Waiver Wire Targets
For these, I will only be mentioning players who aren’t taken in my 12-man leagues. 10-man leagues should prioritize Myles Gaskin, Carlos Hyde and Justin Jefferson.
Points are in 1/2 PPR.
1. Greg Ward
The Eagles are in contention for the most injured team in the NFL. With DeSean Jackson and Dallas Goedert joining the growing list of Philly receivers that are out, Ward is immediately stepping into a large role in the offense. He showed that last week, catching 8 receptions on 11 targets for 72 yards and a TD (16.6 Fantasy Points).
2. Tee Higgins
The rookie wide receiver has been building a role in the Bengals offense since an invisible performance week 1. After catching 3-of-6 targets on 60 snaps in week 2, Higgins took a bigger share with 9 targets resulting in 5 catches, 40 yards and a pair of touchdowns (18.50 FP). Joe Burrow has looked good through his first three games and should spread the ball around against the passing-vulnerable Jaguars. Also, AJ Green obviously has been useless.
3. Jimmy Graham
The old veteran tight end saw 10 targets this past week, with over half of them coming after Nick Foles relieved Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. He finished the game with six catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns (21 FP).
Foles knows how to use tight ends from his time in Philadelphia and will need a reliable check down target as he gets comfortable with the offense. This is especially true due to Tarik Cohen’s season ending ACL injury.
4. Rex Burkhead
As can be expected (but not predicted), a Patriots running back took over the backfield for the day and ran wild. You can’t sneeze at this line: 49 rushing yards and two touchdowns on SIX carries, and 7-of-10 receptions for 49 receiving yards and another touchdown (31.30 FP).
Three touchdowns, almost a hundred yards and 10 targets sounds as good as you can ask on paper, but the truth is the same as it always is with Patriots running backs. You can never predict which (if any) back will get the lions share of touches in any given week.
If there is one next week, I wouldn’t expect it to be Burkhead. James White should be coming back after a shocking car accident which killed his father and put his mother in critical care took him out of weeks 2 and 3. White is well regarded across the league for his character and work ethic, and I see Belichick giving him every chance he can to have a meaningful day.
5. Travis Homer
Seattle’s lead back was injured late in his game against the Cowboys, after a dirty Alligator roll by DT Trysten Hill caused him to suffer a knee strain. This is the best possible scenario for a knee injury (1-2 weeks out), but the Hawks will have to fill his large, versatile roll with the both running backs behind him. Carlos Hyde is expected to pick up the majority of carries, while Homer steps in as a third-down, pass-catching back.
Homer only has 2 receptions on 3 targets and 8 carries for 39 yards this year, but is familiar with the offense and has looked good in bursts when he was asked to step in last year. It’s a deeper-league play that can deliver much needed upside while Carson is out.