Levi Chappell discusses which players you should consider grabbing from your dynasty league’s waiver wire in Week 6.
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This time of the year, it is more pivotal than ever that you have solid bench players to start while your studs are either on a bye or nursing an injury. Adding quality players off the waiver wire is critical to your team’s immediate and long-term success.
Simply by reading this article, you have a leg up on your opponents. So pat yourself on the back…well done. Fantasy football is a fast moving and ever changing game, and you must stay on top of every transaction in hopes of finding that next gem off of the waiver wire. I commend you for taking the time to educate yourself on some potential names that may help you win your league. So without further ado, let me introduce you to some relevant names that will be worth monitoring.
Some of the names that I will be listing below and in future articles will already be owned in your league. If you are in a 10-team league, many of these players may be available, but if you are in a 12-or 14-team league, fewer may be available. For the most part, I will be listing players that are owned in fewer than 40% of 12-team leagues.
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Wendell Smallwood (RB – PHI)
Some of the biggest news to come from this weekend was the ACL tear that Jay Ajayi suffered. He will be shut down for the rest of the season, which creates a massive hole in the running game for the Eagles. I mentioned that you should pick up Smallwood a couple weeks ago, so if you were listening to me…you are welcome. If you did not, there may still be a chance that he is available in your league, because he is still unowned in a majority of leagues. His snap count has been increasing every week, and I would expect Smallwood and Corey Clement to share the heavy load in the upcoming weeks.
Hayden Hurst (TE – BAL)
Hurst was active in Week 5, but only played 24% of the team’s snaps as he is working himself back into shape. Hurst will more than likely be the go-to-guy for Flacco once he is fully up to speed. The tight end position is so depleted that any tight end that can stay on the field for a chunk of time has become a very valuable commodity. According to Pro Football Focus, Hurst didn’t drop a single pass during college in 2017, while a total of 43% of his total receiving yards came while he was lined up in the slot. This means that Hurst will be heavily used as a receiving tight end once his snap count goes up.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – GB)
What a fantastic name and a massive headache for broadcast announcers. For the time-saving aspect of this article, he will be referred to as “MVS.” MVS came out of college as an athletic freak, but a bit of a “project” when it came to understanding the position, running routes, run blocking, etc.
None of that seemed to matter though, with Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison both sidelined in Week 5, MVS showed that he was more than capable. Rodgers also showed a lot of trust in him, targeting him 10 times and catching seven of those passes for 68 yards and a score. He earned the right to play more and showed that he could be a difference maker when he is on the field.
Alfred Blue (RB – HOU)
Lamar Miller was technically active for Week 5, but didn’t end up playing a single snap. Blue took full advantage of the opportunity, totaling 119 yards from scrimmage. He was not the most efficient runner (20 carries for 46 yards), but he was effective enough to keep the ball moving. His upside is limited though if Miller is good to go for Week 6. The Inevitable return of D’Onta Foreman puts a damper on his stock as well, but if you are looking for a one- or two-week filler, Blue may get enough touches to make him viable.
Mohamed Sanu (WR – ATL)
Not the sexiest name or pick here, but Sanu has been productive while playing third-fiddle behind Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Sanu cashed in on his second touchdown of the season and led the Falcons’ receivers with 73 yards in Week 5. He is quietly on pace to have his best season as a pro, even though no one is talking about him. All the love is being shared with Ridley and Jones, but Sanu has been very effective as well. The Falcons take on the Buccaneers next week, who have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. Sanu is a strong flex play/WR3 in week 6.
Geoff Swaim (TE – DAL)
Simply put…the Cowboys’ passing game stinks. Jason Garrett has shown to be a terrible head coach at times, Dak Prescott cannot find any consistency, and the passing game is struggling because of it. However, the one man who has been decently consistent during that time has been Swaim. Over the past three games, he has averaged four catches on five targets for 47 yards per game.
While those numbers aren’t going to blow you away, they are very consistent, and in a year where Hunter Henry, Greg Olsen, O.J. Howard, Will Dissly, Tyler Eifert, Evan Engram, Delanie Walker, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jake Butt, and Jack Doyle all have had a significant or season-ending injury, four for 47 doesn’t sound too bad. Prescott seems to trust his big target.
Other names to watch out for:
- LeGarrette Blount (RB – DET)
- Ito Smith (RB – ATL)
- Rishard Matthews (WR – FA)
- Josh Reynolds (WR – LAR)
- Nick Vannett (TE – SEA)
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