You’re picking up players for one (or more) of three reasons. One, you need to start them this week. Two, you think they could become startable later in the season/playoffs. Three, you’re adding the backup of one of your starters as a handcuff to mitigate risk in the event of an injury/any missed games.
It’s important (always, but especially now as the regular season winds down) you’re not making waiver claims just for the sake of making a waiver claim. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Likely, though, if you’re here, like me, you’re probably looking to do some fixing of that roster. Here are some players who might help aid that effort.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota (QB – ATL): 35% rostered
Mariota’s rushing baseline continues to be the only reason he remains on fantasy rosters. However, last weekend, he dropped 22 fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers, and he faces them again on Thursday.
Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE): 21% rostered
He’ll be a starting QB in three weeks. That’s about all I have for you here.
Running Backs
Forgive me. This section is going to be formatted a bit oddly. However, each of my RB waiver additions fits the same archetype. The below RBs are all prototypical “handcuffs,” meaning they’re their team’s clear RB2.
If you have any of their lead backs, you need to prioritize adding these RBs. Even if you don’t have one of the lead backs, these guys are worth an add because one missed game vaults them to immediately startable in fantasy.
In terms of weekly value, it’s slim to none. They’ll each always see the field, but not much, so you have to hope for an opportune big play or touchdown.
Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN): 28% rostered
Rachaad White (RB – TB): 20% rostered
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI): 8% rostered
Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT): 3% rostered
Wide Receivers
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG): 21% rostered
The 43rd pick in this year’s draft missed much of the first five games of the season with an injury. However, Robinson has caught 11 of 15 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown over the last three weeks. Those aren’t groundbreaking numbers, but he’s an ascending talent on a team that desperately needs a wide receiver to step up.
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – FA): 18% rostered
If you have the roster space, throwing a dart at OBJ might not be a terrible idea. He’s a proven playmaker who will likely be signing with a contender, which probably means they have a competent quarterback situation. He’s coming off a torn ACL, has been a free agent all year, and just turned 30, so don’t expect him to return to 2016 form.
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR- CAR): 8% rostered
Since Matt Rhule’s firing, Marshall has earned his way to being a nearly every-down starter in Carolina. The 2021 second-round pick has fifteen targets in his last two games. As a member of the Carolina Panthers offense, his ceiling remains on the lower end, but consistent involvement in a team’s passing game is nothing to scoff at.
Tight Ends
Greg Dulcich (TE – DEN): 30% rostered
Dulcich may have flown under the waiver wire radar with Denver on a bye this week. However, he’s led Broncos TEs in snap percentage each of the last three weeks. The rookie missed the first six games of the season, so his impressive NFL debut (12/182/1 in three games) has been slightly overlooked. I’ll buy this hot start and think he should be rostered in most 12-team leagues.
Cole Kmet (TE – CHI): 27% rostered
Kmet tallied season-highs today in targets, receptions, carries (not a typo), and touchdowns. He finished today’s game against Miami, catching five of six balls thrown his way for 41 and two touchdowns while adding two carries for nine yards. The pool of available and fantasy-relevant TEs is as shallow as it gets right now, so if you’re scraping by, keep an eye out for Kmet.
Defense/Special Teams
Atlanta Falcons: 13% rostered
The Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football feels like a match made in heaven. Atlanta allowed 34 points to this Panthers team last weekend, which must’ve been a fluke, right? RIGHT? Let’s hope so because I’m rolling with the Falcons’ defense on Thursday night in as many leagues as I can find them.
New York Giants: 6% rostered
I love finding defenses coming off a bye week who also have a favorable matchup. The Texans have scored more than 20 points in a game once this season. That was in Week 4… when they scored 24 points. I’m all over a well-rested Giants defense in this one.
Kickers
Graham Gano (K – NYG): 52% rostered
This 52% rostership usually excludes one from this column; however, Gano was on a bye this week, which means he may have been dropped in your league. Gano is perfect on extra points and 17/19 on field goals, including 4/4 from beyond 50 yards. Unless you have Justin Tucker or Jason Myers, snag Gano.
Riley Patterson (K – JAX): 10% rostered
Heading into today’s games, Jacksonville was bottom-ten in the league in red zone efficiency. Naturally, they trotted Patterson out three times today. He might not be a hall-of-fame kicker, but he gets the job done, making 13 of 15 field goal attempts so far this year.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
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.
