Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Stroud had a great game in a blowout win over the Cardinals,
passing for 260-3-0, as the Texans have now won six straight games
and are in the playoff hunt. This week they'll face the reeling
Raiders, who have been middle-of-the-pack against QBs but just
gave up 3 passing TDs to Jalen Hurts.
Minshew came on at the end of the Chiefs loss to the Chargers
after Patrick Mahomes injured his ACL. He's one of the more capable
backups in the league and can certainly sling it. The Chiefs still
have plenty of passing weapons and he'll face a weak Titans secondary
that has allowed the 8th-most points to opposing QBs.
McCarthy is starting to heat up as he's played some awful
defenses (WAS, DAL), going for 250-2-1 through the air and 4-15-1
on the ground in a nice win over the Cowboys. Up next, he gets
another great matchup against a Giants team that has allowed the
4th-most points to the position.
Marcus Mariota, WAS @ NYG: Mariota had a decent dual-threat day
in a nice divisional win over the Giants, rushing for 10-43-0
and passing for 211-1-0. He'll face a much tougher task
against the division-leading Eagles this week.
Update:Tua Tagovailoa,
MIA @ PIT: Tagovailoa had a solid fantasy day, passing for 253-2-1,
in a loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football. Up next he
gets the forgiving Bengals defense, who have given up the 5th-most
fantasy points and 2nd-most passing TDs to QBs.
Carter handled most of the workload after Bam Knight left early
with an ankle injury, and had a solid day, going 14-56-0 on the
ground and 4-4-38-0 through the air. If Knight sits, Carter is
a worthwhile fill-in against a middle-of-the-pack Falcons defense.
With Woody Marks leaving with an ankle injury, Jordan took the
reins and went 15-101-0 on the ground and 2-2-17-0 receiving.
If Marks and Nick Chubb are out, Jordan could be worth a look
against a Raiders team that has given up the 4th-most rushing
TDs.
Estime got the most touches after Neal injured his hamstring
in the first half, rushing for 3-11-0 and putting up a 3-3-39-0
receiving line. If Neal can't go, Estime could be worth
a look against a Jets defense that has allowed the 3rd-most fantasy
points to RBs.
Croskey-Merritt saw the most touches with Rodriguez a late scratch
and delivered, rushing for 18-96-1 in a big win over their division
rivals. He'll get another positive matchup this week against
an Eagles defense that has given up the 9th-most points to the
position. We'll need to watch Rodriguez this week, because
if he can get healthy, he would likely be the preferred option.
Bam Knight, ARI @ HOU: Knight got injured on his first carry
in what ended up a blowout loss to the Texans. He would face a
neutral matchup against the Falcons if he can return, although
after being carted off it doesn't look good.
Devin Neal, NO vs CAR: Neal was having a nice fantasy day before
he injured his hamstring in the 2nd quarter, rushing for 7-28-1
and catching his only target for 4 yards. If he's able to
suit up, he'd be a nice start against a Jets team that has
struggled against the run.
Update:Kenneth
Gainwell, PIT vs MIA: Gainwell had a solid outing in a win
over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, actually leading the
Steelers in targets, receptions, rushes, and rushing yards. His
13-80-0 rushing line paired with 7-7-46-0 receiving line out-produced
RB1 Jaylen Warren. He’ll face a tougher task against a Lions
defense that is solid against RBs.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., WAS @ NYG: Rodriguez was a late scratch
against the Giants, as he had two limited practice sessions to
end the week. He'll face another positive matchup against
the Eagles if he can go in Week 16.
Devin Singletary, NYG vs WAS: Singletary saw surprisingly limited
work as he only managed 14 yards on 6 touches, after seeing 10+
touches and 44+ yards (and 3 TDs) in his last three games. He'll
hope to see more work in a tough matchup against the Vikings up
next.
Update:Jaylen Wright,
MIA @ PIT: Wright only managed 2 touches in a loss to the Steelers
on Monday Night Football as De’Von Achane was able to handle
his normal workload. With Ollie Gordon injuring his ankle, Wright
may see more work, but he’ll still see a diminished role
if Achane is a full go. The Bengals are an appetizing matchup
this week.
Mitchell has been getting the targets since joining the Jets,
but he's struggled to convert those to catches. That wasn't
a problem this week, as he put up a nice 9-6-58-1 receiving line
in a blowout loss to the Jaguars. He should stay involved against
the Saints this week in a battle for top 10 draft positioning.
Reed led the Packers in all receiving categories with a 6-5-55-0
line against a brutal Broncos defense in only his second game
back from injury. He'll face a much easier task in a rematch against
the Bears where he caught all 4 targets for 31 yards two weeks
ago. With Christian Watson potentially sidelined with a chest
injury, Reed could be the top option against a Bears team that
has given up the 3rd-most TDs to WRs.
Franklin caught all 6 of his targets for 85 yards and a touchdown
in a win over the playoff-bound Packers. He'll get a chance
to keep the momentum going in another tough game against a likely
playoff team when the Broncos take on the Jaguars at home.
Pearsall had his best game since returning from injury, going
for 7-6-96-0 in a big win over the Titans. He has a great fantasy
playoff schedule against the Colts and Bears remaining. The Colts
have allowed the 3rd-most fantasy points to the position.
Burden led the Bears in targets, receptions and yards with a
7-6-84-0 receiving line in a blowout win over the Browns. Up next
is a tough rematch against the Packers that he went 6-4-67-0 against
just two weeks ago, but with Rome Odunze likely out, Burden should
be heavily involved.
Waller had a monster game against a dreadful Steelers TE defense,
going for 8-7-66-2 in a loss on the road. However, he now gets
the best TE matchup of the week against a Bengals defense that
is the worst by a fair margin at defending TEs. After this, he
faces another bottom 5 TE defense in the Bucs, so he could easily
be a league winner at the position.
Parkinson has been balling as of late, as he's scored 6 TDs in
his last six games. He torched a tough Lions defense for 7-5-75-2,
and most of that was before Davante Adams left with a hamstring
injury. He'll now face a Seahawks defense that hasn't given up
many touchdowns, but has allowed the 2nd-most receptions and yards
to the position.
Gadsden led the Chargers in receiving yards, putting up a 5-4-61-0
receiving line in a big divisional win that knocked the Chiefs
out of the playoff race. Up next, he'll be another popular
target against the Cowboys in a likely shootout.
Jerry Jeudy, CLE @ CHI: Jeudy couldn't reconstitute the
magic with Shedeur Sanders in a blowout loss to the Bears, putting
up a meager 2 catches for 22 yards on 4 targets. He should be
the top WR in a tough matchup against the Bills.
Rashid Shaheed, SEA vs IND: Shaheed had another nice game in
a tight win over the Colts, going for 7-5-74-0. He'll face
a much tougher task against the NFC-leading Rams on a short week.
John Metchie, NYJ @ JAX: Metchie had 4 receptions again (that's
3 games straight) for 25 yards in a blowout loss to the Jaguars.
He could be a desperation option against the Saints this week.
TE Harold
Fannin Jr., CLE @ CHI: Fannin saw a whopping 14 targets, but
was only able to catch 7 for 48 yards. He's looking like the top
passing option for Shedeur Sanders and should be an option against
a Bills team that has defended TEs well.
TE Mason Taylor, NYJ @ JAX: Taylor didn't play against
the Jaguars, missing practice all week with a neck injury. It
remains to be seen if he can get healthy for a Toilet Bowl matchup
against the Saints this week.
TE Isaiah Likely, BAL @ CIN: Likely inexplicably didn't
see a single target in a shutout win over the Bengals, two weeks
after gashing them for 95 yards. Mark Andrews also was contained
to 2 catches for 18 yards against the worst TE defense in the
league. They’ll face a tough Patriots defense that has been
somewhat forgiving against TEs.
Defense/ Special Teams
Saints vs NYJ
The Saints haven’t won a lot of games this year, but their
defense has been solid enough to keep them close, and they’ve
won their last three games and three of their last five. This
past week they managed a sack and a turnover in an upset win over
the Panthers. This week they’ll get a Jets team that has
given up the 9th-most points to opposing D/STs, and will most
likely be starting UDFA rookie Brady Cook again.
Bills @ CLE
The Bills forced 3 sacks and a turnover in a monster road win
over the division rivals Patriots. Up next, they’ll get
a much easier assignment against a Browns team that has given
up the 6th-most points to opposing defenses.
Chiefs @ TEN
The Chiefs got 4 sacks and a turnover, but still lost a heartbreaker
to the Chargers to get knocked out of the playoffs (and lost Patrick
Mahomes to a torn ACL). They’ll be playing for pride against
a Titans offense that has struggled to score points (2nd fewest)
and has given up the 4th-most points to D/STs.
Other D/ST to consider: Giants vs MIN
Last week’s waiver adds:
Jaguars vs NYJ: Jacksonville forced 3 turnovers
and grabbed 3 sacks in a monster win over the Jets at home. Up
next, they’ll get a tough Broncos team that is slotted for
the No.1 seed in the AFC.
49ers vs TEN: San Francisco got the win, but
didn’t force a single turnover or get a sack in a home game
against the Titans. They’ll face a Colts offense that has
done a good job of limiting turnovers so far this year, although
that may change with Philip Rivers at the helm.
Bears vs CLE: The Bears held the Browns to 3
points and got 5 sacks and 3 turnovers in a blowout win. Up next,
they have a tough rematch against the Packers, who they lost to
two weeks ago.
