Week #6 Waiver Watch Of Truth
What a crazy week that was! Let’s dive right in to the waiver action.
QB
Geno Smith, Seattle (40% rostered) – It’s crazy to think, but it’s time to start taking Geno seriously as a starting QB for fantasy. Geno was on fire in Weeks 3 and 4, with 19 and 34 points respectively, but soft matchups those two weeks left doubts in some minds. A tough Week 5 matchup against the Saints on the road was a much taller task, and Geno delivered with ease, posting 24 fantasy points on the week. His next 4 matchups are very favorable against ARI, LAC, NYG and ARI, which could mean Geno’s hot streak continues rolling.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco (30% rostered) – Garoppol is a high floor, low ceiling play that has been getting better each week and gets a great run the next three weeks of ATL, KC and LAR, which should all be plus matchups. Jimmy G most likely won’t give you a week winning performance, but that schedule could give you a solid 15+ points each week.
RB
Kenneth Walker, Seattle (61% rostered) – It’s unlikely Walker is available on your waiver wire, but if so, he is far and away my #1 add this week and I think he’s worth pretty much all your FAAB budget or top waiver claim. Walker profiled as a tough runner between the tackles who could carry a full load but left something to be desired in the passing game. He seems like the type of back Pete Carroll would love and with teammate Rashaad Penny now out for the season, this is Walker’s backfield. He gave us a glimpse of his talent in Week 5 with a breakaway TD run and almost 15 fantasy points on only 8 carries. He should be given 15+ opportunities a game in a Seattle offense that is surprisingly good this season.
Eno Benjamin, Arizona (16% rostered) – Benjamin turned in his best fantasy performance of the season as the last man standing in the Cardinals’ backfield. Running mates James Conner and Darrell Williams left the game early due to injury, and Benjamin made the most of it, cashing in 14.3 PPR points on the day. Benjamin is worth a stash in case the injuries to Conner or Williams are significant, and he would become a high end FLEX if both guys were out.
Tevin Coleman, San Francisco (0% rostered) – Kyle Shannahan brought back a familiar face when he lost 2 of his RBs early this season to injury, and in his first week of significant action, Coleman was given 11 opportunities and turned it into 21.7 fantasy points. Now most of this production was on the back of 2 touchdowns, which we can’t count on ever week, but 11 opportunities in Shanahan’s offense could make a decent FLEX play for the next few weeks until Mitchell and Davis-Price return. He played 28% of the snaps in Week 5, and if Shanahan were to bump that up to 35+%, that could turn into 13-15 opportunities for Coleman.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis (5% rostered) – Jonathan Taylor missed Week 5 which seemingly was going to open the door for Nyheim Hines to carry the load but an unfortunate concussion on the first drive of the game left the Colt’s down to RBs Jackson and Phillip Lindsay. Jackson did the most with his opportunities, providing 13.1 fantasy points to Lindsay’s 8.4. Jackson was much more efficient with his touches and certainly looked more explosive, which could lead to an increase in opportunities if Taylor and Hines miss more time.
WR
Jakobi Meyers, New England (63% rostered) – Meyers is another player with ownership level above 60% but absolutely worth a second look to see if he’s there. He’s missed the last two weeks so a frustrated owner could have cut bait. QB Bailey Zappe looked decent enough in the game against the Lions, but that’s not much of a tall order. The promising thing to note was Meyers received 8 targets in a blow out win and turned it into 111 yards and a score. We expect Mac Jones to return within the next 2-3 weeks, and Meyers showed he can produce with Jones under center as well, with 18.5 PPR points in Week 2. Meyers has double digit PPR points in all 3 games he’s played this year with two games over 18. If he’s there, he’s my #1 WR add, and second overall behind Kenneth Walker.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis (21% rostered) – Last week’s Thursday night game between the Broncos and Colts was one of the most boring, toughest games to watch that I can recall. One silver lining in the battle of inept offenses, was rookie WR Alec Pierce, who hauled in 8 catches for 81 yards. Pierce has seen his targets increase in every single game he’s played this season, and he also posted a 59% snap share in Week 5, his highest of the year. The Broncos’ defense seems elite this season so while Week 5 was tough sledding, the schedule gets much more favorable for the Colts’ offense the next few weeks and if Pierce continues earning more snaps, he could become a solid FLEX option.
Rondale Moore, Arizona (39% rostered) – In his second game back in action Moore got more involved in the offense, receiving 10 opportunities and turning it into 13.1 PPR points. He’s played 86% and 91% of the snaps each of the last two weeks, so he’s been on the field a ton immediately back from injury, and if we see Kingsbury give him 10+ opportunities each week, he’s got the talent to break a long one. His outlook is a bit dampened with Deandre Hopkins returning in the next few weeks, but the Cardinals lead the league in pass attempts so there should be plenty of opportunity for Rondale even after Hopkins returns.
Jameson Williams, Detroit (47% rostered) – This is someone who won’t help you this week, or maybe even the next couple, but worth the spot on the end of your bench if you have the space. Williams was a highly touted rookie, going in the top of the first round to Detroit in the 2022 NFL draft. An unfortunate ACL tear in the National Championship game kept him sidelined throughout the whole draft process, and to begin the 2022 season. He’s known for his blazing speed and should be a perfect addition to the Lions’ offense, which was has been rolling this year, up until Week 5. The Lions are on bye in Week 6 and I don’t think we see Williams back in Week 7, but his return shouldn’t be too long after that.
TE
Taysom Hill, New Orleans (24% rostered) – Every year you can count on a few big games from Taysom Hill and he delivered in a big way to the tune of 112 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns and a passing TD as well. His touches have increased each of the last three weeks and while he is the definition of boom or bust, I think he’s worth a shot if you’re streaming from the Tight End graveyard. Especially if Jameis Winston continues to miss time, that could open the door for Hill’s usage to remain around 10 opportunities a game, as in Week 5. Considering his usage thus far in the redzone, he’s a decent bet to score a TD, as he's done in 3 of 4 games this year, and Week 5 reminded us of the ceiling he possesses.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati (39% rostered) – If you’re stuck streaming Hurst provides a solid floor option who’s reached double digit fantasy points in each of his last two games. He’s scored 7+ points in 4 of his 5 games this year, and has been pretty reliable outside of the Week 3 dud against the Jets. Hurst seems to be on the field a bunch and gets a good amount of targets, giving him a solid floor each week.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville (26% rostered) – Engram isn’t as consistent as Hurst and will provide a floor game more often, but he’s also on the field a bunch for Jacksonville, registering 69+% of snaps in every game this season. Week 5 Engram received 10 targets, by far the most on the season, and turned in a respectable 12.9 fantasy points. If you’re desperate for a play here Engram is a low-end streaming option that’s at least on the field.
DST
Indianapolis Colts (19% rostered) – While the Colts had been an elite defensive unit the last few years, they’ve gotten off to a slow start this year finishing in the bottom half of DST scoring each week up until Week 5. In Week 5 they took advantage of Russell Wilson and the poor Denver offense and finally came through with a strong day. This week they host Jacksonville as 7-point favorites and while the young Jaguars team showed some life early on, they’ve dropped 2 straight. The Jaguars blew out the Colts 24-0 in Week 2, but I see a different outcome this go around.
New England Patriots (19% rostered) – While they hadn’t turned in a dominant performance until Week 5, the patriots’ DST had been solid all year long through a stretch of good offenses, and they finally made that statement game at home against Detroit. This week they travel to Cleveland where they’re actually 1.5-point road favorites. The Cleveland offense has been solid this year, but two teams focused on the ground game should help shrink the game into a lower scoring affair.
Good luck all and as always, stay true.