The Bye Weeks are back after a week off and things are starting to get serious with the fantasy football playoffs on the horizon. It can always pay to keep one eye on the future and these are players that it might be worth picking up now, ahead of the waiver wire rush midweek. All of these players are below 50% rostered on Yahoo leagues.
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Daniel Jones (QB – NYG): 47% Rostered
The Giants quarterback is set to return this week after not playing since Week 5 because of a neck injury. In March the Giants signed Jones to a $160m four-year deal and its fair to say that so far they haven’t gotten what they expected from Jones, but they’re committed to him and need to see Jones show that extending him was the right move. Jones has returned single-digit fantasy points in his last three games but in the next four games, he’ll face the Commanders as well as the hapless Raiders this week. Jones has rushed for over 40 yards in three of the four full games he’s played this year and there aren’t too many quarterbacks who do that on waivers.
Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA): 44% Rostered
After missing Week 7 through injury, Zach Charbonnet returned in Week 8 and got hot, seeing a career-high 34 snaps and turning them into a personal best 64 total yards. Charbonnet looked explosive and like he was ready for a bigger role and Pete Carroll positively gushed when talking about the rookie in his press conference this week. Charbonnet came out of college doing two things very well, catching the ball and picking up short yardage, skills that translate into fantasy points. So far Charbonnet’s had to bide his time but we’ve seen flashes and he could be a league-winner if anything happened to Kenneth Walker.
Devin Singletary (RB – HOU): 39% Rostered
Dameon Pierce is set to sit out for the Texans game against the Buccaneers this week, but Singletary is only 39% rostered and really should be approaching that 50% mark. Pierce has been entirely unimpressive this year and while part of that could be put down to offensive line injuries early on in the season, we’re nine weeks in and Pierce is averaging 8.0 PPR points with only two double-digit games, one touchdown and an average of 3.0 yards per carry. Singletary has combined for 25 touches in his last two games and if he has a solid weekend as the RB1 with Pierce missing out, it might be hard for Pierce to regain his job.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU): 46% Rostered
Speaking of the Texans, Tank Dell returned from a concussion in Week 8 against an above-average Panthers passing defense, picking up three catches for 16 yards. That was no doubt a disappointing result but better days are ahead for Dell with the Bucs, Bengals and Cardinals next on the schedule. Robert Woods is due to miss some time which will help Dell’s playing time and for deeper leagues, he’s an excellent pickup.
Demario Douglas (WR – NE): 29% Rostered
Kendrick Bourne is on injured reserve with an ACL injury set to sideline him the rest of the season and DeVante Parker has been ruled out for Week 9 due to a concussion. The Patriots are down bad at the wide receiver position but the whispers suggest this could be good news for Demario ‘Pop’ Douglas, who the Patriots have been effusive about ever since the draft, playing him ahead of Kayshon Boutte whose name still garners some level of intrigue after flashing in college. Douglas has had 13 targets in his last two games and is entrenched in the starting lineup and with games against the Commanders and Colts defenses, he might flash sooner rather than later.
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL): 20% Rostered
I know I know, I know, it’s been very rough for Rashod Bateman drafters with no more than three targets in a game this year, BUT… this week not only did Lamar Jackson say they need to get Bateman more involved, so did head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Bateman himself has said he feels like he’s just getting back to his old self after lisfranc surgery last year and the Ravens could do with that speed as they’re one of only two teams in the league to not have scored a touchdown from outside the red zone.
Hunter Henry (TE – NE): 36% Rostered
As mentioned when talking about Demario Douglas, the Patriots have next to nobody on offense right now and while it might be tricky trying to decide whether JuJu Smith-Schuster or Demario Douglas is the right receiver to roster, at tight end we’ve seen Hunter Henry be the clear choice all season. Henry has gone six straight games without a touchdown or picking up double-digit points, but with games against the Commanders and Colts that should change quickly.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DST: 28% Rostered
The Buccaneers defense is a far cry from what it was during their Super Bowl run, but they still have some fantasy appeal, with 18 sacks and seven interceptions in seven games. The upcoming schedule is very friendly for Tampa with games against the Texans, Niners, Colts, Panthers, Falcons and Packers. Even the Niners game looks more appetizing with Brock Purdy throwing more interceptions of late, not to mention the string of other iffy-at-best quarterbacks in that collection.
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