10-Team Leagues
Nyheim Hines (RB – Indianapolis Colts, FAAB Bid: 25-35%) – Hines was mentioned last week and he did need a necessary game script to return fantasy value and he certainly got said game script to be fantasy relevant. He’s not a great runner. He’s averaging just 3.0 yards per carry, but his value is in the passing game. Over the last two weeks he has 21 catches on 25 targets for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Fantasy owners probably did like the 15 carries he received, but some of those reps may go to Marlon Mack when he’s ready to return. And good news for Mack owners, he did practice on Monday. Hines’ value won’t take too much of a hit. He’s still a great flex option in PPR formats and the Colts should be playing from behind quite often as the season continues.
Corey Clement (RB – Philadelphia Eagles, FAAB Bid: 30-40%) – All that is keeping Clement from being the top running back in Philadelphia is his current injury. The upside is that Clement was active in Week 5, but he didn’t see any action on the field. He does figure to be the candidate to receive the most carries, with moderate work in the passing game. But there are concerns about how the work will be divided between Clement and Smallwood when both are healthy. The best estimation one can make is that Smallwood might get more snaps and a few more carries, but Clement’s bulkier frame could lead to more red zone carries and goal line work.
Alfred Morris (RB – San Francisco 49ers, FAAB Bid: 20-25%) – While I prioritized Hines and Clement over Morris, there’s no denying that Alf is in line for increased work in the short-term. He’s about 50% owned so there’s a chance he’s unavailable in your league. He’s averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Matt Breida suffered an ankle injury on Sunday, but it’s not going to be serious. However, Breida has played through a knee and shoulder injury so far this season, but an ankle injury isn’t something the 49ers will take lightly. If Breida misses time, Morris is in line for maybe 15-20 touches next week against Green Bay who is giving up over 100 rushing yards per game.
Robby Anderson (WR – New York Jets, FAAB Bid: 15-18%) – Anderson’s big play potential has been well documented, but the issue is that Sam Darnold has had problems finding him deep down field. That’s part of the reason why Quincy Enunwa was such a value earlier this season. Now, he had only three catches on Sunday, but he turned in 123 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Three of his 11 catches have gone for touchdowns of 35, 41, and 76 yards. So again, he is dependent on the big play.
Keke Coutee (WR – Houston Texans, FAAB Bid: 10-15%) – While Coutee didn’t come close to the workload he had in Week 4, he still put together a nice stat line of six catches on seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. The concern was that with Will Fuller on the field, Coutee would be less involved and that was not the case. Fuller was active and had just two catches on three targets. Coutee’s value may still be dependent on Fuller’s health and involvement in the passing game, but he’s an intriguing flex option rest of season.
DST’s to Stream - I like the Cleveland Browns as a DST overall, but am a little worried about their matchup this week. Now the Browns have forced 15 turnovers through three games and allowed 21 points or less in four of their five games this year. The downside is the play the Chargers and this could be a bit of a shootout. Fortunately, the Chargers are traveling East to compete in Cleveland. Currently the game has an expected scoring total sitting at 44 right now, down from 46. I’m also interested in the Packers at home against San Francisco next week. Green Bay is actually a pretty underrated defense and while they are a better “real” defense (not sure why that’s in quotes) than a fantasy defense, they’re under 50% owned and have an interesting matchup at home. They’re big favorites early on (9.5-point favorites) and the Over/Under is currently at 46.5.
12-Team Leagues
Jameis Winston (QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, FAAB Bid: 15-20%) – I’m still very surprised to hear that Winston is only 12.5%-owned in ESPN leagues. And this is an addition that could be made in deeper leagues as well. The quarterback position has seen a ton of depth and high scoring performances lately so there may not be much of a need for a quarterback. But Winston has the potential to be top ten at the position the rest of the season. For that reason, he should be in consideration to be added to your team. Coming up in Week 6 the Bucs have a very good matchup against the Falcons that should see quite a lot of scoring opportunities for both teams. They both have awful secondaries and both organizations are desperate for a win. Winston could finish as a Top 5 quarterback next week.
Wendell Smallwood (RB – Phildelphia Eagles, FAAB Bid: 35%) – Mind you, Smallwood is likely available in 12-team leagues, but he should now be owned in shallower leagues as well. With Jay Ajayi now done for the year Smallwood is in line for a significant increase in work. In taking a look at the rest of the Eagles running back depth chart, Darren Sproles has missed the last four games, Corey Clement has a quad injury, and Josh Adams was just signed off the practice squad. Ideally the Eagles would probably prefer a one-two punch of Clement and Smallwood but the former’s injury may keep that from becoming a constant. Don’t rule out the Eagles potentially acquiring Le’Veon Bell (they’ve recently denied this rumor), but for now Smallwood should see more work. He gets a bump in PPR value with three receptions each of the last three weeks.
Mike Davis (RB – Seattle Seahawks, FAAB Bid: 25-30%) – While I assumed there would be some regression for when Chris Carson got healthy, still managed to turn in a fairly valuable performance on Sunday. On 12 carries, he rushed for 68 yards and found the end zone. He also added a pair of catches as well, so all in all it was a good outing for fantasy. Even though Carson had more touches and rushing yards, Davis’ 14 touches are worth keeping an eye on going forward. If he can maintain a steady workload like that he’ll definitely be a flex option in PPR formats.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – Green Bay Packers, FAAB Bid: 15%) Valdes-Scantling may be a nice receiver to stash if you need flex help. He’s coming off a career high ten targets with seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Next week’s matchup against San Francisco doesn’t figure to be a pass-heavy day for Green Bay since they’ll likely have the game in hand so MVS may be a stash for the games coming off Green Bay’s bye week. After Week 7, the Packers have four of five games on the road with the first two coming against the Rams and Patriots, which is a lot of travel and they’ll be against two great offenses and the Packers may just fall behind, putting them in position to throw more.
Cameron Brate (TE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, FAAB Bid: 12-15%) – With Jameis Winston now back under center for the Bucs, this does help Brate’s value. Additionally, O.J. Howard is going to miss at least Tampa’s Week 6 matchup against Atlanta and possibly another game or two. Howard is certainly the more talented tight end between the two, but there’s no denying the relationship Brate and Winston have. Before Week 4, Winston and Brate had connected for 105 passes for 1,250+ yards and 14 touchdowns over the two seasons prior. Brate becomes a Top 12 tight end candidate each week with Winston at quarterback and should be involved this coming Sunday against Atlanta.
DST’s to Stream – I like the Cowboys and somewhat like Bengals this week. With Dallas, Jacksonville comes to town and while the Cowboys have forced just four turnovers all season they do have 15 sacks on the year. If Blake Bortles can have another performance similar to this Sunday, the Cowboys are a sleeping DST. The Bengals are hot off a nice game against the Dolphins and will host their division rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Vegas is projecting a ton of scoring in this one so only pivot to Cincinnati if the other DST’s mentioned prior are unavailable.
Deeper League Options
Josh Adams (RB – Philadelphia Eagles, FAAB Bid: 5-10%) – Adams has quite the mountain to climb if he wants to get more work. He’s spent time on the Eagles practice squad, but has found his way on to the field quite a bit. Despite the season-ending injury to Jay Ajayi , Adams still has to look up at Corey Clement , Wendell Smallwood , and (when healthy) Darren Sproles . With Sproles out, Adams is at least third in line for carries. But he may be worth a stash in deeper leagues in the event the injury bug continues to bite the rest of the Eagles backfield.
Kyle Juszczyk (RB – San Francisco 49ers, FAAB Bid: 5-8%) – It’s hard to generate any form of excitement for a fullback, but Juszczyk might be worth adding in deeper leagues now that Matt Breida will likely be doubtful for Sunday’s game against Green Bay. Alfred Morris will likely earn more of the carries for the 49ers, but don’t sleep on Juszczyk. Despite his bulky size that seems fit for short yardage situations, he’s pretty useful in the passing game as well. In each of the last three seasons he’s caught at least 30 passes and he’s on pace to surpass that this season as well. With Matt Breida going down there’s a need for someone to be on the receiving end of short dump off passes. Juszczyk could be in for a nice workload in what could be a competitive game against the Packers.
D’Onta Foreman (RB – Houston Texans, FAAB Bid: 10-12%) – Foreman was mentioned in Last Week's Waiver Wire Column after another underwhelming running game performance from Houston that saw Lamar Miller as an inactive and Alfred Blue rush for 46 yards on 20 carries. Foreman has upside and opportunity (if Bill O’Brien wants to keep his job) to make some noise in the Houston running game when he’s eligible to return in a couple weeks. Is Alfred Blue worth picking up in the short-term in 12-team or deeper leagues? Perhaps, but he’s a career 3.6 yards per carry player and he’s never totaled 700 rushing yards in a season, nor has he been a great passing downs running back. Plus Houston expects Miller to be active for Week 6, so Blue doesn’t have much appeal.
Donte Moncrief (WR – Jacksonville Jaguars, FAAB Bid: 8-10%) – The wide receiving group in Jacksonville is about as tough to get a read on as the New England Patriots backfield in previous years. There isn’t one standout candidate as the targets will likely go to the hot hand. Blake Bortles failed to carve up the Chiefs weak secondary, but Moncrief did see an outstanding 15 targets on Sunday despite only hauling in six for receptions. Moncrief has three games this year with five or fewer targets. In the other two games he has 15 as previously mentioned from Sunday’s game, and nine. So it’ll be inconsistent going forward but if you need wide receiver help in deeper leagues, Moncrief is a fine option.
Josh Reynolds (WR – Los Angeles Rams, FAAB Bid: 8%) – The possible concussions to Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks will be worth monitoring because Josh Reynolds could stand to benefit in a major way. He’s widely available across the fantasy football market and should be claimed if in need of wide receiver or Flex help next week. With a matchup against the Broncos weak secondary coming up, Reynolds could find himself in a nice spot for targets. After all when Kupp and Cooks left Sunday’s game against Seattle Reynolds turned three targets into two catches for 39 yards and also added ten rushing yards. It may not sound like much, but if the other two are out next week that’ll open up about 15-18 targets and Reynolds with his big 6’3” frame could be more involved.
DST to Stream - In deeper leagues, if none of the suggested teams above are available take a look at the Dolphins. They’re actually not terrible in fantasy having scored double-digit points in three of their games this season and they have ten interceptions through five games. The Bears come to town and although Mitchell Trubisky had a big game in his last performance, he was wildly efficient and he’s unlikely to repeat such a performance. The Bears are slight 3.5-point favorites right now, but the game has a projected total of 42.5.