Methodology
In this weekly article, I’m going to look ahead to the following week. I’ll point out a few players below 50% 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
James Robinson (RB – JAX), 15.4% owned
Somehow, Robinson is the starting running back for the Jaguars entering Week 1. The Jaguars released former starter Leonard Fournette, leaving them without any proven options in the backfield. Backup Ryquell Armstead remains on the COVID-19 reserve list, which will keep him off the field for an extended period. Third-stringer Devine Ozigbo then suffered a hamstring injury, and the Jaguars placed him on injured reserve. He’ll miss the opening three games at a minimum.
To replace Ozigbo, the Jaguars signed pass-catching specialist Dare Ogunbowale to provide some depth in the backfield. He will complement Robinson and PPR back Chris Thompson in the Jaguars’ Week 1 lineup. Robinson is the only true running back on the team right now, as neither Ogunbowale nor Thompson has much experience playing on early downs.
Therefore, Robinson should not be 15.4% owned. I bet that number comes from early drafts before Robinson emerged, but you shouldn’t wait to pounce on Robinson. Add him right now because starting running backs are impossible to find on the waiver wire in a typical week. I guarantee that Robinson will be the subject of almost every mainstream waiver article in Week 2.
Jalen Reagor (WR – PHI), 27.8% owned
Reagor plummeted in drafts after his preseason shoulder injury, casting doubt on his ability as a redraft sleeper. I had Reagor as one of my favorite preseason sleepers, ranking him at WR40 and 99th overall before his shoulder injury. After that article, I continued to move Reagor up my rankings, putting him on the verge of WR3 territory.
However, Reagor’s shoulder injury occurred in the middle of the draft season, potentially leading to his low ownership percentage. Reagor recorded a full practice on Thursday, opening the door for him to play in Week 1. Even if Reagor misses Week 1, I fully expect him to play in Week 2, and I see him as having the same upside as he did previously. Add Reagor to your team immediately.
Boston Scott (RB – PHI), 39.6% owned
Eagles’ starting running back Miles Sanders currently has a hamstring injury, opening the door for Scott to receive additional touches. The Eagles only have Scott and veteran Corey Clement available behind Sanders, and Scott is the definite backup to Sanders. Therefore, I expect Scott to receive six to eight carries in Week 1, more than his typical workload.
Scott also provides receiving upside, especially since Alshon Jeffery is likely to miss Week 1. I think Scott will see additional targets, and the Eagles might even use Sanders and Scott simultaneously in some packages. If Scott sees added work in Week 1, he’ll be a popular addition ahead of Week 2, as the Eagles face the Rams in a potential Week 2 shootout. I want to find a spot for Scott on my team now before he crosses the 50% ownership threshold.
Deeper Options
Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC), 11.5% owned
I believe that Kelley is the number two back for the Chargers behind Austin Ekeler. Kelley featured in one of my sleeper articles, and I think he’ll win the competition against Justin Jackson for the backup role. However, I don’t find Kelley to be a must-add. Even if he wins the battle, he could still share touches with Jackson. There’s no guarantee that he’s fantasy-relevant. I want to add Kelley in deeper leagues, but he doesn’t present the same upside as the must-add options.
Bryan Edwards (WR – LVR), 9.4% owned
I’m not sure why Edwards is only 9.4% owned, but he should have a far higher ownership percentage. The Raiders recently placed wide receiver Tyrell Williams on injured reserve, leaving them with Edwards and fellow rookie Henry Ruggs as their starting outside receivers. While I believe Ruggs is the superior talent and has higher draft capital, I think it’s impressive that Edwards is a Week 1 starter as a third-round pick.
Unfortunately, I don’t see the Raiders as a high-powered offense. They will support running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller, but I’m not sure they can support additional options beyond those two. Ruggs, Edwards, and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow will compete for targets, and I think Edwards would take a few weeks to emerge. Therefore, I can’t hold onto Edwards in shallower formats, but he’s a great bench stash in deeper leagues.
Devonta Freeman (RB – FA), 7.6% owned
Freeman remains a free agent, even as Week 1 approaches. This recommendation only applies to deep leagues, but it’s important to note that NFL teams can sign veterans after Week 1 without guaranteeing their entire contracts. Therefore, in a super deep league, Freeman might be an option to hold through the week.
QB of the Week: Ryan Tannehill (TEN), 33.8% owned
I’m not recommending Tannehill as a Week 1 start at the Broncos, a very tough defense. However, Tannehill gets a pristine matchup in Week 2 against the tanking Jaguars at home. If you have an empty spot for a Week 2 streaming quarterback or your quarterback has a lousy Week 2 matchup, Tannehill is an excellent pickup. He’ll be a solid QB1 for me next week.
D/ST of the Week: Titans, 19.9% owned
Like Tannehill, I’m picking on the Jaguars again by recommending the Titans D/ST unit. The Jaguars’ offense is a total mess right now, with no viable running backs and only D.J. Chark as a reliable receiver. Considering that the Titans are a solid real-life defense and have a home matchup in this game, I expect them to be a top-3 D/ST in Week 2.
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.
