Well, this past week was quite the adventure, wasn’t it? First, the football community lost Odell Beckham Jr. for the season. Then it lost J.J. Watt. And now it appears that Brandon Marshall will be joining Beckham on the injured reserved. In short, football can be a cruel, cruel mistress. Good thing there is a waiver wire to help during these trying times.
Below you will see a list of players that can be found in a number of leagues. As with last week, there is a suggestion on how much of your FAAB to spend on each player. The suggestion isn’t meant to be a hard number. You know your league best.
Fantasy Football: Working the Waiver Wire Week 6
Running Backs
Hopefully you were able to pick him up last week because if you didn’t (and he’s still available), you’re about to face a lot more competition. In the absence of Ty Montgomery, Jones ran for 125 yards and a touchdown. In short, Jones had himself a day. While Montgomery’s injury isn’t of the season ending variety, Jones may get more than one start. As the bye week is only two weeks away, the Green Bay Packers may elect to hold Montgomery out for added rest. If that does happen, Jones will be looking at three starts.
FAAB bid: 40-50% of your budget if he’s still available.
After Terrance West left the game with an injury, Allen had more carries (21) and yards (73) than Alex Collins. While Collins had the superior yards per carry average (4.8), Allen received a goal line carry over Collins. Add in Allen’s receiving chops and the fact that he fumbles less, and Allen becomes the clear better option. Invest in Allen with the understanding that Collins will continue to have a role as long as he holds onto the ball.
FAAB bid: ~20% of your remaining budget; although, the Baltimore Ravens have a lot of red in their schedule going forward and West could return this week.
It’s safe to say at this point that you shouldn’t be putting too much faith in the Arizona Cardinals running game. Their offensive line has been battered by injuries, and Chris Johnson and Kerwyn Williams have yet to rack up the rushing yards. The good news is that limitations in rushing has opened a door for Ellington to step into. As long as Ellington continues to see a healthy amount of targets (an average of 12 in the last two games), Ellington will be a viable option in PPR leagues.
FAAB bid: 15-25% of your remaining budget in PPR leagues.
Yeah, yeah, yeah…it’s hard to get excited about a New York Giants running back that only received 11 carries. On the bright side, he did lead his team in snaps (26) and carries. So if the Orleans Darkwa injury proves to be serious, Gallman will receive even more snaps and carries. The recent string of injuries at wide receiver should play a role in those increases. With their top four wide receivers hurt, the Giants may have no choice but to work on establishing a run. The downside is their next opponents are the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, who have performed better against the run.
FAAB bid: 15-20% of your budget.
McKinnon’s 58 yard touchdown run should change those ownership rates. As mentioned last week, McKinnon is an athletic freak. However, there’s reason to temper your expectations. Latavius Murray will still have role that sees a decent amount of the carries, so it’s not as if McKinnon will be the sole running back. The good news is that McKinnon led the team in carries this past week. His coaches also trusted him to kill the clock with the game on the line, which is a good sign for his value.
FAAB bid: 20-30% of your budget.
While the prospects of investing in the Indianapolis Colts third option in the running game (at least, according to snap totals) may not sound enticing, there are reasons for optimism. First, Mack had a great Sunday; he was able rack up 91 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Second, that production led to his coach, Chuck Pagano, to indicate that Mack will see more touches this next week.
FAAB bid: ~5% of your budget. While Mack is the most exciting Colt running back, Frank Gore and Robert Turbin will still see carries.
The backfield for the Seahawks has all the makings of a true running back by committee. While Eddie Lacy earned the start this past Sunday, Rawls led the backfield in snaps (32) and touches (11). The downside, from a fantasy perspective, is that things may get even more murky when C.J. Prosise returns. The main reason to invest in Rawls is that he was the snap leader, but that situation may change after the bye.
FAAB bid: Less than 10% of your remaining budget. There are too many factors to say, with any certainty, how this committee will shake out.
Wide Receivers
Yeah, that was a crucial drop this past Sunday. However, ff all of the options still out there on the wire, Kupp has some of the best value for the rest of the season. Kupp was on the field more than any other wide receiver his team last week. He also tied his team in targets as well. As the Los Angeles Rams enter into the tougher part of their schedule, Kupp, who runs routes out of the slot, will be able to avoid a lot of the excellent perimeter defensive backs going forward.
FAAB bid: 15-20% of your remaining budget for Jared Goff‘s trusted receiver.
I wrote about Brown last week, and the argument for him remains the same. There aren’t many wide receivers on the wire that have his upside and his past production. His health will remain a concern, but he’s certainly worth a roster spot.
FAAB bid: ~10% of your budget.
Health has been an issue for Davis in his first season. He has already missed three games, and he may miss next week too. None of that should sound like a rosy endorsement; however, there is reason for optimism. Recent reports, suggest that Davis could be returning to practice soon. Either way, if you have a roster spot, someone as talented as Davis is worth a stash.
FAAB bid: ~1% of your remaining budget. If your league allows it, I would go with a zero dollar bid and then slot him into my IR spot.
With Mohamed Sanu out with an injury, Gabriel becomes an interesting target. On one hand, he likely doesn’t have a great deal of value for the rest of the season; however, on the other hand, he faces the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots–two teams that have struggled against the pass–in his next two games.
FAAB bid: 1-5% of your budget.
Allison’s value for next week is dependent on Jordy Nelson and his health. If Nelson is out, Allison becomes a viable WR3/4 option for this coming week. However, he will struggle to maintain consistent value in a season long perspective.
FAAB bid: ~1% of your budget.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: According to Warren Sharp, the Buccaneers rank 27th in pass efficiency defense. In other words, Palmer gets to play at home in a plus matchup and his running game has been non-existent.
Jacoby Brissett at the Tennessee Titans: Brissett is on the road this week, which makes him a slightly less attractive play. The good news is that the defense he is facing ranks 29th in pass efficiency, according to Warren Sharp. Outside of last week’s Jay Cutler debacle, the Titans defense has surrendered an average 24.7 point to quarterbacks. Brissett also has three rushing touchdowns this year, which adds to his upside.
Tight Ends
Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. the New England Patriots: The Patriots have surrendered a touchdown to tight ends in four out of the last five games. They have also given up at least 50 receiving yards to the position, and Seferian-Jenkins has averaged five catches over the last three games. Finding the right tight end streamer is a lot about opportunity, and the New York Jets should be facing a negative game script this week.
Ryan Griffin vs. the Cleveland Browns: It’s a well known fact that the Browns are a matchup to chase. While Griffin doesn’t see the typical amount of targets you would like for a streaming candidate, the Browns have given up multiple touchdowns to a tight end twice this year. In short, it’s worth chasing the upside here.
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