Here are some of my top picks for the week 5 waiver wire. Most of these players should be available in your leagues (less than 60% owned).
QB:
1. Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) vs. MIA - This is of course considering that he is healthy and will play. The 49ers are off to a hot start and with the return of Kittle their outlook is looking good, especially against a struggling Miami team that has shown flashes of improving from time to time.
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA) at SF - I’m expecting SF to win big this game. So, you know what that means. Yup, garbage time TDs. Be ready to take the good with the bad though and expect at least 1 INT from Fitzmagic this week.
3. Ryan Tannehill (TEN) vs. BUF - On paper this doesn’t seem like a good matchup against a strong BUF defense. Surprisingly, BUF is currently ranked 25th against opposing QBs. I expect a lot of Derek Henry this game to try to slow down the scorching hot BUF offense, but I think a 300 yrd, 2 TD day is definitely within reach.
RB:
1. Damien Harris (NE) vs. DEN - I know, I know. Never trust a Bellicheck RB. Two weeks ago Burkhead dominated the touches on his way for a monster day. But, Harris did something last week that I can’t remember a NE RB doing for a long time, rushing for 100 yards. Hopefully this is the start of something special and, more importantly, long term. Then again I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to be a complete crapshoot each week for NE. Harris is worth the gamble (I wish I never dropped him from one of my teams when he went to IR).
2. Chase Edmunds (ARI) at NYJ - This is assuming that Drake is injured for a period of time. As of this writing, he practiced on full on Monday, not good for Edmunds. However, Drake has been a bit of a letdown this season, which could open the door for Edmunds down the road to take over.
3. Joshua Kelly/Justin Jackson (LAC) at NO - Kelly is probably taken in your league. If not, he immediately becomes the number 1 target. With Ekeler being out 4-6 weeks, this opens the door for Jackson to take on the second back role. He shined last year and could easily do it again this year, assuming he’s 100% from his recent injury.
4. Laveon Bell (NYJ) at ARI - He may be owned, he might not. Someone may have dropped him after week 1 (like me in my Auction league, but that’s a story for a different post). You don’t like it, but you need an RB. Bell is long removed from his glory days in PIT and on a terrible team but he’s a starter in the NFL and there are some desperate owners out there.
5. Handcuffs - No one likes to see a player go down. A shortened off season workout schedule and no preseason has equaled more injuries this year. Here are some players to consider rostering if you have the space or, even more importantly, if you own the starting RB. (Listed one order of priority):
A. Mattison (MIN); L. Murray (NO); T. Pollard (DAL); P. Lindsay ( DEN); B. Scott (PHI); J. Richard (LV); J. Wilson Jr. (SF)
WR:
1. Sammy Watkins ( KC) vs. LV - Owned in 70% of ESPN leagues. Watkins inability to remain consistent week to week is why this number isn’t much higher. Great matchup this week against my Raiders who are historically terrible against the pass. I expect a high scoring affair this week.
2. Laviska Shenault Jr. (JAX) at HOU - Better believe there’s a senior Laviska out there and he’s damn proud of his son. Coming out of seemingly no where despite being a second round pick this year. JAX is going to be playing from behind this year, which means more passes coming his way, I expect his targets to keep going up all year.
3. Henry Ruggs III/Hunter Renfrow (LV) at KC - Ruggs is unlikely to play with week as he continues to deal with his injury. Long term, he has the opportunity to be a solid play and he did showcase some nice playmaking abilities in Week 1. Renfrow is the poor man’s Wes Welker. This isn’t much he can’t catch. Precision route running. With Ruggs and Edwards out, Renfrow is the WR1 on a team that more than likely will be playing from behind a lot this season (unfortunately for me as a lifelong Raiders fan).
4. Brandon Aiyuk (SF) vs. MIA - His stats this season during his rookie campaign show off his dual threat ability as a receiver and runner. 2 Rushing TDs; 0 Receiving TDs. I don’t expect either of those numbers to stay that way for long.
5. Marquez Valdez-Scantling (GB) BYE - On a bye week this week, so don’t expect any points for now. If you have the space stash him. With Lazard being out for over a month after recent surgery, MVS has (yet another) shot to shine. Historically, he’s been more boom or bust when presented with these opportunities. With Adams coming back after the bye and the emergence of Tonyan (see below) it may become harder for MVS to produce solid points week in and week out. Rodgers will keep feeding him though if he can prove that his drops issue is in the past.
TE:
1. Dalton Schultz ( DAL) vs. NYG - Speaking of food, Schultz is doing everything he can to keep his place in the busy buffet line at DAL. With solid lines in the 2/3 games he’s started this year and 2 TDs, there are a lot of worse other places to look. Zeke, Cooper, Lamb, and even Gallup are all competing for looks. Prescott seems to look for Schultz in the Red Zone though.
2. Robert Tanyon (GB) BYE - Would jump to number 1 if he weren’t on a bye this week. If you have the space, pick him up now. 5 TDs in the last 3 games instantly catapulted Tanyon to the top of the TE points rankings (beating Kielce by .1 pts). Don’t expect a TD every week, much less 3 like last week, but he will continue to be a Red Zone threat for a red hot GB offense that will be getting Adams back after the bye. Remember what Rodgers did with Jimmy Graham?
3. Eric Ebron (PIT) vs. PHI - Fresh off a last second bye week, PIT has had plenty of time to prepare for the lowly PHI team. If Ebron can continue to see the targets (receptions per week: 1, 3, 5) he can put up some decent numbers. He’s getting Red Zone looks as well so that’s promising for a PIT team looking to contend this year.
4. Jimmy Graham (CHI) vs. TB - Remember this guy? He’s showing flashes of the old Graham and there’s a chance he’s still available in your league. Don’t expect huge numbers every week, but you could do a lot worse if your hurting in the TE position.
Good luck this week!
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