Waiver Wire Wonders: Week 14
I hate to say I told you so, especially under these circumstances, but I told you so! This past week, the Kansas City Chiefs released star running back Kareem Hunt after a video was released by TMZ of Hunt shoving and kicking a woman in a hotel. While fantasy takes a back seat to things like this, note that injuries aren’t the only thing that can derail your fantasy season. I’ve been preaching the last few weeks that you NEED to own your star RBs handcuff. Spencer Ware has immediately become a Top 10 option at RB. With playoffs under way, it’s vital to have some meaningful bench stashes. It’s important to have players on your bench such as a solid backup QB, handcuffs for your stud RB’s, some depth receivers, a backup tight end and maybe even a stashed defense.
Like previous weeks, I’d like to point out a few players that won’t be in this article that need to be owned at this point in the season, but are owned in less than (or close to) 50 percent of ESPN leagues. Those players include: QB Dak Prescott, RB Doug Martin, WR Courtland Sutton and TE Vance McDonald.
Additionally, I still believe that stashing one of these D/STs owned in 50 percent or less of leagues to get ready for the fantasy playoffs would be quite beneficial as they have pretty generous schedules. In order from my favorite to least favorite, they include:
Denver Broncos D/ST vs. SF, CLE and OAK
Washington Redskins D/ST vs. NYG, JAX and TEN
Tennessee Titans D/ST vs. JAX, NYG and WAS
Detroit Lions D/ST vs. ARI, BUF and MIN
Finally, as I said, this is the playoffs. Your bench spots will be much more important for handcuffs of your star players. These handcuffs need to be owned as they either have a decent amount of overall talent or they’ll be thrown into a great opportunity immediately due to resting players or potential injury to the starter ahead of them. At this point, hand cuffs that NEED to be picked up and owned over the next few weeks include (in order of inportance): Spencer Ware, Austin Ekeler, John Kelly (Malcolm Brown ruled out for regular season), Rod Smith, Gio Bernard, Chase Edmonds and Latavius Murray.
Anyways, as always, I will be listing my favorite waiver acquisitions of the week. If you haven’t been here before, there will be multiple sections to my article with the main parts including: Standard League Adds (my favorite adds of the week and players owned in approximately 50 percent or less) and Deep League Adds (players owned in less than 25 percent of leagues). Furthermore, there will be mini-sections that include guys you can cut ties with (The Droppables) and players that you shouldn’t drop just yet (Don’t Stop Believin’). So, without further ado, let’s get to it.
Standard League Adds
RB Jaylen Samuels — PIT (3.4 percent owned)
It was a whacky Sunday Night Football game between the Chargers and Steelers. One major development out of that game was that James Conner limped off the field after having his leg rolled up on a little. The original diagnosis was simply a contusion, but now it’s sounding like more of an ankle sprain. Mike Tomlin has already stated that Conner is out this week against Oakland. Not good. Maybe he’ll be ready to go against New England, but maybe not. If you haven’t emptied out your FAAB on Spencer Ware (who should be owned in 100 percent of leagues), I’d empty it on Samuels. Samuels is a speedy back and I expect him to see the majority of work, with Stevan Ridley spelling him. Samuels rushed twice for five yards and caught three passes for 20 yards and a score in limited work. He’s easily my top add of the week and should see a good bit of work in the passing game, as I expect Ben Roethlisberger to throw a ton on Sunday against the Raiders.
RB Jeff Wilson — SF (0.4 percent owned)
My second favorite add of the week is Wilson. I know, another guy, like Gus Edwards, where we say, “Who?!” We saw Matt Breida get a limited amount of work against Seattle on Sunday, while Wilson saw plenty of touches. Wilson carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards and added on eight receptions for 73 yards. Breida has already been ruled out due to injury, so Wilson should be a very solid flex play at worst this week. If you want more of a reason to start him, the Broncos are 23rd against the run this season and the 49ers will have to run the ball successfully if they want any shot at beating Denver. I like Samuels more, but Wilson is another high quality add this week.
WR Adam Humphries — TB (41.2 percent owned)
I’ve mentioned Humphries plenty of times in my articles, yet he still continues to be under owned. I mean what’s holding everyone back? Is five touchdowns in five games not good enough? He has at least 53 yards in each of those games, too. OJ Howard is out for the season, so that has opened up even more targets, along with the fact that DeSean Jackson is banged up. Humphries needs to be owned in all leagues going forward and should be a quality PPR start, especially this week against New Orleans.
QB Josh Allen — BUF (3.7 percent owned)
Player A: 49 carries, 197 yards and a touchdown. Player B: 22 carries, 234 yards and a touchdown. Which player would you have rather had over the past two weeks? Almost undoubtedly, you’d want Player B, correct? Well, Player A is Ezekiel Elliott. Player B? Josh Allen. What?! That’s right. Only Philip Lindsay and Lamar Miller have more rushing yards the last two games. To get that type of production on the ground from a quarterback is just ridiculous. Add in the fact that he’s also averaged around 200 yards through the air and has three passing touchdowns too and you get over 30 fantasy points per game. The fact that Josh Allen is 3.7 percent owned is an absolute travesty as he needs to be rostered in all leagues.
QB Baker Mayfield — CLE (47.1 percent owned)
Well, I guess Baker didn’t wake up feeling dangerous on Sunday. Despite throwing for 397 yards, he had a rough game throwing three interceptions against Houston. Nonetheless, that doesn’t sway me from owning him the rest of the season. Mayfield’s next three matchups include two games where he’ll be a great start. The Panthers have been getting gashed through the air all year, so he has top 10 potential this week. Next week, he faces the Broncos in Denver , a game in which I’d recommend staying away from him, but has a favorable matchup with Cincinnati in Week 16. Mayfield is a quality backup and can be utilized with the right matchups.
Deep League Adds
RB Justin Jackson — LAC (12.2 percent owned)
Just as everyone expected, Melvin Gordon sat out and Jackson was the main beneficiary! Alright, yeah, nobody was thinking that. Everyone and their mother thought it would be the Austin Ekeler show. However, he was very ineffective in the ground game, gaining just 21 yards on 13 carries. Jackson lit a fire under the Chargers’ offense. Jackson rushed eight times for 63 yards and a score, while adding a catch for 19 yards. Going forward, I still expect to see more of Ekeler than Jackson, however, both are certainly worth of owning at this point. Jackson could easily take over the backfield if he continues his explosive running. He’s worth a bench stash in deeper leagues.
WR Chris Conley — KC (13.0 percent owned)
Finally, something that we all expected. Sammy Watkins continues to sit games out due to injury and who is the main beneficiary? It’s Conley. While Conley has just 10 catches for 99 yards over the past two contests, he’s also found the end zone three times. Patrick Mahomes will always look for Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill more, but Conley seems to be getting some secondary targets, especially in the end zone. With Mahomes at quarterback, Conley’s ceiling is very high, particularly when Watkins is out.
WR Dante Pettis — SF (2.3 percent owned)
Another receiver that has benefited greatly from other receivers sitting out is Pettis. The former Boise State Bronco has drawn two straight starts with Marquise Goodwin sitting due to family reasons and Pierre Garcon sitting with an injury. Pettis’ response to the call has been nothing short of tremendous. Pettis had four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown a week ago, but followed up with an even bigger game against the Seahawks this past week. Pettis hauled in five passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. As long as Marquis Goodwin and Pierre Garçon sit out, Pettis should be a quality receiver option going forward.
TE Ian Thomas — CAR (0.3 percent owned)
We continue to talk about how thin the tight end position is, and yet it gets even thinner! Greg Olsen said he felt something pop in his foot this past Sunday and as a result, he’s out for the season. Thomas will step up in his spot. Thomas filled in earlier in the season and was rather ineffective. However, with Devin Funchess’ and other receivers’ not named DJ Moore underwhelming production, thing could be different this time around. Thomas had five receptions for 46 yards this past week and should be considered a depth add.
TE Rhett Ellison — NYG (2.4 percent owned)
I decided to jump back into the barren wasteland of tight ends for my final add. Evan Engram has sat out the past two games for the Giants and it wouldn’t surprise me if he sat out the rest of the season. Nonetheless, as long as Engram is out, Rhett Ellison warrants consideration for those of you who are desperate at tight end. Over the past two weeks, Ellison has totaled eight receptions for 119 yards, getting approximately 10 PPR points per game. He’s worth an add if you’re desperate.
The Droppables
RB Duke Johnson: Its been a roller coaster year for Duke, but it’s the Nick Chubb show in Cleveland.
WR AJ Green: He’s been ruled out for the remainder of the season with torn ligaments in his toe. He’ll have surgery immediately.
Ravens Receivers: As long as Lamar Jackson is running this offense, all of their receivers are essentially worthless.
WR Sterling Shepard: Eli loves throwing to Beckham and Barkley, and who can blame him? He also checks down to Ellison a lot, so there’s not many targets left for Shepard.
TE Trey Burton: If you’re tired of all the constant single digit scores, I don’t mind dropping him if there’s a decent option on the waiver wire.
Don’t Stop Believin’
QB Matt Ryan: I wouldn’t overreact to the Ravens game. That’s a tough defense and Ryan will be much better going forward.
RB Mark Ingram: Ingram’s roller coaster season continues and he’s been on the low side of scoring lately. However, his potential in this offense is still fairly high.
RB Tevin Coleman: Its been a frustrating few weeks for Coleman owners, but he’s still the lead back in a great offense. Better days ahead.
RB Kerryon Johnson: I know he’s still banged up, but he could be a difference maker down the stretch for your team. Keep him stashed on your bench for now.
WR Alshon Jeffery: Outside of Zach Ertz, the Eagles offense has been up and down this year. Jeffery is still the second option in this offense though and should have plenty of opportunities down the stretch.
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