One week in, and we’re already looking for waivers!!! Whether you’re needing to replace an injured player or just trying to keep the best assets out of your opponent’s hands, we’re here to give you the low down. Every player mentioned in this article was available in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues as of Monday night. While quarterback and tight end are rough, there are a PLETHORA of running backs and wide receivers. Time for you to Pick ‘Em Up!
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston (56% Available)
Being honest, I don’t love either of these quarterbacks. You probably have a better player on your roster right now. Yes, Jameis dropped five touchdowns and was the QB2 on the week. It was a weird game, and he only had 148 yards on 20 attempts. Things could still go wrong here. Though, TD-upside is clearly present.
Tua Tagovailoa (71% Available)
Tua had a boring game, and he finished as the QB22. You’re adding him for upside. This was his first game after his first real preseason being healthy for the first time. It was a lot of firsts, and he still threw for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Running Backs
Elijah Mitchell (91% Available)
The man that holds the keys to the 49ers backfield holds fantasy value. It appears, for the time being, that man is Eli Mitchell. Trey Sermon was a healthy scratch in the game, and Raheem Mostert sustained a knee injury in the first quarter. That left Mitchell in a “plus” matchup against Detroit, and he did his job. He ended with 104 yards on 19 carries. They might not all be this easy, and the 49ers change backfield leaders like the wind…but Mitchell is worth your FAAB for the time being.
Kenneth Gainwell (92% Available)
There were stirrings that Gainwell could have a legit role in this offense all preseason long. All the rumors are true! Gainwell saw 11 touches behind Miles Sanders (19 touches), and Gainwell scored the only running back touchdown. It wasn’t a spectacular game, but it was one worth keeping on your radar. The rookie’s role is likely to grow, and he is worth your last bench spot.
James White (66% Available)
Hey, there is an unathletic quarterback in New England again…you know what that means? Passes to James White. White secured 6 of 7 targets and even handled four carries. By the way, he also did not fumble the ball. The same cannot be said for Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. White could see more work in the following weeks and has a safe floor from his pass-catching ability.
Mark Ingram (79% Available)
Why is Mark Ingram so low? It’s a trust issue. I don’t trust Ingram. I don’t trust Houston. I don’t trust David Johnson or Phillip Lindsay not to steal the job back. Ingram had a better week than most on this list with 85 yards and a touchdown, but as I’ve stated, I don’t trust him to do it again. However, if you need a running back, you could do much worse.
Larry Rountree (99% Available)
This is more of a speculative add and definitely for deeper bench leagues, but Rountree stepped right into the backup role for the Chargers. He was given eight carries while Justin Jackson only handled the ball once. Austin Ekeler is not a true workhorse and needs someone to spell him. That someone is Larry Rountree.
Wide Receivers
Tim Patrick (98% Available)
Tim Patrick might be one of the most underrated wide receivers in the league, and now, Jerry Jeudy is hurt. Patrick caught four balls on four targets and finished with 39 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he was the WR40 on a much worse team. He shouldn’t be available in this many leagues and won’t be for long.
Sterling Shepard (61% Available)
Not sure how to put this more plainly– STERLING SHEPARD IS DANIEL JONES’ FAVORITE RECEIVER AND GOOD FOR EIGHT TARGETS PER GAME. Sorry, but Shepard should not have been drafted as late as he was and should not be available in 60% of leagues. After 113 yards and a TD, you now have to fight the rest of your league for him.
Christian Kirk (86% Available)
It was a big week for Kirk as he handled the slot role vacated by Larry Fitzgerald. With DBs focusing on DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green, Kirk caught five balls for 70 yards and two touchdowns. That production might not be an every-week thing, but his role seems safe and secure.
Nelson Agholor (67% Available)
With Cam gone and Mac in, it appears that the WR1 role in New England once again has value, and Agholor has that role. In Jones’ first game at quarterback, Agholor caught five balls for 71 yards and one touchdown. That feels like a safe floor for him moving forward this season.
Cole Beasley (55% Available)
I’m not going to get into vaccine beliefs or rap careers here…the long and short is that we all wrote Beasley off, and we were wrong. Beasley was targeted 13 times, just one behind Stefon Diggs, five more than Emmanuel Sanders, and eight more than Gabriel Davis. His demise was severely exaggerated, and he is worth an add for WR3 duties.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson (89% Available)
Johnson didn’t put Adam Trautman out of a job, but he did secure all three balls thrown his way, two of them for touchdowns. I wouldn’t bank on 34 touchdowns this season, but he does appear to be Winston’s red-zone darling. Think Cameron Brate.
Jared Cook (74% Available)
He is firmly the 4th target on the team, behind Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler, but there is work to go around. Cook was targeted eight times and caught five passes for over 50 yards. He will be a frequent Stream of the Week candidate and is apparently, not cooked.