Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Howell is coming off a rough performance against the Giants,
where he threw for 249-0-1 and rushed for 2-15-0. However, in
Week 8 he gets the Eagles, who he passed for 290-1-0 with 6-40-0
rushing against in Week 4. The Eagles are tied for 4th-most passing
TDs allowed and the Week 4 matchup was a shootout, so Howell should
find some success through the air.
Kyler is still recovering from his 2022 knee injury, but he was
designated to return from the PUP list this week, and even took
some first team reps in practice. Expectations should be tempered
since Murray’s best year came in 2020 when he averaged 9.24
FPts/G on the ground, but less than 6.0 each of the last two years.
Although he may not be an every-week QB, now is the time to think
about stashing him as he has a favorable 2nd half schedule. The
next two weeks (Ravens, Browns) are brutal matchups but he has
until Week 10 to be activated.
Daniel Jones,
NYG vs WAS: Jones was sat in favor of Tyrod Taylor, who was a
recommended emergency streamer. Taylor ended up passing for 279-2-0
and rushing for 8-25-0 for a solid day against the Commanders.
Taylor won’t be a recommended option against the Jets.
Jordan Love, GB @ DEN: Love managed 2 TDs to salvage his fantasy
day, but also threw an interception while passing for only 180
yards on 31 attempts. He chipped in 3-21-0 on the ground to boost
his total, but it was an overall disappointing result against
a terrible Broncos defense. Love gets another chance to rebound
against a similarly bad Vikings defense, but with no teams on
bye he shouldn’t be in anyone’s starting lineup outside
of 2QB formats.
Henderson was signed to the active roster late in the week after
Kyren Williams was sent to IR. While the workload was expected
to be light since Henderson hasn’t played all season, he ended
up going 18-61-1 on the ground and 2-1-5-0 through the air to
dominate RB work for the Rams. Up next is a tough matchup against
the Cowboys, but the Rams like to feed their RB1 touches and Henderson
seems primed to reprise his early 2022-role until Williams returns.
Hubbard came in for an injured Miles Sanders in Week 6 to go
19-88-1 rushing and 1-1-2-0 receiving against the Dolphins. Carolina
had a bye this past week, so Sanders may be ready to go, but if
not, Hubbard would have a favorable matchup against a Texans team
that has allowed almost 6 receptions per game to RBs over their
last five games.
Foreman took on a bellcow role with Khalil Herbert on IR and
Roschon Johnson still out from a concussion sustained Week 5.
Foreman turned the work into 16-89-2 rushing and 5-3-31-1 receiving
and now faces a Chargers defense that has been getting torched
by RBs catching passes, giving up the 5th-most receptions and
3rd-most receiving yards to RBs. With Tyson Bagent starting again
in place of Justin Fields, his dink-and-dunk approach should pay
off for Foreman this week.
UPDATE:Pierre
Strong Jr. CLE @ SEA: With Jerome
Ford looking doubtful to play in Week 8 (and possibly more due
to a potential high ankle sprain), Strong could get some run as
the RB2 behind Kareem Hunt in the Browns’ run-heavy attack.
Strong piled up 8-25-0 rushing and actually outsnapped Hunt. The
Seahawks have allowed the fewest rushing yards but are middle-of-the-pack
overall against RBs as they’ve allowed some receptions and
TDs to the position.
Jordan Mason
and Elijah
Mitchell, SF @ MIN: TBD depending on the results of Monday
Night Football, although it is trending towards Christian McCaffrey
playing tonight. If CMC plays Mason and Mitchell will most likely
have quiet nights, unless the 49ers jump out to a big early lead.
Craig Reynolds,
DET @ BAL: David Montgomery was out as expected, but Jahmyr Gibbs
came back from his hamstring injury to dominate RB touches for
the Lions in a loss to the Ravens. Reynolds managed a 3-16-0 rushing
line to go with 1-1-9-0 receiving as a distant RB2 to Gibbs.
Zach Evans and Royce Freeman, LAR vs PIT: With bellcow starter
Kyren Williams going on IR, the Rams had to scramble to backfill
him. While Evans looked like the best chance, the top back ended
up being Darrell Henderson, signed off the street later in the
week. Evans didn’t record a snap and offense and Freeman
managed a 12-66-0 rushing line as the clear backup to Henderson.
Palmer led the team in receptions and yards against the Chiefs
as he plays the WR2 role opposite Keenan Allen. Palmer is still
available in 41% of Yahoo leagues, but this should change after
this monster week considering Mike Williams is done for the year.
Downs put up a shocking 6-5-125-1 line against the league-best
Browns defense (against WRs) in a shootout, leading the team in
targets, yards, and receptions. While Michael Pittman Jr. is still
the WR1 for the Colts, Downs now has put up 20-16-243-2 over the
last three weeks as his role grows in Indianapolis. In Week 8
he gets a tough Saints defense, but he has shown he can deliver
in difficult spots.
Bourne has come alive the last two weeks as the Patriots offense
has risen from the dead after managing just 3 total points during
Weeks 4 & 5. This week he led the team with a 7-6-63-1 line
in a shocking win over a tough Bills defense. Up next, he faces
a Dolphins defense that is 9th-worst against WRs, allowing the
2nd-most receptions and 6th-most yards.
Samuel managed 8-4-25-0 and Dotson went 8-5-43-0 against the
Giants as Sam Howell took six sacks. Up next, however, they get
the Eagles, who they both scored against when they played back
in Week 4. With both WRs seeing at least 8 targets that game,
either is a streaming option this week against a defense that
has given up the most TDs and receptions to WRs in 2023.
Ferguson was on bye this week and is coming off two prior weeks
where he combined for 4 catches and 43 yards. However, Ferguson
saw 28 targets the first four weeks and now faces a Rams defense
that has allowed the 4th-most yards to the position.
Hill got his typical Swiss Army-knife stat line against the Jaguars,
going 5-4-50-0 receiving and 5-18-1 on the ground. He gets plenty
of red zone work rushing the ball with Alvin Kamara back, and
with Foster Moreau dropping a game-tying TD in the waning moments
against the Jaguars, Hill may get more targets in the red zone,
as well. The Colts have given up the 3rd-most receptions and 6th-most
yards to TEs.
UPDATE:Trey
McBride, ARI @ BAL: McBride’s
snaps have started to grow, as he’s garnered 11 targets
in the last two weeks combined (11-7-91-0), compared with 10 total
targets in the first five games of the season. With Zach Ertz
(7th-most targets among TEs) headed to IR, McBride becomes a sneaky
play for those desperate at the position. The next two weeks are
brutal matchups (Ravens, Browns) but the following three weeks
are all against teams in the bottom 10 against TEs. He may also
see a bump when Kyler Murray comes back, which should be by Week
10.
Michael Wilson, ARI @ SEA: Wilson managed only 5-3-26-0 receiving
against a porous Seahawks secondary on a day Josh Dobbs threw
33 times for only 146 yards and six players saw at least 4 targets.
The return of Kyler Murray can’t come soon enough for this
offense.
Rashee Rice,
KC vs LAC: Rice was 2nd on the team in targets (behind Travis
Kelce) and amassed a solid 6-5-60-1 line against the Chargers.
Rice’s volume and role continues to grow as he gets more acclimated
to the Chiefs offense.
Wan’Dale
Robinson, NYG vs WAS: Robinson only saw 2 targets against
the Commanders, catching 1 for 22 yards. It was a disappointing
effort in a NFC East slugfest, as the Giants clearly asked Tyrod
Taylor (in for an injured Daniel Jones) not to do too much. Up
next is a tough matchup against the Jets.
Jauan Jennings,
SF @ MIN: TBD based on results of Monday Night Football, but Deebo
Samuel will miss Week 7 and possibly more. Jennings may be worth
a speculative add ahead of tonight’s game.
Luke Musgrave, GB @ DEN: Musgrave lead the Packers in targets
and receptions against a woeful Broncos defense against TEs, going
5-4-30-0 on a day Jordan Love threw for only 180 yards. Unfortunately,
it looks like he picked up an ankle injury that may force him
to miss some time.
Michael Mayer, LV @ CHI: Mayer tied for 3rd on the team in targets,
but managed only 2 catches for 23 yards as backup QBs Brian Hoyer
struggled against the Bears. With Davante Adams and Jakobi Myers
combining for 25 targets, there wasn’t a lot left for Mayer,
but Jimmy Garoppolo should return in Week 8 to buoy Mayer’s
prospects.
Defense/ Special Teams
Dolphins vs NE
Miami is coming off a tough loss to the Eagles, but they sacked
Jalen Hurts 3 times, forced 2 turnovers, and scored a TD. Up next,
they face the Patriots who have allowed the most defensive TDs
(4) and scored the 3rd-fewest points this year. When they faced
each other back in Week 2, the Dolphins defense got 4 sacks and
2 turnovers while holding the Patriots to 17 points.
Jets @ NYG
The Jets were on bye Week 7, but they’ve forced 9 turnovers
(5 INTs, 4 fumbles) and a defensive TD in their last three games
(against the Eagles, Broncos and Chiefs). Up next is a Giants
offense that has scored the fewest points while allowing the 2nd-most
sacks.
Chargers vs CHI
Los Angeles has been hit-or-miss as a defense this year, but
they have 22 sacks and 8 turnovers in their last five games. In
Week 8 they face the Bears, who have allowed the 3rd-most sacks
and tied for the most defensive TDs and are expected to start
backup undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent again.
Last week’s waiver adds:
Raiders @ CHI: Las Vegas struggled against the
Tyson Bagent-led Bears offense as Chicago played dink-and-dunk
in an effort to limit mistakes. The Raiders got 2 sacks but 0
turnovers in a losing effort that saw their own backup QBs struggle
to move the ball.
Commanders @ NYG: Washington had another solid
day against the divisional rival Giants, collecting 4 sacks and
2 turnovers and holding the Giants to 14 points.
Lions @ BAL: The entire Detroit team failed
to show up in Baltimore Week 7, as the Lions got crushed 38-6.
The Lions defense managed only 1 turnover and 0 sacks.
