The conclusion of week 6 means we are halfway through the fantasy regular season for most leagues. This is also around the time where fantasy teams will start to fizzle out if their managers haven't been adding depth from the wire throughout the season. Don't be that manager! Two teams are on bye this week; Panthers and Cowboys. Good luck!
Note: all waiver picks listed here will have only been owned in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues at the time of publication.
Quarterback
Alex Smith (KC) - 28% owned - Well Alex Smith ended up being a bust last week as the Chiefs went full rushing attack with a lead against the Raiders all game. I still like him as a streamer for week 7 as he goes up against the Saints where he will need to pass to try and keep up with Drew Brees. Smith should easily be a QB1 this week.
Honorable mention: Joe Flacco (BAL) - 29% owned
Running Back
Jay Ajayi (MIA) - 31% owned - With Arian Foster limited this week, Ajayi took advantage with a breakout performance against the Steelers putting up 204 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries and added a catch for 3 yards. He will have definitely earned himself more playing time going forward and I think at worst case he will split carries with a healthy Foster.
Devontae Booker (DEN) - 27% owned - Booker makes the list for the second week in a row after he continues to out produce C.J. Anderson on limited carries. On the season Booker sports a 4.7 yards per carry average compared to Anderson's 3.5. At the moment he is still a bench stash until we see an uptick in volume from him.
Honorable mentions: Dion Lewis (NE) - 25% owned, Jacquizz Rodgers (TB) - 22% owned (must grab if Doug Martin sits this week)
Wide Receiver
Ty Montgomery (GB) - 1% owned - Montgomery should be heavily involved in the Packers offense on Thursday night against the Bears as he will get snaps both at running back with James Starks out and Eddie Lacy hobbled as well as snaps at receiver with Davante Adams most likely out with a concussion. He played this dual role in week 6 and ended with a stat line of 10 catches for 98 yards and 3 rushes for 6 yards. Considering Montgomery a WR3 with a lot of upside this week.
Kenny Britt (LA) - 11% owned - Britt has quietly been performing very well this season as he is the 15th best WR in standard scoring and has the 8th highest receiving yards compared to other WR so far. With his numbers this season he should be considered a go as a WR3 until we see otherwise.
Honorable mentions: Robert Woods (BUF) - 22% owned, Corey Coleman (CLE) - 39% owned
Tight End
Hunter Henry (SD) - 35% owned - Henry appears to be a fixture of the Chargers pass happy offense as he has put up 290 yards and 3 touchdowns over his past four starts. He's currently the number 3 TE in standard scoring and has a great matchup against the Falcons coming up.
Honorable mention: Eric Ebron (DET) - 46% owned
Defense/Special Teams
Baltimore Ravens (BAL) - 33% owned - The Ravens defense has put up consistent fantasy points all season and they have a great matchup against a NY Jets team that can't get anything going on offense. There's also upside here that the Jets may start Geno Smith who is a proven turnover machine. Easily my streaming defense for the week.
Welcome back to the place for all your waiver wire needs. If you have high priority on the wire at this time of the season that means you probably need to turn things around in a hurry if you want to make your fantasy playoffs! Lucky for you this advice should help you out. SIX teams are on bye this week; Ravens, Rams, Dolphins, Giants, Steelers and 49ers. Good luck!
Note: all waiver picks listed here will have only been owned in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues at the time of publication.
Quarterback
Alex Smith (KC) - 38% owned - Three weeks in a row of Alex Smith as the Chiefs keep drawing plus matchups. This week he faces the Colts who are allowing 281 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks so far this season. Smith was the #11 QB in standard scoring last week against the Saints and I expect him to be around that position again this week which is all you can ask for with a bye-week fill-in.
Honorable mention: Brock Osweiler (HOU) - 14% owned
Running Back
Devontae Booker (DEN) - 36% owned - Hopefully you've been paying attention to this article and already have picked up Booker because it might be too late after his MNF breakout performance rushing for 83 yards and one touchdown while playing more snaps than CJ Anderson. The two backs should be considered an even timeshare in a run heavy offense at the moment, but if Anderson falters in the upcoming games we should see Booker taking more of a lead role.
Matt Asiata (MIN) - 21% owned - There's a chance Jerick McKinnon will be out for week 8 after he suffered an ankle injury which would make Asiata a great play as an every down back against the Bears. Somewhat speculative but a good payout if McKinnon does sit out.
Honorable mentions: Zach Zenner (DET) - 8% owned, Chris Thompson (WAS) - 13% owned
Wide Receiver
Davante Adams (GB) - 19% owned - Adams is coming off a monster game on TNF catching 13 of 16 targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Expect games like this from him to be possible in the Packers offense, it will just be hard to predict when they will come as he has some pretty talented receivers ahead of him on the depth chart that will usually be soaking up targets.
Jamison Crowder (WAS) - 37% owned - Crowder has been a solid fantasy producer all season long and had his highest yardage last week catching 7 of 9 targets for 108 yards. He's currently the #21 WR in standard scoring so you might want to put him into consideration.
Honorable mentions: Brandon LaFell (CIN) - 13% owned, Quincy Enunwa (NYJ) - 33% owned
Tight End
Jack Doyle (IND) - 31% owned - With Dwayne Allen out last week with a high ankle sprain, Doyle took full advantage and grabbed 9 of 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown against the Titans. Allen should be out again this week which means Doyle should against see a decent amount of targets thrown his way.
Honorable mention: Cameron Brate (TB) - 31% owned
Defense/Special Teams
Tennessee Titans (TEN) - 39% owned - Not many streaming options for defense available this week, but I do look the Titans playing against the Jaguars on Thursday night. The Jags are averaging 2 turnovers per game and the Thursday night games have a tendency to be sloppier than usual.
Another week of football in the books and another week of injuries/benchings/breakout performances that give you the opportunity for some helpful waiver wire adds. Oh, and my Bears somehow beat the Vikings... with Cutler as the starting QB? Sometimes this league doesn't make any sense. Anyways, SIX teams are on bye this week; Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Texans, Patriots and Redskins. Good luck!
Note: all waiver picks listed here will have only been owned in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues at the time of publication.
Quarterback
Joe Flacco (BAL) - 23% owned - The Ravens are coming off their bye week and face off against the Steelers who are giving up a close to bottom of the league 283 yards per game to opposing passers so far this season. Flacco's volume makes him a great floor play this week if you need a bye week fill in as he is currently tied with Drew Brees for most pass attempts per game at 44.
Honorable mention: Ryan Tannehill (MIA) - 22% owned
Running Back
Tim Hightower (NO) - 5% owned - Hightower was thrown into a lead role last week after Mark Ingram gave up a fumble for the second week in a row. With this opportunity Hightower managed to put up 102 yards on 26 carries against the Seahawks and it appears there will now be a timeshare situation in the New Orleans backfield for the time being. I'd normally say he would be a risky play for week 9 until the timeshare situation is clearer, but the Saints draw the 49ers who are giving up 185 yards per game on the ground so there should be plenty of fantasy points for the entire Saints backfield in this one.
Charcandrick West (KC) - 9% owned - With Spencer Ware in concussion protocol and Jamaal Charles still not healthy, Charcandrick West has a decent shot at being the starter for KC in week 9. It would be a great matchup against the 6th worst rush defense of the Jaguars who are allowing 125 yards per game on the ground.
Honorable mentions: Antone Smith (TB) - 1% owned, Rob Kelley (WAS) - 35% owned
Wide Receiver
J.J. Nelson (ARZ) - 3% owned - After Nelson posted 79 yards and two touchdowns on 8 catches last week Bruce Arians has gone on record to say he will be a starting wide receiver going forward. The Cardinals do have a bye in week 9 so he would be an upside stash for at least a week.
Jamison Crowder (WAS) - 49% owned - Hopefully this will be the last week Crowder will be allowed on here as he should really be owned in all leagues. He is the 13th ranked WR in standard scoring and is coming off another monster game of 9 catches on 13 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. Redskins also have a bye in week 9 so if you're desperate for a play next week then look to the honorable mentions!
Honorable mentions: Kenny Britt (LA) - 39% owned, Quincy Enunwa (NYJ) - 45% owned
Tight End
Dennis Pitta (BAL) - 44% owned - Pitta will be a serviceable volume play this week against the Steelers as he is averaging just over 8 targets per game. Look his way if you need a bye week replacement.
Honorable mention: Cameron Brate (TB) - 41% owned
Defense/Special Teams
Atlanta Falcons (ATL) - 10% owned - My streaming defense of the week goes to the Falcons up against Tampa Bay. They seem to have found a pass rush lately getting 14 sacks over their last 4 games compared to the 4 they tallied in their first 4 games.
For months in the offseason, we as fantasy football team managers think about who we may pick up in next year’s drafts, which sleeper picks could come through to lead someone to a championship and what lingering injury concerns could come back during a season to haunt a player. Well, we’re here now – just a couple weeks shy of the fantasy playoffs (for most of us), and the players that you snipe from the waiver wire in the coming weeks may just put you down in the annals of fantasy history as a league champion.
Guys who should already be owned: CJ Prosise (SEA – 37%), Robert Kelley (WAS – 48%), Sammy Watkins (BUF – 38%), Jamison Crowder (WAS – 66%), Rishard Matthews (TEN – 55%), Eric Ebron (DET – 58%), Julius Thomas (JAX – 58%)
Note: all waiver picks listed here will have only been owned in 35% or less of Yahoo! leagues at the time of publication.
Week 11 Waiver Wire Quarterback (QB) Pickups:
Joe Flacco (BAL) – 31% owned – Dallas has not been great against the pass this year (20th as of Week 11), and have let in 15 touchdowns and 263 yards per game over the course of the season. Flacco has been up and down this year but is just coming off a great game against the Browns (31/40, 296 passing yards, 3 TDs). Play at your own risk, but upside for Flacco is 20+, easy.
Honorable mention: Alex Smith (KC – 25%) – Terrible outing last week but should have some success against Tampa Bay at home
Week 11 Waiver Wire Running Back (RB) Pickups:
James Starks (GB) – 29% owned – Starks has just come back from injury to a strange backfield and it looks like he’ll be taking over for the time being. Going up against a Redskins’ defense that allows 225 rushing yards per game and 13 TDs so far this year, Starks is a plus play for this week and going forward.
Kenneth Dixon (BAL) – 20% owned – Dixon is quickly becoming the passing down back on the Ravens, and was able to put up 80 all-purpose yards on 6 rushes and 5 receptions in week 10. Trending up, Dixon should continue to split time with Terrance West, but West has an awful average YPC over the past few weeks (2.73 over 4 games) so Dixon may find his way to starting before the year’s end.
Honorable mentions: Jeremy Langford (CHI – 26%), Kapri Bibbs (TB – 29%)
Week 11 Waiver Wire Wide Receiver (WR) Pickups:
Cameron Meredith (CHI) – 34% owned – Oh, Chicago Bears. With Alshon Jeffery suspended for 4 games the Bears don’t really have a go-to receiver. Cameron Meredith excelled for a short time earlier this year with Brian Hoyer at quarterback and is still developing chemistry with Cutler. A risk, but someone has to step up in Chicago!
Eli Rogers (PIT) – 11% owned – Rogers had some great plays earlier this season but was lost in the shuffle and in jury issues that have affect the Steelers over the past several weeks. He has now been involved in the game plan once more, however, with 15 targets over the past 2 weeks for 20+ points in standard scoring leagues. With Coates and Wheaton still nursing injuries, Rogers should be a staple of the offense and a good matchup dependent flex play. Week 11 is Cleveland. Start him up!
Honorable mentions: Kendall Wright (TEN – 13% owned), Tyreek Hill (KC – 17% owned)
Week 11 Waiver Wire Tight End (TE) Pickups:
Vernon Davis (WAS) – 6% owned – Jordan Reed is the #1 guy in Washington, but Vernon Davis has been picking up steam lately, catching 14 passes over the last 3 games for a total of 238 yards. The Packers are giving up the 7th most points to the tight end position.
Honorable mention: Ladarius Green (PIT – 10% owned)
Defenses to target for Week 11:
Miami (@LA), Pittsburgh (@CLE), Detroit (vs. JAX)