With six teams on bye, for some of you this is a tough time to find good or even half-decent (or even quarter-decent) players on waivers. I've got two WRs on bye, and I'm not excited to give up on my RB handcuffs (i.e. most of my bench spots). So do I roll the dice on an incomplete lineup and hope to take the W? No, I'll probably go all in, because every win is important. But these are the types of dilemmas some of us are facing.
Some guys I've been hyping lately include Rhamondre Stevenson. He's still available in a lot of leagues and faces a sub-par Jets defense. It's quite possible Stevenson will be given 10+ touches, particularly if the game gets out of hand. I offer a more detailed explanation of "why" in yesterday's PFN column: www.profootballnetwork.com/rhamondre-stevenson-fantasy-analysis-waiver-wire-2021-nflwk-7/. While we can take chances on guys like Chris Evans or Demetric Felton--and while those chances might make a lot of sense--Stevenson seems to offer a higher floor. Unless he fumbles again (see: preseason and Week 1), he's entrenched as a backfield contributor.
Also, a bunch of managers have bailed on Kenyan Drake in recent weeks. His reduced role has been inexplicable, particularly with Peyton Barber hurt and Josh Jacobs both hobbled and (let's face it) not very electrifying. Then last week, under a new head coach, Drake gets some run and makes the most of it. While his bell cow days are probably over, he's still only 27 years old and has the potential to push for 12+ touches if the Raiders finally give up on Jacobs as their inefficient workhorse.
We've been waiting for Nico Collins to return from his Week 2 injury. Last week he went 4-44 on six targets. That's nothing to sneeze at in an offense that plays from behind most of the time. Brandin Cooks should remain the #1, at least for now. With Houston's backfield plodding along at a laughable 3.3 yards per carry (just ahead of the league-worst, Jacobs-led Raiders), the Texans' best hope to compete is to keep the chains moving through the air. Collins could become a consistent WR4+ going forward.
Finally, it's a longshot, but Cam Newton. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged speaking with him, though he claimed he's spoken with others who might help his team win. Seattle is in a heap of trouble, and not just this year. Before his injury, Russell Wilson was reportedly dead-set on leaving this offseason. Geno Smith is not a long-term answer, and candidly he's also not a short-term answer. The Seahawks are 2-4 and nearing the point of no return. I would not be surprised if they signed someone like Cam, and if they did, he'd become (in my opinion) an instant top-16 QB with QB1 upside. He was the 15th best fantasy QB last year playing with worse personnel in New England. Surely he'd be no worse throwing to two top-16 NFL receivers.
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Some guys I've been hyping lately include Rhamondre Stevenson. He's still available in a lot of leagues and faces a sub-par Jets defense. It's quite possible Stevenson will be given 10+ touches, particularly if the game gets out of hand. I offer a more detailed explanation of "why" in yesterday's PFN column: www.profootballnetwork.com/rhamondre-stevenson-fantasy-analysis-waiver-wire-2021-nflwk-7/. While we can take chances on guys like Chris Evans or Demetric Felton--and while those chances might make a lot of sense--Stevenson seems to offer a higher floor. Unless he fumbles again (see: preseason and Week 1), he's entrenched as a backfield contributor.
Also, a bunch of managers have bailed on Kenyan Drake in recent weeks. His reduced role has been inexplicable, particularly with Peyton Barber hurt and Josh Jacobs both hobbled and (let's face it) not very electrifying. Then last week, under a new head coach, Drake gets some run and makes the most of it. While his bell cow days are probably over, he's still only 27 years old and has the potential to push for 12+ touches if the Raiders finally give up on Jacobs as their inefficient workhorse.
We've been waiting for Nico Collins to return from his Week 2 injury. Last week he went 4-44 on six targets. That's nothing to sneeze at in an offense that plays from behind most of the time. Brandin Cooks should remain the #1, at least for now. With Houston's backfield plodding along at a laughable 3.3 yards per carry (just ahead of the league-worst, Jacobs-led Raiders), the Texans' best hope to compete is to keep the chains moving through the air. Collins could become a consistent WR4+ going forward.
Finally, it's a longshot, but Cam Newton. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged speaking with him, though he claimed he's spoken with others who might help his team win. Seattle is in a heap of trouble, and not just this year. Before his injury, Russell Wilson was reportedly dead-set on leaving this offseason. Geno Smith is not a long-term answer, and candidly he's also not a short-term answer. The Seahawks are 2-4 and nearing the point of no return. I would not be surprised if they signed someone like Cam, and if they did, he'd become (in my opinion) an instant top-16 QB with QB1 upside. He was the 15th best fantasy QB last year playing with worse personnel in New England. Surely he'd be no worse throwing to two top-16 NFL receivers.
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Listen to the PFN fantasy podcast Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-mood-for-fantasy-football/id1580114372