In this weekly series, I will highlight players that are speculative adds in deeper dynasty leagues, since the majority of players often covered in typical waiver wire columns have long been rostered.
No matter how deep your league is or how large the rosters, you should always keep a watch list of players you are considering adding, should the opportunity present itself. The group of names below will help you form that list.
All players mentioned will be owned in less than 20 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues. I will note that the data presented is based on all Yahoo leagues, not just those designated as keeper or dynasty.
First, let’s look back at last week Waiver Wired suggestions that gained value, with current Yahoo ownership percentages and percentage change in parentheses.
Justin Forsett, BAL (55%/+46%)
Dwayne Allen, IND (38%/+30%)
Larry Donnell, NYG (9%/+4%)
Isaiah Crowell, CLE (21%/+18%)
Bobby Rainey, TB (21%/+17%)
Brian Quick, STL (16%/+12%)
Devin Hester, ATL (7%/+5%)
Jermaine Gresham, CIN (6%/+4%)
Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL (11%/+3%)
Donnie Avery, KC (4%/+2%)
Harry Douglas, ATL (10%/+1%)
Mohamed Sanu, CIN (8%/+1%)
Robert Woods, BUF (5%/+1%)
Chad Henne, JAX (3%/+1%)
Lorenzo Taliaferro, BAL (2%/+1%)
Latavius Murray, OAK (2%/+1%)
UPDATE: Most of these names will be no surprise. This list is comprised mainly of two categories: breakout players such as Dwayne Allen, Brian Quick and Larry Donnell and injury replacements like Justin Forsett, Bobby Rainey and Jermaine Gresham.
While these players are on the rise, some of last week’s suggestions lost value over the past week.
Derek Carr, OAK (7%/-2%)
Blake Bortles, JAX (5%/-1%)
Andre Caldwell, DEN (5%/-1%)
UPDATE: The good news is that only three of the players I recommended last week lost value, based on Yahoo ownership. Two of the three are rookie quarterbacks, and I would still consider those players to roster and/or monitor in dynasty leagues.
Quarterbacks
1. Kirk Cousins, WAS (8%)
2. Geno Smith, NYJ (9%)
3. Derek Carr, OAK (7%)
4. Austin Davis, STL (0%)
o The injury to Redskins starter Robert Griffin III thrust backup Kirk Cousins into the starter’s role and he responded well against a bad Jaguars team. Cousins performed as a QB1, even without injured starters Jordan Reed and DeSean Jackson. The Redskins have a pair of nice matchups the next two weeks before drawing the Seahawks in Week Five. The longer Griffin is out, the more value Cousins gains, especially if the supposed quarterback controversy from the pre-season is rekindled.
o Any interest in a young quarterback who is a top twelve signal caller through two weeks? Surprisingly, the Jets’ Geno Smith and is available in the majority of Yahoo leagues. Not only is Smith an adequate passer, but nearly one-third of his fantasy points have come from his rushing production.
o Raiders’ rookie Derek Carr is not quite matching Smith’s production, although he is holding his own, even without many talented options surrounding him. While the wide receiver corps is deep, it is deep with mediocre talent. It won’t surprise anyone if the Raiders are under new management next season, which could bode well for Carr and the offense.
o This one is for deep 2QB leagues only, where every quarterback has some value. In Week Two, the Rams started Austin Davis in place of the injured Shaun Hill and Davis played well enough not only to win the game, but to force head coach Jeff Fisher’s hand, as he named Hill the starter going forward. What’s important to remember though is that Hill was the Week One starter and led the Rams to a blowout loss. It shouldn’t take much for the Rams to pull the plug on the veteran Hill and give Davis another look.
Running Backs
1. Knile Davis, KC (18%)
2. Khiry Robinson, NOS (18%)
3. Jerick McKinnon, MIN (12%)
4. Donald Brown, SD (8%)
5. Latavius Murray (2%)
6. Roy Helu, WAS (6%)
7. Benny Cunningham, STL (9%)
8. Robert Turbin, SEA (2%)
9. Joseph Randle, DAL (0%)
10. Damien Williams, MIA (0%)
11. Mikel Leshoure (0%), Daniel Thomas (0%), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2%), FAs
o The top priority for dynasty owners this week should be acquiring Chiefs’ running back Knile Davis, who took over for the injured Jamaal Charles and looked like he belonged in an NFL starting lineup. Davis totaled over 100 yards and scored twice. In fact, his play was strong enough to make him the top scoring running back in PPR leagues this week. Even when Charles returns, Davis will maintain some dynasty value.
o The injury bug bit hard this week and another beneficiary of that will be the Saints’ Khiry Robinson, who will gain some carries as starter Mark Ingram will miss at least a month with a broken hand. Pierre Thomas is also likely to see increased snaps, but he is also likely rostered in most leagues.
o Last Friday afternoon, we witnessed a mad rush to the waiver wire in an effort to add Vikings’ running back Matt Asiata in response to the http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/2491/Adrian-PetersonAdrian Peterson news. While Peterson is set to return this week, his future is still murky as he faces felony charges and the NFL looks to clean up its suddenly poor image. While Asiata played well last week, the more talented back is rookie Jerick McKinnon and he should see more playing time going forward, especially if Peterson faces further disciplinary action.
o It’s somewhat surprising that the Chargers’ Donald Brown is owned in less than ten percent of Yahoo leagues. After all, he played well last season, overtaking Trent Richardson as the Colts’ starter and was playing behind Ryan Mathews, who has a history of injuries. That trend continues as Mathews suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of action the next few weeks. Brown is easily worth an add, and maybe even worth inserting into your starting lineup.
o We’ve already seen one half of the aging Raiders’ running back suffer an injury and miss game action as http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/3596/Maurice-Jones-DrewMaurice Jones-Drew missed Week Two. Darren McFadden played in his place and even with a touchdown, had a disappointing fantasy week. The Raiders shouldn’t wait long before giving Latavius Murray an extended look.
o The Redskins’ Alfred Morris has looked like one of the best and most reliable backs in the league in the early going, but his backup Roy Helu has been impressive too. With the rash of injuries, we’re quickly reminded how backups can quickly gain value and it becomes important to grab them before they make this list.
o Rams’ backup Benny Cunningham didn’t have the same type of big week like he did in the season’s opening week, which saw him outscore starter Zac Stacy, but he’s still worth a stash in deeper dynasty leagues, especially those that reward points per reception.
o I’m going to keep beating the Robert Turbin drum each week. I’ve already mentioned the potential upside of backup running backs, but Turbin is one of the few who could become a top ten runner with increased carries. With the Christine Michael injury, he continues his firm grip on the primary backup role to Marshawn Lynch.
o I was surprised and impressed by the few runs Cowboys running back Joseph Randle saw this week. His stat line doesn’t jump out at you; he ran three times for 26 yards. What was important though is that he was the clear second back behind DeMarco Murray, not Lance Dunbar, who seems to be more involved in the passing game. Randle might be higher on the list if he hadn’t suffered a concussion late in the game.
o One more player who could see a spike in value following an injury is rookie running back Damien Williams in Miami, who saw his first action of the season following the elbow injury to starter Knowshon Moreno. At this point, it would be no surprise if Williams, or anyone else, outplayed Lamar Miller.
o With all of the injuries to starting running backs, some teams could be forced to hit the free agent market to get them through the next several weeks. Some of the top backs available include BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Mikel Leshoure and Daniel Thomas. I wouldn’t get too excited about any of these three, but they are worth monitoring in deep leagues.
Wide Receivers
1. Brian Quick, STL (16%)
2. Aaron Dobson, NE (19%)
3. John Brown, ARZ (9%)
4. Stedman Bailey, STL (0%)
5. http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/3252/Ryan-GrantRyan Grant, WASH (0%)
o Yet again, the Rams’ Brian Quick is the top waiver option at wide receiver, still owned in just 16% of Yahoo leagues. Quick has led the team in targets in back to back weeks and is the clear top option, no matter who is playing quarterback. In fact, Quick’s 18 targets are one more than the combined targets of all other Rams’ wide receivers through two games.
o The Patriots’ Aaron Dobson had a quiet 2014 debut, hauling in one pass for 13 yards. He’s still the most talented wide receiver on the Pats’ roster and Julian Edelman is not doing much with his early season looks. Expect Dobson’s role to increase and grab him now.
o While Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald are the stud receivers in Arizona, rookie John Brown is proving to be a quality play in PPR leagues and is still the only Cardinals’ wide receiver with a touchdown this season.
o I already mentioned the strong play of Quick for the Rams, but next week, thanks to the overturned suspensions, Stedman Bailey should make his season debut. The Rams’ receiver depth chart is looking ugly and Bailey should at least have the chance to make a quick impact.
o It wasn’t just running backs who suffered some injuries in Week Two. Redskins’ receiver DeSean Jackson was forced from the game and in his place, undrafted rookie http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/3252/Ryan-GrantRyan Grant saw eight targets, catching five of them for 57 yards. While Andre Roberts could provide some short term production should Jackson miss next week’s game, Grant could earn a larger role even when Jackson is back.
Tight Ends
1. Niles Paul, WAS (4%)
2. Eric Ebron, DET (11%)
3. Gavin Escobar, DAL (0%)
o Starting in place of the injured Jordan Reed, Niles Paul had a career day. His eight catches for 99 yards and a score was good enough to rank him among the top five tight ends in fantasy this week and may be enough to earn a role going forward, even when Reed returns. Paul is a must add, and he already has the trust of his quarterback, Cousins.
o Rookie Eric Ebron is a long shot to be on your waiver wire, but if he is, now is the time to remedy that. Ebron had the first catch of his career in Week Two and saw more targets than his fellow tight ends, Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria, combined.
o This last call is less about second year tight end Gavin Escobar and more about the poor early season play of veteran Jason Witten. Witten has just six catches through the season first two weeks and has been a non-factor for the Dallas offense. While Witten is not quite done, he is certainly showing signs that, at age 32, he is slowing down. Escobar has even drawn comparisons to dynasty favorite Ladarius Green.
