The year is 2021 and this is a real waiver wire profile of Emmanuel Sanders. Seems crazy, but here we are. And after Sanders leaped onto the fantasy radar with a standout performance in Week 3, how could we overlook the long-time NFL contributor?
We’ll explain the merits for why Sanders deserves your consideration. Whether one big game necessitates the expenditure of valuable waiver resources in your fantasy league roster, however, is a difficult question.
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State of the offense
Second-year WR Gabriel Davis was a sneaky pick in draft season for his breakout potential as a play-maker in a Josh Allen-led vertical attack. Though Davis did haul in his first touchdown of the season on Sunday, it’s evident that he has been surpassed on the depth chart by the 34-year-old veteran.
Sanders led the Bills’ receiving corps in snaps in Week 3. It wasn’t an aberration, either. With a snap percentage of 83.8% through three weeks, Sanders has seen the field more frequently this season than all other Bills receivers. Yes, that includes Stefon Diggs (82.5%).
An established wideout with a long-time NFL pedigree, Emmanuel Sanders has clearly earned the trust of the coaching staff in Buffalo.
Player Profile
Beyond the trust of his coaches, it was apparent in Week 3 that Sanders has also earned the trust of his quarterback. Sanders converted six targets into five receptions and 94 yards—and Josh Allen looked in Sanders’ direction when it counted. The 12th-year receiver converted a pair of meaningful targets into touchdowns on the day: a 28-yarder on the Bills’ opening drive and a 5-yard strike early in the second half.
At this stage of his career, Sanders may not be the fastest guy on the field. With a wealth of experience from which to draw, however, Sanders very well might be the savviest guy on it. His knack for finding the soft spot in the secondary as a play breaks down was on display Sunday.
On Sanders’ first score, Allen worked to extend the play just as his receiver was doing the same downfield. Allen escaped the pocket, rolled right, and found Sanders for a tumbling touchdown snag.
What a catch by Emmanuel Sanders
Sheesh ?
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/qQPGm6PjC1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 26, 2021
Sanders used every trick in his bag on that play. His vision of the field, his physical ability to get where Allen needed him to be, plus his hands and coordination to complete the catch for the score. It’s tough to deny the skill set is a nice mesh with what Allen brings to the table as a quarterback.
Later in the game, Sanders proved once again that he knows his way around an end zone. It’s not recommended that you get lost in your coverage against Sanders—he’s going to get to the open spot if you do.
Emmanuel Sanders x2‼️
?: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/nQAlfAAYhD
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 26, 2021
Sanders’ Outlook
All of this is fine and dandy, of course, but at the end of the day, how does it translate to actionable decisions for your fantasy team? While Sanders has seen at least six targets in each of the first three games of the season, only once did his respectable involvement in the Buffalo passing game yield a usable output for fantasy. If you commit to submitting a meaningful waiver claim, are you really trusting him for your lineup?
After a combined 16.0 PPR points across his first two games, Sanders popped in Week 3, scoring 26.4 points to finish WR5 on the week. Every fantasy manager would have been thrilled with that production in their lineup–but can we count on it moving forward?
Obviously, a weekly line buoyed by multiple touchdowns isn’t realistic. But a trusted pass-catcher tied to one of fantasy football’s most explosive aerial offenses isn’t a player who should remain on waiver wires. Weekly variance is going to be a natural element of Sanders’ game this season, but if you’re a believer in the ascension of Josh Allen, it stands to reason that you’d want a piece of Sanders, too.
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