Waiver Wire

Kenny Gainwell has been in this article multiple times, but this time he could stick and actually be usable in deep formats for the fantasy playoffs. Miles Sanders injured his ankle and Gainwell stepped in to catch five passes and rush 12 times for 54 yards and a TD. This backfield is very much in flux, but I want to try and add as much Gainwell as possible with the hopes that the rookie can be a useful fantasy play after the bye.

If you need a Flex or WR3 this week, K.J. Osborn is one of the best options. Adam Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain and Osborn saw his highest number of snaps of the season with 70. If Thielen misses more than a week, Osborn could be a helpful player in the playoffs as an every-down player on a team with a narrow target tree.

Jamaal Williams should be a strong start at RB this week with the potential for 20-plus touches. When D’Andre Swift went down, Williams handled 15 carries and caught all five of his targets this past week. While Williams is no Swift, he can handle a large workload. The Lions offense limits Williams, but he should be a low-end RB2 this week.

DeSean Jackson sent a reminder to all football fans that he can still get behind the defense for a long TD. He saw four targets and turned those into three catches for 102 yards and a TD. If you like revenge game narratives, Jackson faces his former team in Washington this week.

Michael Carter is out for at least two weeks. Ty Johnson split time with Tevin Coleman, but outsnapped him last week. Expect Johnson to see an even larger share of the RB work this week. We have already seen his ability as a receiver with three games of five receptions or more. Treat him as a high end RB3/flex play this week.  

Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the Packers with 10 targets this past weekend, including a 75-yard TD grab. He finished with 123 yards receiving and has a plus matchup this week as Green Bay faces off in a potentially high-scoring game with the Rams. MVS can be frustrating at times, but he has big-play potential and can be started if you need a flex with upside.  

Bryan Edwards has the combination of draft capital, size, speed, athleticism, and early Breakout Age. What he lacks are consistent production and Target Share. Last week he produced an absolute dud with zero catches against the Giants. This week he flashed again with 88 yards receiving on three catches and found the endzone. The Raiders could potentially do some self-scouting and target Edwards more than the four times he was this past weekend.

Rhamondre Stevenson saw an un-Belichickian Snap Share and produced a dominant performance with two TDs on 24 touches. He is big, agile, AND is a threat in the passing game. Damien Harris missed practice on Monday and will most likely be out for Thursday’s smash spot against Atlanta. If he is available in your league, he is worth an “a lot of whatever you have left” type bid.

We talked about Elijah Moore last week in this column as a player trending up. He did not disappoint with a massive game against Indianapolis catching seven passes for 84 yards and two TDs. If he is somehow available, be aggressive and go get him. Moore could end the year with a strong finish and shoot up redraft boards heading into 2022. He is the most explosive player on The Jets and has big-time potential. 

James Conner was one of the stars of Week 9, but Eno Benjamin should be an exciting add this week. Chase Edmonds went down with an ankle injury, and Benjamin stepped in behind Conner. With Edmonds set to miss, look for Benjamin to see the field for about a third of snaps. Conner has dealt with injuries in the past, so expect the Cardinals not to overload him. Benjamin is a strong add, especially in deeper formats.

Jeremy McNichols has a leg up on Adrian Peterson (for now) as the incumbent back, and is a capable pass-catcher. He should see a good deal of work this week, but predicting the usage starting in Week 10 is difficult. If I could roster one of the two, I would take McNichols, but you want exposure to both backs. This could end up being an ugly committee backfield, but one of the two has a shot at RB2 production the rest of the way. 

If Kyle Pitts were not Kyle Pitts, Pat Freiermuth would have a lot more buzz right now. He is flashing and looks like a potential future top-five fantasy TE. Right now, he should be viewed as a streamer/bye-week fill-in, but he could be a locked-in fantasy starter by playoff time if his role stays the same.

Kenny Gainwell has appeared in this column multiple times this season. Miles Sanders exited the game early, and while Boston Scott should also see increased touches, Gainwell is the Eagles back to roster. The Eagles offense has issues, but I am excited to see Gainwell in a more significant role. He is a good pass catcher already and could spark a team that badly needs one. In deeper formats, consider adding Scott as well. 

Allen Lazard is an excellent streamer this week. The Packers will need to keep up with the high-powered Arizona Cardinals, and Davante Adams should miss the game. Lazard should be Aaron Rodger’s preferred target. He caught five passes this past week and found the end zone. 

For the Mark Andrews fantasy manager or TE streamer, Ricky Seals-Jones has 14 targts the past two games with Logan Thomas out. The former is now a full-time player, running 34-plus routes in each of the past two contests as well. This week, the Football Team play the Packers, ranking 14th-worst in Pass DVOA. Let’s see if Seals-Jones and the Football Team can make a name for themselves this week.

With Chris Carson on IR, Alex Collins paced the Seahawks backfield with 20 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in his lone target for –3 yards as well. Explaining Collins’ 59.4% snap share is the fact he missed part of the final quarter and all of overtime. This week, the Seahawks’ bellcow plays against the Saints. The defense hasn’t allowed 100 rushing yards in a game thus far. But, they have allowed three rushing touchdowns in their past two games.

Khalil Herbert may still be available in some leagues. We recommended Herbert last week and hopefully, you have him rostered. If he is somehow still available, he may have taken over Chicago’s RB job with his strong performance against Green Bay. He rushed 19 times for 97 yards and a TD and added two catches. He looks explosive and instinctual as a runner. This week, Damien Williams may or may not be off the COVID list, but Herbert is an ascending player who is earning more and more opportunities.

Rashod Bateman was recommended as an addition in previous articles and now I am stomping my feet for you to please add him. This past week, he was tied for a team-high six targets. The Baltimore offense is humming, and Bateman could quickly become a weekly starter. Get him rostered before the inevitable breakout game.

Devontae Booker should draw a few starts while Saquon Barkley deals with an ankle injury. Booker filled in well this past week when Barkley left the game, finishing with 58 yards rushing and a TD. Expect high-volume touches for as long as Barkley is out. He certainly meets the criteria if you are a “pay for touches” type with your FAAB bidding.  

David Njoku is coming off an incredible seven-catch, 149-yard and a TD performance in Cleveland’s shootout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Njoku saw 10 targets. This game is most likely a one-off, but he should be added this week on the chance that he sees increased usage based on production.