Week 6 Waiver Claims
Hey everyone, so today (Monday, the 12th), some personal life things came up mid-day that frankly, matter so much more than fantasy football. I had the opportunity to have a deep life discussion with a friend who is going through a really tough time, and in doing so, found my self in a vulnerable state where many of the things I’ve wanted to share just seemed to come flowing out of me. I decided to take the time & opportunity that I had today to pour that energy out onto paper, so that it can be properly shared in due time. I am hopeful that sharing my story can help others who may also be dealing with struggles similar to those I’ve faced personally. I wish that this burst of inspiration didn’t come in the middle of a Monday, at the expense of my waiver article, but sometimes, life has other plans. Seeing as it’s now late in the day & I’ve only been able to put a little bit of time into this, I’m going keep it simple with a (very) short elevator pitch for this week’s adds. Thank you for understanding. I can’t wait to share the more important project I am working on with you all when it is finally complete. With that being said, let’s get to this week’s claims.
Quarterback #1: Justin Herbert
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 32.2% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 22.6 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 27.3 |
A star is being born before our eyes & he might just still be available in your 1QB leagues…
Quarterback #2: Andy Dalton
| % Rostered (ESPN) | .1% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | N/A |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | N/A |
There are 7 clear difference-making fantasy QB’s this year (Russ, Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Kyler, Deshaun, & Aaron Rodgers). If you don’t have one of those 6 difference-makers, you need to have a long hard talk with yourself about whether or not Andy Dalton offers a potential upgrade. If I’m choosing between the Red Rifle or say, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees for the rest of the year, I’m giving the Red Rifle some serious consideration.
Quarterback #3: Tua Tagovailoa
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 5.5% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | N/A |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | N/A |
If Derek Carr was a car he’d be a mini-van. Looks ugly in your driveway, is constantly mocked, is safe as f*ck, and almost everyone could use one but just doesn’t want to admit they want one. I hate to break it to you guys, but he’s your QB13 through 5 weeks.
Running Back #1: Alexander Mattison
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 41.5% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | N/A |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 15.1 |
Dalvin Cook is hurt again. You know the drill.
Running Back #2: Jamaal Williams
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 16.4% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 7.8 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 14.5 |
Not a sexy add, but Williams has hit 8+ fantasy points in 3 out of 4 games & looks like the real Aaron Jones handcuff. He has a real receiving role & offers much more dual-threat potential than the more one-dimensional AJ Dillon.
Running Back #3: J.D. McKissic
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 11.0% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 5.3 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 7.9 |
McKissic’s a lot more attractive in full PPR than .5PPR, but he’s an add in both. 11 combined receptions between him & Gibson this past week with the Allen/Smith combo at QB. It doesn’t really matter (for McKissic) which QB plays, because both appear as if they’ll continue to funnel a high-percentage of their targets through the RB position.
Running Back #4: D’Ernest Johnson
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 27.2% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 6.8 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 4.1 |
Man, RB waivers are friggin’ brutal man.
Wide Receiver #1: Tee Higgins
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 41.9% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 8.5 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 8.2 |
The No. 2 (No. 1?) WR on a team with the 2nd most passing attempts through 5 weeks? Sign me the heck up. I don’t give a flyin’ you know what if he’s a rookie. He’s surely already rostered in 12-team leagues, but do me a favor & get this guy bumped above 50% roster ownership by getting him added in 10-teamers too. He just scored 10 fantasy points in a game where his team scored only 3 points & his QB had career (season)-worsts in passing attempts, completions, and yards. If you’re not running out there to acquire Higgins all over the place already, go look up his schedule down the home stretch of the season.
Wide Receiver #2: Chase Claypool
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 8.9% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 16.0 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 39.1 |
Claypool has a 20+ yard reception in every game & just 1.3 less fantasy points than Stefon Diggs through 4 games (!!) If you wanna claim him over Higgins I wouldn’t blame you. I mean, holy friggin’ hell man. If you wanna bet against rookies, that’s your hole to die in. You’re much better off just betting on freaks no matter what.
Wide Receiver #3: Laviska Shenault Jr.
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 31.1% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 9.9 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 11.4 |
Speaking of betting on freaks no matter what…
Wide Receiver #4: Travis Fulgham
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 20.1% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 9.4 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 19.4 |
Big-play ability (15.0+ YPC last two weeks), TD-potential (2 TD’s in 2 games), and a hell of an upcoming schedule after this week’s tough game against BAL (NYG, DAL, BYE, NYG, CLE, SEA, GB, NO, AZ, DAL). Carson Wentz’s top two targets have been TE’s the past 2 years so it makes sense that he’d gravitate towards a bigger-bodied jump-baller like Travis Fulgham. He had more receptions last week than the rest of the receivers combined.
Tight End #1: Robert Tonyan
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 48.2% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 13.5 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 30.8 |
Buy the hype. Aaron Rodgers is an MVP candidate & GB needs Tonyan to continue to shoulder the load with a lack of secondary WR’s. Matt LaFleur freed Aaron Jones last year, he’s not going to shackle Bobby Tonyan. I’d trade Evan Engram for him & I’d have no problem dropping Hayden Hurst for him either. I’m treating him as a top-5 TE moving forward.
Tight End #2: Gerald Everett
| % Rostered (ESPN) | .5% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 5.3 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 11.0 |
Looking for upside? Everett is your guy. An upper-tier athlete (4.62 40/37.5” vertical) who has progressed every year & caught 4/90 this past week. What happens if any of Kupp, Woods, or Higbee goes down? I’ll tell you what – Everett vaults into the top-7, where Kelce, Kittle, Andrews, Waller, Hunter Henry, & Tonyan are probably the only TE’s I’d rather roster.
Tight End #3: Eric Ebron
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 37.6% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 7.2 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 6.8 |
With 4 legit WR’s on the team (including a bonafide freak who’s probably going to be the preferred red-zone option going forward) there ain’t a whole lot of ceiling for Ebron. But the fact of the matter is in deeper 12-team leagues, you’re not looking for TE’s with a ceiling on waivers, you’re looking for TE’s with a pulse.
Tight End #4: Irv Smith Jr.
| % Rostered (ESPN) | 4.3% |
| Avg. Fantasy Points/Game (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 2.2 |
| Last Week’s Fantasy Points (FanDuel 0.5 PPR) | 8.4 |
It looks like maybe Smith also has a pulse. Maybe. Sorta.