Waiver Wired: Week 9
Welcome to the ninth edition of Waiver Wired for the 2015 season. As is always the case, this column is your guide to the best players available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues. Some of these players are plug-and-play options who can help this week while others are stashes who may become useful in the future.
Each profiled player comes with a recommendation of what size league they should be owned. This does not mean they cannot be owned in shallower leagues, but they are not must-adds in the smaller formats. Also, a watch list will follow every position group. These are players who could be useful in deeper formats, but they are not yet must-own players in shallower leagues. Finally, the deep cuts section highlights running backs and wide receivers who are owned in less than five percent of Yahoo leagues. Now that the explanation is out of the way, let’s move on to the action.
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The Drop List
QB: Matthew Stafford, Colin Kaepernick
RB: Joseph Randle, Andre Ellington, Alfred Morris
WR: Pierre Garcon, Roddy White, Torrey Smith
TE: Kyle Rudolph, Larry Donnell, Owen Daniels
A new offensive coordinator did little to fix the protection problems which have plagued Matthew Stafford all year, and there is not much hope a bye week will fix whatever ails the Lions’ offense. It is unclear if Joseph Randle will play again this season, and Darren McFadden will be the starter even when he gets back. The promised expanded role of Andre Ellington never materialized, Roddy White cannot even make noise when Leonard Hankerson is injured, and Owen Daniels just lost his job to Vernon Davis.
Quarterbacks
1. Derek Carr
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. Jay Cutler
Running Backs
1. DeAngelo Williams
2. Jeremy Langford
3. Joique Bell
4. David Cobb
5. Karlos Williams
6. Pierre Thomas
7. Shaun Draughn
Wide Receivers
1. Stevie Johnson
2. Kamar Aiken
3. Marvin Jones
4. Rueben Randle
5. Malcom Floyd
6. Marquess Wilson
Tight Ends
*Ben Watson 52 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. No. 1 TE add if available.
1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
2. Vernon Davis
3. Jacob Tamme
4. Heath Miller
Defense/Special Teams
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Miami Dolphins
Looking Ahead: Pittsburgh Steelers
Kickers
1. Robbie Gould
2. Chris Boswell
3. Nick Folk
Looking Ahead: Blair Walsh
QUARTERBACKS
1. Derek Carr, Raiders – Owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues
I will be the first to say I was wrong about Derek Carr last week. I put him behind Tyrod Taylor, who was on a bye, because I did not think Carr was usable against the New York Jets. 333 yards and four touchdowns later, it is safe to say I misjudged the situation. The Steelers have allowed one multiple-touchdown game to a quarterback since Week 2, but Carr and the entire Raiders offense has been playing too well to fade this week. More importantly, Carr should be a good starting option at least seven of the final nine weeks. He needs to be owned everywhere.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues.
2. Tyrod Taylor, Bills – Owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues
I have moved Taylor behind Carr, but he is still the sixth-best fantasy quarterback on a per-game basis this season and needs to be owned in all formats. Rex Ryan said Monday he expects Taylor to be “100 percent” against a Dolphins defense he shredded for 277 yards and three touchdowns Week 3. The Dolphins defense has played better as of late, but it is a question whether that will continue without the dominating force of Cameron Wake pressuring the quarterback. Taylor will certainly put that question to the test, and he is worth starting consideration in all formats.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues.
3. Jay Cutler, Bears – Owned in 32 percent of Yahoo leagues
The dirty little secret of the 2015 season is how well Jay Cutler has played. His 1.9-percent interception rate is the lowest of his career and the tenth-lowest among qualifying quarterbacks. The issue so far has been touchdowns. He has thrown for multiple touchdowns in just one game this year, and he has yet to hit the three touchdown mark. That could change this week against San Diego, who have given up the 11th-most passing touchdowns this season and six total the last three weeks. Cutler is worth streaming considering in deeper leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Watch List: Geno Smith played well enough against Oakland to be worth a look in deeper formats in good matchups, but the injury situation for both him and Ryan Fitzpatrick is too up in the air right now to make a definitive call. … Marcus Mariota should be back this week, but the Titans offense has looked like a train wreck since the bye week. Mariota could help, but he played in two of those games. It will be difficult to trust Mariota even in a plum matchup with the Saints. … Brian Hoyer does not need to be owned through the bye week, but he will have streaming consideration all season. … Same story for Alex Smith, who showed off his legs against the Lions. … Jameis Winston is in a great spot against the Giants, but he has not attempted more than 30 passes since Week 4. … Josh McCown seems to get hurt every time he touches the field, and his status is once again uncertain for Thursday night. Johnny Manziel will not be worth streaming if McCown cannot play. … I did in fact like the numbers Kirk Cousins put up before the bye week, but it was his first multiple-passing-touchdown game of the season.
RUNNING BACKS
1. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers – Owned in 24 percent of Yahoo leagues
Just like with Charcandrick West three weeks ago, DeAngelo Williams is one of those rare waiver wire additions worthy of spending a large percentage of FAAB dollars to obtain. Williams dominated touches his first go around as the Steelers’ starting back, handling over 90 percent of the running back work the first two weeks of the season, and the addition of Rams’ castoff Isaiah Pead is not going to change the distribution. Williams was also successful in his first stint as the starter, gaining 224 total yards and scoring three touchdowns in two games. Williams will be a high-end RB2 at worst as long as he is healthy, and that level of production is difficult to find on the wire. Williams is worth however much of the FAAB budget it takes to get him.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues.
2. Jeremy Langford, Bears – Owned in 8 percent of Yahoo leagues
With Matt Forte only expected to miss a couple weeks, Jeremy Langford is unlikely to have the starting job as long as Williams, but he is another player who should be an RB2 as long as he has the job. Ka’Deem Carey has not shown anything to suggest he is an even average NFL running back, Antone Smith is a change-of-pace option at best, and any back the Bears find on the street at this point in the season is there for a reason. Langford may not handle the more than 75 percent of running back touches Forte sees when healthy, but he should get the vast majority of the work in a reasonably good offense. He needs to be owned everywhere.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues.
3. Joique Bell, Lions – Owned in 20 percent of Yahoo leagues
The new offensive coordinator in Detroit could not fix the protection problems or the sputtering offense, but Jim Bob Cooter did make one significant change. After playing behind Ameer Abdullah even when healthy most of the season, Joique Bell was the clear lead back Week 8 against the Chiefs while the game was in doubt and looked to be on his way to a decent day before the Kansas City built a huge lead in the second quarter. More importantly, Bell looked healthy for the second game in a row, and Abdullah appeared to be benched after stopping his route on Matthew Stafford’s first interception. With the rookie struggling with fumbles and mental mistakes, there is reason to believe Bell will emerge from the team’s bye week as the lead back. Even in a dysfunctional offense, that means something. He can be added in deeper leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
4. David Cobb, Titans – Owned in 23 percent of Yahoo leagues
I have hesitated to call David Cobb a must-add in any format because of Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt’s insistence on using a running back by committee, but Cobb’s imminent arrival off injured reserve-designated to return matched with Whisenhunt's firing makes me trust Cobb slightly more. It is important to remember, however, that Antonio Andrews’ 16 carries last week were three more than any Tennessee back has had in a game this season, and Andrews is unlikely to be completely phased out of the offense anytime soon. Still, Bishop Sankey's complete disappearance from the offense at least gives Cobb a shot to grab hold of the lead role. He is worth a speculative add.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues.
5. Karlos Williams, Bills – Owned in 31 percent of Yahoo leagues
Karlos Williams is expected to return from his concussion this week. It is unclear how big of a role he will have with LeSean McCoy near full health, but he did average six carries a game the first two weeks with McCoy relatively healthy. He is worth a stash-and-see in deeper formats.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues.
6. Pierre Thomas, 49ers - Owned in 1 percent of Yahoo leagues
7. Shaun Draughn, 49ers – Owned in 0 percent of Yahoo leagues
In complete shot in the dark land, we have Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas. With Carlos Hyde (foot) inactive, Reggie Bush knocked out by an ACL tear, and Mike Davis suffering a broken hand which now needs surgery, Kendall Gaskins was the 49ers’ lead back by default in the second half against the Rams. He predictably fell flat on his face in the tough matchup, a performance which perhaps prompted the 49ers to bring in Draughn Monday and Thomas Tuesday. Thomas is a veteran passing-down back who excels in the screen game and can offer something on early downs as well. Draughn owns a 3.5 career yards-per-carry average and has just 16 carries since 2012, but that is a sharper resume than Gaskins can offer. If Hyde sits this week, Thomas and Draughn should form a low-ceiling committee. With the season down the toilet, it is also not crazy to think San Francisco shuts down Hyde to avoid the stress fracture in his foot developing into a bigger issue. If that happens, either back could end up as the starter for even longer in an offense which will need to run the ball with Blaine Gabbert calling the shots. Both are worth a stash-and-hope in deep leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 16-team leagues.
Watch List: Matt Jones’ usage will be something to watch coming out of the bye with Chris Thompson (back) expected to return. … Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin currently form the least productive committee in the league. … Charles Sims is good for around ten touches every week. … Antonio Andrews dominated carries last week, but we will see what happens to his role with David Cobb in the mix. Dexter McCluster is who he is. … David Johnson has fallen behind Andre Ellington in the pecking order. … Tevin Coleman is just a handcuff at this point. … What else is there to say about Christine Michael? … Theo Riddick is the king of garbage time, and the Lions seem to be in it every week. … Chris Polk played behind Alfred Blue and neither player was effective in a good matchup. … Tre Mason saw 15 carries in the blowout win, but that is unlikely to be the case most weeks. … Buck Allen remains Justin Forsett’s handcuff. … Orleans Darkwa was on his way to a decent workload before hurting himself on a goal-line carry.
Deep Cuts: Jarryd Hayne could also be an option for the 49ers if he is added off the practice squad. It is a complete mess in San Francisco. … Ahmad Bradshaw had seven touches Monday night and is averaging 38 percent of the snaps the last two weeks. Not good enough for standard formats, but interesting in deeper leagues. … Chris Thompson should return this week and is the most effective PPR option in the Redskins’ backfield. … Taiwan Jones has established himself as Latavius Murray’s backup and should get 3-5 touches each game. … Like David Cobb, Jay Ajayi is another rookie schedule to come off injured reserve-designated to return this week. He has a much tougher path to playing time behind Lamar Miller. … Zac Stacy will continue to serve as the third-down back while Bilal Powell is sidelined. Stevan Ridley did not see a snap in his first game off the PUP list, but he would be interesting if Chris Ivory went down. … Jonathan Grimes had two catches last week and had 11 in three games while Arian Foster was out earlier in the year. … Ben Tate will work out for the 49ers on Tuesday. They may take a shot on the once ballyhooed back. … Branden Oliver is dealing with an injury and is back to the No. 3 option. … Montee Ball could join ex-coach John Fox in Chicago.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Stevie Johnson, Chargers – Owned in 43 percent of Yahoo leagues
Keenan Allen is set to miss what looks like significant time with a scary kidney injury. Allen averaged over 11 targets a game over the first half of the season, and the favorite to take on the majority of those targets is Stevie Johnson, who is dealing with a shoulder injury himself. Johnson does not carry the same ceiling as Allen, but he should get enough volume to be a solid WR3 in one of the better passing games in the league.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues.
2. Kamar Aiken, Ravens – Owned in 18 percent of Yahoo leagues
Kamar Aiken did not shine with Steve Smith sidelined Week 5 against Cleveland, but he did turn nine targets into 78 yards. He also dominated the Chargers last week after Smith went down with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. Five of Joe Flacco’s 11 passes after Smith was injured targeted Aiken, and Aiken drew a defensive pass interference penalty which set up the game-winning field goal on another “target.” Aiken will be a good weekly bet for seven targets with Smith out of the lineup, and that alone will make him a viable WR3 in every format following the bye week.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
3. Marvin Jones, Bengals – Owned in 49 percent of Yahoo leagues
We saw the downside of Marvin Jones last week against the Steelers when he caught just two passes for 12 yards, but he had six opportunities in the game, was targeted in the end zone once and would have had a long catch if Andy Dalton did not hang him out to dry in the second quarter. Jones will be an up-and-down player, but he has weekly top-ten upside. He is a WR3 in most formats.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
4. Rueben Randle, Giants – Owned in 43 percent of Yahoo leagues
I hate using or recommending Rueben Randle because he is the model of inefficiency, but the facts are the facts. He is the No. 2 receiver on an above-average passing offense who is going to see at least six targets a game and has a decent shot at a touchdown. It is not always pretty, but there are worse options out there in deeper leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
5. Malcom Floyd, Chargers – Owned in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues
While Stevie Johnson is likely to see the biggest bump in usage with Keenan Allen out, Malcom Floyd could see a bump in targets as well. The veteran receiver got loose for a 70-yard touchdown after Allen exited the game last week against Baltimore which was his second score of the day, and he saw six targets in a quarter and a half when Allen left Week 6 against the Packers with a hip injury. Floyd will never be a volume receiver, but he can make big plays and have blow-up weeks which should come more often with Allen sidelined. He is worth a look in deeper leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
6. Marquess Wilson, Bears – Owned in 4 percent of Yahoo leagues
This is a complete speculative add based on the health of Eddie Royal, but it is one which could pay off. Royal looks likely to miss at least a couple weeks with a knee injury, and Matt Forte should be sidelined as well. That leaves Marquess Wilson as the No. 3 passing option for Chicago, albeit a distant third option behind Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett. I have liked what I have seen of Wilson so far this season, and he caught a third-down conversion in the second half last week and was wide open for what would have been a long touchdown if Jay Cutler had not overthrown him. Wilson put up good numbers in back-to-back weeks as the starter before the bye. He could prove himself a usable WR4 with upside in deeper formats while Royal is out.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues.
Watch List: I was very tempted to add Dorial Green-Beckham to the must-add list with Kendall Wright (knee) likely sidelined a few weeks, but he has yet to take advantage of his opportunities to emerge and the Titans’ offense is a train wreck. … Ted Ginn caught 2-of-10 targets Monday night and dropped what would have been a game-clinching touchdown, but he is still the clear No. 1 receiver in Carolina. … Danny Amendola came back to earth last week against the Dolphins. He is just not going to get enough snaps with Brandon LaFell back. … Marques Colston had a blowup game against the Giants’ pitiful secondary, but he was averaging just 37 yards a game entering the contest. … Nate Washington is not good enough to hold through the bye, but he will continue to be a usable option as long as Cecil Shorts (hamstring) is out. … Nelson Agholor’s (ankle) status for Week 9 is uncertain, but no Eagles receiver has laid claim to his starting spot while he has been sidelined. … Jamison Crowder is not a usable option even in PPR leagues with DeSean Jackson set to return.
Deep Cuts: Robert Woods could again be the Bills No. 1 receiver with Sammy Watkins (ankle) questionable. Chris Hogan would serve as the No. 2. … Harry Douglas is not a quality receiver, but he may serve as the No. 1 with Kendall Wright (knee) out. … Chris Givens saw his snap total jump last week and was targeted four times. He could develop into the deep threat Baltimore hoped Breshad Perriman (knee) would be. … Dontrelle Inman should also see a bump in targets with Keenan Allen out, but he is not a reliable enough option in shallower formats. … Justin Hunter has played almost as many snaps as Kendall Wright this season but has half the targets. … Dwayne Harris is not going to catch two touchdowns again, but he has at least four targets in four of the last five games. … Adam Humphries saw more targets than Donteea Dye against the Falcons, but neither is a fantasy option in a low-volume pass attack. … Justin Hardy had one more target than Roddy White in 12 fewer snaps. … Kenbrell Thompkins saw seven targets against the Raiders and could be in line for a start if Brandon Marshall (toe, ankle) is forced to miss. … Albert Wilson was the clear No. 2 receiver for Kansas City Week 8. Chris Conley was almost nonexistent.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Bucs – Owned in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues
It is not a sure thing Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) plays this week, but he was able to practice on a limited basis every day last week and appears to be getting close. If he does play, Seferian-Jenkins will have as much upside as any streaming option this week. The first thing to love about ASJ is his opportunity. With Vincent Jackson out last week, Jameis Winston targeted tight ends on 17 percent of his throws and hooked up with Cameron Brate for his only passing touchdown. Seferian-Jenkins is a better receiving option than either Brate or Brandon Myers, and he should demand an even larger share of the targets. More important than opportunity, however, is the matchup. The Bucs will host the Giants and their horrific tight-end defense Sunday. New York gave up 147 yards and touchdown to Ben Watson last week and have given up at least 70 yards or a touchdown to a tight end in all but one game this season. Seferian-Jenkins will be a great streaming option in all formats if he plays.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues if he plays.
2. Vernon Davis, Broncos – Owned in 27 percent of Yahoo leagues
The long-rumored exit of Vernon Davis from San Francisco finally came to fruition Monday. The Broncos acquired Davis and a seventh-round pick in exchange for two sixth-round selections. The move is a good one for the Broncos, who have targeted tight ends on 15 percent of their passes with little success, and a great one for Vernon Davis, who has shown he still has juice left in his legs on limited opportunities this season. It will likely take Davis a couple weeks to find his feet, but he has a real shot to develop into a low-end TE1 in Gary Kubiak’s tight-end friendly offense. He can be stashed in deeper formats.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
3. Jacob Tamme, Falcons – Owned in 6 percent of Yahoo leagues
Jacob Tamme is not as good a streaming option as Seferian-Jenkins, but he has proven to be a large part of the Falcons’ offense with a TE1 ceiling over the last four games. Tamme has at least five targets in each of the last four weeks and hung a 10-103-1 line on the Bucs last week without Leonard Hankerson in the lineup. Tamme would be a better option against the 49ers this week if Hankerson sits again, but he will be usable even with HankTime in the lineup.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
4. Heath Miller, Steelers – Owned in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Steelers were not lying last week when they discussed getting Heath Miller more involved in the offense. After seeing just 13 targets total from Weeks 2 through 7, Miller exploded for 10 catches on 13 targets for 105 yards last week. Miller should keep the party going this week against the Raiders, who have surrendered a touchdown to a tight end in all but one game this season. Miller’s upside is limited by the weapons around him in the passing game, but he is a streaming option in deep leagues this week.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues.
Watch List: Garrett Celek (concussion) will be the starting tight end in San Francisco with Vernon Davis gone, but he did not do much while Davis was sidelined earlier this season. … Eric Ebron lost snaps to Brandon Pettigrew and plays in a dysfunctional offense. He does not need to be held through the bye week. … Crockett Gillmore could see more targets with Steve Smith sidelined, but he is a touchdown-or-bust option. … Richard Rodgers still saw four targets with Davante Adams back in the fold. … Will Tye is currently the only healthy tight end on the Giants’ roster. … Clive Walford has yet to play more than 27 snaps in a game.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
1. Cincinnati Bengals – Owned in 33 percent of Yahoo leagues
In a poor week for streaming defenses, the Bengals are clearly the best option. Cincinnati has yet to score a defensive touchdown this season, but they have not given up more than 24 points and have multiple sacks in all but one game. Even with Josh McCown putting up numbers, Cleveland has continued to turn the ball over and give up sacks at an alarming rate, and McCown may not even be able to play Thursday night. If Johnny Manziel plays on a short week, Cincinnati would easily be a top-ten option. Pick them up.
2. New Orleans Saints – Owned in 4 percent of Yahoo leagues
This may seem crazy coming off a game where New Orleans gave up six passing touchdowns, but the matchup at home with the Titans sets up well for the Saints. Though Marcus Mariota should be back, Kendall Wright (knee) is likely to miss, and Tennessee has not been able to protect the quarterback or throw downfield all season. New Orleans is averaging four sacks a game over the last three, and they should better that total against Tennessee. They are also a good bet to force a turnover after taking the ball away nine times in the last four games. There are worse streaming options.
3. Miami Dolphins – Owned in 30 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Bills offense should be better with Tyrod Taylor back, who I like as a borderline QB1, and the Dolphins could struggle without Cameron Wake, but there is still some value in the Dolphins DST this week. Taylor took too many sacks and had bouts with turnovers even when he was playing well before the injury, and the Dolphins defense played much better than the score indicated against New England. Miami will likely give up points, but they should also force some sacks and turnovers.
Looking Ahead: Pittsburgh has been a surprisingly good defensive unit so far this season, and they get the previously profiled Browns next week at home.
KICKERS
1. Robbie Gould, Bears – Owned in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues
Robbie Gould has quietly been one of the best fantasy kickers around this season. He has attempted multiple field goals in every game not played in Seattle and has three or more attempts in five games. This week he heads to beautiful San Diego for a matchup with a Chargers team who have faced the fourth-most field goals this season. Gould is a great play.
2. Chris Boswell, Steelers – Owned in 13 percent of Yahoo leagues
Chris Boswell has officially solved the Steelers’ kicker woes. He has made all of his eight field goal attempts since taking over Week 5 and is 6-for-6 on extra points as well. This week Pittsburgh is at home against the Raiders, who have faced at least two field goal attempts in every game this season. If Boswell attempts a field goal he makes a field goal, and he should get plenty of attempts this week.
3. Nick Folk, Jets – Owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues
Nick Folk has at least eight points in each of his last four games and is averaging 8.3 this season. The Jaguars give up the most points per game to kickers. If not for the unpredictable winds at MetLife, Folk would be the top streamer again this week.
Looking Ahead: Robbie Gould should be a good play again next week in St. Louis, and Blair Walsh will be worth a look against the Raiders.
