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Antonio D'Arcangelis | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


Through The Wire - Week 7
10/16/17; Updated: 10/17/17

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Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business, but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious selections to help your team from week to week while you strive to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs and win the elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster, the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can help your squad and may still be available in your league.

Feedback is always welcome, appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as I can.




Brett Hundley

The Packers will move forward with Brett Hundley at QB. Is he worth a spot on your fantasy roster?

Quarterbacks

Carson Palmer, ARI – Palmer is about 60-85 percent owned in competitive leagues, and he’s got a matchup with the Rams in Week 7 before a Week 8 bye and then have a favorable matchup with the 49ers in Week 9. He’s coming off his best game in 2017 from a TD perspective, throwing for 283-3-1 in the win over Tampa Bay, and the addition of Adrian Peterson has breathed new life into the offense.

Josh McCown, NYJ – I was skeptical that McCown could return solid production against the Patriots, who have dominated he Jets for several seasons but seem to be giving up big fantasy numbers to opposing QBs in 2017. Alas, McCown did have a solid day, throwing for 354-2-2 in a tough loss that should have included one more passing TD. I haven’t seen any call worse than the TD-turned-touchback on Austin Seferian-Jenkins supposed fumble, but that shouldn’t keep the Jets from playing tough in Miami in Week 7. If you’re looking for a passable QB to roster, McCown (10-20 percent owned) is most likely available, and he doesn’t have a bye until Week 11.

Brett Hundley, GB – With the injury to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers planning to stick with Hundley, the entire offense takes a hit. Hundley is a longshot for consistent fantasy production but gets a favorable matchup in Week 7 against the Saints, even with that unit coming off a huge game where they forced five Matthew Stafford turnovers. Stafford was at less than 100 percent and still threw three passing TDs. Hundley could take a while to get the requisite confidence to lead the Packers to a few wins, but he’s universally available and many believed he was a better QB than both Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota heading into his 2014 season at UCLA.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, TB – UPDATE: The plug-n-play viability of Fitzpatrick depends on the status of Jameis Winston (who won’t test the shoulder with throws until later in the week) and your belief in the power of the narrative play, as Fitzpatrick will be facing his old team the Bills if he gets the call. Maybe just a DFS longshot, Fitzpatrick is a risky option but has been known to put up monster fantasy numbers when given the opportunity. He’s not a sensible long-term pickup, as Winston is simply day-to-day and has just a mild AC joint sprain.

Other QBs to consider: Andy Dalton (CIN), Jared Goff (LAR), Tyrod Taylor (BUF), C.J. Beathard (SF)

UPDATES:

Brian Hoyer, SF – Hoyer was benched for Beathard and the rookie out of Iowa threw for 245-1-1. I’m avoiding the QB situation in San Fran but I did include Beathard as someone to consider if you’re willing to take a risk and roll him out against the Cowboys in Week 7.

UPDATE: It’s been confirmed that Beathard will take over starting QB duties this week against Dallas, where he’ll be a high-risk QB2.

Jacoby Brissett, IND – UPDATE: Brissett completed 21-of-37 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown in the Colts' Week 6 loss to the Titans on Monday night and added five carries for 15 rushing yards. His 212-1-0 line should have been better but Donte Moncrief dropped a 18-yard TD in the endzone. His time as a viable fantasy starter is running out as Jacksonville present a difficult matchup and Andrew Luck is nearing a return.ate coming Tuesday.

Case Keenum, MIN – Keenum completed 24-of-38 passes for 239-1-1 in the Vikings’ Week 6 win over the Packers, but may not be the starter for long if Teddy Bridgewater is ready to take the reins. Even if he gets the nod for Week 7, he’s got a tough matchup against the Ravens.

UPDATE: Bridgewater (knee) will resume practicing on Wednesday, which begins the Vikings’ three-week window to officially activate him or revert him to the PUP list for the remainder of the season. All signs point toward Bridgewater being officially activated before his window is through, which complicates the fantasy value of both Keenum and Sam Bradford.

Running Backs

Chris Ivory, JAC – Ivory’s team-high nine receptions in Week 6 (9-74-1 on 10 targets) was a huge surprise, especially considering he had no targets in Week 5 and just 11 on the season coming into the matchup with the Rams. We’ve seen production from Ivory before, but it’s been via traditional usage in the power running game and not as the more versatile change-of-pace back. Leonard Fournette actually went down late in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and was sidelined for the remainder of the game, giving Ivory (10-20 percent owned) some opportunities. Jags head coach Doug Marrone said Fournette could have gone back in had the Jaguars needed him, but it was interesting to see Ivory used in the hurry-up offense, showing he could be used a lot more for passing-down work going forward.

UPDATE: Adam Schefter confirmed Monday that Fournette is expected to play against the Colts in Week 7, but Ivory still has some low-end value and could see additional work.

Dion Lewis, NE – Despite being a dynamic, versatile back in a potent offense, Lewis is just 5-35 percent owned in fantasy leagues, and is coming off his best game of 2017. He ran for 52 yards and a TD on 11 carries Sunday but didn’t see any targets and has just 7-42-0 receiving through six weeks. The Pats might be using him even more frequently against the Falcons in Week 7, and he’s a great pickup if you’re hurting at RB.

D’Onta Foreman, HOU – There’s plenty of production to go around in this Houston offense, and in Week 6 the Texans broke up the carries pretty evenly between Foreman (12 carries for 59 yards) and Lamar Miller (15 carries for 41 yards, 3-40-0 on four targets). This is definitely a situation to monitor and Foreman (20-60 percent owned) could see equal time with Miller and more of the early down work moving forward.

Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden, DAL – UPDATE: These two have likely been scooped up off the wire in most leagues, and there’s still some debate over who will take over the majority of carries in the Dallas backfield. But NFL spokesperson Joe Lockhart said Ezekiel Elliott's suspension is “in place” and should begin Week 7 against the 49ers. There have been several conflicting readings of the various court decisions regarding Elliott in the last week, but the NFL is clear on their position. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is also expected to decide on Zeke's request for a full panel rehearing early this week, so you’ll have to stay tuned to the reports as the come. For now, both Morris and McFadden should be owned in all formats.

Other RBs to consider: Matt Forte (NYJ), Samaje Perine (WAS), Devontae Booker (DEN), Charles Sims (TB), Alex Collins (BAL)

UPDATES:

Adrian Peterson, ARI – Peterson was added in just about all remaining fantasy leagues when word broke of the trade to Arizona. He responded with 134 yards and two TDs on 26 carries and could be a legitimate RB1 until David Johnson returns sometime in December.

Marlon Mack, IND – UPDATE: Mack disappointed on Monday night, rushing twice for just 18 total yards in the Colts' Week 6 loss to the Titans. He failed to haul in either of his two targets in the passing game. A risky play with upside moving forward, the Colts now seem once again committed to getting Frank Gore the majority of carries.

Jerick McKinnon, MIN – McKinnon had another huge day with 69 rushing yards on 16 carries and 5-30-1 receiving on six targets. He’s a dynamic back with plenty of upside even in less favorable matchups due to his abilities as a receiver.

Javorius Allen, BAL – Allen had 10 carries for 49 rushing yards and 3-17-0 and still has an edge over Alex Collins as the top RB in Baltimore. He’s also disappearing from most waiver wires and is about 75-95 in fantasy leagues.

Matt Breida, SF – Breida rushed for 21 yards on four carries and added 15 yards on two catches in Sunday’s 26-24 loss to Washington. Hyde got a couple goal line TDs and more of the passing game work, but rumors of a possible Hyde trade make Breida a must-own.

Orleans Darkwa and Shane Vereen, NYG – Darkwa had a big game Sunday night (21 carries for 117 yards, 1-13-0 receiving) in the win over Denver but Vereen didn’t record a catch and had just one carry for 4 yards. Consider Darkwa (10-25 percent owned) the top Giants back moving forward and a must-own in all formats.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Marvin Jones, DET – Jones is about 60-75 percent owned in fantasy leagues and I featured him as one of my “starts” in last Week’s Shot Caller’s Report. Coming off a solid Week 5 where he a season-high eight targets and contributed 6-54-0 in the loss to the Panthers, Jones saw a massive 14 targets from Stafford and finished with 6-96-1. Sure, there was a lot of second-half catchup time and an enormous number of plays run by the Lions offense – but Jones is heating up and should be owned in all formats.

UPDATE: Golden Tate looks like he’ll be missing extended time, increasing the value of Jones when the Lions return from their bye. He’s a sneaky pickup this week if you’re okay for Week 7 depth. Kenny Golladay (hamstring) should also be ready by Week 8, so he’s another interesting deep-league snag.

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ – Despite solid performances in every game he’s played this season, ASJ is available in almost 30 percent of competitive leagues and now has 23-152-4 on 29 targets in four games. I’d rank him in the middle of the second tier of fantasy TEs after the first tier of Gronk/Kelce/Ertz and right among Jordan Reed, Delanie Walker and Cameron Brate in my rest-of-the-season rankings. He needs to be owned in all formats.

Nelson Agholor, PHI – Agholor’s ownership rates are all over the place, ranging from just 36 percent on ESPN to as high as 80 percent in more competitive leagues, but he’s there’s no disputing he’s a talented receiver on a very good offense. He now has 20-321-4 on 30 targets this season, and has moderately high upside because of his big play ability. Still, we can’t expect him to score every week, so he remains a risky play moving forward.

Jermaine Kearse, NYJ – It’s still taking me a while to process that the Jets offense might actually be decent, so I apologize for not including him since Week 3 in this column. That said, he’s coming off a 4-79-0 (four targets) game against the Patriots, is still about 60-75 percent owned in competitive leagues and makes for a fine addition in 12-team leagues. He’s probably the best receiving option behind Seferian-Jenkins on the Jets.

TE Evan Engram, NYG – Engram is probably the best receiving opting on the Giants and should have steady value as a low-end TE1. He was blanked in Week 5 on four targets but had a big night against Denver with 5-82-1 on seven targets from Eli Manning.

TE Tyler Kroft, CIN – With the news that Tyler Eifert is done for 2017, Kroft vaults once again near the top of the list of TEs to add. He’s proven to be a good red zone target for Dalton and will likely be a TD-dependent TE2 moving forward.

Other WRs/TEs to consider: Ted Ginn Jr. (NO), Kenny Stills (MIA), Aldrick Robinson (SF), Adam Humphries (TB), Josh Doctson (WAS), Jordan Matthews (BUF)

UPDATES:

Roger Lewis, NYG – Lewis posted just 1-15-0 in the win over Denver but should remain an option in the right matchups.

J.J. Nelson, John Brown and Jaron Brown, ARI – John Brown (3-63-1 on four targets) had the best day among the Cards receivers aside form Larry Fitzgerald’s 10-138-1 on 11 targets, with Nelson and Jaron combining for just one catch and one carry. The struggle is real, folks.

Marquise Goodwin, SF – Goodwin had a forgettable day with 2-26-0 on five targets, and the sea change at QB could signify more looks for Aldrick Robinson moving forward. Stay tuned.

TE Ed Dickson, CAR – Dickson saw eight targets on Thursday night and caught 4-36-0. He’s a high-end TE2 with upside moving forward.