Frank Dyevoich | October 23rd, 2018
This week’s waiver wire is brutal in regards to new players emerging; however, there are still some guys available that we have mentioned before who need to be owned in most leagues. Remember, you can’t save your Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) for next year, so use it while there are still players worth adding. The following waiver wire adds reflect a FAAB of $100.
Quarterbacks:
Mitch Trubisky (CHI) – Trubisky has been on fire the last three games, scoring over 30 fantasy points in each game. He has excellent weapons surrounding him and a head coach that likes to take chances. On top of that, the running game in Chicago is non-existent, which means they are going to have to rely on Trubisky’s arm to keep them competitive. He is worth $3-5 FAAB.
Case Keenum (DEN) – Keenum is an add for this week only if your QB is on a bye. The reason for adding Keenum is that he takes on the Chiefs this week and the Broncos are going to have to air it out to stay competitive. They are coming off of a beat-down of the Cardinals so hopefully, Keenum can carry over the momentum into this game. He is not worth any FAAB.
Derek Carr (OAK) – Carr is an excellent bye-week fill-in going up against the Colts this week. After all of the trades made in Oakland, one thing is for sure: they are going to be trailing a lot this season. Derek Carr is going to be a garbage time king from here on out so if you are desperate for a QB in the next few weeks, look to Carr for his tremendous upside that comes from having to be in catch-up mode the majority of the time. He is not worth any FAAB.
Running Backs:
Nick Chubb (CLE) – Chubb was likely added in all leagues this past week after news broke that Carlos Hyde was traded to the Jaguars. However, it is certainly worth checking because if he is available in your leagues, he is an absolute must-add. We are talking about a potential league winner here folks. He is worth all of the FAAB. That’s right, If he is available and you have all of your $100 FAAB left, I would spend it all to get Nick Chubb.
Marlon Mack (IND) – See Nick Chubb. Mack was likely added last week, but if he is available, he is a must-add. As the unquestioned RB1 for the Colts, Mack is worth $70-100 FAAB.
Raheem Mostert (SF) – Mostert should be added in all leagues. He has a clear path to RB1 status on his team, and with Matt Breida constantly banged-up, Mostert could be the back to own. Kyle Shanahan has proven that he can make anyone a star in his running schemes, so if Mostert is available, pick him up immediately. He is worth $17-25 FAAB.
Doug Martin (OAK) – Martin is the starting RB in Oakland in the wake of Marshawn Lynch going on Injured Reserve. He has been unimpressive the last two seasons, but he is still young and has a glorified opportunity in front of him to re-establish himself as a threat in the running game. Gruden just sent Amari Cooper to Dallas so it is likely that the Raiders rely more on the running game in the second half of the season. Do not expect 20 touches a week for Martin, but with the 12-15 he is going to see on a weekly basis, he is definitely worth an add. He is worth $11-15 FAAB.
Jalen Richard (OAK) – Richard is an excellent add in PPR leagues because he is the guy on the field on third downs and when the Raiders are trailing. However, he’s barely used in the running game so he is a much less attractive add in standard leagues. Nonetheless, RBs are hard to come by and Richard will certainly see his share of touches in the passing game. He is worth $11-15 FAAB in PPR leagues.
Ito Smith (ATL) – It was not a very productive evening for Smith in his first game as the Falcons’ RB2, but better days are surely coming. Smith was given almost as many touches as Tevin Coleman on Monday Night Football and he is still the preferred RB in the red zone. If he is still available, go pick him up. He is worth $11-15 FAAB.
Duke Johnson (CLE) – Johnson’s role is sure to grow now that Carlos Hyde is no longer in the picture. He is an elite receiving back, and he should be heavily involved in the game plan when the Browns are trailing. He has not been very useful thus far, more production is just over the horizon for Duke Johnson. He is worth $3-7 FAAB.
Rashaad Penny (SEA) – This is a speculative add for teams who are preparing for the playoff push and have an open roster spot on their bench. Penny cannot be started in any leagues, but in the event of a trade or an injury to one of the guys ahead of him, he could find himself in the RB2 arena very quickly. He is not worth any FAAB.
Ronald Jones II (TB) – See Rashaad Penny. Also, Peyton Barber is a little banged up so Jones could see an increased workload sooner rather than later. He is worth $1-3 FAAB.
Wide Receivers:
Jordy Nelson (OAK) – It is very unlikely that Nelson is available in your leagues, but there is a chance that someone dropped him. He is now the WR1 on the Raiders and will be a weekly WR3 just based on volume alone. He is worth $15-20 FAAB.
TreQuan Smith (NO) – Smith is going to be the guy on the opposite side of the field to Michael Thomas, and that is an extremely productive position for fantasy purposes. He will have a low floor each week, but he has the potential to score a long TD each week, and if his role grows as he gets more comfortable with Drew Brees, he could be a weekly WR3. He is worth $11-15 FAAB.
Tyrell Williams (LAC) – Williams has stolen the WR2 role on the Chargers away from Mike Williams and he is cashing in on the opportunity. He has a 100% catch rate over his last two games and has gone for over 100 yards and a TD in each. He is on a bye this week so his value should still be low, but he is shaping up to a weekly FLEX with WR3 upside so do not let him sit on the wire. He is worth $3-5 FAAB.
Tajae Sharpe (TEN) – The Titans have been trying to find a reliable WR opposite Corey Davis for a while now, and it appears like they may have found their guy in Sharpe. He was a pre-season standout last year and a popular late-round selection, but he could not capitalize on the hype in 2017. This year he has been underwhelming, but this week he finally got the target share of a WR2 and he produced. He went over 100 yards on seven receptions and he has definitely made a claim for more targets. Do not spend any FAAB on him, but certainly consider adding him if you need depth at WR.
Willie Snead (BAL) – Snead was a huge disappointment this week as he failed to make a splash in a revenge game versus his former team. However, if we follow the targets we can see that bigger days are coming for Snead. He has had at least seven targets in three straight games now, and if you watch the tape from Sunday, Snead dropped a ball on a slant where he was wide open on what would have been an easy 30-yard gain with the potential to score. The opportunities are there so Snead is a fine bye-week fill-in if you are scraping at the bottom of the barrel for WRs. He is not worth any FAAB.
Christian Kirk (AZ) – Kirk is Josh Rosen’s favorite target. Larry Fitzgerald is still the WR1 on the team, but when Rosen drops back he is looking for Kirk. The problem is that the Cardinals offense has been anemic and no one has been an exciting start in fantasy leagues. Hopefully, with the firing of Mike McCoy as offensive coordinator, we can start to see this team push the ball downfield more which should lead to more targets for Kirk. He is worth $3-7 FAAB.
Danny Amendola (MIA) – This one is simply a matter of availability. There are no healthy WRs on the Dolphins unless you count DeVante Parker, which I don’t. Amendola is coming off of 11 targets last week, and the Dolphins are going to need to rely on him even more this week. He is an excellent bye-week fill-in in PPR leagues, and he may be a weekly WR3 depending on how long Kenny Stills is out for. Her is worth $3-5 FAAB.
Jakeem Grant (MIA) – See Danny Amendola. He will have a role because there is no one else to throw the ball to and he possesses the same big-play potential as Albert Wilson. Grant is a sneaky dart throw in DFS tournament plays this week. He is not worth any FAAB.
Tight Ends:
Vance McDonald (PIT) – When it comes to the tight end position, you should pick up anyone who is getting targets. McDonald splits time with Jesse James, but Big Ben trusts him and he could get in the end zone on any given week. He is worth $1-3 FAAB.
Ben Watson (NO) – Watson had an expanded role this weekend due to the stout secondary of the Ravens. Drew Brees loves Watson so hopefully, he can get him a little more involved in the game plans. He cannot be relied on as a TE1 for the rest of the season, but he is an excellent bye week fill-in and will give you a decent start when you need him most. He is worth $1-4 FAAB.
Chris Herndon (NYJ) – The Jets’ WRs are banged-up and it was Herndon, not Jermaine Kearse, who stepped up to fill the void. He has scored a TD in back-to-back weeks now, and Sam Darnold seems to look his way when they are in the red zone. Herndon makes for an intriguing bye-week fill-in, and if the targets continue, he may find his way into streaming status for the remainder of the season. He is not worth any FAAB.
Defense/Special Teams:
New England Patriots – The Patriots defense really made a statement this past weekend when scored two TDs, which ultimately was the deciding factor in the game. This week they take on the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots are going to absolutely destroy this team on Monday Night Football and if their defense is available in your leagues, they must be added and started this week. They are worth $1-2 FAAB.
Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals take on the 49ers this week, who are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing defenses over the last three weeks. The last time these teams met, the Cardinals scored two defensive TDs and dominated the 49ers from start to finish. Fire them up with confidence this week as C.J. Beathard continues to get the 49ers offense on track (spoiler: he won’t). They are not worth any FAAB.
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