Todd Gurley’s fantasy stock has been confusing from the start of the 2019 season. Some people didn’t want to touch him. Others thought he presented tremendous value.
His knee has caused problems for fantasy football owners, and he hasn’t been consistent. And that seems to have created an opportunity for Rams running backs Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson.
For this list, we didn’t include players who are owned in over 50% of leagues in both Yahoo! and ESPN. With that in mind, I have to note a few fringe players before we proceed. If Brown, RB Adrian Peterson or TE Hunter Henry are available in your league, pick them up. They are just above qualification for this list. On to this week’s list of waiver wire targets.
10. Streaming a defense?
It’s a tough week to stream defenses, but here are a few to target (that don’t technically qualify for this list because they’re owned in more than 50% of leagues): the 49ers, the Panthers, the Jaguars and the Saints. Hopefully, one of those defenses is on waivers in your league.
9. Darren Fells, TE, Texans
ESPN: 2%. Yahoo! 4%.
Fells may not be the answer for your team at tight end. But if you’re struggling to find someone reliable, perhaps Fells could be a helpful addition. He six catches for 69 yards in Week 6 and two catches for 20 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5. He has gotten more looks in the Houston offense. But of course, there’s no certainty he’ll keep getting them.
8. Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Browns
ESPN: 2%. Yahoo! 3%.
Over the last three weeks, he has six catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He finished Week 6 with three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. For deeper leagues, he has emerged as a decent option as a streaming tight end, with David Njoku on IR.
7. Mark Walton, RB, Dolphins
ESPN: 1%. Yahoo! 4%.
The Dolphins are a hard team to get behind for fantasy, but Walton has increasingly become a part of the team’s game plan. And running backs Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage have been less relevant. Walton got the start on Sunday, and had six carries for 32 yards with five catches for 43 yards. He’s worth a flier in deeper PPR leagues.
6. Auden Tate, WR, Bengals
ESPN: 21%. Yahoo! 23%.
The Bengals passing offense has been good — at least in fantasy. Even quarterback Andy Dalton is playable if you’re desperate. But Auden Tate isn’t a player to own out of desperation. He’s a WR3/WR4, and is worth owning, particularly with A.J. Green’s uncertain status.
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5. Jamaal Williams, RB, Packers
ESPN: 25%. Yahoo! 18%.
His workload and production has been inconsistent, but perhaps Monday night showed there’s enough work for two fantasy-relevant running backs in the Packers offense. Williams had 14 carrels for 104 yards and four receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
4. Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings
ESPN: 16%. Yahoo! 22%.
Mattison is a lottery ticket. In a moment of desperation, you could probably play him as a FLEX, because he’s doing well with his limited workload as Dalvin Cook’s backup. In all likelihood, you would just roster him in the event that Cook gets hurt. Still, Mattison is worth owning in all formats.
3. Benny Snell, RB, Steelers
ESPN: 2%. Yahoo! 2%.
With Jaylen Samuels injured, the Steelers turned to Snell as the second running back behind James Conner. And it’s clear Pittsburgh wants to use two backs, because Snell got a big workload in Week 6 (17 carries, 75 yards, one reception, 14 yards). Like Mattison, Snell is a gamble. Unlike Mattison, there’s a chance Snell could supplant Conner, who is having a rough season and who might not be 100 percent healthy.
2. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
ESPN: 51%. Yahoo! 48%.
He’s back from bye and is set to play the Miami Dolphins. What’s not to like? Allen is a runner and a prolific passer. While he’s not great in real-life football, he’s a great fantasy player, and often goes overlooked.
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1. Darrell Henderson, RB, Rams
ESPN: 23%. Yahoo! 28%.
With Gurley’s knee flaring up, fantasy football owners would be wise to pick up Henderson. Brown has been the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, with Henderson seeming to be the third. But Henderson looked explosive and dynamic in Week 6 (6 carries, 39 yards, one reception, nine yards). Perhaps if Gurley’s knee continues to give him issues, Henderson’s role will become sizable.
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