By Winsto (10/22/2024)
There are a few names here to consider for Week 08 and beyond.
(The following players are rostered by less than 50% according to Yahoo Fantasy.)
QUARTERBACK
Aaron Rodgers (QB-NYJ)–This is the 2nd week in a row I am mentioning him. He has some weapons here: Davante Adams (WR), Garrett Wilson (WR), Breece Hall (RB), and Allen Lazard (WR). He has been okay so far, but he has some favorable match-ups over the next four weeks: New England, Houston, Arizona, and Indianapolis. You could do worse.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB-Mia)–The coaching staff is actually saying he will begin practicing this week and possibly play in Week 08 (against Arizona). This is still a fluid situation, but he way be worth a grab.
Russell Wilson (QB-Pit)–As a Steelers fan told me after the game against the Jets, he had not seen the Steelers offense look this competent since the Ben Roethlisberger headed offense of years past. He went for 264 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, and even a rushing TD, and this was against a pass defense that may be the toughest he will face all season—his remaining schedule is pretty nice! I still have some reservations regarding Wilson here, but that remaining schedule makes me strongly consider him.
RUNNING BACK
Jaylen Warren (Pit)–Warren finally returned to the field, and he immediately saw substantial playing time (51% of the snaps). He ran 12 times for 44 yards and saw 2 catches for 15. He also saw 4 Red Zone opportunities. If we think this Steeler offense may be more competent for the rest of the season, Warren has solid RB3/Flex appeal.
Tyler Goodson (Ind)–I am expecting Jonathan Taylor (RB) to return this week, but if he does not, Goodson, as opposed to Sermon, seems to be the back you want in this backfield. With Taylor missing Week 07, Goodson out touched Trey Sermon 14 to 09, and he went 14 carries for 51 yards and 1 TD. Sermon, meanwhile, had 8 carries for 36 yards and 1 reception for 13 yards. Goodson also saw 3 Red Zone opportunities to Sermon’s 1.
Handcuffs
These are players, rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, who I would grab if I had the space. They have little to no standalone value, but each could be a legitimate RB1 or RB2 if the opportunity presented itself. This is the order I would rank them as of now.
Blake Corum (LAR)
Isaac Guerendo (SF)
Braelon Allen (NYJ)
Kimani Vidal (LAC)
Trey Benson (Ari)
Ray Davis (Buf)
WIDE RECEIVER
Jauan Jennings (San Francisco)–Brandon Aiyuk, sadly, is out for the season. Jennings is the player I want. He proved himself able to provide fantasy value in Week 03 with his 11 receptions for 175 yards, 3 TDs, and a 40% target share with Deebo Samuel missing that game. He has also led the WRs in receiving yards in 3 of the 6 games he has played, despite only playing a full-time role in 1 game this season. He is my priority add of the week.
Cedric Tillman (Cleveland)–Just when I was giving up on this offense, the NFL reminded us of how hard on the body football can be. Deshaun Watson (QB) is out for the season. Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his finger, so he looks pretty iffy for the next week or so. And so enters Jameis Winston (QB). If you are familiar with Winston’s NFL career, he is a roller coaster to watch. Regardless, he is capable of distributing the football. Just take a look at the stats of Mike Evans with Winston throwing the ball. More interestingly, from weeks 12-16 of the 2019 Season, when Tampa Bay suffered several wide receiver injuries, Winston made a fantasy hero out of Breshad Perriman (WR), who had 506 receiving yards and 5 receiving TDs. With Amari Cooper traded, the assumption was that Jerry Jeudy would now be the WR1 on the team. For one week, that did not look like the case. Tillman saw a 39% target share (12), and caught 8 passes for 81 yards (and a 2 point conversion). Winston is capable of pushing the ball down the field. Whoever is the main target of these passes will have fantasy appeal.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Kansas City)–Apparently, I will continue the course and remind people of Smith-Schuster. Yes, he has a hamstring injury and will not play in Week 08, but Smith-Schuster still looks like the number one option at WR for this team. In essence, he is the replacement for Rashee Rice (WR) in this offense. Now, he does not have a limited ceiling, and Kansas City will probably trade for some WR (Diontae Johnson or Darius Slayton???), BUT, he should still retain the role as a target monster for shallow to intermediate routes in the middle of the field. That is something fantasy managers should value—consistent production. I still think he has a strong chance to finish as a borderline top 30 WR once he returns.
Keon Coleman (Buffalo)–I was a bit surprised he is not rostered on more teams. He had a nice game in Week 07 (7 targets, 4 receptions, 125 yards). Maybe the addition of Amari Cooper gives him more space to operate. I would like to see another week, but if you feel like getting ahead of the curve, it is understandable.
Romeo Doubs (Green Bay)–That is two straight weeks of solid production for Doubs (153 receiving yards and 2 TDs total during that stretch). He also leads the WR group in playing time in each of the games he has played this season. Jayden Reed (WR) may still be dealing with a minor ankle injury, and Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks seem to be almost splitting snaps. There are probably too many mouths to feed on this offense for anyone to become reliable in fantasy, but he looks like he has as much of a chance to do so as anyone else.
Rashod Bateman (Baltimore)–Bateman is the quintessential boom or bust receiver. His best game this year was Week 07’s matchup with Tampa Bay, where he went for 4 receptions for 121 yards and 1 TD. Mind you, though, that was on 4 targets, which is about the average number of targets he sees per game this season. Thus, you are hoping for big plays and TDs, but keep in mind that there is a very low floor here.
Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco)–In his first game in the NFL (Week 07) after recovering from a gunshot wound, he was thrown into significant snaps due to the injuries and illness of the wide receiver room. He saw 5 targets and caught 3 of them for 21 yards. The rookie is a first round selection, so there is the belief that he will emerge as a viable option on this offense. In addition, he had a strong reputation of getting open versus man coverage in college. Time will tell, but he should see significant snaps in the foreseeable future.
Darius Slayton (NYG)–This is not based on any tangible thing, but his name is mentioned as a possible trade target for Kansas City.
TIGHT END
Taysom Hill (New Orleans)–I will continue to mention, especially while Derek Carr misses time. In basically less than two full games played, Hill has accounted for 75 rushing/receiving yards and 2 TDs. Yes, he has been injured a lot this season. He still has the potential to win a fantasy week for you. Given the landscape of the position, how many Tight Ends can do that?
Hunter Henry (TE-New England)–Drake Maye seems to be developing a connetion with Henry. After going 3 receptions for 41 yards and 1 TD on 5 targets in Week 06, Henry followed it up catching 8 of 9 targets for 92 yards in Week 07. This connection looks like it will continue.
Cade Otton (Tampa Bay)–With Chris Godwin (WR) expected to miss the remainder of the season and Mike Evans (WR) expected to miss the next few weeks, somebody has to catch the ball on this offense, right? Otton saw a season high 10 targets in Week 07, and he responded with 8 receptions for 100 yards. I simply do not trust the remaining WRs on this team, so this type of stat line may be more the norm for the next few weeks until Evans returns. Even after Evans returns, Otton should play a much more prominent role than he did before.
IDP
Ivan Pace Jr. (LB-Minnesota)–Before Week 07, it was reported that Blake Cashman will miss the next few games, Pace took over the Green Dot on defense. He responded with 10 total tackles (3-7), 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery for a TD. That is a nice fantasy game, ladies and gentlemen. He should be considered your prime IDP target, as he should stay in this role until Cashman returns.
Baylon Spector (Buf)—Double check the injury reports, but both Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams left the game in Week 07. The injuries may be minor, but Baylon Spector took over the Green Dot once Bernard left. If Bernard were to miss, Spector would be a solid play. If both Bernard and Williams were to miss, then Spector would be a borderline LB1 play.
Grant Stuard (LB-Indianapolis)–He took over for the injured E. J. Speed, and wow, he did not disappoint—18 total tackles (11-7). He played virtually all of the snaps. If Speed misses again, Stuard should be pretty useful.