Dominating the waiver wire could catapult you into championship territory regardless of how much you struggled during the draft or while making trades. Read on for eight season-long waiver wire targets, as well as a few players who you can comfortably cut loose.
Adds
Let’s check out eight players that warrant consideration ahead of the upcoming waiver wire cycle. All players listed here are rostered in less than 35 percent of ESPN leagues and could have legitimate impacts down the stretch.
Deshaun Watson
Rostered in 17.0 percent of leagues
Oh, this is fun. The Watson rumors have run rampant as of late with reports that the Miami Dolphins currently lead the bidding war. No deal has been agreed upon and there are several hurdles to clear, but the storylines are heating up. If he were to be traded to Miami (or anywhere, for that matter), Watson would instantly fall into mid-range QB1 territory. Snatch him up while you can. The worst-case scenario is that you drop him if Houston holds onto him beyond the trade deadline.
Kenneth Gainwell
Rostered in 26.4 percent of leagues
Tasked with taking over for the injured Miles Sanders, Gainwell logged nine touches for 61 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. While he ceded rushing work to Boston Scott, the rookie got involved in the passing game once again and was able to find the end zone. Regardless of Sanders’ status going forward, Gainwell is worth stashing on your bench in most leagues due to the fact that his role will only increase as the season progresses.
Brandon Bolden
Rostered in 5.5 percent of leagues
Bolden saw significant usage in Sunday’s blowout win over the Jets, logging six catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. While the extremely positive game script likely played a role in his success, the fact that Rhamondre Stevenson was inactive offers even more insight into the veteran running back’s usage going forward. He seems to be the Patriots’ true No. 2 running back with James White out. Snatch him up now; he offers FLEX upside in favorable matchups.
Tarik Cohen
Rostered in 3.1 percent of leagues
This seems a bit baffling considering how effective Khalil Herbert was this week. However, Cohen offers elite pass-catching ability in an offense that will have to throw the football a lot this season. Currently on the PUP list, the 26-year-old is eligible to return anytime now. Fantasy managers should consider adding him in PPR leagues solely due to the volume he could see upon returning.
Tre’Quan Smith
Rostered in 1.9 percent of leagues
Here’s another player who is returning from injury. Designated to return from the PUP list last week, Smith was activated off IR ahead of Monday Night Football. The speedy wideout fits well in a Saints offense led by pass-happy quarterback Jameis Winston. Furthermore, nobody has stepped up as a lead pass-catcher in New Orleans, with players like Deonte Harris and Marquez Callaway representing nothing more than shaky options. Smith could buck that trend.
Rashod Bateman
Rostered in 11 percent of leagues
Bateman averaged 7.3 yards per catch in Week 6, then posted 26.7 yards per catch this past week. What this tells us is that Bateman has the ability to serve in a key role going forward. He has quickly passed the injured Sammy Watkins for the No. 2 wideout role in Baltimore. While he’s still behind Marquise Brown (and Mark Andrews), Bateman is going to command a steady target share for the foreseeable future. He can offer FLEX upside if you’re in a bind.
Christian Kirk
Rostered in 31.2 percent of leagues
We never know which Cardinals pass-catcher will be the one to roster on a weekly basis and the addition of Zach Ertz supplies further confusion to the situation. However, Kirk has proven to be a fairly stable option, logging four catches for 50 yards and a score in Week 7. He offers low-end WR3 upside on a consistent basis going forward.
Mo Alie-Cox
Rostered in 13.7 percent of leagues
Alie-Cox hauled in three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown on Sunday Night Football. He represents an intriguing option going forward due to the extended absence of Parris Campbell (foot). T.Y. Hilton (quad) could also miss additional time. As such, Alie-Cox could be the No. 3 pass-catcher in the Indianapolis offense, giving him both volume and red-zone usage.
Drops
Let’s check out three players that you can comfortably cut loose from your roster. All players listed here are rostered in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues and aren’t expected to have legitimate impacts down the stretch.
Robby Anderson
Rostered in 71.6 percent of leagues
This isn’t Anderson’s first time in the “drops” section of this article, nor will it be his last. The wideout was once again peppered with targets (nine) this week, but he turned this volume into just three catches for 14 yards while failing to score. Carolina’s turmoil at quarterback only makes this situation messier. You can comfortably drop him in all leagues.
Damien Williams
Rostered in 52.6 percent of leagues
Herbert totaled 112 scrimmage yards in Week 6 when Williams was on the COVID-19 list. What happened when the veteran cleared protocols in Week 7? He picked up just eight yards on four touches while Herbert finished with 133 against the best run defense in the NFL. Williams showed promise when David Montgomery first went down, but the veteran running back’s bout with the coronavirus forced him to take a significant step backward. He can be dropped in most leagues.
Brandon Aiyuk
Rostered in 52.6 percent of leagues
Aiyuk posted just nine scrimmage yards on Sunday night. That was still his fourth-best (or third-worst, depending on how you want to look at it) yardage total of the 2021 season. He has found the end zone in one game and finished with at least 33 total yards just once. The wideout did start and play on 71 percent of snaps this week, but he’s still not a legitimate threat in the 49ers’ passing game. Fantasy managers can comfortably dump him in most leagues.
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