Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can
help your squad and may still be available in your league.
Ryan Tannehill, TEN – Tannehill finishes up a revivifying
2019 season with a matchup against the Texans – who don’t
have the best secondary. He’s coming off a 272-3-0 game
against a tough Saints defense, so feel free to roll him out again.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA – I don’t care that it’s
the Patriots. We just saw Fitzmagic win some fantasy football
titles (he was started in 14.5% of ESPN leagues in Week 16) and
he’s coming off an epic performance (419-4-1).
Daniel Jones,
NYG – Jones threw for 352-5-0 in Week 16 against the Skins, the
Eagles defense has its issues. The Philly DST got picked apart
by Eli Manning when Jones was sidelined, so the rookie is an option
in two-QB and deeper leagues.
Jacoby Brissett, IND – Brissett did a fine job leading
the Colts to victory in Week 16, but he didn’t have to do
much with the running game and special teams clicking. He completed
14-of-27 passes for 119-0-0, adding 37 rushing yards and a TD
on the ground in the blowout win over the Panthers. He might be
worth starting in deeper leagues in the Colts’ regular season
finale against the Jaguars, because his future with the team could
be at stake.
Gardner Minshew, JAC – Minshew completed 13-of-31 passes
for 181-1-0 in Week 16, adding 36 rushing yards. As with Brissett,
the Week 17 results could have an impact on his 2020 status, but
I’m not going there in DFS or standard fantasy lineups.
David Blough, DET – Blough completed 12-of-24 passes for
117 yards and a TD Sunday in the Lions’ Week 16 loss to
the Broncos, but the fact that he didn’t turn the ball over
is a positive sign for his future in the league. He’s not
a great start facing the Packers in Week 17.
Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch,
SEA - UPDATE: Beast Mode met with
the team and is headed back to Seattle after he passed his physical
on Monday night. The 33-year-old Skittles enthusiast will share
the backfield with Travis Homer and Robert Turbin, who also signed.
Chris Carson is done for the year with that hip injury. Lynch is
worth a speculative add, though some folks feel this is more of
a "team morale" signing than a legit personnel move. I wouldn't
be so sure.
Mike Boone,
MIN – We’ll see what happens on MNF, but I’m liking Boone as an
add for next week if he’s still on waivers.
UPDATE: Boone was a bust in Week
16, rushing 11 times for 28 yards in the Monday night loss, and
Ameer Abdullah got a lot of the second half work with the Vikings
needing pass catchers. I’m not quite as interested as I
was on Monday. Abdullah makes the RBs to consider, though.
DeAndre
Washington, OAK – There’s a chance Josh Jacobs suits up for
Week 17, and the Raiders still have an outside chance at making
the playoffs. Washington (40-50 percent owned) rushed for 85 yards
and a TD in Week 16, adding 2-21-0 in a solid win over the Chargers.
Gus Edwards,
BAL – We’ve been waiting for Gus to get his shot, and it could
be Week 17 with Mark Ingram and the key starters sitting vs. PIT.
Of course, Edwards might give up a bunch of carries to Justice
Hill and be considered a semi-key player with Ingram’s calf injury.
Benny Snell,
PIT – UPDATE: Benny’s back, though he didn’t
do as much as we hoped against the Jets, because that would have
been too perfect. James Conner got hurt in Week 16 and while Snell
compiled just 14 yards on seven carries on Sunday, he could have
more upside against a Ravens defense that’ll be sitting a couple
of its starters.
Samaje Perine, MIA – UPDATE: Perine spent the 2019 season
with the Bengals practice squad after being claimed off waivers
from Washington during summer’s final cuts, and joins Patrick
Laird and De’Lance Turner in the Dolphins backfield for
Week 17 after rookie Myles Gaskin was injured. He’s a super-dep
league flex play, because he could surprise some folks if given
some chances in garbage time checkdowns. He’s not an option
in standard formats, but if you’re playing in Week 17, you’re
not in a standard format.
Kerryon Johnson, DET – Johnson didn’t get the start,
but he was the Lions’ most effective back on Sunday, carrying
the ball for 42 yards on the ground and securing his one target
for a modest 1-yard gain in the Week 16 loss to the Broncos. He
should be a larger part of the offense in Week 17 and could be
worth a flex play in deeper leagues.
Carlos Hyde, HOU – Hyde rushed 17 times for 27 yards and
a TD plunge (one that I was hoping would go to DeShaun Watson)
in Houston’s Week 16 win over the Bucs. He’s supposed
to be a full go for Week 17 vs. the Titans, as Bill O’Brien
has not announced plans to rest his starters.
Boston Scott,
PHI – Miles Sanders did most of the damage in this one, but Scott
did handle three carries for 12 yards in the Eagles’ Week 16 win
over the Cowboys, adding 6-7-0 receiving.
Tarik Cohen, CHI – The Bears offense was pitiful and Sunday
night and Cohen wasn’t very involved. He rushed twice for
8 yards and caught 3-of-4 targets for 25 yards. The Vikings are
a tough matchup but if the Bears are going to win, Cohen has to
be part of the game plan.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
TE Dallas
Goedert, PHI – Following a big Week 16 (9-91-1 on 12 targets)
and with Zach Ertz nursing a rib injury, He’s a plug-n-play TE1
this week in what the Eagles are probably assuming is a must-win
game against the Giants. Dallas beat up the Cowboys in the first
must-win scenario and now he tries to take his team to the playoffs.
UPDATE: Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Monday night that Ertz
will undergo further testing on his injured ribs this week, elevating
Goedert to must-add status.
Justin Watson, TB – We talked about him before but I’m
still liking what Watson brings to the table. He went for 5-43-1
last week on 10 targets and should finish with plenty of looks
in the season finale at home vs. ATL.
Hunter Renfrow,
OAK – Returning from a rib injury, Renfrow (just 5 percent owned)
hauled in 7-107-1 on nine targets in the team's Week 16 win over
the Chargers, and he gets a tougher matchup at Denver to finish
off his rookie campaign, but he might be up to the task.
Keke Coutee,
HOU – UPDATE: Will Fuller will miss Week 17,
so Coutee should get some looks in the slot this week. He was
a healthy scratch in Week 16, but he’ll be part of the Texans
three-wide sets with DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills working
the outside. I love his skill set and he could be a factor against
the Titans, who could be down some corners again, with Adoree
Jackson missing Week 16 and Logan Ryan nursing injuries.
Keke Coutee,
HOU - UPDATE:Will Fuller will miss
Week 17, so Coutee should get some looks in the slot this week.
He was a healthy scratch in Week 16, but he'll be part of the
Texans three-wide sets with DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills working
the outside. I love his skill set and he could be a factor against
the Titans, who could be down some corners again, with Adoree
Jackson missing Week 16 and Logan Ryan nursing injuries.
Terry McLaurin, WAS – We got a good-but-not-great game
from McLaurin in Week 16, as he caught 7-of-9 targets for 86 yards.
He’s a decent bet for another 8-10 targets in Week 17 against
Dallas.
Breshad Perriman, TB – Perriman had another big game in
Week 16, catching 7-102-0 on 12 targets. He’s a solid WR2
option in Week 17 vs. Atlanta.
TE Tyler Higbee, LAR – With his 9-104-0 performance in
a tough Week 16 matchup in San Fran, Higbee now has four straight
games with 100 or more receiving yards and three straight seeing
11 or more targets. He faces the Cards in Week 17, so climb aboard.
TE Jonnu Smith, TEN – Smith delivered yet again, hauling
in three of his four targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in the
team’s Week 16 loss to the Saints. He’s a fine low-end
TE1 or flex play in Week 17.
Danny Amendola, DET – Amendola’s skill set didn’t
translate well to the matchup with the Broncos, and he caught
just 2-21-0 on three targets. He could see more looks come his
way in what should be a negative Week 17 game script against the
Packers.
Albert Wilson, MIA – We knew Wilson was rounding into form
and he delivered in Week 16, hauling in 7-of-7 targets for 79
yards in the win over the Bengals. He faces a tough Week 17 matchup
against the Patriots.
Steven Sims, WAS – If you ever use these fringe waiver
wire adds for DFS, you’ll have benefited greatly from Sims’
presence here last week. The No.2 WR for Washington hauled in
6-64-2 on 10 targets in Week 16 against the Giants in a huge performance.
He’s developed solid rapport with both Dwayne Haskins (ankle,
out for Week 17) and Case Keenum, who’s getting the start
vs. Dallas this week.
