After being one of the league's worst teams the past four seasons, Chicago has finally assembled a playoff-caliber squad, anchored by a top-5 run defense that's also eighth in sacks. Six of their next seven games are very winnable. This is a great time to buy low on Jordan Howard -- one of the league's few remaining bellcows. He's averaged 18.5 touches and is already light years ahead in the passing game: eight catches on nine targets after compiling a 52-for-82 line in his first 31 NFL games. The TDs will come, and the volume won't dissipate. Can't be any more forceful: Howard's perceived value is well short of his rest-of-season value, which should be a low-end RB1.
On the other side of the ball, with plenty of QBs outperforming him the past two weeks, Russell Wilson is a similarly fantastic buy-low option. Doug Baldwin will return at some point, and the schedule will get easier (starting the year on the road in Denver and then in Chicago is as tough as they come). And Seattle's more vulnerable defense increases Wilson's value. Last year he played his best when trailing. In fact, 1,303/18/1 passing line in the fourth quarter blew away each of the first three quarters -- a far cry from his earlier days manning an offense often comfortably ahead late. Few QBs have a high floor or a higher ceiling, even with an offense that hasn't yet found its groove (no different than last season or the season before).
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Next up, some recommended free agent acquisitions who *should* be available in your league.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (69% Available in ESPN Leagues) -- I pushed Fitzpatrick last Tuesday when he was 99% available. The window is closing. He was the #11 fantasy QB in 2015 throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Surely he can vie for QB1 production going forward (and hold off Jameis Winston in the process).
QB Blake Bortles (90% Available) -- Downright insane. There probably isn't a more pooped-on fantasy QB than Bortles. Yet he has enough fantastic matchups on the docket to be an every-other-week streamer.
QB Josh Allen (98% Available) -- I'm not suggesting picking him up. I am suggesting he's too under-rostered. Allen will be a capable streamer 3-4 times this season. It helps that he'll be playing from behind often.
QB Josh Rosen (99% Available) -- While Rosen might not be NFL ready, neither is Sam Bradford. Whenever Rosen enters the picture, he'll be supported by David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, which isn't a bad cushion to start one's career.
RB Corey Clement (77% Available) -- Clement rose to the occasion with Darren Sproles out and Jay Ajayi hobbled by a back injury. This was no fluky performance. Clement is a key contributor in Philly's backfield and remains on the cusp of PPR streaming relevance even when Ajayi and Sproles are healthy.
RB Giovani Bernard (61% Available) -- Mark Walton is naturally available in 99.7% of ESPN leagues. But Bernard has the best shot at relevance, even while facing Carolina and then Atlanta on the road. One of these two has immediate streaming potential, so if Bernard's around, of course it makes sense to stash him at minimum.
RB Malcolm Brown (99% Available) -- Todd Gurley's apparent handcuff. A must-roster in deeper leagues.
RB Javorius Allen (81% Available) -- Allen is already a relevant complementary back. He's also one Alex Collins injury away from being an RB2.
RB Aaron Jones (54% Available) -- Since last week only 4% of leagues have added him. He needs to be rostered in a lot more.
WR Antonio Callaway (96% Available) -- Of course.
WR Dante Pettis (88% Available) -- A knee injury and comfortable Niner lead kept Pettis at bay Sunday. That doesn't mean he's unstartable Week 3 against the Chiefs, especially if Marquise Goodwin remains sidelined. Longer term, Pettis has WR4/5 appeal and is one sustained Goodwin or Garcon injury away from entering the WR3 conversation.
WR DJ Moore (73% Available) -- While the volume isn't there, the talent is. Moore is a terrific deep-league acquisition; he'll get better, not worse.
WR Dede Westbrook (90% Available) -- An under-rostered WR4 with upside.
TE Jonnu Smith (94% Available) -- Don't put a lot of stock in Smith's disappointing debut. He was on the field for most of Tennessee's snaps, and backup QB Blaine Gabbert threw only 20 passes. While there are plenty of tight ends you should be starting over him in the short term, he remains a highly talented option in a TE-friendly offense.
TE Austin Hooper (82% Available) -- How's my favorite underrated / underappreciated TE? Well, he's still underrated and underappreciated. So of course I have to mention him. As I've been saying all year, do not sleep on Hooper.
On the other side of the ball, with plenty of QBs outperforming him the past two weeks, Russell Wilson is a similarly fantastic buy-low option. Doug Baldwin will return at some point, and the schedule will get easier (starting the year on the road in Denver and then in Chicago is as tough as they come). And Seattle's more vulnerable defense increases Wilson's value. Last year he played his best when trailing. In fact, 1,303/18/1 passing line in the fourth quarter blew away each of the first three quarters -- a far cry from his earlier days manning an offense often comfortably ahead late. Few QBs have a high floor or a higher ceiling, even with an offense that hasn't yet found its groove (no different than last season or the season before).
--
Next up, some recommended free agent acquisitions who *should* be available in your league.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (69% Available in ESPN Leagues) -- I pushed Fitzpatrick last Tuesday when he was 99% available. The window is closing. He was the #11 fantasy QB in 2015 throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Surely he can vie for QB1 production going forward (and hold off Jameis Winston in the process).
QB Blake Bortles (90% Available) -- Downright insane. There probably isn't a more pooped-on fantasy QB than Bortles. Yet he has enough fantastic matchups on the docket to be an every-other-week streamer.
QB Josh Allen (98% Available) -- I'm not suggesting picking him up. I am suggesting he's too under-rostered. Allen will be a capable streamer 3-4 times this season. It helps that he'll be playing from behind often.
QB Josh Rosen (99% Available) -- While Rosen might not be NFL ready, neither is Sam Bradford. Whenever Rosen enters the picture, he'll be supported by David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, which isn't a bad cushion to start one's career.
RB Corey Clement (77% Available) -- Clement rose to the occasion with Darren Sproles out and Jay Ajayi hobbled by a back injury. This was no fluky performance. Clement is a key contributor in Philly's backfield and remains on the cusp of PPR streaming relevance even when Ajayi and Sproles are healthy.
RB Giovani Bernard (61% Available) -- Mark Walton is naturally available in 99.7% of ESPN leagues. But Bernard has the best shot at relevance, even while facing Carolina and then Atlanta on the road. One of these two has immediate streaming potential, so if Bernard's around, of course it makes sense to stash him at minimum.
RB Malcolm Brown (99% Available) -- Todd Gurley's apparent handcuff. A must-roster in deeper leagues.
RB Javorius Allen (81% Available) -- Allen is already a relevant complementary back. He's also one Alex Collins injury away from being an RB2.
RB Aaron Jones (54% Available) -- Since last week only 4% of leagues have added him. He needs to be rostered in a lot more.
WR Antonio Callaway (96% Available) -- Of course.
WR Dante Pettis (88% Available) -- A knee injury and comfortable Niner lead kept Pettis at bay Sunday. That doesn't mean he's unstartable Week 3 against the Chiefs, especially if Marquise Goodwin remains sidelined. Longer term, Pettis has WR4/5 appeal and is one sustained Goodwin or Garcon injury away from entering the WR3 conversation.
WR DJ Moore (73% Available) -- While the volume isn't there, the talent is. Moore is a terrific deep-league acquisition; he'll get better, not worse.
WR Dede Westbrook (90% Available) -- An under-rostered WR4 with upside.
TE Jonnu Smith (94% Available) -- Don't put a lot of stock in Smith's disappointing debut. He was on the field for most of Tennessee's snaps, and backup QB Blaine Gabbert threw only 20 passes. While there are plenty of tight ends you should be starting over him in the short term, he remains a highly talented option in a TE-friendly offense.
TE Austin Hooper (82% Available) -- How's my favorite underrated / underappreciated TE? Well, he's still underrated and underappreciated. So of course I have to mention him. As I've been saying all year, do not sleep on Hooper.