By Winsto (10/29/2024)
There are a few names here to consider for Week 09 and beyond. Remember that Pittsburgh and San Francisco have a Bye this week.
(The following players are rostered by less than 50% according to Yahoo Fantasy.)
QUARTERBACK
Bo Nix (QB-Ind)–It’s all about the rushing potential and remaining schedule here. Not only does he have 7 passing touchdowns in the last 4 games, he also has 2 rushing touchdowns. During that stretch, he is averaging 37 yards rushing and 217.5 yards passing per game. He tops this list because his schedule is more favorable than the next two potential additions.
For Deeper Leagues:
Joe Flacco (QB-Ind)–Guess who’s back, back again (apologies to Eminem)? That is correct! It is Flacco time. Look, he has weapons in Michael Pittman (WR-Ind), Josh Downs (WR-Ind), and Alec Pierce (WR-Ind). He can still sling it. His remaining schedule is not great, but he has two nice match-ups at the end of the season (NYG and Jax).
Jameis Winston (QB-Cle)–He, like Flacco, does not have a particularly appealing remaining schedule, or I would be more bullish on him. The bottom line is this: it is not necessarily pretty to watch him play, but gosh golly (forgive my language), he can put up fantasy points in some way, shape, or form.
Aaron Rodgers (QB-NYJ)–This is the 3rd 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 several weeks: Houston, Arizona, and Indianapolis. You could do worse.
Russel Wilson (QB-Pit)–This is for later in the season, as the Steelers are on a Bye this week. As a Steelers fan told me, he had not seen the Steelers offense look this competent since the Ben Roethlisberger headed offense of years past. He has gone for 542 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, a rushing TD, and 1 fumble lost since taking over the starting role (2 games), and his remaining schedule is pretty nice! I still have some reservations regarding Wilson here, but that remaining schedule would make me strongly consider him.
RUNNING BACK
Jaylen Warren (Pit)–This is more about looking ahead, as the Steelers have a Bye week this week. In Warren’s two games since returning from injury, Warren has seen substantial playing time (51% and 39% of the snaps). He ran 12 times for 44 yards and saw 2 catches for 15. He has also seen 7 Red Zone opportunities over that stretch. The Steelers offense looks like a competent offense. And more importantly, the Steelers after the Bye are going to be facing some strong offenses (Washington and Baltimore). Those games may put pressure on the Steelers offense to keep up. As Warren is the preferred pass catcher, he could be looking at more opportunities.
Tyler Allgeier (Atl)–Atlanta’s next two games are against Dallas and New Orleans, who are bottom five in terms of rushing TDs and rushing yards per game allowed.
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)
Kimani Vidal (LAC)
Braelon Allen (NYJ)
Isaac Guerendo (SF)
Trey Benson (Ari)
Ray Davis (Buf)
WIDE RECEIVER
Cedrick Tillman (Cleveland)–There is NO reason he should be rostered in less than 50%. I seriously hyped him up as a waiver wire addition last week, and I will continue to do so this week. He went for 7 receptions, 99 receiving yards, and 2 TDs on 9 targets (22% target share). He was 2nd on the team in targets, but he was the most effective in terms of production. Again, Jameis Winsto (QB-Cle) is capable of distributing the football and pushing the ball down the field. Tillman has borderline WR2/3 potential here.
Keon Coleman (Buffalo)–I am still surprised he is not rostered on more teams. I will mention him again. Since the addition of Amari Cooper (WR), Coleman has gone for 195 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD (2 games). He has also seen 7 targets in each of those games. You want to get ahead of your opponents and grab him.
Adam Thielen (Carolina)–Remember that he had a 1,000-yard receiving year in 2023 with Bryce Young (QB)? Diontae Johnson (WR-Bal) is now gone. He is close to a return. If he does not get traded, someone has to catch the ball in Carolina, right?
Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore (Cleveland)–Both fared well in Winston’s start, with Jeudy going for 5 receptions and 79 receiving yards (8 targets) and Moore going for 8 receptions and 85 receiving yards (12 targets). I lean toward Jeudy due to the advantage in playing time.
Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker (Carolina)–Until Adam Thielen (WR) returns, or if he is traded, Legette and Coker are what remains. Legette had a decent game, going 4 receptions for 34 yards and 1 TD on 7 targets. Meanwhile, Coker had a nice game with 4 receptions for 78 yards and 1 TD on 6 targets. I found it interesting that Coker played more snaps than Legette (42 v. 38) in Week 08. I think I lean toward Legette of the two due to draft pedigree, but I am not confident in that.
TIGHT END
Taysom Hill (New Orleans)–I will continue to mention him. 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? He had 6 touches (4 rushes and 2 receptions) for 41 scoreless yards.)
Hunter Henry (New England)–Drake Maye has shown a solid connection with Henry. Henry has seen at least 5 or more targets for 41 or more yards in 3 straight games now. This connection looks like it will continue. Now, this is somewhat dependent on Maye’s health (head).
IDP
Daiyan Henley (LAC)–After several weeks of a LB rotation, Henley played 100% in Week 08, putting up 11 total tackles (6-5). I would like to see another week of this playing time before I put him in my circle of trust, but he is not a bad option in Week 09 against a Cleveland offense that is very friendly to the LB position.
Jamien Sherwood (NYJ)–Look, Sherwood has been productive this season, but the question of when C. J. Mosely (LB) would return made Sherwood too risky of a play. At this point, Sherwood looks locked in at one of the ILB spots. He currently has the 9th most solo tackles and 9th most assisted tackles in the league.