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.
Check out the rest of our weekly fantasy football advice 
Andy Dalton (QB – NO) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (17.7% Rostered)
Last week Dalton had three interceptions and still scored 26.5 fantasy points, making him a top-four quarterback for the week. The veteran quarterback had 361 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. Despite his three interceptions, two of which got returned for a touchdown, Dalton mostly played well in the game. More importantly, the Saints named him the starter this week despite Jameis Winston reportedly being 100% healthy.
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.
Check out the rest of our weekly fantasy football advice
Andy Dalton (QB – NO) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (17.7% Rostered)
Last week Dalton had three interceptions and still scored 26.5 fantasy points, making him a top-four quarterback for the week. The veteran quarterback had 361 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. Despite his three interceptions, two of which got returned for a touchdown, Dalton mostly played well in the game. More importantly, the Saints named him the starter this week despite Jameis Winston reportedly being 100% healthy.
While the team didn’t name Dalton the starter for the rest of the season, the veteran quarterback has an appealing matchup this week against the Raiders. Las Vegas has surrendered 24 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, the most in the NFL. They have also given up an average of 2.2 passing touchdowns per game, giving up at least two in three straight contests. Furthermore, Davis Mills had a season-high 302 passing yards and 18.1 fantasy points against the Raiders last week. Dalton won’t have Michael Thomas or Jarvis Landry this week. However, he had a high-end QB1 finish in Week 7 without the two veterans.
Latavius Murray (RB – DEN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (31.2% Rostered)
The Denver backfield has become a fantasy nightmare since Javonte Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 4. While Melvin Gordon was expected to take over as the featured back, the Broncos have used running back by committee situation over the past few weeks. However, Murray has played well since joining the team in Week 5. Over the past two games, he led the team in rushing attempts (23), yards (90), and half-point PPR fantasy points (16.2). More importantly, the veteran leads all running backs in snaps played since joining the team.
Furthermore, Murray led all running backs in fantasy points scored last week despite Gordon getting the start and earning more snaps and touches. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have surrendered 22.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the eighth-most in the NFL. They have given up over 110 rushing yards to the position in three of their past four games. Moreover, Jacksonville surrendered five rushing touchdowns to running backs over the past month, the fourth-most in the NFL during that span. Hopefully, Murray can find the end zone for the second time in London this year.
Matt Breida (RB – NYG) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1.3% Rostered)
Finding running backs off the waiver wire is difficult, but finding last-minute replacement options is a nightmare. Nonetheless, Breida is a solid dart throw target this week. The veteran running back has very little fantasy value as long as Saquon Barkley is healthy. Yet, his snaps and touches have increased lately. Over the past three weeks, Breida has played at least 23% of the snaps in each game. Furthermore, the veteran has five or more touches in all three contests. While he has averaged only 3.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game during that span, Breida has averaged 4.4 yards per touch during those three games.
More importantly, this week’s matchup is excellent for the running back. The Seahawks have given up 25 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to the position this year, the fifth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Seattle has surrendered 104.1 rushing yards per game to running backs, giving up over 100 rushing yards to the position in all but two games. While Barkley should rip apart the Seahawks’ defense, Breida has the speed needed to take one of his touches to the house. Hopefully, he sees a few extra touches this week and can pull off a miracle for desperate fantasy players.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG) vs. Seattle Seahawks (31.4% Rostered)
Robinson is an excellent last-minute replacement for Week 8. However, he is also the perfect beat the waiver wire candidate. Honestly, the rookie receiver shouldn’t be available in 68.6% of ESPN leagues. Robinson is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver in New York after the Giants traded Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. Furthermore, the rookie leads the team in receptions (nine), targets (12), receiving yards (87), and half-point PPR fantasy points (19.2) since returning from a knee injury. Moreover, Robinson has been the WR28 over the past two weeks.
Not only is the former Kentucky star Daniel Jones‘ new favorite target, but Robinson has a solid matchup this week against the Seahawks. Seattle has held wide receivers to 23.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game this season, slightly below the league average. However, they have struggled against slot receivers. According to PFF, Robinson lines up in the slot 77% of the time. Meanwhile, Seattle’s slot cornerback, Coby Bryant, has allowed 66% of the passes thrown his way to be completed this season. After leading the team in targets last week, Robinson could have the first double-digit target game in his career on Sunday.
Chris Moore (WR – HOU) vs. Tennessee Titans (0.2% Rostered)
The thought of starting a Houston wide receiver isn’t ideal, especially when that player is someone other than Brandin Cooks. However, Moore is a deep sleeper this week. The Texans won’t have second-year man Nico Collins this week, as he is expected to miss the game with a groin injury. Furthermore, Cooks is questionable to play with a wrist injury. While the veteran is likely to play, there are rumors Cooks could get traded before kickoff and sit out the game. Whether Cooks plays or not, Moore is the next man up and will see a larger workload with Collins out.
Moore has the third-most targets on the team this year among wide receivers (16). He has also played at least 53% of the snaps each game since Week 2 that he has been active. Meanwhile, the Titans have surrendered 36.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the third-most in the NFL. They have also given up nine receiving touchdowns to the position, the third-most in the league. Moore won’t give fantasy players top-20 performance this week. However, he does have flex appeal, given the situation and matchup.
Juwan Johnson (TE – NO) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (7.1% Rostered)
Last week Johnson caught all five of his targets for 32 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals. His 17.7 half-point PPR fantasy points made him the TE2 in Week 7. However, Johnson is questionable to play on Sunday because of a hamstring injury. He was a limited participant the past two days at practice, so hopefully, he can play. If Johnson is active, the former wide receiver turned tight end has another excellent matchup this week against the Raiders.
Las Vegas has given up 14 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, the third-most in the NFL. They have surrendered six touchdowns to the position, the most in the league in only six games played. More importantly, tight ends have scored 12 or more fantasy points against the Raiders in 67% of the games this season. With Thomas and Landry out again this week, Johnson will have a larger role on offense, especially in the red zone. The former Penn State and Oregon star has top-five upside if he plays.
However, fantasy players should have a backup plan if Johnson can’t play this week. While the waiver wire is thin at tight end, Tyler Conklin (rostered in 16.6% of ESPN leagues) is a solid fallback option. He is facing the New England Patriots, who have surrendered 10.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. Furthermore, they have given up an average of 5.5 receptions for 67 receiving yards and 9.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past two weeks. With Corey Davis out this week because of a knee injury, the veteran Conklin should see an uptick in targets.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
