With Josh Jacobs entering the week as questionable, Devontae Booker should have been added off waivers in every league. Worst case, you could have dropped him this weekend if Jacobs had been good to go. Middle case, he'd start, and you'd effectively block your opponent from grabbing him. Best case, he'd start, and you're desperate for an RB starter.
Booker started the week available in 94.2% of ESPN leagues. As of last night he was still not rostered in 80.3%. That makes no sense, especially given yesterday's news that Jacobs is, indeed, out. Booker will face a Jets run defense that's perceived to be better than it actually is. Last week they faced a heavy dose of fourth-string RB DeAndre Washington. The week before it was fourth-stringer Kalen Ballage.
Snagging talent off waivers--especially this late in the season--is as much about helping us as it is about hurting our competition. Whether or not he comes up big, Booker represents all late-season breakout players who upend fantasy expectations and turn fortunes. He might just be the guy who sends some managers to the postseason. And he might just be the guy who denies you a playoff spot, because your opponent got him first.
There are players et each position who are available for the taking in most leagues. I've been pushing Kirk Cousins for weeks. He's been solid-to-terrific in four straight. Yet he remains on waivers in 65.6% of leagues for no apparent reason. He's a great bet to once again crack the top 10 against Jacksonville. Add and start him if you don't have a locked-in QB1.
Kerryon Johnson is another nice add in case D'Andre Swift sits. With a new head coach and a faster offensive pace in the works, Johnson shouldn't be available in 71.1% of leagues, even against the Bears. He should be good for 4-5 receptions, making him an RB3/4 with some TD upside if he and Adrian Peterson split snaps. The same goes for Ito Smith (98.5% available) if Todd Gurley can't go. At one point Sunday, Ito had the ball on 10 of 11 plays--almost the entire fourth quarter when Atlanta had the ball. There are many worse flyers out there if you don't have an RB3+ in your #2 RB slot.
At WR, Keke Coutee (92.4% available) and Denzel Mims (92.6%) are great bets for 8+ points and decent bets for 12+. The same goes for Breshad Perriman (84.7%) and bigger longshot Gabriel Davis (97.1%). None of these guys are deep cuts; they all have proven double-digit ability. And all are on waivers in almost every league.
At TE, Logan Thomas has produced in four of his last six games despite being overlooked in 72.9% of leagues. And don't underestimate the virtually completely unrostered Geoff Swaim with Jonnu Smith sidelined. Swaim flashed two years ago in Dallas and could be Ryan Tannehill's third-most-targeted receiver tomorrow.