By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Published Oct. 31, 2017.
Below are players I’ll be targeting on the waiver wire this week. As usual, I’m using the 50-percent(ish) ownership threshold at Yahoo to determine who is allowed on the list.
Players are listed in the order I would assign waiver priority for each position.
Running Backs
Darren McFadden (34 percent) Ezekiel Elliott may be out the next six games, so grab McFadden. This situation is headache inducing, but it is what it is. We should know soon about Elliott’s fate, and hopefully before waivers go through.
Marlon Mack (45 percent) The Colts are putting all their players on the trade block, which might not mean much in the NFL, but Frank Gore is very much not in the Colts’ future plans and his contract is up. That should make him expendable, and for a low-enough price that he could actually be moved. If he is, Mack becomes a strong fantasy player with more work.
Alex Collins (34 percent) Hopefully, Collins has the trust of his coaches now after totaling 143 yards on 20 touches, including two reception – his first of the season – against the Dolphins last Thursday. A fumble would likely put him right back into the doghouse, but he should at least have the upper-hand now.
Rex Burkhead (41 percent) Burkhead is one of the many Patriots running backs to have fantasy value now that he is healthy again. Burkhead put up a nice receiving game in his first week back from injury, as he caught all seven of his targets for 68 yards and rushed four times for 15 yards. Those 11 touches aren’t enough to push you into a pile of fantasy glory, but in PPR leagues, they make for a decent flex spot, especially during bye weeks.
Danny Woodhead (17 percent) Woodhead could practice this week, which could put him on track to return when he is eligible in Week 11. I wouldn’t want to hold him that long in shallow leagues, but if you have some bench spots and you think you could hold him, I’d go ahead in PPR leagues.
Wide Receivers
JuJu Smith-Schuster (49 percent) JuJu Smith-Schuster showed up big last Sunday night and should continue to be the third target in this offense after Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Production always beats out potential, so Martavis Bryant is going to have to bide his time for now.
Robby Anderson (28 percent) Anderson has become Josh McCown’s No. 1 receiver, and McCown has been great of late. This connection seems to just continue to get better, so I’d be happy getting Anderson on my team in case it really blows up.
Sterling Shepard (57 percent) Shepard will be the Giants’ No. 1 wide receiver moving forward. Their offense isn’t going to produce a lot of receiving yards, but he should lead the team in targets, or at least be neck and neck with Evan Engram.
Corey Davis (27 percent) No Titans receiver has asserted himself since Davis went down with his Achilles injury, so I expect Davis to be the No. 1 receiver when he gets back, which should be this week.
Josh Doctson (42 percent) Doctson did little despite seeing starters snaps, but the little he did was a one-yard touchdown. In better weather games, I expect him to have more of an impact.
Marqise Lee (35 percent) The Jaguars are getting into a rhythm on offense and having more success through the air than earlier in the season. Lee will have more target competition when Dede Westbrook returns, but I can’t say how quickly Westbrook will become a factor.
Tight Ends
Greg Olsen (42 percent) Olsen will test his foot this week and will be eligible to play in Week 12. He’s a no-doubt top fantasy player at a weak position, so grab him earlier than not.
Jack Doyle (51 percent) Doyle has been Jacoby Brissett’s top target of late and should continue to get enough targets to be a strong PPR play moving forward.
Vernon Davis (12 percent) Jordan Reed will likely miss this week with a hamstring injury, giving Davis the majority of the snaps against Seattle, who can be beaten by tight ends. If you need him as a streaming play, go for it, but he also could keep value going if Reed misses more time.
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor (61 percent) Taylor gets a nice schedule, with the Patriots twice, Colts, Saints, Dolphins, and Jets this Thursday night. He has a great receiving back in LeSean McCoy and will always a threat with his legs. Taylor also seems to get the most out of his wide receivers and tight ends, no matter their skill levels. The lack of talent around him will likely hold his ceiling down, but his schedule should keep him in the QB1 category.
Jared Goff (47 percent) Goff continues to play at a higher-than-anticipated level in Sean McVay’s offense, but there have of course been some hiccups. Goff has played well against bottom of the barrel defenses, like the Colts, Cowboys and 49ers and had a nice Week 7 game against the Cardinals, as he found the end zone with his legs, boosting his total. More running couldn’t hurt his fantasy upside, and he’ll face the Texans, Saints, Cardinals, Eagles and Titans moving forward.
Josh McCown (25 percent) When McCown is on, he can look really good, which has happened recently, as he’s accounted for six touchdowns in his last two games. He’ll remain inconsistent, but in good matchups, he’s worth a start, and he does get the awful Titans pass defense in Week 16, i.e. the fantasy championships.
Jimmy Garoppolo (2 percent) Garoppolo will have to get up to speed with the 49ers’ offense, but he should be an upgrade over C.J. Beathard, who was awful last week in Philadelphia. Garoppolo is worth a big FAAB in 2QB and 2QB dynasty leagues, but should remain on the wire in most leagues for now.
Teddy Bridgewater (3 percent) Bridgewater should be available to play after the Vikings’ bye in Week 10. They could stick with Case Keenum, but Bridgewater has shown himself to be a better quarterback. Much will depend on where Bridgewater is physically and if the Vikings are willing to go away from Keenum. Bridgewater won’t be an add in most leagues until we see that he is playing well, but in deep or 2QB leagues where quarterbacks are hard to find, grab him.
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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