Welcome to the first edition of Weekly Waiver Targets, where I will offer up some waiver wire suggestions for you every week. Sometimes the goal will be to help you improve your team for the upcoming week, and sometimes my suggestions will be more for the long haul. I will profile one feature player for each position, followed by some of my other favorite waiver wire candidates for each position. Starting next week, I will include some streaming options for defenses.
QUARTERBACK
Alex Smith, owned in 46% of Fantrax leagues, could have a great week (and season) for the Chiefs. Smith is playing against the Patriots this week, in the Thursday nighter, and is primed to put up some impressive fantasy numbers. While the Patriots have a top-10 defense, the Chiefs have a talented offense that will be exciting to watch this season. Tyreek Hill is explosive and has the ability and speed to extend plays after the catch. Travis Kelce is a huge red-zone target for Smith and should receive tons of opportunities to spike the ball. Rookie running back, Kareem Hunt, should be a PPR beast this season, too, providing the offense with plenty of ways to open up defenses and get the ball downfield as a result.
Other Quarterbacks to target:
- Jay Cutler, Dolphins, owned in 63% of Fantrax leagues: Cutler is playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 and has the potential to be a streaming option in the right matchups.
- DeShone Kizer, Browns, 34%: Kizer has great dynasty value and has the potential to put up a lot of “garbage time” points.
- Jared Goff, Rams, 36%: Goff gets a prime matchup against the Colts in Week 1. I like him long term, and he could have a strong week with Sammy Watkins and rookie Cooper Kupp now in the fold.
- Scott Tolzien, Colts, 4%: Tolzien is playing against a Rams team that might be without Aaron Donald. Tolzien might be lacking in talent, but he has some nice weapons around him, potentially giving him value in two-quarterback leagues.
RUNNING BACK
Jeremy Hill, owned in 73% of Fantrax leagues, is presently listed as the No. 1 running back on the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster. He will be competing with Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard for touches, and Mixon is probably the most talented back on the roster. For Week 1, however, it looks as though Hill will be given the opportunity to lead his team in touches, provided he’s healthy enough to play. Hill suffered an ankle injury in the preseason, but the lack of news could be good news in this situation. Hill should remain a viable option for your fantasy team until Mixon takes over, and he’s a good bet to maintain goal line work even when that happens. I would invest 5% of my waiver budget on him.
Other Running Backs to Target:
- James Conner, Steelers, owned in 55% of Fantrax leagues: Conner is arguably is the most valuable handcuff in fantasy football. The Steelers’ system works favorably for running backs, and should Le’Veon Bell suffer an injury, Conner would find himself with a tremendous opportunity.
- Wendell Smallwood, Eagles, 50%: The Eagles seem disenchanted with LeGarrette Blount, which could lead to Smallwood taking over as the team’s No. 1 running back. He is worth a grab in all formats.
- Terrance West, Ravens, 86%: West is the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens. If he is available in your league, you should grab him based on opportunity alone.
WIDE RECEIVER
Breshad Perriman is a breakout candidate for 2017. Despite the signing of Jeremy Maclin, Perriman should have a great season. Perriman is currently owned in only 46% of Fantrax leagues, and that number will grow as the season progresses. If he is available in your league, grab him now for a minimum waiver budget investment, or wait until he breaks out and hope for the best. Perriman had 33 receptions for 499 yards and three touchdowns last season, and is primed to improve on those numbers. The addition of Maclin could open up the field nicely for Perriman, allowing him to extend plays for larger gains.
Other Wide Receivers to target:
- Robby Anderson, Jets, owned in 61% of Fantrax leagues: Anderson is worth owning in most leagues. His downside is the Jets’ quarterback play (or lack thereof), but he should see a ton of targets this season.
- Robert Woods, Rams, 39%: Woods is playing opposite Sammy Watkins once again. Only this time, it’s for the Rams. Woods should see a ton of targets and could be a reliable contributor in deeper leagues.
- Phillip Dorsett, Patriots, 20%: Dorsett was recently traded to the New England Patriots. While he may not pay immediate dividends, he may provide you with some nice returns later in the season.
TIGHT END
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, is owned in 20% of Fantrax leagues, which presents an opportunity for fantasy owners who need help at the tight end position. Seferian-Jenkins could lead the Jets in targets this season. In fact, the inexperience at quarterback could actually help him, as Seferian-Jenkins could serve as a safety valve. He does have a two-game suspension to serve, but he could provide you with some depth at the position when he returns in Week 3.
Other Tight Ends to target:
- Dwayne Allen, Patriots, owned in 30% of Fantrax leagues: Allen is another player playing in a target-rich environment in New England. He is playing behind Rob Gronkowski, but with Tom Brady at the helm, there are plenty of targets to go around.
- C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans, 42%: Fiedorowicz looks to improve on last year’s breakout season with the Texans. He was rewarded with a new contract and should be considered a TE2 for now, with TE1 upside.
Thank you for reading the first installment of Weekly Waiver Targets, and check back next Tuesday for my next edition. Check me out on Twitter, too: @HaehnelJames