Waiver Wire

Chuba Hubbard is easily the most exciting and valuable addition for this week if he is available in your leagues. Hubbard filled in for Christian McCaffrey when he went down, rushing 11 times for 52 yards. He also caught three passes for 27 yards. He has a great shot at being an every-week RB2 for as many weeks as CMC misses. Last season, Mike Davis was one of the better waiver wire additions all season; history could repeat itself. Hubbard has an ample opportunity.

Dalton Schultz had a career night on Monday Night Football with six catches for 80 yards and two TDs in Dallas’ 41-21 beatdown of Philadelphia. He led the Cowboys in targets, and Dak Prescott seems to have faith in him. Schultz, not Blake Jarwin, is the Cowboys TE to roster. We want exposure to the Cowboys offense, and Schultz is available in many leagues.

Justin Fields looks set for his first start this season against Cleveland with Andy Dalton out with a knee injury. He should spark the offense with his scrambling ability. He is a starter in SuperFlex leagues right away and can be immediately considered for QB-streaming teams. He has elite scrambling ability and a fine pair of WRs in Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney. Fields could be just what the doctor ordered to ignite the team and the fan base.

We discussed K.J. Osborn as a player dynasty managers should add. At this point, he should be added in all formats. Operating as the third option in the Minnesota passing attack, he followed up a seven-catch opener with five more catches this past weekend, including a 64-yard TD reception. Osborn could be the next in a long line of University of Miami WRs to have solid NFL careers. 

This week’s top waiver wire addition is Elijah Mitchell. The sixth-round draft pick possesses top notch athleticism and was a mega producer in college. Raheem Mostert went down with injury and Mitchell carried the ball 19 times for 105 yards and a TD. Fantasy managers continue to be Shanahan’d and we cannot guarantee Mitchell will be the man moving forward, but there is a chance that he sticks as the lead back moving forward in what should be a very good San Francisco offense. I recommend an aggressive FAAB bid.

When Cardinals are available, go and get them. The offense is explosive, and Kyler Murray looks like the potential QB1 overall. Christian Kirk played over 50-percent of the snaps and hauled in all five of his targets. He found the end zone two times, and Arizona steamrolled Tennessee on the road. A.J. Green looked very dusty. I am hopeful that Kirk and Rondale Moore can increase their targets, and that Green can be phased out. The market could have been a year too early on Kirk, who may finally put it all together in 2021.

Mike Davis is clearly the RB1 in Atlanta, but Wayne Gallman should be treated as a high end handcuff with upside. Gallman flashed last season in New York, then signed into a crowded situation in San Francisco. When he was cut, he landed in an ideal spot. Is Davis really that much better than Gallman? I am not sure. If Davis goes down, Gallman would step into a high volume role with receiving work as well.

When Washington cut Peyton Barber, Jaret Paterson’s role was solidified. He is a deep league bench spot type player with upside. The UDFA put up gaudy numbers at Buffalo and now is the No. 3 RB to Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. At 5-6 inches tall, Patterson is one of the shorter RBs in the NFL, but he showed rushing and receiving ability in the preseason. Ron Rivera compared him to Darren Sproles, and the Washington media has compared his abilities to Maurice Jones-Drew.

If you are light at WR or want to add a player who could make a big impact to start this season, then Marquez Callaway is it. The second-year UDFA from the University of Tennessee looks to be the WR to roster in New Orleans. He has shown unreal preseason production, dominating first and second-team defenders. With Jameis Winston being named starter and Michael Thomas’ timeline for a return being murky, he could get off to a fast start and be one of this year’s breakout WRs.

Ty’Son Williams was a practice squad player for Baltimore in 2020, but has looked very strong running the ball this preseason. He has good size at 220-pounds, and seems like a player who could take on a large rushing share if Gus Edwards were to go down. This is an optimistic projection. Justice Hill is still around and could very much be in the mix, but I will bet on Williams. He is worth a FAAB bid.

Ty Johnson is the priority add going into Wild Card week given his expected workhorse role and soft matchup against Seattle. Frank Gore will likely miss Week 14 due to a concussion, paving the way for another 20-plus touch week for Johnson. There is concern that Seattle rebounds this week and blows out the Jets, but regardless of Game Script, Johnson will get plenty of touches due to Adam Gase’s archaic play calling.

Keke Coutee emerged for a monster performance with 8 catches and 141 yards on 9 targets against the Colts. His increased usage will continue given that he is the secondary option in a high-octane passing game for a Texans offense that continues to project for negative Game Script. A Week 14 matchup against Chicago limits Coutee’s touchdown upside, but he still belongs in the Flex spot if you are thin on options.

The will they-won’t they relationship between the Rams coaching staff and Cam Akers’ starting role has been the talk of the town for weeks. Akers’ Week 12 efficiency (9-84-1) dwarfed Darrell Henderson’s 19 yards on three carries and Malcolm Brown’s 19 scrimmage yards on five total touches. Project forward. Pray that McVay read the box score and plays his young stud as a workhorse in Week 13 against the Cardinals.

With high playoff upside, Tim Patrick remains a featured add in this column for two weeks straight. His schedule includes a potential Week 13 shootout with the Chiefs, Carolina’s soft secondary in Week 14, and another potential shootout in Week 16 against the Chargers. Patrick is a featured weapon with high upside when Drew Lock returns to the lineup.

Gus Edwards is the next man up for Baltimore going into a Primetime Thanksgiving matchup. Both J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram will sit due to COVID regulations. Edwards has a high chance of being a one week workhorse on the short week with few options behind him and Justice Hill being relegated to special teams.

Nelson Agholor is the WR1 for Derek Carr. It feels wrong to say that, but it has become the truth. In his first season with the Raiders, he has scored six total touchdowns and is averaging 19.3 Yards Per Reception. Agholor is the epitome of a boom or bust receiver, but you can toss him in your Flex and pray for the boom if you are desperate.

Salvon Ahmed’s 21 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown in Week 10 cannot be ignored in the new look NFL that is devoid of workhorse backs. Ahmed is slotted in as the direct replacement for Myles Gaskin in Miami and is an ideal RB2 to help you with your playoff push, especially with Jordan Howard now out of the picture. Don’t overthink it.

David Moore is the next man up in Seattle’s high-octane offense after Tyler Lockett was declared questionable with a knee sprain. If Lockett is out, get excited for Moore, who has flashed big play potential for years when tethered to Russell Wilson.

Duke Johnson is the latest example of why we should be stashing backup running backs this late in the season, especially those who project to be bell cows in the event of an injury to the starter. The fantasy community has waited years for him to have the opportunity he’s been presented for Week 10. With David Johnson yet to be cleared from his Week 9 concussion, Duke is looking at an every-down role in a narrative-soaked revenge game against his former team. You know what to do.

Since returning from a knee injury that cost him Week 6, Curtis Samuel has scored in three straight games and logged two 20-plus-point performances. He’s finally happening. He has seen his recent floor bolstered by carries and rushing touchdowns, and now Christian McCaffrey is in danger of missing this week’s contest. His dynamism will make him an enticing, high-ceiling Flex play down the fantasy stretch.