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.
Editor’s Note: Rotoworld’s partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $3 Million Fantasy Football league for Week 9’s games. It’s only $25 to join and first prize is $500,000. Starts Sunday, November 2nd at 1pm ET. Here’s the link.
First, let’s look back at last week’s Waiver Wired suggestions that gained value, with current Yahoo ownership percentages and percentage change in parentheses.
1. Denard Robinson, JAX (57%/+47%)
2. Tre Mason, STL (54%/+37%)
3. Bryce Brown, BUF (40%/+33%)
4. Anthony Dixon, BUF (30%/+26%)
5. Allen Robinson, JAX (23%/+8%)
6. Martavis Bryant, PIT (8%/+7%)
7. Benny Cunningham, STL (21%/+7%)
8. Gavin Escobar, DAL (6%/+5%)
9. Kyle Orton, BUF (8%/+3%)
10. Donte Moncrief, IND (3%/+3%)
11. Zach Mettenberger, TEN (2%/+2%)
12. Jermaine Kearse (8%/+2%)
13. Kenny Stills, NO (12%/+2%)
14. Stevie Johnson, SF (9%/+2%)
15. Davante Adams, GB (14%/+1%)
16. Jarvis Landry, MIA (7%/+1%)
UPDATE: Last week was the prime time to add a running back with the top four players being added all running backs with a chance at an expanded role. Unfortunately, only one of those, Jacksonville’s Denard Robinson lived up to the hype in Week Eight.
While these players are on the rise, some of last week’s suggestions lost value over the past week.
Devonta Freeman, ATL (8%/-1%)
UPDATE: Of all of the players recommended last week, only rookie running back Devonta Freeman lost value, based on Yahoo’s ownership percentages, and he actually played well in the Falcons’ disappointing loss to the Lions in England Sunday morning.
Quarterbacks
1. Michael Vick, NYJ (3%)
2. Kyle Orton, BUF (8%)
3. Zach Mettenberger, TEN (2%)
o The New York Jets have lost seven straight games and a large part of the blame can go to the play of the quarterback. Not only has young starter Geno Smith disappointed, but his replacement, Michael Vick has also played poorly in his limited action. For now, Smith has been benched and Vick will get the nod in Week Nine. We’ve all seen what Vick can do as a runner, which greatly aids his fantasy scoring. In fact, playing only three quarters and committing multiple turnovers, Vicks still finished as a low end QB2 in Week Eight, mostly thanks to his 69 rushing yards. For that reason alone, Vick is worth adding in 2 QB or super flex leagues.
o Over the last month, since veteran Kyle Orton was named starter for the Buffalo Bills, he is the QB9, outscoring players like Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford and http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NFL/3511/Cam-NewtonCam Newton. With the Bills’ running game in shambles, expect this team to keep passing and Orton is showing us what rookie Sammy Watkins really can do. Orton has no real value beyond this season, but he is a potential starter for teams down the stretch, especially those dealing with injuries at quarterback.
o I’ve been expecting a Zach Mettenberger start for nearly the entire season and with the way Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst have played, I wasn’t alone. The rookie from LSU finally got that first career start in Week Eight and he played well, nearly leading the team to a victory over fellow rookie Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings before succumbing in overtime. Mett threw for 299 yards and two scores, which was good enough to make him a high-end QB2. There’s no way any contending team should be starter Mettenberger right now, but he is showing some very early promise and the Titans have no other real options for 2015 other than a new draft pick. We could be looking at the Titans starting quarterback for the next year and a half.
Running Backs
1. Charles Sims, TB (7%)
2. Jonas Gray, NE (6%)
3. Lorenzo Taliaferro, BAL (9%)
4. Robert Turbin, SEA (2%)
5. Christine Michael, SEA (3%)
6. Marcus Lattimore, SF (0%)
o My top choice for the running back position is a player who has yet to take an official NFL snap, rookie Charles Sims of the Buccaneers. Tampa invested a third round pick in the rookie and expectations were high before he suffered an ankle injury that has kept him out of action so far this season. He’s now back practicing and is eligible to return to game action as early as this week. While this isn’t big news on its own, the reports about how the team values Sims are very interesting. Reportedly, the Bucs are willing to move Doug Martin due to the return of Sims and the impact they expect him to have. The team has struggled this year, Martin specifically and it’s looking more and more like his rookie year was a fluke. Don’t wait until Sims returns to the field to take a flier on him, grab him now.
o We’ve all seen how Bill Belichick and the Patriots like to mix things up, especially when it comes to the running game. Because of that, I am hesitant to rank Jonas Gray so high, even after his impressive 86 yard performance in Week Eight. In the prior week, Shane Vereen looked like the every down stud the Patriots needed and this week, he only touched the ball eight times. Nonetheless, Gray is a priority add this week, in case the Patriots do turn him into the next Stevan Ridley or BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
o It appears as if Bernard Pierce has finally worn out his welcome in Baltimore. After he was basically handed the starting job following the Ray Rice incident, Pierce failed to meet expectations, losing carries to a veteran scat back and a late round rookie who many thought would play fullback. That potential fullback, Lorenzo Taliaferro, had another great game in Week Eight, playing behind Justin Forsett, but getting the all-important goalline carries. Taliaferro had just 27 rushing yards, but scored two touchdowns and just as importantly for those of you in PPR leagues, led the Ravens in receiving with two catches for 42 yards.
o Early Sunday, there were some surprising reports about the future of Marshawn Lynch and the potential close of his Seattle Seahawk career. Following the trade of Percy Harvin to the Jets, Lynch reportedly refused to board the team bus. The latest reports say the team is growing tired of Lynch’s antics and he will not be back with the team in 2015. While the idea of this being Lynch’s last season in Seattle is not surprising, considering his contract status, the way this, and the Harvin situation, became public certainly is. While Lynch is expected to ride out this season with the team, dynasty owners should begin planning for next season and the Seahawks have a pair of very capable backup running backs who should be scooped up soon. Robert Turbin has been Lynch’s primary backup the past couple of seasons and has played well when given the opportunity, but the player who really has dynasty owners excited is Christine Michael, the athletic freak who has somehow been a healthy scratch much of his two year career. Michael has been active the past two weeks and got a few touches. Don’t expect either of these players to contribute this year, barring a Lynch injury or total breakdown, but one or both could really pay off in 2015.
o Former college superstar Marcus Lattimore has been cleared to practice and should step on the field for the first time since October of 2012. While Lattimore should practice this week, he’s still not playing anytime soon, perhaps not at all during the 2014 season. Lattimore is another player to monitor and stash in the deepest of leagues.
Wide Receivers
1. Martavis Bryant, PIT (8%)
2. Donte Moncrief, IND (3%)
3. Davante Adams, GB (14%)
4. Kenny Stills, NO (12%)
5. John Brown, ARZ (10%)
6. Stedman Bailey, STL (0%)
o In Week Eight, rookie Martavis Bryant proved his coming out party in the previous week was no fluke. After catching his first career touchdown in Week Seven, Bryant caught the attention of a few dynasty owners, and then followed that up with a five catch for 83 yard performance, including two touchdowns. Although Markus Wheaton played well too, it’s Bryant who is the young receiver to own in Pittsburgh and if he’s on your waiver wire, make him a priority this week.
o Another rookie receiver who enjoyed a bit of a breakout game in Week Eight was the Colts’ Donte Moncrief. I recommended Moncrief last week when it was reported that Reggie Wayne would miss some time with an injury and just as I, and many others expected, Moncrief outplayed veteran Hakeem Nicks when given the opportunity. Moncrief finished with seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown, marking his first 100 yard game and his first NFL score. With Wayne nearing the end of his career and Nicks continuing to struggle, this is a sign of things to come for the Colts’ offense.
o Another rookie - you might notice a theme here - to excel last week was the third wide receiver for the Packers, Davante Adams. Adams has easily passed Jarrett Boykin on the depth chart and is now seeing regular snaps in three wide receiver sets. In fact, Adams was tied for the team lead in targets, seeing more than Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb. Don’t expect his looks to decrease either as the Pack continues to lean on the passing game and Aaron Rodgers, who has already shown trust in the rookie from Fresno State.
o Let’s step away from the rookies for a moment to another young player, Kenny Stills of the Saints. Last season, Stills made some amazing plays, but had to rely on the deep ball to earn any fantasy points, which can be a frustrating process for fantasy players. This season, Stills has become a more reliable weapon in the offense, not only being used on go routes, but intermediate plays as well. Stills will not ascend to the team’s top receiving option anytime soon, with Jimmy Graham and Brandin Cooks around, but he could become a flex starter or a solid bye week receiver in fantasy leagues.
o Okay … one more rookie wide receiver, since this is being considered by many to be the great rookie receiver class of all time. John Brown of the Cardinals had another huge game and has drawn comparisons to Marvin Harrison. Brown caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 75 yard touchdown to ice the game for Arizona. Like Stills, Brown will have Michael Floyd ahead of him in the receiver pecking order for a while, but that doesn’t mean he can’t become a relevant fantasy option.
o Rams breakout receiver Brian Quick suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out for the remainder of the season. It is expected that Stedman Bailey will replace Quick in the starting lineup. Bailey has been slow to get started this season after serving a four game ban for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, but this could be the move needed to jump start his season. Bailey will have to really show something before we can feel good about inserting him into starting lineups, but he is worth stashing in very deep leagues as we see how the Rams handle the loss of Quick.
Tight Ends
1. Tyler Eifert, CIN (15%)
2. Richard Rodgers, GB (0%)
3. Chase Ford, MIN (0%)
o Bengals’ tight end Tyler Eifert, who suffered a severe elbow injury Week One and was later placed on the injured reserve list, but designated to return, is now eligible to practice and could practice as early as next week. If you are in a league with short benches, or maybe just impatient owners, Eifert might have hit the waiver wire and now is the time to start eyeing him for a spot on your roster. He’s expected to return in Week Eleven, so you have a couple more weeks, but don’t get too greedy and let someone else steal this top young tight end.
o Packers’ rookie tight end Richard Rodgers had the best game of his young career in Week Eight as he caught four passes for 58 yards. The Packers clearly are not sold on Brandon Bostick as their long-term starter, so if Rodgers can continue to play well, he could earn the starting role. In recent years, the Packers tight end has been a value spot for fantasy players, but since the injury to Jermichael Finley, there has been a hole at that spot in the lineup. Perhaps Rodgers is the man to fill that role.
o The Vikings are still missing tight end Kyle Rudolph, who could return to the lineup soon, but the surprising play of second year man Chase Ford has eased their woes. Sunday against the Titans, Ford caught all six of his targets for 61 yards, finishing as a top ten tight end for the week. Ford is only worth a look in deep leagues or leagues using tight end premium scoring, but the longer Rudolph remains out of action, the better Ford looks.
