Carson Palmer’s broken arm suffered during Sundays loss will likely keep him out for most of the rest of the season and all but eliminates the Cardinals from playoff contention. This obviously puts a damper on the Cardinals skilled players going forward, with Adrian Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald the only two worth owning at this point. Delanie Walker figures to be looking at a multi week absence with an ankle injury, but I don’t see Jonnu Smith worth rostering in most leagues at the moment. He still could have some streaming value for those desperate for TE production.
NOTE: Players mentioned will be owned in 40% or less of ESPN leagues. MUST ADD will be a recommended add in all leagues. MAYBE ADD is for those in 12 team leagues or deeper. DEEP ADD is for those in 14+ team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS
No QB’s again this week. Streaming option this week include Tyrod Taylor, Andy Dalton, Josh McCown and possibly even C.J. Beathard if desperate enough.
RUNNING BACKS
Marlon Mack (Indianapolis Colts) – 26.5% OWNED – MUST ADD
Macks usage this weekend was certainly a step in the right direction, as he out snapped Frank Gore 32-22. Most of this came in garbage time in the second half, but it’s still nice to see, and he also was able to be productive in those snaps as well. With the Colts season essentially a lost cause at this point, his role moving forward should only grow and he has a chance to carve out RB2 value the rest of the way.
Dion Lewis (New England Patriots) – 20.4% OWNED – MUST ADD
Lewis has now seen his touches go from 9 to 11 to 14 the past 3 weeks as his role in the Patriots offense continues to grow. It’s an encouraging trend that I would imagine will keep growing given how productive he has been with the ball in his hands. The best RB on arguably the best offense in football, Lewis is a must add this week.
Jalen Richard/DeAndre Washington (Oakland Raiders) – 5.3% OWNED – DEEP ADD
With Marshawn Lynch suspended for week 8, both Richard and Washington figure to split snaps on Sunday in Buffalo. If I had to pick one to potentially use as a flex, it would probably be Richard but that would still be a bit of a desperation play. Lynch has been super ineffective this season too, so a good outing from one or both of these backs could change how this backfield plays out the rest of the year.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Josh Doctson (Washington Redskins) – 13.3% – MUST ADD
Coming into the year, there was plenty of hype for both Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder in what was expected to be a high-powered Redskin offense. No halfway through the season and it’s looking like Doctson is the receiver to own here. He played 24 more snaps than Pryor last night, and it sounds like Jay Gruden wants Doctson to take over that #1 WR role for the team.
Kenny Stills (Miami Dolphins) – 15.4% OWNED – MAYBE ADD
Stills has been a legitimate WR2 the past two weeks with DaVante Parker sidelined, and should be able to carve out some value even when Parker returns. Matt Moore is probably an upgrade over Jay Cutler and he and Stills seemed to have some chemistry as the two led the Dolphins second half comeback.
Robert Woods (Los Angeles Rams) – 19.5% OWNED – MAYBE ADD
Woods doesn’t offer a ton of weekly upside, but he has built himself a steady floor as the Rams de facto top wideout, leading the team in routes run, targets, receptions and receiving yards. He is a fine flex/WR3 option for PPR leagues going forward, and probably worth a look in standard 12-teamers as well.
Allen Hurns (Jacksonville Jaguars) – 29.1% OWNED – MAYBE ADD
Hurns produced 101 receiving yards on Sunday, but that will likely be his highest output for the entire season. The matchup against the Colts was too easy for him and Blake Bortles, and impressive rookie Dede Westbrook is set to return after the team’s bye this weekend. That being said, the Jags still have some favorable matchups on the schedule remaining (like the Colts again), so Hurns can certainly be an option in certain matchups.
DEEP ADDS
Kenny Golladay (Detroit Lions) – 14.5% OWNED
Robby Anderson (New York Jets) – 13.5% OWNED
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers) – 7.7% OWNED
All 3 have been mentioned the last few weeks here, and they all remain on the deeper end of waiver adds despite each bringing some upside.
TIGHT END
Jack Doyle (Indianapolis Colts) – 35.1% OWNED – MAYBE ADD
Doyle has been used more in the passing game since returning in week 6, and now has 18 targets in the past 2 weeks. The targets alone make him a top 15 tight end option, and he should find the end zone a few more times the rest of the way. Just don’t expect significant upside here playing in this shoddy Colts offense.
O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – 9.2% OWNED – DEEP ADD
I don’t think I’d call Howards breakout game Sunday a fluke, but it’s still best to temper expectations here a bit. Cameron Brate still out targeted him, and typically I’d consider it possible to produce two fantasy viable tight ends from one team, but that’s tough to accomplish with so many other mouths to feed in Tampa. He still has shown the huge upside he can bring to the table, but it’s tough to actually trust him on a weekly basis.