Methodology
In this weekly article, I’m going to look ahead to the following week. I’ll point out a few players below 40% owned on ESPN who have strong matchups next week that you can pick up ahead of time to beat the waiver run. I’ll also try and get ahead of breakouts that could happen in the current week, as predicting breakouts is the best way to save your FAAB budget.
With added IR spots in most leagues, you can also shift injured players there, opening up a roster spot for these options. Since most of these additions will occur on the weekend, I’ll exclude any players from the Thursday night game, as you won’t be able to add them to your rosters. This season more than any other, it’s essential to remain active and stay ahead of your league mates. I hope you find value in this column and that it helps you succeed on a week-to-week basis.
With playoffs approaching, I’ll begin to focus on playoff matchups as part of this content. However, fantasy football is always a weekly game. It’s tough enough to look one week ahead, let alone multiple.
I won’t limit myself to any specific number of players or force myself to choose specific positions, outside of a few exceptions. Each week, I’ll provide one look ahead streamer at quarterback and D/ST, as those positions are easy to predict every week. Quarterback streaming mostly comes from the opposing defense and D/ST from the opposing offense, and we know those schedules ahead of time.
I’ve listed the players in the order I would add them to my roster. Let’s jump right in!
Must Adds
Taysom Hill, 24.4% owned (only if he has TE-eligibility on your platform)
I’ll keep this one short. The Saints just named Hill their starting quarterback. Therefore, if you can play Hill in a TE slot on your platform, he’s likely to be the TE1 or perhaps the TE2 behind only Travis Kelce. Therefore, he’s an absolute must-add if he carries TE-eligibility. If he doesn’t and only has QB-eligibility, I’ll likely pass on Hill. There are other quarterback streamers I’d go to instead of someone who’s never started a game at quarterback.
Jalen Reagor, 23.5% owned
I’m pleading with fantasy owners to add Reagor to their rosters this week. In Week 10, Reagor saw seven targets against the Giants, catching four of them for 47 yards. He played 88% of snaps, tied with Travis Fulgham for most among Eagles’ receivers. Reagor has an easy matchup this week against the Browns and then a dream matchup in Week 12 against the Seahawks. Now is your last chance to add Reagor before he’s the hottest waiver-wire add next week.
Wayne Gallman, 35.0% owned
Gallman is now a starting running back for the Giants. They placed Devonta Freeman on injured reserve, but Gallman has seen work anyway. He’s gone from 10 to 18 carries over the last four weeks, increasing his carries each week. The Giants have a Week 11 bye, but they face the Bengals in Week 12. Gallman is a must-add in all leagues.
Deeper Options
Michael Pittman, 19.8% owned
I think we’re in the middle of Pittman’s rookie breakout. In Week 10, Pittman saw more than 80% of offensive snaps for the second straight game, and he finally produced with seven receptions for 101 yards. Unfortunately, the Colts aren’t a pass-heavy attack with Philip Rivers at quarterback, so Pittman isn’t a must-add. However, he should be on a roster in all but the shallowest leagues.
Robert Tonyan, 37.2% owned
There are always a few tight ends out there that you can add in this range every week. Tonyan hasn’t scored a touchdown since his massive Week 4 three-touchdown game, but he’s remained involved in the Packers’ offense. Tonyan plays consistent snaps, seeing exactly 62% share in each of the previous three games.
Tight ends who consistently see the field and who get targets are hard to find. Therefore, you can add Tonyan if you’re desperate. But, he’s solely a weekly TE2 play right now, especially with Allen Lazard back this week.
Cam Akers, 28.5% owned
The Rams’ backfield is beyond frustrating. I think we know a few basic facts: Malcolm Brown will never take over the backfield, Darrell Henderson isn’t completely going away, and Akers is likely the most talented overall back here. With those three pieces of information, it remains possible that Akers could vault in fantasy value by relegating Brown to the bench and jumping ahead of Henderson in the pecking order.
Last week, Akers saw the most carries of any Rams’ running back, although he only had 10 carries compared to seven for Henderson and six for Brown. More than likely, Akers will require an injury to Brown or especially Henderson to find fantasy value. However, I believe there’s an outside shot that Akers could claim a more significant role this week. He’s not a must-add, but you could do worse on your bench.
Salvon Ahmed, 37.3% owned
I like the idea of adding Ahmed this week. He got 21 carries last week, no small feat. Additionally, we don’t know when Myles Gaskin will return, although he’s eligible to play as soon as Week 12. Matt Breida returned to full practice this week, and he will play as Ahmed’s backup. Ahmed isn’t a must-add with his cloudy situation, but he may claim the lead role with another strong performance.
Alexander Mattison, 37.1% owned
There’s nothing to say about Mattison that I haven’t said previously. He flopped in his one start replacing Dalvin Cook, taking 10 carries for 26 yards. However, the Vikings have ridiculously easy matchups in Weeks 12 and 13 against the Panthers and Jaguars. If Cook went down this week, Mattison would be an RB1 in those two games. If you can’t add anyone who will help your lineup this week, Mattison is a fair bench stash.
Jordan Reed, 14.3% owned
Reed’s Week 10 performance may have been lost in the shuffle, as the 49ers have a Week 11 bye. Therefore, almost no fantasy owners had any interest in adding Reed because he wasn’t worth holding for an extra week. But Reed caught five of six targets for 62 yards in that game, clearly playing ahead of Ross Dwelley as the 49ers’ primary receiving tight end. George Kittle likely won’t return this season, so Reed presents TE2 value for the rest of 2020. If you need a tight end, he’s not a bad addition.
Allen Lazard, 33.5% owned
It’s hard to recommend Lazard in redraft formats. Lazard showed decently at the beginning of the season, totaling 13 receptions on 17 targets for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games. Unfortunately, he suffered a brutal core muscle injury that’s kept him out of the lineup ever since. I have no idea how healthy Lazard feels right now, so he can’t be a must-add. Add him in deeper redraft leagues, although I have more interest in dynasty leagues given the Packers’ massive void at receiver behind Davante Adams.
James White and Rex Burkhead, 38.5/38.8% owned
If you want to avoid the Patriots’ backfield, go ahead. I won’t blame you for that decision at all. However, both White and Burkhead are decent additions. White is a PPR-only back, although his role has diminished recently. He’s fallen out of the starting range in all but the deepest leagues.
As for Burkhead, he’s seeing more playing time, particularly in the passing game and around the goal line. But Sony Michel can come off injured reserve at any time, and I think Michel would see at least some touches. If Michel didn’t exist, I’d have more interest in Burkhead, but right now, only Damien Harris intrigues me on this team.
Josh Reynolds, 10.2% owned
Like Lazard, it’s hard to recommend Reynolds in redraft formats. Even though he’s had eight targets in each of the previous three games, we know that Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are the top two targets on this roster. You might be able to stream Reynolds in strong matchups, but I think his work is more of a showcase for him, as he’s a free agent after this season. Only add Reynolds if you’re desperate.
QB of the Week:
Derek Carr, 38.3% owned
Well, I already had a whole column written about Jameis Winston and how he was an excellent addition for the rest of the season. But the Saints made a mistake and decided to name Taysom Hill as their starting quarterback, as I discussed above. Therefore, it’s time to move on to the next player.
Carr is an excellent fall-back option for upcoming matchups. He draws a relatively tough matchup this week against the Chiefs, although the Raiders should fall behind, forcing Carr to pass. Even if you have another option this week, Carr faces the Falcons in Week 12 and the Jets in Week 13. He will likely be a borderline QB1 both weeks, so feel free to add him to your roster now.
D/ST of the Week:
Bengals, 2.9% owned
I don’t recommend adding the Bengals this week. It seems as if fantasy owners have begun hoarding D/STs, as there are no options below 40% ownership that are genuinely worth adding. The Bengals do play the Giants next week, so you can stream them in desperation. But, they’re not worth adding a week ahead.
However, I must note that the Packers fall just outside of this range at 43.5% ownership, and they have a Week 12 matchup against the Bears. The Bears have injuries to both Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky and may have to start DeShone Kizer in Week 12. Even if Foles or Trubisky can go, it’s an easy matchup.
If the Packers are out there, they’re worth an early add. But, if not, probably skip adding a D/ST for Week 12 specifically and look closer at the upcoming playoff schedule. I’ll likely detail that more next week, though. It’s a bit far away for me to predict D/ST strength in Weeks 14-16.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
Previous Look Ahead Articles: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11
