Do you need to eat a W like Jameis and the Saints did this past week? Are you out of playoff contention and want to screw over your league mates just to spite them? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, then we have the waiver list for you!
Jameis Winston - QB - Saints - ESPN 1.4% Yahoo 3%
After Drew Brees suffered an injury on Sunday, Jameis Winston was the main quarterback who stepped in. Winston didn’t need to throw much as the Saints were already beating the 49ers, but he finished with 63 passing yards. If Winston does what Winston has done for fantasy as of recently, he is a must-start quarterback no matter who he is facing. On the plus side, Winston faces the Atlanta Falcons who have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. This game could be a shoot out that Winston throws the ball a lot in. He’s at least worth the stash if you have the depth for it and Brees is out for a prolonged period as his fantasy playoff schedule is decent with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Vikings.
Salvon Ahmed - RB - Dolphins - ESPN 12.9% Yahoo 8%
With Myles Gaskin and Matt Breida both injured, Salvon Ahmed has taken advantage of this opportunity leap-frogging Jordan Howard on the depth chart. Ahmed ran the ball 21 times for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Miami Dolphins' win over the Los Angeles Chargers. It remains to be seen how involved Breida will be when he returns soon, but Ahmed is a nice stash if he continues to be the bell-cow for the 6-3 Dolphins. Next, the Dolphins have the Broncos, Jets, and Bengals who all are bottom half of the league in rushing yards allowed.
Michael Pittman Jr. - WR - Colts - ESPN 6.8% Yahoo 10%
After missing three weeks due to injury, Michael Pittman Jr. has slowly seen his targets increase every week. This past week, Pittman caught seven of eight targets for 101 yards and added a 21 yard rush on a reverse play. The rookie wide receiver has an extremely favorable schedule upcoming as he plays the Packers, Titans, Texans, Raiders, and Texans again. If he is the leading receiver for Rivers, he will be very valuable come fantasy football playoff time as well.
Kalen Ballage - RB - Chargers - ESPN 30% Yahoo 19%
The Chargers backfield has been tough to figure out week to week, reminding me of the Kyle Shanahan run 49ers backfield due to the number of injuries and week to week variance in snap shares. Over the last two weeks, Ballage has led the backfield with Justin Jackson being placed on IR. With the return of Austin Ekeler still being up in the air, there is value in picking up Ballage who has had over 15 attempts and 65 yards while being involved in the passing game over the last two games.
Josh Reynolds - WR - Rams - ESPN 4% Yahoo 5%
Reynolds has quietly been a solid third target in the McVay run Rams offense. Coming into the season he was expected to be behind Woods, Kupp, Higbee, the running backs, and possibly even Van Jefferson. He has surpassed all except Woods and Kupp, having 4+ targets every game since week 3, including 8+ in the last 3 games. While he will never be the top target barring injury, he has shown he is a piece of a top offense, giving him a safe floor in most weeks.
Jordan Reed - TE - 49ers - ESPN 15% Yahoo 19%
I usually do not recommend picking guys up while on the bye week, but Reed is worth a look for those of you desperate for a Tight End. In his first week back fully healthy after the George Kittle injury, he only played 45% of the snaps. But, he received 6 targets for 5 catches and 62 yards. As he becomes more healthy he could have good value for a team that has plenty of injuries to their passing weapons. I would not go spend all your FAAB budget on Reed, but if you have an extra bench spot and are in need of a TE, he will be worth a spot.
Kirk Cousins - QB - Minnesota Vikings - ESPN 18% Yahoo 29%
Coming off a challenging matchup against the Chicago Bears defense last night, Kirk Cousins gets a welcome matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense. This unit has been a middle-of-the-pack matchup for fantasy QB’s, but overall, are one of the league's worst units. Cousins has had strong performances against other inferior defenses in Atlanta and Detroit as he put up three passing touchdowns in each game. If you’ve been forced to stream due to injury or are looking for a bye week fill-in for Josh Allen, then Cousins should fill in nicely.
Nyheim Hines - RB - Colts ESPN 51.7% Yahoo 42%
Unexpectedly, Nyheim Hines led the Colts backfield in rushing attempts with 12, while trailing only Michael Pittman Jr. in receptions with five. Hines provided some much-needed effectiveness as he carried that ball at 5.8 yards per carry. If he proves to be the guy that Rivers and Reich trust the most, then Hines will continue to be a steady contributor each week, especially in PPR formats. With the Packers up next and a rematch against the Titans to follow, the game scripts look to be in favor of Hines' skill set.
Julian Edelman - WR - New England Patriots - ESPN 35.5% Yahoo 29%
If Edelman is able to return to the field then it will be against a Houston Texans defense that has given up the seventh-most yards in the league. Edelman flashed early chemistry with Cam Newton as he amassed 179 total yards. Jakobi Myers has filled in nicely, if Edelman takes back some of that productivity then he should be serviceable as the Patriots try to mount a late-season surge. At this point in the season, Edelman is worth a dart throw for fantasy teams looking for contributions for a playoff push.
