Week 6: Waiver Watch of Truth
Same intro every week folks, if you’re new to this series carry on, if not drop down to the QB
section. Some fantasy players believe leagues are won in drafts, others believe they’re won through trades, I personally believe championships are won on the waiver wire. Every league is different and it’s undoubtedly a combination of the three but let’s make sure you’re up to speed on this week’s top waiver wire adds.
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys
I am sure you know starting Quarterback Dak Prescott is out for the season with a compound fracture dislocation of his right ankle but what you may not know is Andy Dalton was excellent in relief of Prescott. Dalton went 9 of 11 for 111 yards including a 38 yard beauty down the
sideline to Michael Gallup to set up the game winning field goal. Dalton may not seem like a great fantasy option but this offense is loaded with talent and game script has been forcing them to throw the ball a ridiculous amount. Before Sunday’s game Dak was on pace to throw 6,700 yards and 41 touchdowns. That obviously isn’t realistic and Dalton is no Dak but he should benefit from this very high volume offense and could be a great fantasy performer. Go pick up the Red Rifle!
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
I’m starting to feel like a broken record but Fitzpatrick is continuing to ball out and he’s still only rostered in 20.7% of ESPN leagues. The journeyman Quarterback had his most productive outing of the season so far with 350 yards through the air and three touchdowns for a whopping 27.6 fantasy points. Fitzmagic is in full force with four straight games with 21+ points and he plays the Jets this week! If you need to stream a QB or just need another option you should pick him up. Tua time isn’t coming anytime soon.
Honorable mentions: Derek Carr LV, Baker Mayfield CLE.
Running Back
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team
McKissic isn’t a great fantasy option but he is a loophole of some sort if your league is very thin at RB. He’s started to carve out a Chris Thompson type role for himself in this Washington offense catching six of a team-high eight targets for 48 yards. He only received one handoff on Sunday against the Rams which was only his 19th of the season but he does most of his damage as a receiver. The former Seahawk has 16 receptions on 20 targets for 123 yards in the last three games in which he’s had a 50% snap share or better. If you’re desperate for a RB in a full PPR league, give McKissic a shot. He’s owned in 11% of ESPN leagues.
Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers
Williams is coming off of his bye week and is a great handcuff for Aaron Jones but also has stand-alone value in PPR formats. The veteran receiving back is coming off of a sixteen touch performance in which he carried the ball eight times and hauled in all eight of his targets totaling over 100 yards from scrimmage. That 18.5 point performance should have been enough for desperate owners to scoop up Williams especially considering how much of a wasteland the Running Back position is this year but he was only added in 1.9% of leagues making him available in 86% of ESPN leagues. Go pick him up if you can, he could become a regular check down option for Rodgers if his WRs continue to struggle with injuries.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago Bears
Patterson had his highest yardage total of the season with 45 on Thursday vs the stout Tampa Bay Defense and that could quickly go up. The former Super Bowl Champion caught three passes for 38 yards and showed great run after the catch ability. He could also get more work out of the backfield due to workhorse RB David Montgomery being very inefficient on the ground. If Patterson can show his burst in the running game he could be a playable fantasy option in PPR formats. You can use him at RB or WR in some fantasy platforms. He’s rostered in 4.4% of ESPN leagues.
Honorable mentions: Matt Breida MIA, Chris Thompson JAC, Devonte Booker LV, Jalen Richard LV.
Wide Receiver
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rookie Chase Claypool had just four targets to his name prior to Sunday’s contest against Philadelphia. The Notre Dame product broke out in record breaking fashion catching seven of eleven targets for 110 yards and three touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he scored a fourth touchdown on one of his three handoffs as well. Starting receiver Diontae Johnson went down with a back injury, opening the door for Claypool’s ridiculous 42.6 point performance but even if Johnson doesn’t miss time Claypool will still be well worth a stash. He’s rostered in 8.9% of ESPN leagues.
Travis Fulgham, Philadelphia Eagles
Fulgham burst onto the scene Sunday against Pittsburgh hauling in ten of thirteen passes for 152 yards and a score. Fulgham definitely showed he has a solid connection with Wentz picking up chunks of yardage with five receptions of 15 or more yards. With DeSean Jackson (Hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (Calf) and Jalen Reagor (Thumb) all sidelined, Fulgham had plenty of opportunities as has Greg Ward but it remains to be seen if they can continue being solid contributors when one or two of the starters return. I’d stash Fulgham just in case. He’s rostered in just 0.2% of ESPN leagues.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cole had his lowest reception total on Sunday against Houston but he did garner six targets one of which he caught for his third touchdown of the young season. Cole has been a very consistent performer so far with his lowest point total of 8.3 being around what receivers of his caliber get projected at in PPR leagues. He has carved out a nice role for himself on this Minshew Madness led offense with 21 receptions on 29 targets over the first five games. It’s worth noting that Cole is 25th in fantasy points so far averaging 12.4 PPR points per game. That’s a very high-end WR3 and he’s rostered in just 15% of ESPN leagues.
Honorable mentions: Greg Ward PHI, Nelson Agholor LV, Tyler Johnson TB, Rashard Higgins CLE.
Tight End
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brate was catcheless for the first three games of the season but made an impact in his fourth game catching a three yard touchdown from the GOAT and hauling in five of six targets for 44 yards in his 5th game. Brady loves to throw to his tight ends and Gronk just isn’t Gronk anymore and now looks to be somewhat banged up, add in the fact that top receiving TE O.J. Howard is done for the year and Brate looks like he could be a reliable streaming option. He’s rostered in 1.8% of leagues.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams
Everett led the Rams in receiving yards on Sunday against the Football Team catching all of his season high four targets for 90 yards. It’s tough to rely on Everett or his counterpart Tyler Higbee since they are both very talented Tight Ends that are trusted by the coaching staff and Quarterback Jared Goff. If you’re desperate for a TE, Everett could be a nice dart throw play or stash. He’s rostered in just 0.5% of ESPN leagues.
Honorable mentions: Trey Burton IND, Irv Smith JR. MIN.
Here’s a list of players that I either included in the previous week’s article or are obvious adds that are owned quite a bit more but still have a decent chance of being available in your league. These guys are definitely worth checking the wires for.
Top Priority list:
QB Gardner Minshew JAC 56.1%
QB Teddy Bridgewater CAR 40.5%
QB Justin Herbert LAC 32.2%
WR Tee Higgins CIN 49.5%
WR Henry Ruggs III LV 48.4%
WR Mecole Hardman KC 37.5%
WR Mike Williams LAC 34.4%
WR Laviska Shenault JR. JAC 31.1%
WR Tim Patrick DEN 20.7%
RB Justin Jackson LAC 54.2%
RB Adrian Peterson DET 46.2%
RB Chase Edmonds ARI 44.7%
RB Alexander Mattison MIN 41.5%
RB Damien Harris NE 40.1%
TE Robert Tonyan GB 48.2%
TE Austin Hooper CLE 45.6%
TE Eric Ebron PIT 36.6%
Take all of this with a grain of salt as I obviously don’t know the details of your specific situation, what you need, who you’d drop and who else is available in your league.
Thanks for reading and as always, stay true.