Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Kirk Cousins 509-0 4
Joe Burrow 392-2 5
Lamar Jackson 348-55 4
Joe Flacco 359-22 3
Kyler Murray 195-82 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Tank Bigsby 13-101
1-28
2
D’Andre Swift 21-73
2-47
1
Chuba Hubbard 13-97
4-(-2)
1
R. Stevenson 12-89
4-3
1
Rico Dowdle 20-87
2-27
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Ja’Marr Chase 10-193 2
Drake London 12-154 1
Darnell Mooney 9-105 2
Tee Higgins 9-83 2
Garrett Wilson 13-101 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tucker Kraft 4-88 2
Brock Bowers 8-97 1
George Kittle 8-64 1
Isaiah Likely 3-13 2
Kyle Pitts 7-88 0
Placekickers XP FG
Cam Little 4 3
Younghoe Koo 3 3
Chase McLaughlin 3 3
Greg Joseph 2 3
Ka’imi Fairbairn 2 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Giants 7-1 1
Broncos 3-3 1
Vikings 3-3 0
Bears 4-3 0
Seahawks 3-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Aaron Rodgers – Ankle
QB Josh Allen – Concussion
RB Aaron Jones – Hip
RB De’Von Achane – Concussion
RB R. Stevenson – Ankle
RB Zack Moss – Ankle
WR Nico Collins – Hamstring
WR Jordan Whittington – Shoulder
PK Jake Moody – High Ankle Sprain

Chasing Ambulances

QB Aaron Rodgers – Was bruised and battered often in the loss to the Vikings and most notably suffered what he called a “low-ankle sprain.” He continued to play, albeit with a limp, but pending something surprising, he should be okay to face the Bills this week.

QB Josh Allen – Was tackled and went down hard with his helmet bouncing off the turf. His diagnosis wasn’t official on Sunday, so he will be further evaluated, and more should be known by Monday. The Bills need him healthy to play at the Jets next week.

RB Aaron Jones – Was rushing well against the Jets in London but suffered a hip injury and left the game. He spent the rest of the game on the sideline and did not appear to be in pain. The injury is believed to be “short-term,” and the Vikings head onto their bye, so he’ll have two weeks to heal up in time to face the Lions in Week 7.

RB De’Von Achane – Left the win over the Patriots in the first quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion. He heads onto his bye this week, so he’ll have two full weeks to pass the concussion protocol.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – He was not allowed to start, which meant nothing in reality, but he did suffer an ankle injury.  It was later reported not to be serious and that he would not miss any time when they host the Texans this week.

WR Nico Collins – He was en route to yet another monster performance when he left the win over the Bills after catching two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Collins injured his hamstring and did not return. His status for this week’s game in New England will be determined later in the week.

WR Jordan Whittington – The Rams’ sixth-round wideout played a minimal role for the first three weeks, but with both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, the rookie saw six catches for 62 yards in Week 4 and then led the team with seven catches for 89 yards in the loss to the Packers. But he injured his shoulder and left the game with his arm in a sling.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Ty Chandler – Aaron Jones left with an injured hip, and Chandler stepped in with 14 carries for 30 yards and caught two passes for nine yards against a stout Jets defense. Jones should be healthy after their bye, but it is a reminder to get his backup for the Jones owners.

RB Tyrone Tracey – With Devin Singletary out, the Giants turned to the rookie Tracey to lead the backfield and he gained 129 yards on 18 rushes (7.2 YPC). He was only used for one catch for one yard. That came in the road win at the Seahawks, though it could have been a trap game, with Seattle caught thinking ahead of facing the 49ers this week.

RB Breece Hall – One of life’s mysteries has to be about the running back formerly known as Breece Hall. Against the Broncos in Week 4, he ran for four yards on ten carries. Versus the Vikings in Week 5, he gained 23 yards on nine rushes. Through the first five games of 2023, he gained 387 rushing yards on 54 carries (7.2 YPC) and this year, he totaled 197 yards on 65 carries (3.0 YPC). An improved passing game should help the rushing effort, not strip it of fantasy value.

RB Chuba Hubbard – That boost that Andy Dalton brought to the offense went away in Chicago, but Chuba Hubbard (13-97, TD) added four catches for his third straight 100-total-yard effort. Hard to believe but whenever Jonathan Brooks shows up, he’ll get a slow introduction because Hubbard’s 2024 season is dramatically better than his three previous years.

Ravens Tight Ends – Lamar Jackson used his tight ends to a total of ten catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. That breaks down to Isaiah Likely (3-13, 2 TD), Mark Andrews (4-55) and the lead tight end Charlie Kovar (3-64, TD). Well. Do you feel lucky?

RB Dare Ogunbowale – With Joe Mixon missing his third game, Cam Akers was expected to handle the primary duties and he did score once on his nine rushes for 42 yards. But Ogunbowale only had four carries on the season entering that game but ended up as the busiest back with 15 rushes for 30 yards and a season-high six catches for 57 yards. Mixon should be back for the matchup with the Patriots this week, but Ogunbowale has carved out a role.

WR Darius Slayton – With the rookie Malik Nabers out, it was assumed that Wan’Dale Robinson (6-36, TD) would see more work but it didn’t happen. Slayton replaced Nabers and led the team with eight catches of 122 yards and a touchdown. That’s notable next week if Nabers is still out, and the Giants play the Ravens, who just gave up 276 yards and four touchdowns to the Bengals’ starting wideouts.

RB Trey Sermon – With Jonathan Taylor out with an ankle sprain, the Colts turned to Trey Sermon (10-38, TD) but also Tyler Goodson (5-26). Sermon ended with six catches for 25 yards in the loss to the Jaguars, and Goodson also gained 31 yards on three receptions. The backfield is a true split whenever Taylor is out, but at least Sermon handled the most touches. Goodson totaled only one catch and no rushes prior to Sunday.

RB Tank Bigsby – The role of Travis Etienne is nothing like it was in 2023 when he was a top fantasy running back. For reasons unknown, Etienne has not been effective when rushing, and it is not just the opposing defenses because Bigsby has been the better half of the backfield.  While Etienne ran for 17 yards on six carries against the Colts, Bigsby ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 13 rushes. On the year, Etienne totaled 53 runs for 231 yards (4.3 YPC) while Bigsby turned in 34 carries for 273 yards (8.0 YPC).  That was influenced by Bigsby’s 65-yard run this week and his 58-yard run in Week 4. That’s the point. Bigsby can break long gainers while Etienne continues to fade in usage and effectiveness.

TE Tucker Kraft – After logging just two short catches per week for the first three games, the Packers tight end caught six passes for 53 yards and scored a touchdown in Week 4. He followed that with a team-high 88 yards on four catches and two more scores as the top receiver for theWeek 5 game.

RB Jaylen Wright – After De’Von Achane left the game with a concussion, Wright assumed his role in the win over the Patriots. He ran for 86 yards on 13 carries but was never used as a receiver. The Fins head onto their bye, so Achane should be healed, but Wright looked sharp when given the chance. Raheem Mostert returned from his two-game absence and was reliable with 80 yards on 19 rushes and two catches for 18 yards. It’s a plus to see success from the backfield, even though the passing offense remains a problem.

WR Brandon Aiyuk – While it took five games, Aiyuk finally showed up for more than a sub-50-yard performance when he caught eight passes for 147 yards in the loss to the Cardinals. Maybe if that mountain-o-money came along with an actual touchdown, the niners might win more.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – After fumbling in each of the first four games, Stevenson was disciplined by handing over the starting duties to Antonio Gibson. Ends up that was just the first carry in the game. Stevenson had the next one, and then the third carry in the game was Stevenson’s 33-yard touchdown run. He ended with 12 runs for 89 yards and the score, while Gibson only handled six rushes and gained 52 yards. But – Stevenson did not fumble. It’s all about that first carry, apparently

RB Brian Robinson – He only managed one limited practice on Friday, was questionable to play and a game-time decision. He only gained 18 yards on seven rushes but ran in two touchdowns to limit what the more effective rushers of Austin Ekeler (6-67) and even Jeremy McNichols (7-44, TD) offered as fantasy starts.

TE Brock Bowers – He led the Raiders with eight catches for 97 yards and a score in their loss to the Broncos. And he is currently the No. 1 fantasy tight end. He is everything that Sam LaPorta was, back when Sam LaPorta was Sam LaPorta and not the player formerly known as Sam LaPorta.  If Davante Adams is traded, Bowers could become even bigger.

Huddle player of the week

Syndication: The Enquirer

WR Ja’Marr Chase  –  Maybe he did not land that contract upgrade he wanted last summer, but he may not be as willing to concede anything in the future. He already scored three times and averaged 101 yards over the two previous games, and he upped that to an NFL best ten catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Ravens.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Joe Flacco 359-22 3 QB Josh Allen 131-54 1
RB Tank Bigsby 13-101
1-28
2 RB De’Von Achane 3-18
1-(-1)
0
RB Chuba Hubbard 13-97
4-(-2)
1 RB Aaron Jones 7-29
1-24
0
WR Darnell Mooney 9-105 1 WR Deebo Samuel 1-11 0
WR Darius Slayton 8-122 1 WR Marvin Harrison 2-36 0
WR Alec Pierce 3-134 1 WR Jordan Addison 3-36 0
TE Tucker Kraft 4-88 2 TE Dalton Kincaid 2-34 0
PK Cam Little 4  XP   3 FG PK Joshua Karty  1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 191 Huddle Fantasy Points = 43

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 5

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 5 pickups.

We’re through four weeks, and bye weeks begin to rear their heads. The Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans are first up, and the roster crunch is about to become very real. Keep an eye out for guys who should not be dropped and act on their availability.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive linemen

DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

The probable future Hall of Famer has made his presence felt the last two weeks as he reached the quarterback. He had four tackles and a sack in Week 3 and six tackles and a sack in Week 4. He’ll be chasing Dak Prescott in Week 5.

DT Maliek Collins, San Francisco 49ers

Collins is the rare tackle entry, but he is benefiting from one of the top EDGE rushers in the game in Nick Bosa on the other side. That has opened things up for him to reach the QB in two straight weeks. He had four tackles in Week 2, a tackle and a sack in Week 3, adding three tackles, a fumble recovery, and 1 1/2 sacks in Week 4.

Linebackers

LB Ventrell Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars

He took over the weakside linebacker spot when Foyesade Oluokun went on IR. Miller had 11 tackles in his first game since doing so. There’s really nothing more to consider here, and he should be rostered.

LB Raekwon McMillan, New England Patriots

The eight-year vet has played well after a goose egg in Week 1. He had seven tackles and a pass defense in Week 2, 10 tackles in Week 3, and seven tackles last week. He’s a good depth piece to mix and match in your flex spot.

[lawrence-related id=493974]

LB Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks

The fourth-round rookie has had a similar ascension as McMillan. He had a goose egg in Week 1, and seven, six, and nine tackles in the last three weeks, respectively. The Seahawks have a slew of injuries on defense that should give him some runway, and he could be a budding starter in the making.

Defensive backs

SS DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers

The 27-year-old had a couple of solid seasons with the Lions and Miami Dolphins the last couple of years. He is off to a pretty good start thus far in Pittsburgh. He had four tackles, a pick, and two pass defenses in Week 1, nine tackles in Week 2, and five tackles in Week 3.  Elliott posted 12 tackles and a forced fumble last week. Scoop and stream him.

S P.J. Locke, Denver Broncos

Locke came on with five tackles in Week 3 before he busted out for 10 tackles and a sack in Week 4. Was this Locke’s ceiling or a mirage? Time will tell, but he’ll be a back-end option to mix and match at flex.

CB Dee Alford, Atlanta Falcons 

The 26-year-old nickel back has been busy the last couple of weeks. He had 10 tackles in Week 3 and nine tackles, a sack and a pass defense in Week 4. You can’t deny those numbers or the notion he could replicate them against Tampa Bay in Week 5.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 5 free-agent forecast

Here are the top targets on the waiver wire entering Week 5 for fantasy football.

The fantasy football season has concluded its first quarter, and between injuries and surprising performances, the waiver wire will be as active as it’s been thus far.

This also marks the first week of byes — as if managers didn’t already have enough to juggle.

Teams on a bye in Week 5 include the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Jordan Love 389-6 4
Justin Fields 312-55 3
Baker Mayfield 347-10 3
 Jayden Daniels 233-47 2
Lamar Jackson 156-54 3
Running Backs Yards TD
D’Andre Swift 16-93
7-72
1
Alvin Kamara 19-77
7-42
1
Jordan Mason 24-123
2-37
1
Derrick Henry 24-199
3-10
2
Chuba Hubbard 18-104
4-17
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Nico Collins 12-151 1
Jayden Reed 7-139 1
Dontayvion Wicks 5-78 2
CeeDee Lamb 7-98 1
Mike Evans 8-94 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tucker Kraft 6-53 1
Pat Freiermuth 5-57 1
Travis Kelce 7-89 0
George Kittle 4-45 1
Dallas Goedert 7-62 0
Placekickers XP FG
Younghoe Koo 2 4
Jake Moody 3 3
Joshua Karty 0 4
Evan McPherson 4 2
Chase McLaughlin 3 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
49ers 6-3 1
Falcons 1-2 2
Broncos 5-1 0
Browns 3-1 1
Buccaneers 6-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Anthony Richardson – Hip
RB Tyler Badie – Back
RB Cordarrelle Patterson – Ankle
RB Jonathan Taylor – Ankle
TE Taysom Hill – Rib injury
WR Christian Watson – Ankle
WR Rashee Rice – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Anthony Richardson – He was hit hard on his hip and left the game temporarily, then re-entered the game and then got hit again on a run and left the game for good. He is expected to have a hip pointer. Richardson downplayed the injury but also couldn’t confirm he would play this week. Joe Flacco will take his place if needed.

RB  Cordarrelle Patterson – He injured his ankle and was carted to the locker room. His status will be determined on Monday, but the Steelers are already without Jaylen Warren and if Patterson missed Week 5 versus the Cowboys, Najee Harris will be forced into a heavy workload.

RB Jonathan Taylor – He suffered a high-ankle sprain on his right ankle – the same one that’s been a problem throughout his career. He could miss extended games if not land on short-term IR. Trey Sermon is the No. 2 back and will be a hot free agent because of it, but it all depends on the official prognosis on the injury. The Colts could elect to find a free agent to help as well.

TE Taysom Hill – Left the loss to the Falcons with what was initially termed as an abdomen injury and later updated to be a rib injury. Hill bruised his lung on the other side a few weeks ago and this is new injury. It is not ideal for a utility player that almost exclusively runs the ball.

WR Christian Watson – The oft-injured Watson missed ten games with hamstring issues last year, but hoped to be beyond that for this season. He was tackled on Sunday and his legs were caught awkwardly underneath him and injured his ankle. The prognosis on his injury should be known by Monday.

WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs already lost Marquise Brown before the season started, and now the star receiver Rice was carted off after being hit in the knee. Patrick Mahomes threw an interception, and in the process of trying to tackle the interceptor, he inadvertantly hit his own team mate in the knee. While there has not been an official diagnosis as of this writing, HC Andy Reid did say, “it didn’t look good.” Any absence of Rice will force Travis Kelce to assume a much larger role as he did this week after Rice left. Xavier Worthy should also see more work. The fear is that he injured his ACL.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Wan’Dale Robinson – The Giants’ No. 2 receiver in Thursday’s game was Robinson, who totaled 11 catches for 71 yards for a career-best performance. Robinson turned in seven catches for 61 yards last week and benefits from being the other guy to Malik Nabers. Depending on how quickly Nabers recovers from his concussion of Week 4, Robinson could end up as the No. 1 wideout this week in Seattle.

RB Bijan Robinson – Was only given seven carries and gained 28 yards compared to the “hotter hand” of Tyler Allgeier (8-60). But Robinson added four catches for 46 yards and had a touchdown catch called back on a penalty. The Saints were devoted to slowing down Robinson.

RB Chase Brown – The Bengals’ back had a big game when he ran for 80 yards and two scores on 15 rushes, and caught two passes for 12 yards. But they were facing the Panthers and Zack Moss (15-51 rush) also caught four passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers have an above-average secondary, and that led to a good showing by the backfield.

RB Chuba Hubbard – Turned in one of his career-best performances when he ran for 104 yards and a score on 18 carries and added four receptions for 27 yards.  Hubbard enjoys a better situation now that the Panthers are throwing better but remains very sensitive to the quality of the opponent. His time as the primary back is likely drawing to an end soon.

RB Jonathan Brooks – The rookie becomes eligible to return from the NFI list this week, and HC Dave Canales said that Brooks was in the final stages of recovery so his debut should be soon. In small leagues, there’s a chance he might have been discarded along the way. It’s also time to consider Plan B if you own Chuba Hubbard but not Brooks.

WR Xavier Leggette – The Panthers’ rookie wideout just recorded his first touchdown while catching six passes for 66 yards in the loss to the Bengals.  Leggette fielded ten targets in the game, second to only Diontae Johnson. Adam Thielen is out with a serious hamstring injury, so the rookie has a chance to carve out a bigger role as they hoped when he was drafted.

Rams receivers – With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, the Rams promoted a new set of starters. While Demarcus Robinson was expected to be the new No. 1 receiver, it was TuTu Atwell (4-82) and Jordan Whittington (6-62), while Robinson only had two catches for 37 yards. It points more to the volatility of relying on the current receivers, but this is an opportunity for them to get more playing time and prove what they can do.

RB D’Andre Swift – After three straight poor efforts as the Bears’ new primary back, Swift had lost the confidence of fantasy owners. He finally showed up in Week 4 when he ran for 93 yards and a score on 16 rushes against the Rams and was also the leading receiver with seven receptions for 72 yards. He’ll need to be in every starting lineup this week against the Panthers.

WR Jordan Addison – The Vikings No. 2 wideout injured his ankle in Week 1 and missed the last two games. He was active this week and served notice that Justin Jefferson is not the only weapon in the offense. Addison scored on his three catches for 72 yards and added a seven-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around.

WR Dontayvion Wicks – Jayden Reed (7-139, TD) was the top receiver in the loss to the Vikings, but Christian Watson left with yet another ankle injury and Wicks stepped up nicely with five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.  With Romeo Doubs also involved, there are numerous viable targets for Jordan Love when he passes, but Wicks will get a promotion for however long that Watson is out, and the fewer healthy receivers are in Green Bay, the more reliable they can be. Expect Wicks to be a hot free agent this week and he carries upside in light of the Watson injury.

RB Tank Bigsby – After an encouraging offseason, Bigsby injured his shoulder and missed Week 2, and was limited to just two carries in Week 3. Against the Texans on Sunday, Bigsby ran for a team-high 90 yards on seven carries, much of that from a 58-yard rush. Bigsby was the starter to open the game, but Travis Etienne (11-50) eventually saw more work. Bigsby has not seen any targets this year, so his production is limited to rushing attempts. But he’ll face the weaker run defense of the visiting Colts this week.

QB Joe Flacco – Stepped in once Anthony Richardson left with a probable hip pointer, and while he only threw for 168 yards and two scores, that almost entirely went to Michael Pittman (6-113, TD) and Josh Downs (8-82, TD). If Richardson is out for Week 5, the always-capable Flacco will face the same Jaguars that just allowed 345 passing yards and two scores to the Texans.

RB Bucky Irving – While the fantasy owners are getting whipped up about the prospects of Irving taking over as the primary rusher in Tampa Bay, that expectation needs to be tempered. Irving was effective again, running for 49 yards and a score with a six-yard catch. But Rachaad White also ran ten times for the same 49 yards, while White added two catches for 35 yards. They’ll face the stout Atlanta run defense this week, so the backfield won’t combine for high production.

RB Kareem Hunt – The Chiefs running back (Part 2) handled a heavy load in his debut, running for 69 yards on 14 rushes and adding two catches for 16 yards. Carson Steele helped Hunt by losing another fumble that saw him benched. Hunt looked good (4.9 YPC) running the ball, though they allowed Samaje Perine (5-14) to take the touchdown plunge. Steele may have seen his last game of any note.

QB Jordan Love – He entered the game as questionable with an expectation that he mightalso share with the running quarterback Malik Willis. The Packers lost 31-29, but that was hardly Love’s fault. Willis played no role and while Love seemed slightly gimpy, he passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns. He travels to face the Rams’ bottom-ranked secondary this week.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

RB Derrick Henry – Sunday night served up an unstoppable treat when King Henry faced the visiting Bills. He ran for 199 yards and a score on 24 carries, plus caught three passes for 10 yards and a second touchdown. Had he not fumbled into the endzone, he could have ended with 200 rush yards and three scores. He was a monster that the Bills couldn’t stop or catch.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Justin Fields 312-55 3 QB Anthony Richardson 71-24 0
RB D’Andre Swift 16-93 Rush
7-72 Rcv
1 RB Breece Hall 10-4 Rush
2-14 Rcv
0
RB Chase Brown 15-80 Rush
1-12 Rcv
2 RB Travis Etienne 11-50 Rush
1-10 Rcv
0
WR Dontayvion Wicks 5-78 2 WR Rashee Rice Nope 0
WR Jordan Addison 3-72 2 WR Brandon Aiyuk 2-48 0
WR Josh Downs 8-82 1 WR Christian Watson nah 0
TE Tucker Kraft 6-53 1 TE Kyle Pitts not 0
PK Younghoe Koo 2  XP   4 FG PK Jake Elliott 2  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 199 Huddle Fantasy Points = 24

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 4

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 4 pickups.

Three weeks in, and you should have a good idea where your roster stands. This is a big week on waivers, though, because this is the final chance to set things up before bye weeks enter the fold. The Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are first up in Week 5. So owners of DE Aidan Hutchinson should be looking for a potential replacement this week, for example.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive linemen

DE Will McDonald, New York Jets

The 2023 first-round pick had a quiet Week 1 and has busted out with two straight strong games. He had four tackles, a forced fumble, and three sacks in Week 2 and three tackles and two sacks in Week 3. It’s time to believe.

DE Za’Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns

Smith benefits from having Myles Garrett on the opposite side of him. He’s hurting, though, with injuries to both feet. He will still command the attention of offensive lines, which should open things up for Smith. He had a sack in Week 1 and Week 3 and provides useful depth.

Linebackers

LB Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins

Remember this former IDP stud? He had 184 tackles in his sophomore season of 2021 and has rapidly depreciated since then, largely thanks to a major injury in 2022. Brooks looks to be on the comeback trail, though, with 19 total tackles in three games. He had nine tackles against his former team in Week 3 and appears to be getting stronger as the season progresses.

LB Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens

The 11-year vet definitely takes the “Tough Man” award of the bunch. He broke an orbital bone in Week 1. All he has done in two games since is three tackles with two sacks and two tackles, two sacks, and a pass defense. He’s definitely an option to consider in leagues that value sacks.

[lawrence-related id=493614]

LB Nakobe Dean, Philadelphia Eagles

The former third-rounder in 2022 was in line to be a breakout candidate last season before a foot injury derailed his ’23 campaign. Dean looks to be showing that potential with seven tackles in Week 2 and eight in Week 3. He does have a Week 5 bye, but if you have the space, scoop and stash him in more casual settings.

Defensive backs

FS Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans Saints

The Honey Badger is back and eating well through three weeks. He had four tackles, a FF, and a FR in Week 1; three tackles, an INT, and two PDs in Week 2; and seven tackles, an INT, and PD in Week 3. History shows he’s likely to come back to Earth and/or get hurt, but run him out there while you can.

SS Chuck Clark, New York Jets

Clark had ho-hum Weeks 1 and 2 with five and four tackles, respectively. He opened up a can in Week 3 with seven tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a sack. He’ll have Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix in his sights in Week 4 in a good matchup.

S Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs

He plays the “big nickel” role, and his numbers warrant the pickup. In Week 1, he had six tackles. In Week 2, Conner had six tackles, a fumble recovery, a sack, and a TD. Last week, he had 10 tackles, an INT, and 2 PDs. You can’t ignore those stats any longer.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 4 free-agent forecast

Here are the top waiver-wire targets in Week 4.

Entering the conclusion of the first quarter of the fantasy football season, managers will need to continue looking to the waiver wire in order to navigate what has been a chaotic campaign thus far.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Dak Prescott 379-7 3
 Brock Purdy 288-41 3
Lamar Jackson 182-87 2
Malik Willis 202-73 2
Andy Dalton 319-(-2) 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Saquon Barkley 156 2
Kyren Williams 116 3
Derrick Henry 174 2
Chuba Hubbard 159 1
Jonathan Taylor 135 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Jauan Jennings 11-175 3
Malik Nabers 8-78 2
Amari Cooper 7-86 2
Diontae Johnson 8-122 1
Rashee Rice 12-110 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
Dallas Goedert 10-170 0
Cole Kmet 10-97 1
Jake Ferguson 6-95 0
Tyler Conklin 5-93 0
Noah Fant 6-60 0
Placekickers XP FG
Will Lutz 2 4
Eddy Pinero 3 3
Brayden Narveson 3 3
Will Riechard 4 2
Brandon Aubrey 1 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Jets 7-1 0
Packers 7-2 1
Broncos 7-2 0
Seahawks 3-2 0
Vikings 5-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Justin Herbert – Ankle
QB Sam Darnold – Knee
QB Skylar Thompson – Chest
TE Sam LaPorta – Ankle
TE Trey McBride – Head
WR Van Jefferson – Eye
WR Tank Dell – Hand
WR Adam Thielen – Hamstring
WR DeVonta Smith – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB Justin Herbert – He was already playing through a high-ankle sprain and reaggravated it in the loss to the Steelers. His availability to face the Chiefs will be determined later in the week. Taylor Heinicke joined the Chargers just a few weeks ago and replaced him on Sunday.

QB Sam Darnold – Was hit low by a defender but returned to the game. He will get an MRI this week to ensure there is no damage.

QB Skylar Thompson – Was hit by a defender in his ribs and remained down for a while. Tim Boyle replaced him, which dropped the offense by yet another notch. His status for this week’s game against the Titans will be determined during the week, but the Dolphins also signed Tyler Huntley, who may be an option if Thompson remains out.

TE Sam LaPorta – Left the field on a cart after getting rolled up while blocking. He returned later in the game only to leave again when he further aggravated his ankle sprain. The Lions play football on Monday night and then take their Week 5 bye. If LaPorta’s sprain has any severity, they may elect to sit him this week and then have him return in Week 6 after their bye.

TE Trey McBride – Hit helmets with the Lions safety and remained down on the field for a while. He will be evaluated for a concussion. The Cardinals likely do not need McBride this week, but no fantasy player should ever miss a home game against the Commanders.

WR Tank Dell – Injured his hand at the end of the loss to the Vikings but later said it would not be a problem.

WR Adam Theilen – On the day the Panthers magically found an offense, Theilen injured his hamstring during his touchdown catch. He remained down for a while and finally limped off the field. His status will be determined later in the week for the home game against the Bengals this week, but it appeared to be more than a minor strain.

WR DeVonta Smith – The Eagles star wideout was in a scrum when a defender came in from the side and hit him helmet to helmet which the Eagles considered a “dirty shot” (hard to argue). He was immediately diagnosed with a concussion and left the game. If A.J. Brown remains out, the Eagles may be very short on viable wide receivers. Britain Covey and Jahan Dotson would see increased playing time, but Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley would likely see bigger roles.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Andy Dalton – Well, this changes everything. At least for this week. Bryce Young was benched and Dalton started against the Raiders. The Red Rocket merely threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns for one of the best fantasy performances by any quarterback this year, let alone on the Panthers. This was an entirely different team than the previous two weeks, and it happened on the road.

WR Diontae Johnson – After his first two weeks as a Panthers only totaled five catches for 34 yards, it was more than a small surprise to see Johnson turn in eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Raiders. His 14 targets were nine more than any other Carolina player.

WR Demario Douglas – The Patriots’ slot receiver was busy in the loss to the Jets when he fielded nine targets and caught seven for 69 yards. No other Pats’ receiver gained more than 19 yards and Douglas ended with more than twice as many targets as anyone else.

RB Braelon Allen – The Jets rookie continues to be more involved each week.  Granted, the Jets easily beat the Patriots and Allen helped mop up, but he ran 11 times for 55 yards and had three receptions. Breece Hall gained 54 yards on 16 rushes and caught four passes. Hall scores every week, but any chance for the occasional 25+ carry monster game may be capped off thanks to Allen who is nearing stand-alone fantasy value.

WR Malik Nabers – No matter than he was drafted by one of the worst passing offenses in the NFL, the rookie looks capable of carrying the team by himself in some games. He finished the upset at the Browns with eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers not only is a difference-maker, he’s making Daniel Jones look great good capable.

WR Amari Cooper – After two weeks of nearly zero production, Cooper showed up in Week 3 against the Giants when he led the Browns with seven catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. No one else on the Browns’ offense scored or gained more than 33 yards.

Bears backfield – There’s no real fantasy value here, and the Bears’ offense just became even more convoluted with Roschon Johnson leading the backfield with 30 rushing yards on eight carries, while D’Andre Swift gained 20 yards on his 13 rushes and Khalil Herbert (4-9) pitched in as well. It was Johnson’s first work of the season, so expect more of the less.

QB Caleb Williams – After his first two games failed to record a passing touchdown or throw for more than 174 yards, Williams’ owners started quietly returning him to the waiver wire last week. That was premature. The Bears lost in Indianapolis, but the rookie passed for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He threw two interceptions again, but Williams looked more like a No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

WR Stefon Diggs  – The ex-Bill came at a discount in fantasy drafts because he changed teams, but he led the Texans with ten catches for 94 yards this week – twice as much as any other receiver. When the game against the Vikings went bad, Diggs was the preferred target for C.J. Stroud.’

TE Dallas Goedert – The Eagles’ tight end needed to help compensate for the injured A.J. Brown and turned in a career-best ten catches for 170 yards in the win over the Saints. That was double the yardage of his first two games combined. His role may remain large if Brown misses this week in Tampa Bay.

WR Courtland Sutton – He led the Broncos with only seven catches for 68 yards, but Bo Nix passed better and Sutton’s role should continue to grow. Those first two games caused some to give up on him, but Sutton is one to at least hold on to and see how quickly Nix improves.

RB Bucky Irving – He is consistently better than Rachaad White. In the loss to the Broncos (I know, right?), White only ran for 17 yards on six carries (2.8 YPC) while Irving gained 70 yards on nine rushes (7.8). And it wasn’t just trash yardage at the end of the game. By halftime, Irving had already run four times for 49 yards while White had his six rushes. White still caught five passes, while Irving snared three passes.

WR Michael Wilson – The Cardinals saw Marvin Harrison Jr. catch fire in Week 2, and now their No. 2 wideout Wilson logged his best game with eight catches for 64 yards in the loss to the Lions. Harrison still managed five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Jauan Jennings (SF)  –  It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen – the best fantasy player for the week is probably not on anyone’s roster (until waivers are processed this week). The 49ers No. 3 receiver was asked to do more with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out. He did.

Jennings caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns for a career-best performance. And yet, the 49ers still lost 24-27.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Malik Willis 202-73 2 QB Anthony Richardson 167-24 0
RB Chuba Hubbard 21-114 rush
5-55 rcv
1 RB Rhamondre Stevenson 6-23 0
RB Emanuel Wilson 12-50 rush
2-35 rcv
1 RB Josh Jacobs 14-43 rush
1-5 rcv
0
WR Jauan Jennings 11-175 3 WR Davante Adams 4-40 0
WR Tre Tucker 7-96 1 WR Mike Evans 2-17 0
WR Rome Odunze 6-112 1 WR Tyreek Hill 3-40 0
TE Tyler Conklin 5-93 0 TE Mark Andrews nope 0
PK Will Lutz 2 XP   4 FG PK Ka’imi Fairbairn  1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 207 Huddle Fantasy Points = 39

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 3

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 3 pickups.

The season rolls right along into Week 3. We hope you’re 2-0, but regardless, there are key decisions to make as bye weeks inch closer and closer.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive linemen

DE Patrick Jones II, Minnesota Vikings

Jones has begun a breakout season through two weeks. He had 5 career sacks in three years entering the year, and he has 4 sacks in the first two weeks. He has 13 tackles and a forced fumble to go with it. Make him an elevated option on waivers.

DE Keion White, New England Patriots

While his torrid pace is unlikely to last, White is one of the top DL in fantasy from the first two weeks. He had four tackles, a forced fumble and 2.5 sacks in Week 1. The second-year pro followed it up with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in Week 2; look his way in all conventional formats.

Linebackers

LB Germaine Pratt, Cincinnati Bengals

He could have been drafted in deeper leagues, but he’s getting the job done without a lot of flair. He has increased his tackle output every year in the league, topping it off with 118 last season, and Pratt is off to a fast start with 24 tackles through two games. If he’s out there, change that.

LB Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets

After a ho-hum, four-tackle Week 1, Sherwood emerged with 12 tackles and a pass defense last week. Sherwood becomes a prime candidate this week, because MLB C.J. Mosley missed practice Monday due to a toe injury. The Jets play the New England Patriots Thursday night, and Sherwood makes a banger of a play.

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LB Henry To’oTo’o, Houston Texans

The second-year man has flashed his versatility through two weeks. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was one of the best linebackers of the last 25 years, and he has clearly worn off on the former fifth-round pick. To’oTo’o has 20 tackles, 1 sack, and a PD.

Defensive backs

S Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs

Conner plays in a lot of nickel packages, and he has flashed through two weeks. He had six tackles in Week 1 and really showed his potential in Week 2. He had six tackles, a sack, and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

CB Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints

The former second-round pick’s game lines will pop out your eyeballs. He had six tackles, 3.0 sacks, and a pass defense in Week 1. He backed it up with nine tackles in Week 2. Corners are dicey, but you can’t deny his hustle, especially if Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) misses more time.

CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants

The third-round rookie is making plays early in his career. He had four tackles and forced a fumble in Week 1, notching 12 tackles and a sack in Week 2. Pick him up to see what’s in store against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 3 free-agent forecast

Here are the top targets on the waiver wire for fantasy football in Week 3.

The fantasy football season is in full effect and between the injuries and surprise breakouts, the waiver wire will be extremely active in Week 3.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Fantasy Football: 20 waiver wire targets for Week 3

Scrambling to replace Isiah Pacheco and Cooper Kupp in your fantasy football lineup? Here are 20 waiver wire targets to consider this week.

We’re just two weeks into the 2024 NFL season and injuries are already piling up across the league.

The two biggest injuries from a fantasy football perspective this week are Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (who is going on injured reserve with an ankle injury) and Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (who is also a candidate for IR with an ankle injury).

The in-house candidates to replace Pacheco in KC are Samaje Perine and Carson Steele, but there might be non-Chiefs running backs available on the waiver wire who are better options to replace Pacheco in your fantasy lineup. Kansas City is also bringing in Kareem Hunt for a free agent visit today.

In Los Angeles, the Rams are now missing both Puka Nacua and Kupp. That leaves Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson as the top WRs still standing, and rookie Jordan Whittington is a massive sleeper to consider this week.

Check out the full list of fantasy football waiver wire targets below. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.

  1. RB Bucky Irving (30%)
  2. RB Braelon Allen (8%)
  3. RB Kareem Hunt (1%)
  4. RB Rico Dowdle (38%)
  5. RB Dameon Pierce (3%)
  6. RB Antonio Gibson (33%)
  7. RB Trey Benson (44%)
  8. RB Samaje Perine (4%)
  9. RB Carson Steele (2%)
  10. WR Quentin Johnston (7%)
  11. WR Alec Pierce (14%)
  12. WR Demarcus Robinson (34%)
  13. WR Jordan Whittington (3%)
  14. WR Tyler Johnson (13%)
  15. WR Tutu Atwell (1%)
  16. TE Colby Parkinson (45%)
  17. TE Zach Ertz (7%)
  18. TE Hunter Henry (11%)
  19. QB Justin Fields (32%)
  20. QB Derek Carr (10%)

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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