Waiver Wire: Fuller House

Welcome to the 2nd edition of Waiver Wired for the 2016 season. Unfortunately, Week 1 brought our first serious medical situation, with Keenan Allen suffering his second season-ending injury in as many seasons. Considering Allen’s lacerated kidney Week 8 of last year sank the Chargers’ offense, there is reason to be concerned about Philip Rivers and company following his ACL tear. The offense failed to score a touchdown in three of the first five games after Allen went down last year, and Rivers averaged 90 fewer passing yards and threw just 11 total touchdowns in eight games without Allen.

Still, the Chargers could be better positioned to deal with the loss this year even with Stevie Johnson also out for the year. They paid Travis Benjamin (75% owned) a lot of money to complement Allen, but he should be a better fit as the “No. 1” than the options from last season. Tyrell Williams (2%), who hooked up with Rivers for two long gains on Sunday, could surprise as a starter, and Dontrelle Inman (0%) averaged almost 4 catches and 50 yards in seven games without Allen last season. Both are worth a look in all formats. Rookie Hunter Henry (1%) could also have a bigger offensive role and is worth adding in deep leagues. There is no doubt San Diego’s passing attack will take a step back without their best player, but they do have some interesting weapons waiting in the wings.

With that unfortunate situation out of the way, let’s get to the action. As always, the drop list consists of players who are no longer must owns, recommended adds are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, the watch list consists of players who are worthy of a roster spot if possible, and deep cuts shows players owned in five percent or less of Yahoo leagues.

Three steps to fantasy football glory. Buy the Rotoworld Season Pass, stay up to date on all the breaking news at the Rotoworld News Page, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @RMSummerlin on Twitter. Championship.

The Drop List
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: Charcandrick West, C.J. Spiller
WR: Kevin White, Kamar Aiken
TE: Zach Miller

Tyrod is certainly not a must drop, but he is not a must hold either. He has three tough games coming up against the Jets, against the Cardinals, and at New England with Sammy Watkins, easily his best weapon, at less than 100 percent. It will be tough to trust him in the starting lineup at least the next couple weeks. Spiller was a healthy scratch because the Saints would rather use Travaris Cadet. That pretty much sums up his spot on this list. White and Aiken are both players to hold if possible, but they are unlikely to contribute in the near future. Miller did not make a single notable play Week 1 and plays for a struggling offense.

Quarterbacks
1. Joe Flacco
2. Jimmy Garoppolo
3. Carson Wentz
4. Josh McCown

Running backs
1. Tevin Coleman
2. Terrance West
3. Theo Riddick
4. Darren Sproles

Wide receivers
1. Will Fuller
2. Tajae Sharpe
3. Mohamed Sanu
4. Brandon LaFell
5. Phillip Dorsett

Tight ends
1. Dennis Pitta
2. Jesse James
3. Clive Walford
4. Virgil Green

Defense/Special Teams
1. Jets
2. Ravens
3. Eagles
Looking Ahead: Bucs

Kickers
1. Matt Prater
2. Josh Brown
3. Brandon McManus
Looking Ahead: Adam Vinatieri

QUARTERBACKS
1. Joe Flacco, Ravens – Owned in 18 percent of Yahoo leagues
Flacco had a solid even if not spectacular line in his first game back from a torn ACL, throwing for 250 yards and a perfectly-thrown long touchdown to new deep-threat Mike Wallace. He also hooked up with redshirt sophomore Breshad Perriman for a long gain and generally looked comfortable in a game where he did not have to do much. Coach John Harbaugh talked about expanding the passing attack after the game, and there is no better opportunity to get on the right track than against the Browns, a team rookie Carson Wentz shredded for 278 yards and two scores. Flacco has enough weapons to be a QB1 in good matchups this season, and this week certainly qualifies.
Recommendation: Streaming option in all formats

2. Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots – Owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues

Garoppolo did not have a great line in his first career start, but he did put up 264 yards and a touchdown against a defense which should be solid this season. To be fair, a lot of those yards and the touchdown came against overmatched rookie Brandon Williams, but the good news is the Garoppolo gets to face another overmatched rookie in Dolphins second-rounder Xavien Howard and weekly burn candidate Byron Maxwell. Dolphins’ defenders played above their heads in Seattle and were helped by a hobbled Russell Wilson, but the Patriots should take advantage at home this week. Garoppolo is a fine streaming option.
Recommendation: Streaming option in 12-team leagues

3. Carson Wentz, Eagles – Owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues

Wentz came out firing in his first career start, easily putting up 278 yards and two scores against the Browns, and this week he gets a Bears secondary which struggled to contain the Texans’ passing game in the opener. The game is in Chicago on Monday night, which raises some concerns, but the rookie showed well enough to earn another streaming shot in deeper formats.
Recommendation: Streaming option in 14-team leagues

4. Josh McCown, Browns – Owned in 1 percent of Yahoo leagues

With Robert Griffin III on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, the Browns will turn to McCown as their starter. McCown averaged 264 yards a game and threw 12 touchdowns in 8 starts last season, and that was with MUCH worse receiving talent around him. He should be able to get Gary Barnidge, who was on pace for 92/1,282/12 in eight games with McCown last season, involved in the offense, and he should make the passing game more than a deep-shot-and-pray endeavor. His matchup against a Ravens defense which played surprisingly well last week is the only thing keeping him from streaming consideration in shallower formats. If he shows well this week, he will certainly be worth a look Week 3 against the Dolphins.

Recommendation: Streaming option in 14-team leagues

Watch List:

Alex Smith had a huge game in the Chiefs’ come-from-behind victory Week 1, throwing for 363 yards and two scores and adding 15 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Smith is unlikely to throw 48 times again this year, but the performance is a reminder he can be a fantasy factor in the right situation…Ryan Fitzpatrick had a tough game against a good defense, but he will be a streaming option in good matchups. In Buffalo on a short week is not one of them…Brock Osweiler looked great against the Bears and has developed outstanding chemistry with Will Fuller. Still, he is not worth a look against one of the better defenses in the league…Trevor Siemian is very tempting at home against a banged-up Colts secondary, but his upside is limited by the Broncos’ run-first game plan…Sam Bradford will probably start this week, but he is not going to be a fantasy option this season. RUNNING BACKS
1. Tevin Coleman, Falcons – Owned in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues
Even in a clear timeshare with Devonta Freeman, the concern with Coleman as a standalone fantasy asset was his lack of involvement in both the red zone and the passing game. He was still out-touched 6-to-1 in the red zone by Freeman Week 1, but he exploded for 95 yards on 5-of-6 targets against the Bucs. He actually led the team in receiving and saw two more targets than Freeman. Considering Coleman finished his rookie season with more drops than catches, this performance was certainly surprising, but it makes sense for the Falcons. Coleman is very fast in the open field, but he struggles to get there in the running game. Getting him the ball out of the backfield allows him to use his one weapon – straight-line speed – to good effect, as we saw on his great 47-yard catch and run in the second quarter. If the passing-game involvement sticks around, Coleman will find himself in the FLEX conversation even with Freeman healthy.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues

2. Terrance West, Ravens – Owned in 29 percent of Yahoo leagues

When it looked like a three-headed monster featuring Justin Forsett, West, AND Buck Allen, the Ravens’ backfield was one to avoid. With Allen seemingly out of the picture, the situation is still sure to induce headaches, but West is now impossible to ignore. Even though he managed just 38 total yards in a game which was difficult to watch, West played only six fewer snaps than Forsett and handled the one red-zone touch of the game. He could lose touches once rookie Kenneth Dixon gets back, but he looks like a possible FLEX play in deeper leagues for now.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

3. Theo Riddick, Lions – Owned in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues

As mentioned last week, Riddick finished as the RB38 in standard formats last season, and the situation in Detroit has not dramatically changed from last year. If Week 1 is any indication, it might have actually gotten better for Riddick, who matched his career-high with seven carries and almost matched last year’s touchdown total (3) with two scores against the Colts. The touchdowns are likely a fluke, but he did see two touches inside the red zone and his first touchdown came from 21 yards. More importantly, he looks likely to be a 7-to-10 touch guy again this season. Riddick will always be a better bet in PPR formats, but he has FLEX appeal even in standard leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

4. Darren Sproles, Eagles – Owned in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues

Sproles only saw seven touches Week 1, but he played 38-of-77 snaps – one more than Ryan Mathews – in a game which the Eagles led throughout. While the touches did not come against Cleveland, hope still remains Sproles can take on a bigger role in the offense, although Mathews eight red-zone touches are certainly a concern for Sproles’ standard value. Still, Sproles is worth a look in all PPR formats and deeper standard leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues

Watch List: The timeshare between Matt Forte and Bilal Powell was extremely one-sided in Week 1, with Forte dominating touches 27-to-6. Forte is locked in as the No. 1, leaving Powell as a hold at best. That said, it is fair to question if Forte can stand up to this big a workload…James White saw plenty of targets and made some nice plays in the passing game, but he has limited touchdown upside while LeGarrette Blount is healthy…Jay Ajayi is clearly in the doghouse and might not be active Week 2, but he is a hold in deeper leagues behind injury-prone starter Arian Foster…Marshawn Lynch is probably not going to unretire, but if the roster spot is available…With Buck Allen a healthy scratch Week 1, Kenneth Dixon has one less player to jump on the depth chart once he gets back.

Deep Cuts: Jalen Richard played two more snaps than DeAndre Washington and exploded out of a group of defenders for a 75-yard touchdown Week 1. Still, he only had five touches…Shaun Draughn remains the clear handcuff to Carlos Hyde and should have standalone PPR value in games the 49ers lose…Chris Thompson is the clear No. 2 back in Washington. He will not find the end zone most weeks – he happened to be on the field in the hurry-up at the goal line – but he should be a PPR asset…Reggie Bush was terrible, but he is the clear No. 2 in Buffalo… Ka’Deem Carey was the only back other than Jeremy Langford to record a touch Week 1…Dwayne Washington was active ahead of Zach Zenner and scored a one-yard touchdown He looks like the “big back” in Detroit…Travaris Cadet was active ahead of C.J. Spiller and chipped in 15 yards and a touchdown on four touches.

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Will Fuller, Texans – Owned in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues
While Fuller was explosive with the ball in his hands and seemingly got open at will down the field against the Bears, neither development was the surprising part of his Week 1 explosion. The fact he lead the Texans in targets – seeing three more than No. 1 DeAndre Hopkins – qualifies as shocking, especially considering Hopkins finished with 192 targets last year. In hindsight, however, it really should not be that surprising. Brock Osweiler seemed to love Fuller in the preseason, and the rookie came up with big play after big play for his quarterback. Even after he dropped what should have been an 83-yard touchdown Sunday, Osweiler continued to feed him targets. With a higher target upside than expected and big-play skills for days, Fuller is an upside WR3 in all formats.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all formats

2. Tajae Sharpe, Titans – Owned in 46 percent of Yahoo leagues

Sharpe was on this list last week as well, although he was admittedly below Rishard Matthews. That was certainly not the case Week 1. Sharpe was the clear No. 1 receiver against the Vikings, playing all but three snaps and easily pacing the team with 11 targets and 76 yards. More importantly, he continued to show strong hands and looked like the clear favorite of Marcus Mariota. A non-explosive offensive scheme will limit his value, but he should be a solid WR3 most of the season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all formats

3. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons – Owned in 45 percent of Yahoo leagues

It is only one game, but Sanu did exactly what the Falcons paid him to do. With Julio Jones struggling, Sanu converted eight targets into 80 yards and a leaping touchdown, although 59 of those yards came wide open on blown coverage. This kind of game might be Sanu’s weekly ceiling, but he should return WR3 value as the clear No. 2 option in Atlanta. He would move up this list if Jones’ ankle issue forced him to miss time.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

4. Brandon LaFell, Bengals – Owned in 5 percent of Yahoo leagues

As expected, LaFell was the No. 2 in Cincinnati and turned his limited opportunities into four catches for 91 yards. A.J. Green is always going to dominate looks, but LaFell should see more than four targets most weeks and has the talent to return WR3 value. It is ridiculous he is available in so many leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

5. Phillip Dorsett, Colts – Owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues

Once a base two-TE team, the Colts spread it out Week 1, giving at least 50 snaps to Dorsett, T.Y. Hilton, and Donte Moncrief. Dorsett took advantage of the work, turning six targets into 94 yards including a 33-yard grab deep in the fourth quarter. Dorsett is still clearly third on the depth chart behind Hilton and Moncrief, but he should get targets and is a big-play waiting to happen. He is an upside WR4 right now, and he would vault into the must-start range if something happened to either of the top two receivers.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Watch List: The Keenan Allen injury does not create a must-add player, but Tyrell Williams is a worthy flier in all formats. He had two long catches against the Chiefs and has 4.43 wheels on a 6-foot-3, 204-pound frame. Dontrelle Inman could also turn into a solid PPR asset…It is tough to call Mike Wallace a must add both because of his history and the fact it was just one play, but he did see six targets and is worth a stash if possible. The same goes for Steve Smith, who managed just 19 yards on five catches but was targeted nine times...Josh Doctson was active but did not see much action Monday night. He has the talent to quickly climb the depth chart…Kenny Stills might have dropped his best chances at fantasy success last week, but he could hold onto the No. 2 job even with DeVante Parker on the way back…Chris Hogan worked as the clear No. 2 receiver for New England. That still puts him low on the target totem pole, but he is just an injury away…With Markus Wheaton out, Eli Rogers took over as the No. 2 option in the passing game, hauling in 6-of-7 targets for 59 yards and a deflected touchdown. He does not profile as a real touchdown threat, but he is certainly a PPR option. Even with Wheaton out, Sammie Coates was not heavily involved, but he was the intended target on Rogers’ touchdown and had a nice 42-yard catch…Victor Cruz scored a touchdown and did not get hurt. That qualifies as a win, even though he did play behind rookie Sterling Shepard…Tyler Boyd was clearly behind Brandon LaFell, but he only saw one fewer target…Terrelle Pryor had 68 yards and another highlight-reel grab, but his team-high seven targets are the real story. It will be interesting to see how involved he is with McCown running the show.

Deep Cuts:

Jeremy Kerley looks set up to be the fantasy asset we hoped Bruce Ellington would be…With Dak Prescott in check-down mode, Cole Beasley saw a massive 12 targets. He is a must-add in PPR formats…Breshad Perriman is still fourth on the depth chart, but he showed his upside with a ridiculous sideline grab…Braxton Miller is a good player, but it is tough to see the fantasy value behind Hopkins and Fuller...Nelson Agholor caught a touchdown, but we need to see more…Malcolm Mitchell worked as the No. 3 receiver, but he looked good…Seth Roberts catches touchdowns…Alex Smith will not throw 48 times again this season, but Chris Conley at least saw seven targets as the clear No. 2 receiver…With Kevin White struggling, Eddie Royal could be the No. 2 receiver in Chicago…Quincy Enunwa tied for the team-lead with eight targets which he turned into 54 yards and a touchdown. This will probably be his biggest game, but he is the Jets’ de facto tight end… James Jones could be a veteran option for San Diego…Adam Thielen is the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver…Case Keenum was terrible Monday night, but Kenny Britt always seems to get his. He is the definition of low-upside, but he returns value in deeper leagues…Marqise Lee remains the No. 3 receiver in Jacksonville. TIGHT ENDS
1. Dennis Pitta, Ravens – Owned in 0 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Ravens had questions all over their offensive depth chart, but tight end was one of the most interesting spots after Ben Watson was lost to a season-ending Achilles’ injury. Crockett Gillmore was expected to get the start, but Pitta worked as the clear No. 1 tight end, playing 56-of-68 snaps. This was Pitta’s first game action in almost two years and he has played just eight games total since 2012. Still, it is important to remember he was given a five-year, $32 million deal in 2014 even after missing most of the previous season with his first dislocated hip. He was a talented pass catcher before the injuries, he looks like the clear No. 1 right now, and he gets a great matchup against the Browns this week.

Recommendation: Streaming option in 12-team leagues

2. Jesse James, Steelers – Owned in 21 percent of Yahoo leagues
James only managed 31 yards against Washington, but he was targeted seven times including a couple inside the red zone. With Ladarius Green out indefinitely and no true No. 2 receiver on the roster, James should continue to be heavily involved and has as much touchdown upside as any streaming option. The Bengals gave up the most catches to tight ends last season.
Recommendation: Streaming option in 12-team leagues

3. Clive Walford, Raiders – Owned in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues

Walford was set up perfectly for a big game Week 1. His primary competition for tight-end targets, Mychal Rivera, was a healthy scratch, and he found himself smack dab in the middle of a shootout. Unfortunately, he only managed three catches for 25 yards on five targets. The good news is Rivera was inactive for a reason, the Raiders offense looks like it can be explosive, and Oakland could be involved in another high-scoring game this week against the Falcons. He is tough to trust outside of deeper leagues until he shows something, but the upside is still there.
Recommendation: Streaming option in 14-team leagues

4. Virgil Green, Broncos – Owned in 27 percent of Yahoo leagues

Green ended with just 28 yards on four catches, but he was wide open in the back of the end zone when a Trevor Siemian pass was batted down at the line of scrimmage. The play was similar to one Green scored on in the preseason, and it seems like he will be a factor in the red zone all season. That said, his yardage upside is limited in what should be a run-heavy attack. He is a touchdown-or-bust streamer.
Recommendation: Streaming option in 14-team leagues

Watch List: Chasing Jack Doyle touchdowns is not a winning fantasy strategy…Vance McDonald happened to find the end zone, but he saw just three targets. It will be tough to trust him in Carolina…Trey Burton and Brent Celek will likely share work with Zach Ertz sidelined...Hunter Henry is still clearly behind Antonio Gates, but with the Chargers hurting for weapons in the passing game, it would not be surprising to see him take on a bigger role…Kyle Rudolph had a solid game, but it is tough to trust him week-to-week in one of the lowest-volume passing attacks in the league…Austin Seferian-Jenkins had a spectacular touchdown catch, but he is still fighting his way up the depth chart…Jacob Tamme has some PPR appeal as a check-down option for Matt Ryan…Sorry you have to play with Case Keenum, Lance Kendricks…C.J. Uzomah got the start over Tyler Kroft and saw five targets…Stephen Anderson is still stuck in a timeshare, but he easily has the highest receiving upside of the Texans’ tight ends.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
1. New York Jets – Owned in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues
It is tough to trust the Jets after A.J. Green put it on Darrelle Revis Week 1, but they face a different challenge Thursday night. With Sammy Watkins at way less than 100 percent because of issues with his surgically-repaired foot and Cordy Glenn likely to miss, New York could absolutely dominate on defense. Getting Sheldon Richardson back and coming off a game where they sacked Andy Dalton seven times, the Jets are easily the top streaming option this week.

2. Baltimore Ravens – Owned in 6 percent of Yahoo leagues

The Ravens did a great job shutting down the Bills Week 1 and now travel to Cleveland to face the Browns. This matchup would be much more appealing if RG3 had not been placed on injured reserve, but it is still a great opportunity for a defense which could be rediscovering their form. A couple sacks and turnovers could be on the cards. 3. Philadelphia Eagles – Owned in 47 percent of leagues
The Eagles took care of business against the Browns, recording three sacks, an interception, and getting a gift of a safety, and they face another struggling offense on the road Monday night. The Bears gave up five sacks total to the Texans and allowed Jay Cutler to get absolutely beaten up in the second half. The Eagles have the talent to get pretty good pressure themselves, and they should force Cutler into some uncomfortable situations.

Looking Ahead:

Week 3 is going to be a tough week for streamers, but the Bucs (7%) at home against the Rams could be interesting.

KICKERS
1. Matt Prater, Lions – Owned in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues
Prater was just solid against the Colts Week 1, connecting on four extra points and a 43-yard game winner, but the Lions offense looks like it is going to give him plenty of chances to score. More importantly, this week he gets a Titans team which faced six attempts Week 1 and the second-most attempts last season. At home in the dome, he is a great streaming option.

2. Josh Brown, Giants – Owned in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues
Randy Bullock did not find the success Brown did last season in his spot start, but Brown should open his 2016 with a solid game. The Saints gave up the 13th-most points to opposing kickers last season, and Brown converted seven extra points in the Giants’ shootout with New Orleans last November. With another high-scoring game on the cards, Brown has a nice XP floor and the upside for a big game.

3. Brandon McManus, Broncos – Owned in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues

McManus was a solid kicker overall last season, but he was especially good at home, averaging over 8.5 points per game. With the Broncos likely to score some points against a banged-up Colts defense, McManus should bounce back from a disappointing opening game.

Looking Ahead: If looking for a two-week grab, Adam Vinatieri (42%) heads to Denver this week and then gets the Chargers at home in Week 3.