Four weeks in, and the hits just keep on coming. A game delayed by Covid-19, injuries keep piling up, and uneven performances. More than a few fantasy managers have thrown their hands up at this point. It is important to notice, however, that many of your opponents are in the same proverbial boat. Banging that waiver wire in redraft is of utmost importance during a tumultuous 2020 season.
Let’s play another round of “Believe it or not?” to help guide some of the waiver decisions. Of course, we have tons of fantasy content here. The point of this game is to identify whether some of the more popular targets on the wire are worth it, or for how long. Here is a look at a few of them.
Remember when the Chargers was supposed to be a ball-control offense?
It is time to add Justin Herbert right now, isn’t it? Tyrod Taylor is still out after the botched injection that punctured his lung. The rookie stepped in and brought a whole new mentality to the offense as Herbert completed 72 percent of his passes, eclipsed 900 yards and his receivers found the end zone five times in three games.
So, do we believe it or not?
Oh yes. Herbert is an auto-add in all formats. Toss in the injury to Austin Ekeler and this offense is evolving before our eyes. That does not mean to completely discount the running game, but (you guessed it) we will address that later.
Herbert was missing the the Chargers best offensive line acquisitions when Trai Turner and Bryan Bulaga both sat out on Sunday. He still hit for a rating of 137.9 and tossed three touchdowns while only taking two sacks. Not only can he provide you depth, but with the Chargers’ injuries on defense, he is likely more valuable than your current starter as Los Angeles will have to play from behind often.
Remember when Kareem Hunt was the only other back in Cleveland?
The guy to target is clearly D’Ernest Johnson, right? Nick Chubb is out with an MCL sprain and will likely miss up to six weeks after being placed on injured reserve. Johnson shocked everyone in fantasy by toting the ball 13 times for 95 yards. It is time to blow that FAAB on this guy at waiver time.
So, do we believe it or not?
Not a chance. He is good to stash but not a “pick-up-and-start” candidate right now. You simply cannot expect the Browns to rush for over 300 yards each week (as they did on Sunday) and Kareem Hunt is still a premier running back in Cleveland. Johnson only got two more carries than Hunt. While he was impressive, Hunt still came home with two trips to paydirt and Johnson’s 7.3 yards per carry will not be duplicated. That said, the running back candidates are dwindling so he is worth a speculative add, but not worth sacrificing reliable production on your roster for a guy that had one good game.
Remember Justin Jackson?
With the Ekeler injury, now must be his time in the spotlight, don’t you think? With the Chargers in a shootout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Herbert was heaving the ball all over the place and Jackson only managed six carries for nine yards. Yuck. That said, rookie Joshua Kelley got nine carries and totaled… seven yards.
So, do we believe it or not?
Believe in Jackson. Kelley is likely already owned in your league, but it is a longshot for Anthony Lynn to insert a rookie into the starting role. Jackson is healthy and knows the offense. Now he gets a week of practice with the first-team offense and rookie quarterback Herbert. Kelley is still worth owning, as he is likely still a touchdown vulture and will get more carries than in the past, but Jackson has the talent to fill the role and get the bulk of the carries. With Ekeler missing significant time, Jackson could be a fantasy boon for owners. However, if his injury issues surface again, it will be all Kelley.
Remember how Tee Higgins could not fit into the crowded offense?
Tee Higgins is a slam dunk, is he not? Coming into the season, Cincinnati was so loaded on offense that the familiar refrain of “too many mouths” and “only a red zone threat” rang out like a cathedral in Rome. Now, Higgins is a starter alongside A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd and has flashed some serious moves in the process. Surely this will continue.
So, do we believe it or not?
Absolutely. John Ross has been inactive twice, the Green connection has yet to pan out with Joe Burrow, and Higgins caught two touchdowns in his second start. He followed that up Sunday with four catches for 77 yards (a 19.25 average) and threw in a 13-yard rush for good measure. Higgins is here to stay and is probably a good flex play as the Bengals are forced to play from behind more often than not. Also, should there be any injury to Green, Higgins’ value would skyrocket to auto-start status.
Best of luck in all your waiver and trade endeavors this week. Don’t forget that Prime Time Sports Talk does a live start/sit session featuring multiple experts answering your questions in real time. You can find it on twitter every Sunday beginning at 11 A.M. est.
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