So you survived bye-mageddon … or tried to, at least.
Why are there six teams on byes this week and zero on byes in week eight? Probably for the same reason Marvin Mims is still playing just 20% of the Denver Broncos’ offensive snaps and Bijan Robinson did a disappearing act today (because frustrating us fantasy managers is fun, apparently).
As always, we’re looking at Thursday and Sunday’s first slate of games for some potential waiver wire additions. I find that breaking each week’s games into two chunks helps me feel less overwhelmed when staring into the waiver wire abyss on Tuesday mornings.
- Waiver Wire Picks
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Here are some players rostered in fewer than 40 percent of leagues I’m considering:
Kyler Murray (QB – ARI)
Rostered: 22.4%
Through four seasons, Murray is averaging more than 240 passing yards and 38 rushing yards per game. The last time he played more than 11 games in 2021, Murray threw for more than 270 yards per game. Throughout his career, he also averages a rushing touchdown nearly every other game (.4 per game).
If Kyler Murray is active, he’s on a fantasy roster, plain and simple. Now is your chance to snag him with virtually zero risk.
According to Ian Rapaport, Murray’s most likely return date is week 10 against Atlanta. This means if you roster Murray, you can likely stash him in an injured reserve spot until he’s activated. Murray tore his ACL on December 12, 2022, so don’t expect an immediate return to form, but the potential is worth an addition.
Bryce Young (QB – CAR)
Rostered: 9.3%
Young is coming off a bye and playing at home against the Texans (who are also coming off a bye) next weekend. If you’re in need of a streaming option or superflex/second quarterback, Young has thrown the ball 79 times in his last two games. That volume could at least provide a decent floor.
Gardner Minshew (QB – IND)
Rostered: 3.6%
We can’t expect two rushing touchdowns per week from Minshew. Prior to today, he had two in his entire career. However, he’s the Colts’ starter going forward, and thanks to new Head Coach Shane Steichen and some solid ancillary weapons, Minshew could be a viable option in some formats.
In two starts last season, he finished with 629 total passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and 28 rushing yards. The Colts take on the Saints and Panthers in the next two weeks, which aren’t terrible matchups. Even if they were… Hey, the Colts put 30+ points on a formidable Browns defense.
Tyson Bagent (QB – CHI)
Rostered: 1.6%
Here’s your incredibly deep, please-be-in-a-20-team-league pull of the week. In his first NFL start today, Bagent scored 16.5 fantasy points.
The Bears play the Chargers on Sunday night. The Chargers’ defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to shine this season.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)
Rostered: 34.7%
With the Titans on a bye, this might be our last chance to roster Spears, a 2023 third-round pick who has looked more than competent playing a complementary role to Derrick Henry this season. Spears is averaging five and a half yards per rushing attempt and catching two and a half passes per game. He’s played more offensive snaps than Derrick Henry in three of the Titans’ six games this season.
Devin Singletary (RB- HOU)
Rostered: 26.3%
The Texans play the Panthers next weekend. The Panthers, coming into week seven, have allowed the most rushing touchdowns and second-most rushing yards in the league to opposing running backs. In week six, Singletary out-snapped Texans RB Dameon Pierce 54% to 33%. Singletary isn’t likely a home run threat, but we could do a lot worse than a timeshare running back against this porous Panthers defense.
Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)
Rostered: 8.2%
Bigsby is in no way, shape, or form a starting consideration. However, if your team is in good shape or if you roster Travie Etienne, Bigsby could be a solid addition. Etienne is killing it this season, and should anything happen to him, Bigsby is the next man up. Bigsby, a 2023 third-round pick, is solid Etienne insurance.
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
Rostered: 34.5%
Here’s the breakout week you were asking for! Downs was averaging more than 10 fantasy points per game PRIOR to today. The 2023 third-round pick should be rostered in all formats.
Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE)
Rostered: 22.1%
Coming into this weekend, Bourne was the WR34. He had more points per game than DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Jerry Jeudy, all of whom are rostered more than Bourne. This week, he turned in 16.3 fantasy points on a 23% target share.
The Patriots play in Miami next weekend, and if they’re going to even attempt to keep up with the Dolphins’ high-powered offense, they’ll be throwing the ball.
Demario Douglas (WR – NE)
Rostered: 0.3%
Douglas has truly explosive speed and agility. He always has. Patriots reporters and fans sang Douglas’ praises all preseason. However, as we know, rookies need to earn their keep on Bill Belichick-coached football teams. Today’s game was a great sign for those who need to dig deep into the waiver wire.
Should Douglas continue to see the field, he could become a fantasy option that doesn’t need a high volume of touches to produce value.
Jalin Hyatt (WR – NYG)
Rostered: 2.2%
I would be cautious starting Hyatt if and when Daniel Jones returns until we see a solid performance. Hyatt turned in his best performance of the season today, 9.5 fantasy points, with Tyrod Taylor under center.
The Giants are desperate for receiving threats, and Hyatt, the 2023 third-round pick, auditioned well today.
Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)
Rostered: 32%
Prior to this week, the last full game Kincaid played was in week four. In Week 4, he played more snaps (52%) than Bills TE Dawson Knox (50%). He ran more routes (79% of dropbacks) than Knox (48%) and had a higher target share (17%) than Knox (4%).
Knox picked up right where he left off today, earning a 21% target share and scoring 15.5 fantasy points.
The Bills drafted Kincaid in the first round this year for a reason. They need a premiere pass-catching threat alongside WR Stefon Diggs to take this offense to the next level. Kincaid, provided he stays healthy, profiles as a high-upside TE1 for the rest of the season.
Taysom Hill (TE – NO)
Rostered: 5.6%
Hill, a perennial thorn in the side of fantasy managers, has 29.1 points over the last two weeks. The tight end landscape is brutal right now, so Hill has to be considered.
Atlanta Falcons Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 21.5%
We’re not entirely sure whether or not Ryan Tannehill will play in this game after leaving last weekend’s game with an ankle injury. Regardless, I’m expecting this game between the Titans and Falcons to be given a gloriously low over/under total points projection, which is why I would also be fine with the…
Tennessee Titans Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 2.9%
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