Before jumping into tonight's game, some thoughts on waiver adds. For those in FAAB (Free Agent Acquistion Budget) leagues, I'm struck by how much people are spending on players with capped ceilings or short shelf lives. On the eve of Week 1, I've seen Alfred Morris going for $25 (out of a $100 total budget). In another he went for $100 (yes, a manager's entire FAAB). I've seen Adrian Peterson go for $55 and $62.
Keep in mind, 10-20 or even more seemingly irrelevant RBs will become big-time pickups at some point this season. So why spend so much right off the bat?
Between Week 1 and Week 2, Jalen Richard went for $25, while Phillip Lindsay was grabbed for $37. Jared Cook? $20.
And the big spending continued this week.
Everyone has good reason to spend that money, and hey, use it or lose it, right? But let's remember impact fantasy players come along every week. Bargains can be found for a buck or two, giving you the flexibility to spend big later this season when the stakes are higher -- and the impacts are greater. For example, suppose Melvin Gordon goes down for the season Week 10, and you happen to be in a league where Austin Ekeler is available (he's currently rostered in only 51% of ESPN leagues, so it's quite possible). Or say David Johnson gets knocked out, and Chase Edmonds enters as an RB2 bellcow to close out the season. If you're down to $3 in FAAB, you're out of luck. And you'll remain out of luck on all high-impact waiver options until/unless all your opponents drain their budgets.
So don't be overly tempted by the shiny objects emerging from Week 3. Be deliberate about who might be a difference maker the rest of the year. Because saving funds is as much a strategy as spending funds.
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Tonight's Browns-Jets game will surely be the most interesting Browns-Jets game in decades. On one side of the ball, Tyrod Taylor leads an increasingly depleted offense to a potential 1-1-1 start, which should be enough to keep him off the hot seat. Jarvis Landry is officially questionable, which you hate to hear given how much he could go off in PPR tonight. His absence would impact Antonio Callaway as much as it would Rashard Higgins, as both could see 6+ receptions. And whatever happens with Landry, David Njoku should have his best game of the season. Currently unstartable in many leagues, the tight end's prospects are looking up, so make sure he's rostered if you're in a deep league.
On the ground, Nick Chubb has only five carries in two games. But lost in Carlos Hyde's seeming dominance are two bad running performances saved by a pair of TDs. After earning 59 receptions last season, Hyde has only two this year, while Duke Johnson inexplicably has only three. The backfield is deceptively dysfunctional as currently operated. Something has to change here. Either Duke will get more receptions, Hyde will get more receptions, or Chubb will get more run. We could see these shifts as soon as this week.
On the other side of the ball, I honestly don't have a good feel for how Sam Darnold and his receivers will do. You almost have to start Quincy Enunwa as a PPR WR3+. But I'm not yet sold on Terrelle Pryor, and Robby Anderson borders on benchable even in deep leagues, at least until he starts to show chemistry with his new QB.
In what should be a competitive game, I'm ranking Isaiah Crowell ahead of Bilal Powell. Both should see 12+ touches, putting each on the Flex+ conversation.
Keep in mind, 10-20 or even more seemingly irrelevant RBs will become big-time pickups at some point this season. So why spend so much right off the bat?
Between Week 1 and Week 2, Jalen Richard went for $25, while Phillip Lindsay was grabbed for $37. Jared Cook? $20.
And the big spending continued this week.
Everyone has good reason to spend that money, and hey, use it or lose it, right? But let's remember impact fantasy players come along every week. Bargains can be found for a buck or two, giving you the flexibility to spend big later this season when the stakes are higher -- and the impacts are greater. For example, suppose Melvin Gordon goes down for the season Week 10, and you happen to be in a league where Austin Ekeler is available (he's currently rostered in only 51% of ESPN leagues, so it's quite possible). Or say David Johnson gets knocked out, and Chase Edmonds enters as an RB2 bellcow to close out the season. If you're down to $3 in FAAB, you're out of luck. And you'll remain out of luck on all high-impact waiver options until/unless all your opponents drain their budgets.
So don't be overly tempted by the shiny objects emerging from Week 3. Be deliberate about who might be a difference maker the rest of the year. Because saving funds is as much a strategy as spending funds.
--
Tonight's Browns-Jets game will surely be the most interesting Browns-Jets game in decades. On one side of the ball, Tyrod Taylor leads an increasingly depleted offense to a potential 1-1-1 start, which should be enough to keep him off the hot seat. Jarvis Landry is officially questionable, which you hate to hear given how much he could go off in PPR tonight. His absence would impact Antonio Callaway as much as it would Rashard Higgins, as both could see 6+ receptions. And whatever happens with Landry, David Njoku should have his best game of the season. Currently unstartable in many leagues, the tight end's prospects are looking up, so make sure he's rostered if you're in a deep league.
On the ground, Nick Chubb has only five carries in two games. But lost in Carlos Hyde's seeming dominance are two bad running performances saved by a pair of TDs. After earning 59 receptions last season, Hyde has only two this year, while Duke Johnson inexplicably has only three. The backfield is deceptively dysfunctional as currently operated. Something has to change here. Either Duke will get more receptions, Hyde will get more receptions, or Chubb will get more run. We could see these shifts as soon as this week.
On the other side of the ball, I honestly don't have a good feel for how Sam Darnold and his receivers will do. You almost have to start Quincy Enunwa as a PPR WR3+. But I'm not yet sold on Terrelle Pryor, and Robby Anderson borders on benchable even in deep leagues, at least until he starts to show chemistry with his new QB.
In what should be a competitive game, I'm ranking Isaiah Crowell ahead of Bilal Powell. Both should see 12+ touches, putting each on the Flex+ conversation.