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.
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.
Must Adds
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – GB), 26.2% owned
In Week 3, Valdes-Scantling did little with Davante Adams out. He only had one reception for five yards on four targets. However, we recently learned that teammate Allen Lazard will miss significant time with a core muscle injury. Therefore, Valdes-Scantling will be the Packers’ WR2 for the foreseeable future.
Adams is also continuing to recover from a hamstring injury. While I expect Adams to return in Week 4 and play, hamstring injuries can reoccur at any time. In that event, Valdes-Scantling would inherit a massive target share, as the Packers have an extremely thin WR depth chart. As Lazard’s injury news came across recently, most waiver wires have already run for the week. Therefore, you might be able to sneak Valdes-Scantling onto your roster in free agency before he’s a popular claim next week.
Alshon Jeffery (WR – PHI), 15.0% owned
Like Valdes-Scantling, Jeffery represents a must-add because of injuries to the other receiving options on his team. The Eagles are currently dealing with injuries to the following players: Dallas Goedert, Jalen Reagor, DeSean Jackson, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and John Hightower. Greg Ward is the Eagles’ only healthy receiver, while Zach Ertz is their only healthy tight end.
Goedert and Reagor are both on injured reserve and will miss multiple weeks. I expect most of the other players to return soon, but Jeffery should do the same. He’s already practicing in a limited fashion, and I believe he will play starting in Week 5. Once fantasy owners realize that Jeffery will immediately step into a massive role as the Eagles’ WR1 and secondary target after Ertz, he will become a popular waiver add. Pick him up now while you can, especially since you can stash him on IR for the week.
Deeper Options
Laviska Shenault (WR – JAC), 31.1% owned
I believe in Shenault’s talent as a receiver, even though he’s only a rookie. He’s not a must-add because he plays for the Jaguars’ anemic passing offense, and he, therefore, has limited upside. Shenault had five receptions on six targets for 33 yards in Week 3, although lead receiver DJ Chark sat out that contest with a chest injury. Shenault draws an easy matchup against the Bengals in Week 4, though, so he could break out. He’s more of a stash play, but now could be an excellent time to add him.
Anthony Miller (WR – CHI), 30.4% owned
Unlike Shenault, Miller had a significant change to his situation, as Nick Foles replaced Mitch Trubsky as the Bears’ starting quarterback. Foles loves to target slot receivers, and Miller plays most of his snaps in the slot. Miller caught a nice touchdown in Week 3 once Foles stepped in, and he had another overturned by penalty. While Miller still isn’t playing all of the Bears’ snaps, perhaps things change with Foles under center.
Duke Johnson (RB – HOU), 30.1% owned
I discussed Johnson last week also. Johnson got in a full practice on Thursday, so he should return for Week 4 against the Vikings. The Vikings are a porous defense, and Johnson might serve as a complement to David Johnson. We never really got to see what this split would look like, as Duke Johnson left early in Week 1 with an injury. Adding Johnson now could be a prudent move.
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL), 29.0% owned
At this point, I’ve talked about Pollard quite a few times. I won’t rehash the situation in any detail. Pollard represents the top pure handcuff in fantasy football, as he would inherit a clear RB1 role in the event of an Ezekiel Elliott injury. However, until that point, Pollard has zero standalone value.
Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL), 26.9% owned
I understand that Schultz isn’t a priority for fantasy owners. This year, tight end is ugly after the top options, but there are many mediocre players. Schultz falls into that group, but he’s a great weekend waiver wire add for two reasons. First, he plays the Browns in Week 4, so he could have a strong game. And then, the Cowboys play the Giants in Week 5, an excellent matchup for Schultz. It’s a great time to add Schultz to your roster.
Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – SF), 25.0% owned
I’m a bit surprised that Wilson is only 25% owned, considering he scored two touchdowns in Week 3. Raheem Mostert will likely remain out for Week 4, while Jerick McKinnon has a minor rib injury. The 49ers also placed Tevin Coleman on injured reserve, and I believe he’ll be out for a long time.
Wilson faces a tough Week 4 matchup against the Eagles, but he gets the Dolphins in Week 5. If McKinnon aggravates his rib injury or Mostert can’t return in time, Wilson would be a smash play in that game. Wilson may carry little value moving forward, but I’m willing to gamble on the Week 5 upside.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF), 24.3% owned
Aiyuk had a big game in Week 3 against the Giants, with five receptions for 70 yards and three carries for 31 yards and a touchdown. However, he’s only a speculative add due to the imminent return for both George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. I want to see how Aiyuk develops into the 49ers’ offense as they intended to run it, with Kittle as the centerpiece and Samuel and Aiyuk as the two receivers. However, Aiyuk’s not a must-add.
Tee Higgins (WR – CIN), 21.3% owned
Higgins broke out somewhat in Week 3, leading the Bengals’ receivers in snaps ahead of Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green. However, he only had five receptions for 40 yards on his nine targets. Higgins is on the radar, though, as he scored two touchdowns on his five catches. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that Higgins is genuinely competing for a spot ahead of Green and Boyd. I believe that Green and Boyd will typically lead the Bengals in targets. Higgins is more of an injury stash if anything happens to either of the receivers in front of him.
Damien Harris (RB – NE), 16.1% owned
Harris returned to practice this week after spending the first three weeks on injured reserve with a hand injury. I believe Harris is the most talented pure running back in the Patriots’ backfield, ahead of Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, and J.J. Taylor. However, James White also came back to the team after recovering from the tragedy that struck his family a couple of weeks ago.
Therefore, no Patriots’ early-down back will see significant passing-down work. Given that Harris will share carries with both Michel and Burkhead, he’s not a lock for fantasy value. Honestly, I expect that White will be the only Patriots’ running back most fantasy owners care about, and even then only in PPR formats.
QB of the Week
Kirk Cousins, 15.3% owned
I know Cousins had an abysmal performance in Week 2 at the Colts, but he wasn’t that bad in Weeks 1 and 3. He scored 21.76 and 19.44 fantasy points in those games, at least providing a serviceable floor. However, Cousins has faced the Packers, Colts, and Titans through three weeks, none of whom are easy matchups.
In Week 4, Cousins plays against the Texans, who are a mediocre pass defense at best. Luckily, it only gets better from there, as Cousins draws the Seahawks in Week 5 and the Falcons in Week 6. If you want a safe three-week quarterback play, Cousins is an excellent addition.
D/ST of the Week
Cowboys, 18.3% owned
At this point, I’m willing to target the Giants until they prove why I shouldn’t. The Cowboys play the Giants in Week 5, and they’ll be a top-five D/ST unit in that game. It’s only a one-week play, but I usually stream D/ST anyway. If you find yourself with an extra roster spot this weekend after moving someone to IR, you could add the Cowboys and prepare for Week 5.
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.
