Bye weeks are behind us, and the fantasy football playoffs (and toilet bowls) are HERE.
The early slate of games hit us with some tough injuries, so we’ll all be sprinting to the waiver wire on Tuesday. Here are some players I have atop my list after the first handful of games concluded.
Quarterbacks
Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL): 2% rostered
At this point, if you don’t have your QB1, or two streamers you oscillate, I’m not sure how you made it to the fantasy playoffs. Maybe you’re trying to avoid a loser punishment here. Either way, Ridder is hardly rostered and has some great mobility, so there’s only upside. Who else are you adding? Baker Mayfield?
Taylor Heinicke (QB – WAS): 14% rostered
Heinicke is on this list practically every week. Well, he just dropped 24 fantasy points on the Giants, is on a bye this week, and plays them again next weekend, but this time at home. I like those odds.
Running Backs
Gus Edwards (RB – BAL): 38% rostered
J.K. Dobbins returned from IR today and reclaimed his spot at the Ravens’ RB1. Edwards, however, was not too far behind him in terms of workload today. Given Dobbins’ return, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Edwards dropped in some leagues. Edwards remains a good handcuff to Dobbins and, if you’re desperate, should sniff double-digit touches per game regardless of Dobbins’ status.
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 36% rostered
It’s difficult to tell whether the Falcons are chalking this up as a lost/rebuilding season or not because they still technically are in play to win the NFC South. Regardless, Allgeier led all Falcons’ RBs in snaps last weekend and has earned this regime’s trust as a pass blocker. His floor at this point is 10 carries and a catch, so I guess you could do worse.
Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT): 9% rostered
After taking some time off to nurse an injury, Warren is back and resumed his role as the Steelers’ RB2. Should Najee Harris miss a game for any reason, Warren is a good play.
Rex Burkhead (RB – HOU): 7% rostered
Look, I’m going nowhere near the Texans’ backfield without Dameon Pierce. It will be a mess of a timeshare with Burkhead, Eno Benjamin, and Dare Ogunbowale. However, if I’m forced to play one, it’s Burkhead. He’s the veteran option who got some goalline carries today. He pass blocks well and can catch out of the backfield. If Pierce misses a game, I’d be surprised if Burkhead didn’t have at least 12-15 touches.
Wide Receivers
DJ Chark (WR – DET): 22% rostered
For the third week in a row, Chark’s targets have increased. He also has 11 catches for 192 yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. At this point, with how Jared Goff is playing, Chark is a weekly must-start.
Richie James (WR – NYG): 1% rostered
James is squarely the Giants’ WR2, and with TE Daniel Bellinger banged up again, his target share should remain high. James has 21 targets, 18 catches, 170 yards, and three touchdowns through his last four games.
Chris Moore (WR – HOU): 2% rostered
You will need to monitor the health of both Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins if you want to add and start Chris Moore. Without either, Moore had 10 catches for 124 yards today. If both are active, Moore is nowhere near my starting lineup.
Ben Skowronek (WR – LAR): 3% rostered
Baker Mayfield is at the helm in Los Angeles, and his favorite target appears to be Skowronek. He caught seven of eight targets for 89 yards on Thursday, and with as depleted as the Rams’ receivers’ room is, it’s not tough to see Skowronek building on that through the end of the season.
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill (TE – NO): 39% rostered
If Hill is available in your league and you don’t have a starting TE, I would definitely recommend picking him up. The swiss army knife-type player can provide fantasy value running, throwing, and catching, which in and of itself puts him a step above other waiver-wire TEs.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN): 4% rostered
Okonkwo has all the makings of a late-season waiver-wire fantasy gem. It doesn’t take much to ascend to starter territory at the TE position; as of late, Okonkwo fits the bill. The 2022 fourth-round pick had five targets in each of his last two games. Today he kept that momentum rolling, catching all four of his targets and a touchdown.
Defense/Special Teams
Atlanta Falcons (7% rostered)
It feels like an eternity ago, but the Falcons’ 26-27, week one loss to the Saints definitely still stings. Remember that one? Like the tale old as time, the Falcons were up 26-10 in the fourth quarter and lost. Well, the Falcons are coming off a bye, playing with a new quarterback and getting another crack at this Saints team that has been far from impressive. This game between bitter rivals should be low-scoring and actually a really fun one to watch.
Minnesota Vikings (22% rostered)
The Vikings host the Colts on Thursday. The Colts lead the NFL in turnovers, giving any defense they’re playing a shot at fantasy relevance.
Green Bay Packers (38% rostered)
The Packers are on a bye this week, meaning they have an extra week to prepare for the Rams’ lackluster offense. The game is in Green Bay, which could always add a weather element this time of year, too.
Kickers
Ka’imi Fairbairn (K – HOU): 2% rostered
The Texans’ offense has trouble scoring touchdowns. That’s where Fairbairn comes in. He’s attempted five field goals in the last two weeks, booted two from 50+ today, and hasn’t missed a single attempt since week seven.
Riley Patterson (K – JAX): 3% rostered
The week 11 bye did good things for Patterson. How or why, I’m not sure, but in the three games since then, he’s made all seven of his attempts.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
