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
for that elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp.
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 that
might be available in 12-team PPR leagues. I’ll also provide
a brief update on the players I covered the previous week.
Trevor Lawrence,
JAX – Something’s cookin’ down in Jacksonville and it starts with
Lawrence who has largely been taking care of the football (1 INT)
and has completed 69% of his passes through three weeks. The Eagles
aren’t a great matchup but home against the Texans in Week 5 could
be an option.
Marcus Mariota,
ATL – You’re not going to find any QB1s hanging out on the waiver
wire, but Mariota might be an option if you’re desperate. His
rushing ability is plus and the Falcons have some nice weapons
in both the run (Cordarrelle Patterson) and pass game (Drake London,
Kyle Pitts). The Falcons are at home facing the Browns in Week
4.
Jacoby Brissett, CLE – Sticking with the same game, if
you’re in a two-QB league I don’t hate the idea of
using Brissett as your QB2 in Week 4 against the Falcons. Brissett
has finished as the QB14 each of the last two weeks and the Falcons
have allowed the 10th most fantasy points to the position.
Zach Wilson, NYJ – Wilson is expected to return from his
knee injury this week and faces a Steelers team that doesn’t
have the same bite as in year’s past, especially with T.J.
Watt (pec) out. Flacco averaged 51 pass attempts over the first
three weeks.
Other QBs to consider (Week 4 opponents in parentheses):
Jared Goff, DET (SEA)
UPDATE (players recommended last week):
Jimmy Garoppolo,
SF: Garoppolo (211-1-1) finished as the QB24 after a low-end QB2
performance on the road against Denver. It doesn’t look any easier
for Jimmy-G in Week 4 against the Rams.
Carson Wentz, WAS: Dud. Wentz (211-0-0; 3-22-0) was a total disaster.
He had 24 yards passing at halftime and was sacked 9 times.
Tua Tagovailoa,
MIA: Despite a depleted Bills’ secondary, Tua (186-1-0) and the
passing game was largely held in check. Tua appeared to have suffered
a concussion in the first half but was allowed to return. The
league will investigate.
Khalil Herbert, CHI – Herbert is likely on someone’s
bench in your league but after taking over for the injured David
Montgomery (knee/ankle) and rumbling for a 20-157-2, 2-12-0 line,
he’ll be fought over on the wire this week. It doesn’t
seem like Montgomery’s injury is serious but the touch volume
alone makes Herbert a worthy add should Montgomery miss any time.
Upcoming schedule for the Bears includes: @NYG, @MIN, WAS.
Brian
Robinson Jr., WAS - Robinson is still recovering after getting
shot this pre-season but he's worth considering as a speculative
add if you have a deep bench. It’s unclear when Robinson may return,
but Week 5 against the Titans isn’t out of the question.
Kenneth Walker,
SEA – Rashaad Penny (49 snaps) dominated touches in Week 3 against
the Falcons leaving Walker (9 snaps) just scraps, totaling 3 carries
for 19 yards. However, the Lions are giving up the most fantasy
points to RBs through three weeks, making Walker worth taking
a flier on if you’re desperate.
Darrel Williams
/ Eno Benjamin,
ARI: James Conner (ankle) was healthy enough to play which made
both Eno and Darrel bench stashes in Week 3. This Cardinals offense
is a mess at the moment and the upcoming schedule doesn’t look
promising - @CAR, PHI, @SEA, NO.
Raheem Mostert,
MIA: It was Chase Edmonds (6-21-2, 1-6) who landed in the endzone
twice but with only 15 touches between the two, neither running
back got much going against the Bills. Mostert (8-11-0, 0 receptions)
and Edmonds seem stuck in a difficult timeshare to decipher on
a weekly basis.
Cam Akers,
LAR: Akers (12-61-1) was the lead back for the Rams but the volume
wasn’t there and he wasn’t targeted in the passing game. Given
the low-scoring week, he finished as the RB24.
Jordan Mason, Marlon Mack, SF: The 49ers used Jeff Wilson (12-75-0)
and Deebo Samuel (5-6-0) in the running game. Mason got 1 carry
while Mack was held out of the box score.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Romeo Doubs,
GB – With Sammy Watkins (hamstring) placed on IR, Doubs is going
to start for the Packers alongside Allen Lazard. The Packers aren’t
going to throw a ton, but Doubs will be weekly Flex option moving
forward.
Russell Gage,
TB – Gage operated as Tom Brady’s favorite target in Week 3 but
he won’t get the same treatment when Mike Evans returns in Week
4. Still, Gage will be a Flex option against the Chiefs as long
as Chris Godwin (hamstring) remains out.
Mack Hollins,
LV – I had Hollins in the “Other WRs to consider” section last week
and boy did he deliver (8-158-1). He’s not an inspiring athlete
but is playing a lot of snaps in the Raiders’ offense regardless
if Davante Adams or Hunter Renfrow are out.
David Njoku, CLE – Njoku’s spiked game (9-89-1) was
likely just a matchup preference for the Browns but it’s a
reminder of how volatile fantasy tight ends can be. It’s also
nice to know that Njoku is at least capable of this performance
which is more than you can say for a majority of the TEs to choose
from. Upcoming schedule: @ATL, LAC, NE, @BAL.
DeVante Parker,
NE – It took a Jakobi Meyers injury, but nice of Parker (5-156-0)
to join the 2022 season. With Mac Jones (ankle) likely out a few
games, Parker would only be an option in deep leagues if Meyers
is out.
Breshad Perriman, TB: Not great for Perriman (3-44-0) as he fumbled
and was wildly out-targeted by Russell Gage (12-87-1). Mike Evans
will be back in Week 4 allowing you to put Perriman back on the
waiver wire.
Garrett Wilson, NYJ: Back-to-back games with double-digit targets
for Wilson (6-60-0) who has become a weekly Flex option given
the pass volume by the Jets. We’ll see if that continues
with Zach Wilson set to play in Week 4.
Treylon Burks,
TEN: Robert Woods received 9 targets and Derrick Henry finally
got involved in the passing game, leaving little room for the
rookie Burks (1-13-0, 1-8).
Update:Noah
Brown, DAL: Brown got the start with Michael Gallup still
inactive and played on 80% of the snaps posting a 5-54 line on
7 targets. He won’t be a recommendation next week if Gallup
returns.
Update:Greg
Dortch, ARI: Dortch (9-80-0) finished as the WR19 after another
nice PPR performance. He’s the second option in the Cardinals
passing game and should remain in that role as long as Rondale
Moore is out. He's still a priority in PPR leagues.
Chris Olave,
NO: Olave (9-147-0) finished as the WR6 and that makes back-to-back
games with 13 targets. He’s quickly replaced Jarvis Landry in
the pecking order and has the most targets (29) on the team after
three weeks.
TE Juwan Johnson, NO: Things were setting up nicely for Johnson
as Taysom Hill landed on the Inactive list. The result: 0-0-0.
Yuck.
