adding 3-2-13-0 through the air against the Giants
on Monday Night Football. Warren hasn’t lived up to the
standard he set last year, averaging 2 catches per game compared
to 3.5 last year, and losing almost 2 carries per game. We’ll
see if he can turn it around after their bye this week.
Tillman did it again in his second game without Amari Cooper
going 9-7-99-2. The Ravens’ WR defense is terrible, and Week 8
will be a much tougher test against a tough Chargers secondary.
But, it’s clear that he’s the new WR1 in Cleveland, and with Jameis
Winston slinging it, he should have a weekly floor. This is probably
your last week to buy him.
JuJu was out this past week with a hamstring injury, but if he
returns Week 9, he’ll face a Buccaneers team that has allowed
the 6th-most points to WRs. In his last game, he grabbed 7-of-8
targets for 130 yards as the top WR option for Patrick Mahomes.
McMillan has seen 15 targets in the last two games as Mike Evans
and Chris Godwin have been hurt. In a tough matchup against the
Chiefs, McMillan appears to be the top WR option for Baker Mayfield.
Downs had a nice bounceback game with Anthony Richardson at the
helm, although he only secured 4-of-9 targets (albeit for 109
yards and a TD). Downs should be heavily targeted again versus
a VIkings team that has given up the most points to opposing WRs.
Richardson’s scattershot accuracy makes it a dicey proposition,
but hopefully Downs will make up for that with target volume.
UPDATE:Darius
Slayton, NYG @ WAS: Slayton is the
clear WR2 behind Malik Nabers, but he has garnered 32 targets
in his last four games. Against the Steelers, he led the team
in receiving by going 7-4-108-0. Up next is a much more favorable
draw against the Commanders, who have given up the 3rd-most TDs
to WRs.
Legette had a nice day while Diontae Johnson was out with injury,
going 7-4-34-1 with Bryce Young starting for an injured Andy Dalton.
If Dalton is back and Johnson sits again, Legette would be the
top passing option for the Panthers in a rematch against a Saints
team that blew them out Week 1.
Washington delivered a 4-3-46-0 line after Brian Thomas Jr. (ribs),
Gabe Davis (shoulder), and Christian Kirk (shoulder) were all
hurt against the Packers. Kirk is now out for the year, and we’ll
have to monitor injury reports for Thomas and Davis. Washington
should see more snaps than usual against an Eagles team that has
allowed the 10th-most points to WRs.
Fant has been solid if unspectacular, catching all but 1 target
over his last six games and seeing 14 targets and 150 yards receiving
over his last three games. Up next is a Rams team that has allowed
the 3rd-most points to opposing TEs.
The ageless wonder Ertz has now scored double-digit PPR points
in three-straight games after catching 7-of-11 targets for 77
yards against the Bears. Up next is another tough matchup against
the Giants, but he did go 4-4-62-0 against them in Week 2.
Romeo Doubs
/ Dontayvion
Wicks, GB @ JAX: Doubs led the team in receiving against a
porous Jaguars secondary, going 6-3-72-0 in a win. Unfortunately,
Wicks only caught 2 passes for 11 yards in a game where Josh Jacobs
was the offense focal point after Jordan Love left with a groin
injury. We’ll have to watch the injury report this week for Love,
as Malik Willis is a severe downgrade for all Packers pass catchers.
Demario Douglas,
NE vs NYJ: Douglas struggled again after Drake Maye left early
due to a concussion, and Jacoby Brissett came in to target Hunter
Henry and Austin Hooper a combined 10 times with Kayshon Boutte
leading the team in targets. Douglas should see tough sledding
again this week against a Titans secondary that is stingy against
WRs.
Jakobi Meyers,
LV vs KC: Meyers sat out the last two games with an ankle injury,
but came back with a vengeance against the Chiefs, posting a 7-6-52-1
line. As the Raiders’ new WR1 in the absence of Davante Adams,
he will have a strong weekly floor.
Ricky Pearsall,
SF vs DAL: With Brandon Aiyuk done for the year and Jauan Jennings
out, Pearsall got the start and managed 4-4-38-0 through the air
and had a 39-yard carry. The 49ers are on bye this week, but it
will be interesting to see which of Jennings or Pearsall command
the WR2 role behind Deebo Samuel.
Jauan Jennings,
SF vs DAL: Jennings was ruled out to get an additional week of
rest as the 49ers are on bye this week. He could be a sneaky add
if you have the roster space.
Jalen McMillan
/ Sterling
Shepard, TB vs ATL: With Mike Evans (hamstring) out and Chris
Godwin done for the year, WR snaps in Tampa Bay opened up. McMillan
is the early beneficiary, posting a 7-4-35-0 line to lead all
wideouts in targets, but he was overshadowed by Cade Otton’s 2
TDs and the RBs combining for 14 targets. Shepard posted a mediocre
5-3-18-0 line as he was dealing with a hamstring issue. Up next
is a tough matchup against the Chiefs, although the Bucs will
most likely be forced to pass to keep up with the last undefeated
team.
Rashod Bateman,
BAL @ CLE: Bateman tied for 2nd on the team in targets, but unfortunately,
only caught 1 for 28 yards. He also didn’t get a touchdown, which
went to Nelson Agholor. Up next is a tough matchup against the
Broncos.
Hunter Henry,
NE vs NYJ: Henry led the team in targets and receptions against
a tough Jets defense, going 6-5-45-0. Up next is another tough
matchup against the Titans, and with Jacoby Brissett behind center
for an injured Drake Maye (concussion), the whole Patriots offense
has a low ceiling.
Lucas Krull,
DEN vs CAR: Krull has taken over the TE spot from Greg Dulcich,
but unfortunately, the TE touchdown we were hoping for went to
Nate Adkins instead. Krull gets another positive matchup this
week against a Ravens team that has allowed the 7th-most points
to TEs.
Will Dissly, LAC vs NO: Dissly had another solid outing against
a decent Saints defense, going 7-5-41-0 through the air. He gets
a much tougher matchup this week against the Browns, who have
allowed the 4th-fewest points to TEs.
Defense/ Special Teams
Bengals vs LV
The Bengals struggled to contain the Eagles, but they should
perform better against a Raiders team that has given up the most
interceptions and fumbles of any team this year.
Saints @ CAR
The Saints have struggled a bit the past few weeks without Derek
Carr, but he should come back this week. If he does, they will
look to repeat their Week 1 performance where they had 3 turnovers
and 4 sacks while holding the Panthers to 10 points.
Commanders @ NYG
The Commanders are starting to put it all together, including
an improving defense. They held the up-and-coming Bears to 15
points and a turnover, and now get a Giants team that has allowed
the 3rd-most points to opposing defenses, mostly due to the 3rd-most
sacks and 2 defensive TDs.
Other DST to consider: Titans vs NE, Patriots @ TEN
Last week’s waiver adds:
Lions vs TEN: As expected, the Lions beat up
on a struggling Titans team, getting a sack, 4 turnovers and a
special teams TD in a blowout win. Up next is a tougher challenge
against the division rival Packers, but who may be without Jordan
Love. They could be worth another start if Malik Willis gets the
call.
Chargers vs NO: The Chargers harassed Spencer
Rattler into 5 sacks and only gave up 8 points, before Rattler
was benched for Jake Haener. Up next are the Browns, who were
a positive matchup but aren’t anymore with Jameis Winston
upgrading the offense.
Packers @ JAX: The Packers managed 2 turnovers,
but only got 1 sack and allowed 27 points in a shootout with the
Jags. Up next is a tough assignment versus the Lions.
