Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.
Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
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Jared Goff (QB – DET) vs. Minnesota Vikings (27.3% Rostered)
Over the first two weeks of the year, Goff is the QB9, averaging 20.8 fantasy points per game. Yet, he is rostered in 10.3% fewer leagues than Trey Lance despite the second-year quarterback being out for the year with an ankle injury. More importantly, Goff has scored at least 15.5 fantasy points in both contests.
Meanwhile, the Vikings had no answer for Jalen Hurts last week, as he scored 33 fantasy points. However, don’t let yourself believe that Hurts scored all those fantasy points with his legs. He completed 26 of his 31 pass attempts for 333 yards and a touchdown, scoring 17.3 fantasy points in the air (52.5% of his total). Even if he only scores 17.3 fantasy points, Goff would have been the QB15 in Week 1 and the QB13 last week with that production.
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL) vs. Seattle Seahawks (18.4% Rostered)
The former BYU star was inactive for Atlanta’s Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. However, with Damien Williams on injured reserve, Allgeier was active last week against the Los Angeles Rams. While the rookie only averaged three yards per rushing attempt, fantasy players need to look deeper at his stats.
He had 10 rushing attempts in the game, including three on the opening drive. His 10 attempts matched Cordarrelle Patterson for the team led. Furthermore, Patterson got his touches on 36 snaps played, while Allgeier got his on only 19 snaps. Thus, the Falcons made it a priority to get Allgeier the ball when he was in the game. If he is on the waiver wire in your league, now is the time to add him to your roster. The Seahawks have given up an average of 109.5 rushing yards per game to running backs this season. Allgeier is a worthy flex option if he can get enough touches, especially in non-PPR leagues.
Also, Allgeier is a beat the waiver wire addition. The matchup is appealing, and he matched Patterson with 10 rushing attempts last week. He easily could earn a larger role this week and find the end zone. Don’t be shocked if Allgeier’s name is at the top of every waiver wire article on Tuesday.
Jerick McKinnon (RB – KC) vs. Indianapolis Colts (18.3% Rostered)
After back-to-back disappointing years to begin his career, Clyde Edwards-Helaire appears to have finally broken out. However, 34.6% of his fantasy production has come from touchdowns in half-point PPR scoring. Meanwhile, Edwards-Helaire has averaged only 11 touches per game this season. Hopefully, CEH can keep up his production on limited snaps, but let’s not pretend McKinnon has gotten glued to the bench.
Over the first two games of the year, McKinnon has played 54 snaps (42.5%) compared to 52 (41%) for Edwards-Helaire. The preseason darling, Isiah Pacheco, has played 21 snaps all season long. Furthermore, CEH has seven targets over the first two weeks, only one more than McKinnon. More importantly, McKinnon has scored at least 6.4 half-point PPR fantasy points in both games this season despite finding the end zone only once. The veteran is startable in deeper PPR leagues for those who need a last-minute replacement. However, if something happens to CEH during the game, McKinnon has top-20 upside this week.
Nelson Agholor (WR – NE) vs. Baltimore Ravens (19.2% Rostered)
I have never been a fan of Agholor’s. However, I can’t ignore what he did last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The veteran scored 20 half-point PPR fantasy points, pulling in all six of his targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he played only 50% of the snaps last week, seeing a target once per 5.7 snaps. Furthermore, Agholor ran a route on 26 of his 34 snaps against the Steelers. Meanwhile, the offseason addition DeVante Parker leads the team in snaps with 109 but only has four targets this season, three fewer than Jonnu Smith.
Some will argue his performance last week was a fluke. However, Agholor has averaged 3.7 routes ran per target this season. More importantly, the Baltimore secondary was ripped apart by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle last week. Both wide receivers scored 34.6 or more half-point PPR fantasy points against the Ravens. While he is not the player Hill or Waddle is, Agholor has the speed to challenge the defense downfield. Hopefully, Mac Jones can do half of what Tua Tagovailoa did against the Ravens. If he can, Agholor is in line for another solid fantasy performance.
Greg Dortch (WR – ARI) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5.4% Rostered)
Dortch is my favorite sleeper this week. Over the first two weeks of the year, he has been the WR23 in half-point PPR scoring, averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game. The third-year receiver has scored more fantasy points than any other flex player on the team. Yet, he’s been productive despite being third on the team in targets and playing fewer snaps than A.J. Green, who looks completely washed.
More importantly, Dortch has a great matchup this week against the Rams. They have given up an average of 44.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the second-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the slot receiver has an appealing matchup against Cobie Durant, who has allowed 67% of the passes thrown his way to be completed this season, according to PFF. With Rondale Moore out again because of a hamstring injury, Dortch is in position for another strong fantasy outing.
Hayden Hurst (TE – CIN) vs. New York Jets (25.8% Rostered)
For some ridiculous reason, Hurst has a lower rostered percentage than Noah Fant (39.6%) despite scoring nearly three times as many fantasy points. Furthermore, Hurst has 15 targets this season, the sixth-most among tight ends. He has more targets than several star tight ends, including Darren Waller and Kyle Pitts. Hurst has also seen at least seven targets in both games. While he is listed as questionable for the matchup against the Jets with a groin injury, all reports suggest Hurst is ready to play on Sunday.
Maybe the fantasy football community will start to show Hurst more respect after this week. The Jets have given up an average of 9.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. They have surrendered at least five receptions for 52 yards in both contests. The Bengals have an explosive offense led by Joe Burrow. However, Hurst is second on the team in targets, only behind Ja’Marr Chase. Furthermore, the only Bengals to see more targets than the veteran tight end last week were Chase and Tee Higgins. If he can find the end zone against the Jets, Hurst will end the week as a top-10 tight end.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
