This is the best the waiver wire has been in weeks. Don’t mistake that for meaning the waiver wire is good, it’s middling at best, but we’ve been deprived of good opportunities for so long on the wire that this feels like a breath of fresh air. I have two must-add players on this list, and also a handful of really intriguing wide receivers. Hopefully you are able to find someone who can help you win your week.
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Running Backs
JD McKissic, Washington Football Team (25% rostership on Yahoo/48% on ESPN)
I’ll admit, it feels weird that this is the guy I am most excited about on the waiver wire, but if Alex Smith is indeed going to be the starting quarterback moving forward, then we have to feel about McKissic the same way we did about James White for all these years. McKissic has 22 targets in the two games that Smith played at QB, and a large majority of those targets came from him. Smith’s intended air yards per pass attempt is about two yards fewer than both Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen, meaning he’s throwing short passes a whole lot more than either of those guys were, and McKissic is his favorite target in the short game. This is mainly a PPR play, where the additional 5-8 points he’ll get each week from receptions can be a big part of his production.
FAAB Budget: Whatever you have left in PPR, he is a ROS RB2
Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts (25%/13%)
While Jordan Wilkins didn’t exactly have a great game this week, they did go from playing the Detroit Lions defense to the Baltimore Ravens defense, so a tough week was to be expected. What we did learn though was that Jonathan Taylor remains one foot in the doghouse and all it takes is one mistake and he’s planted there for the rest of the game. I expect Wilkins to still get a handful of carries in every game, and in games where Taylor does one little thing to upset the coaching staff (miss a blocking assignment, dance too much in the backfield), Wilkins will overtake him as the lead back for the game. The Colts like to run the ball when they can, and with their defense they should stay within striking distance in every game.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Duke Johnson, Houston Texans (17%/17%)
Every running back left on this list is only starting because a player is injured ahead of them in the depth chart, so I’ll put Duke Johnson at the top of this group. He got every carry after David Johnson went down with a concussion, and while that means Duke is likely limited to just one week of action (concussions rarely take more than one week to recover from), he’s going to be the back with the most usage and in a solid offense to boot. He’s an RB2 this week if he starts, so that has value, especially for teams who need a win.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Kalen Ballage, Los Angeles Chargers (1%/1%)
Raise your hand if you knew Kalen Ballage was on the Chargers roster prior to Justin Jackson leaving the game with a knee injury. Okay now put your hands down, no one knew he was still in the NFL until he ran all over the Raiders. There’s still no timetable on Austin Ekeler’s return, Joshua Kelley stinks, and the only threat to Ballage’s playing time is Jackson, as it isn’t clear when he’ll be able to play after his knee injury. Keep a close eye on the injury report, because if Jackson is back then I want nothing to do with Ballage.
FAAB Budget: 6-8%
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (37%/19%)
The Ravens did not run very well against the Indianapolis Colts, but Gus Edwards was still getting the redzone touches and that is exactly the kind of thing we want if the work is going to be split in the backfield. Edwards remains a touchdown dependent running back, but he gets those opportunities more than most. He’s a desperation play if you need a win. Keep in mind, if Mark Ingram is back, then Edwards is no longer startable.
FAAB Budget: 6-8%
Wayne Gallman, New York Giants (25%/32%)
I don’t like this anymore than you do, especially with Devonta Freeman practicing last week, but since he wasn’t ready to go, and Gallman has scored 13+ points in PPR three weeks in a row, we have to at least take a chance on him again. I’m not sure what will happen in this backfield if Freeman is playing, but stash Gallman and figure it out later I suppose.
FAAB Budget: 3-5%
Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins (25%/31%)
Jordan Howard, Miami Dolphins (33%/48%)
I don’t… I don’t know what to expect here. I don’t think anyone really knows. Matt Breida was expected to be the starter when Myles Gaskin went down, so that’s why I have him here, as I assume if he’s healthy he’s going to get the start. Jordan Howard has been getting the goal-line work all year so he’s basically a poor man’s Gus Edwards which is useful in standard leagues. Howard has scored a touchdown in four of the five games he has played in so we need to keep that in mind. There’s also Salvon Ahmed and DeAndre Washington but if Breida is healthy, I don’t think either of them are going to be all that relevant.
FAAB Budget: 3-5% if desperate
Wide Receivers
Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers (31% rostership on Yahoo/52% on ESPN)
This is three weeks in a row now of 17+ PPR points from Curtis Samuel, and four straight games of double-digits. Even with Christian McCaffrey back in Week 9, Samuel still saw a lot of involvement in the offense. I don’t think we can say he’s moved ahead of DJ Moore convincingly yet, but Carolina is making sure that he’s involved and they have been a great offense this year.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots (13%/10%)
The Patriots are one of the most injury-riddled teams, and Jakobi Meyers has been the one to step up in this offense. He’s had increasing targets for three straight weeks and double-digit targets in two straight now. He’s a great PPR play and a solid high-floor WR to have with all these players hurt and on bye.
FAAB Budget: 5%
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers (38%/42%)
The Packers did not acquire a wide receiver at the deadline. They clearly have no one else to throw to besides Davante Adams, Davante Adams, and sometimes Robert Tonyan. Allen Lazard is likely to return soon, and he and Aaron Rodgers clearly have a good rapport. I think Lazard will do very well opposite from Adams and might even be better as a WR2 rather than being the guy they have to rely on.
FAAB Budget: 5%
Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (24%/21%)
Sorry, did I say the Patriots are one of the most injury-riddled teams? I meant the Eagles, who seem to be missing their entire passing attack. While Travis Fulgham is still the main target in Philadelphia, Reagor was solid in his first game back from injury and Carson Wentz desperately needs more people to throw the ball too. I like Reagor’s upside ROS.
FAAB Budget: 3-5%
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (56% rostership on Yahoo/53% on ESPN)
Dallas Goedert is technically not qualified for this list, but he should be rostered much more than ~55%. We liked him when he had to share the field with Zach Ertz, and now he’s the main tight end there. As I said above, the Eagles need more players to throw to, and Goedert is one of the best there.
FAAB Budget: 15%+ if you need a starting TE
Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns (42%/46%)
So here’s how the breakdown at tight end works. There are the no-brainers, which is Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and T.J. Hockenson. These guys get so much volume and production that you absolutely have to start them. Then there are two types of tight ends, there are the touchdown-dependent tight ends (at the high end, Mark Andrews, but also guys like Jimmy Graham), and then there are the tight ends who are integral parts of their offense and get enough volume to be interesting without scoring a touchdown, but really only in PPR leagues. That’s where Austin Hooper fits, and he’s only behind Hayden Hurst and Noah Fant there for me. I’d rather have Hooper than Evan Engram, Hunter Henry, for example. At this point, I would probably rank Hooper as around the 8-10th TE ROS, and that means if you aren’t confident at TE, Hooper is probably an upgrade for you.
FAAB Budget: 5%
(Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire)