The strongest fantasy managers know it's critical to work the waiver wire every week. You gotta eat your veggies. Here's a shopping list to get you started. 🛒
Backfield Bingo 🔢
Sean Tucker, RB, Bucs (1% rostered):Nobody can say where the amazing Tucker story is going, but it sounds like Rachaad White may not return this week, and Tampa Bay wants to use a backfield platoon, no matter how talented Bucky Irving may be. I'm not going all-in on Tucker, but I'll surely place some kind of bid. Colleague Andy Behrens suggested a $9 offer based on a budget of $100, which seems reasonable.
Isaac Guerendo, RB, 49ers (3% rostered): We love any back dialed into the Kyle Shanahan system, and Guerendo has some splashy runs as the Niners put away the Seahawks last week. You'll have to grind Jordan Mason injury news all week before you commit to starting Guerendo, but that's diligence good managers do every week.
Tyler Goodwin, RB, Colts (4% rostered): Goodson continues to look better than Trey Sermon, and with Jonathan Taylor no sure thing to play in Week 7, Goodson belongs on rosters in medium and deep formats.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (30% rostered): He's collected 55 touches over the last five weeks, albeit the biggest share came last week in a favorable game script against Carolina. Allgeier has league-tilting upside if anything happens to Bijan Robinson, and it's clear the Falcons will not forget about Allgeier even if Robinson remains healthy.
Ray Davis, RB, Bills (14% rostered): He stepped in for an injured James Cook and was terrific on Monday, collecting 152 total yards on 23 touches. He probably needs Cook's injury to linger for fantasy value to stick, but Davis is a high-upside stash recommended in most formats.
Premium Pass Catchers ✨
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Chiefs (32% rostered): He would likely be over 50% rostered already had the Chiefs played in Week 6. The bye suppressed additional adds. But Andy Reid was scheming Smith-Schuster wide open in the Week 5 win over New Orleans, and Patrick Mahomes obviously has plenty of rapport with him. Injuries have put K.C. in an unusual spot, but Smith-Schuster is back in the Circle of Trust.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts (48% rostered): The passing game could take a step back if Anthony Richardson is ready to return, but given how often Downs is loose in the secondary, maybe it doesn't matter. He's been dominant over the last three weeks (24-217-2, 30 targets) and he's the type of receiver who can make your week with just one big play.
DeMario Douglas, WR, Patriots (7% rostered): He's the New England version of Wan'Dale Robinson, a short-route specialist with reliable hands. Douglas has commended 18 targets the last two weeks and he charted a solid 6-92-1 line in the first Drake Maye start. There's a capped upside here, but we have to follow the usage.
Tutu Atwell, WR, Rams (11% rostered): Much like Smith-Schuster, Atwell stuck on many waiver wires last week because the Rams did not play. But Atwell's been regularly involved while the team's star receivers are hurt, collecting a useful 14-233-0 line over the last three games. Sean McVay knows how to scheme Atwell behind a defense.
Noah Fant, TE, Seahawks (27% rostered): Maybe Fant is never going to turn into the star we once dreamt about, but he's caught all 17 of his targets over the last four weeks. That's something. You don't find home runs at TE on the wire; sometimes you're thrilled merely to get on base.
The Rest 🏈
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots (6% rostered):His debut had more good moments than bad (one pick wasn't his fault), and the Week 7 matchup is divine; the Jaguars have allowed the most QB fantasy points (by far) over the last four weeks.
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers (41% rostered): We know the team prefers to run to set up the run, but Herbert threw 34 passes last week despite leading the entire game at Denver. Now Herbert gets to settle in against an Arizona secondary that was defenseless vs. Green Bay. Maybe Herbert's ceiling is around 250 yards and hopefully two TDs, but in the midst of bye-week season, that might be of use.
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST (16% rostered): The pass rush was been non-existent, with two sacks or fewer in every week. But Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson is easier to sack than a cart full of groceries — he's been dumped a league-worst 31 times. |