Fantasy Football Waiver Wire – Page 5

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
Kyler Murray	266-59	3
Derek Carr	243-1	3
Sam Darnold	268-32	2
Baker Mayfield	185-34	2
Joe Burrow	258-9	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Alvin Kamara	20-115 2-65	4
De’Von Achane	22-96 7-69	1
James Cook	11-78 1-17	3
Breece Hall	14-62 7-52	1
J.K. Dobbins	17-131	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Marvin Harrison Jr.	4-130	2
DK Metcalf	10-129	1
Malik Nabers	10-127	1
Davante Adams	9-110	1
Calvin Ridley	4-77	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
George Kittle	7-76	1
Hunter Henry	8-109	0
Brock Bowers	9-98	0
Trey McBride	6-67	1
Mike Gesicki	7-91	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Austin Seibert	0	7
Daniel Carson	2	4
Evan McPherson	1	4
Brandon Aubrey	1	4
Justin Tucker	2	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Bills	2-3	1
Packers	1-3	0
Steelers	2-2	0
Chiefs	3-1	1
Cardinals	5-1	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

PK Graham Gano – Hamstring
WR Cooper Kupp – Ankle
WR Justin Jefferson – Quad bruise
QB Justin Herbert – Leg
TE Taysom Hill – Chest
TE Evan Engram – Hamstring
RB Tyjae Spears – Ankle
RB Isiah Pacheco – Leg IR

Chasing Ambulances

WR Cooper Kupp – Left the loss to the Cardinals with an ankle injury on a team that already lost Puka Nacua for an extended period. If Kupp cannot return for Week 3, it will be catastrophic for the Rams. Demarcus Robinson becomes the primary wideout and the rest of the receivers have to step up, but it is far less certain who, if any, can outplay the rest. The early speculation is that it may be a high-ankle sprain but that will be determined on Monday.

WR Justin Jefferson – Early diagnosis was a quad bruise and that he would be day to day. Already missing Jordan Addison, the Vikings still beat the 49ers in what apparently is an annual tradition in Minnesota. But Jefferson turned in four catches for 133 yards and a score before he left, which included a 97-yard touchdown catch. Jalen Nailor (3-54, TD) was effective subbing for Addison, but there are no other wideouts that merit grabbing if Jefferson was to miss any time.

TE Taysom Hill – Left the win over the Cowboys with a chest injury and went to a local hospital as a precaution. If he misses time, there is no real replacement for the versatile Hill who has been more of a rusher than a receiver.

TE Evan Engram – It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. Engram strained his hamstring during pregame warmups and fantasy owners barely had 30 minutes to replace him in their lineups. Brenton Strange (3-65) replaced him with some success, but the second-year tight end now totals just eight career receptions.

RB Tyjae Spears – Left the loss to the Jets with an ankle injury and will be diagnosed on Monday. Tony Pollard already has been the primary back and more effective rusher, so any Spears absence boosts Pollard’s workload.

RB Isiah Pacheco – Suffered an ankle injury at the end of the win over the Bengals. HC Andy Reid said Pacheco would be assessed on Monday. If he misses time, the rookie Carson Steele would take over the rushing chores along with increased usage of third-down back Samaje Perine. Pacheco left the stadium on crutches wearing a walking boot.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Devin Singletary – He is no Saquon Barkley but against the Commanders, he looked like him. Singletary gained 95 yards on 16 rushes with a touchdown. Hope you didn’t blink.

RB Carson Steele (KC) – The undrafted rookie gained 24 yards on seven carries in the win over the Bengals, and while he lost a fumble, the Chiefs still did not use Samaje Perine for any rushes. Steele is a handcuff need for the Pacheco owner.

WR Malik Nabers – The rookie logged his first 100-yard effort, gaining 127 yards and a touchdown on ten catches. Again, against the Commanders, which maybe should carry an asterisk on it. But at least Daniel Jones threw 18 passes at him and no more than four to any other receiver.

RB Brian Robinson – Ended with 133 yards on 17 carries and caught a three-yard pass. Apparently, you should just circle your fantasy player calendar when they face the Commanders or the Giants.

WR Calvin Ridley – He ran in a score, unlike any actual Titan running back, and he caught a 40-yard bomb for a second touchdown. He supplied both offensive touchdowns and a big chunk of the meager yardage for the Titans.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Last year’s bust draft pick is starting to exert himself for the Seahawks, leading the team with 12 catches for 117 yards from 16 targets. DK Metcalf (10-129, TD) was also busy, but we expected that.

RB Antonio Gibson – After a quiet debut in New England last week, the ex-Commander running back was a difference-maker with 96 yards on 11 carries and one catch for seven yards. Rhammondre Stevenson ran for 81 yards on 21 carries with a score, but Gibson was also used as an effective rusher. Neither back did much as a receiver.

RB Jordan Mason – With the news that Christian McCaffrey was placed on IR for the next four to whatever weeks, Mason again shined with 100 yards and a score on 20 rushes in the loss to the Vikings. Notable too – He handled all but one carry for the running backs.

RB Josh Jacobs – To no surprise, the Packers went run heavy with Jordan Love out. To some surprise, the Colts still let Josh Jacobs (32-151) cruise to a monster yardage game.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – After gaining just 13 yards on three catches in Week 1, St. Brown was back in business, turning 19 targets into 11 catches for 119 yards in the surprise loss to the Buccaneers.

WR Quentin Johnston – Another of the high-draft pick flops from 2023, Johnston showed up with a team high five catches for 51 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. He was the only notable receiver for the Chargers but being the primary target is encouraging.

TE Brock Bowers – The rookie was a major part of the Raiders’ shocking win over the Ravens, and ended with nine catches for 98 yards and that was every target he was thrown. He led the Raiders with six catches for 58 yards in Week 1. Notable is that he is killing the fantasy value of Jakobi Meyers and gets the benefit of being “the guy who is not Davante Adams.”

TE Isaiah Likely vs Mark Andrews – Likely became the biggest waiver wire darling last week when he dominated the Baltimore receivers (9-111, TD) and Andrews was left with just two catches for 14 yards because the Chiefs planned on just covering him. After fantasy owners spent stupid money in free agency after Likely, he rewarded them with two catches for 26 yards. Andrews reeled in four receptions for 51 yards. Sometimes Week 1 is just Week 1, not Week 1 of Many.

TE Mike Gesicki – The Bengals new tight end stepped up when Tee Higgins was out and Ja’Marr Chase was well covered. He led the Bengals with seven receptions for 91 yards, more than double that of any other team receiver.

QB Derek Carr – He’s worth sticking on your roster after OC Klint Kubiak’s offense just paved the Cowboys. That makes two straight weeks that Carr was a Top-7 fantasy quarterback scorer.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – After his debut resulted in only one catch for four yards, he’s figured out this NFL thing in hurry since his four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns (23 and 60 yards) led all wide receivers for Week 2. So, maybe, yeah – he’s gonna need to be covered better.

Huddle player of the week

RB Alvin Kamara – The Cowboys are unbeatable at home, at least during the regular season, until now when the Saints went all “Packers” on them for Week 2 with a 44-19 beatdown that was greatly credited to Alvin Kamara who ran for 115 yards and three scores on 20 carries, and caught two passes for 65 yards and a fourth touchdown. Kamara wasn’t just the best fantasy play of Week 2, he was the top dog by a 15-point margin.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Sam Darnold	268-32	3	QB	Josh Allen	139-2	1
RB	Braelon Allen	7-33 2-23	2	RB	Rachaad White	10-18 1-5	0
RB	Devin Singletary	16-95 1-0	1	RB	Najee Harris	17-69 1-5	0
WR	Quentin Johnston	5-51	2	WR	Mike Evans	3-24	0
WR	Jalen Nailor	3-54	1	WR	Cooper Kupp	4-37	0
WR	Jalen Tolbert	6-82	0	WR	Tyreek Hill	3-24	0
TE	Hunter Henry	8-109	0	TE	Travis Kelce	1-5	0
PK	Austin Seibert	7 FG		PK	Jake Moody	2 XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 158				Huddle Fantasy Points = 48

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 2

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 2 pickups.

Week 1 is in the books, and we’re looking for those IDP gems to supplement your roster. Whether you’ve had an injury or just aren’t feeling a Week 1 underperformer, head to the wire and check for these options.

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 DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

He didn’t get a lot of fanfare in drafts at the grizzled age of 32, but Lawrence came out with five tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in Week 1. DE Micah Parsons looked like the best player on the field frequently in Week 1, and Lawrence really benefits on the other side.

DE Darrell Taylor, Chicago Bears

Taylor was an impact performer in Week 1 with eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Here’s the problem. He was fifth among DL on his own team in snaps played in Week 1. His production can’t be overlooked, but temper expectations based on playing time.

Linebackers

LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

Why not leave the oil paintings affixed to the wall the next time you bust the door down, Zack? He had 15 tackles and two sacks in what was mightily a career game for him. He’ll have plenty more tackle opportunities against the dinking-and-dunking Atlanta Falcons next week.

LB Mack Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

The 26-year-old Wilson had nine tackles and a PD against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. He’s a weakside linebacker, and he may not have this tackle luster on a weekly basis. He should have some chances against the LA Rams in Week 2, though.

LB Darius Muasau, New York Giants

The sixth-round rookie had a solid debut in Week 1 with six tackles, an INT, and a pass defense. He’s the right inside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 defense, and he’ll have Kayvon Thibodeaux rushing on his side a lot. So don’t expect a ton of sack figures, but his tackles and coverage numbers equate to a good depth piece.

[lawrence-related id=492760]

Defensive backs

FS Tony Adams, New York Jets

Adams had a career game with 12 tackles, a sack, and a pass defense in Week 1. This could be a bit of an aberration as the San Francisco 49ers rushed 38 times in Week 1, which put Adams in a position to pile up tackles. Give him credit for taking advantage, though.

FS Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

With his Week 1 stat line, “Nick Cross will make ya Jump, Jump.” He busted out with 14 total tackles as three Colts defenders reached 10 tackles against the Houston Texans. Houston ran the ball 40 times, which you can’t count on every week, but he’ll be a high-end pickup for his tackle potential this week.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 2 free-agent forecast

Here are the top waiver-wire targets in fantasy football entering Week 2.

The first week of fantasy football is now behind us, and it’s time to scour the waiver wire entering Week 2 of the season.

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: 15 best waiver wire targets for Week 2

Isaiah Likely is the top waiver wire target in fantasy football this week. These players are also worth consideration.

The first week of the 2024 NFL season is in the books and it’s now time to hit the waiver wire in your fantasy football leagues.

To help you win the waiver wire, we’ve put together a list of 15 players to target this week, including options at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense and even kicker. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.

Note that these players are listed by position and ranked by their roster percentage, and that does not necessarily reflect the order in which they should be claimed this week. For example, tight end Isaiah Likely should be a top priority ahead of Week 2.

Now, let’s get to the list!

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Week 2

1. QB Baker Mayfield (34%): Don’t expect four touchdowns every week, but Mayfield is a serviceable fill-in if you need help at quarterback.

2. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (45%): He led the Broncos in carries (10) and also had five targets as a receiver out of the backfield. McLaughlin’s production (32 yards) was poor, but his utilization is promising.

3. RB Rico Dowdle (40%): He had two fewer carries (8) than Ezekiel Elliott (10) and one fewer target (1). It’s early, but Dowdle’s worth stashing.

4. RB Bucky Irving (21%): He led the Buccaneers with 62 rushing yards despite getting six fewer carries (9) than Rachaad White (15). Irving also got three targets as a receiver out of the backfield.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (5%): Travis Etienne remains the Jaguars’ top running back, but Bigsby received the same amount of carries (12) and ended up leading the team with 73 rushing yards.

6. WR Rashid Shaheed (42%): He turned five targets into three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.

7. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (7%): The Giants look like a team that will have to throw often while trailing and Robinson was Daniel Jones’ favorite receiver on Sunday with six catches for 44 yards on 12 targets.

8. WR Greg Dortch (2%): He had a team-high eight targets on Sunday and led the Cardinals with six catches for 47 yards.

9. WR Devaughn Vele (1%): He tied for second on the team with eight targets. Vele hauled in all eight targets and while his yardage total (39) underwhelmed, he will be a serviceable PPR receiver if those targets continue.

10. WR Alec Pierce (1%): He’s a boom-or-bust WR who turned three targets into three catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.

11. TE Taysom Hill (46%): With several tight ends injured and other TEs underperforming, Hill turned in a top-12 performance on Sunday, and it was a quiet day (five carries for 35 yards and one catch for one yard). He is a boom-or-bust prospect, but Hill is a good fill-in option if you need a TE.

12. TE Isaiah Likely (10%): Likely is the fantasy football waiver wire target of the week after hauling in nine receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown on 12 targets in Week 1. There’s no guarantee he will have better utilization than Mark Andrews (2 targets) on a week-to-week basis, but Likely is a must-add in case this trend continues.

13. TE Tucker Kraft (4%): Kraft played 94% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in Brazil, a sign that he’s the new TE1 over Luke Musgrave (25%). That only led to two catches for 37 yards on three targets in Week 1, but Kraft emerging as a starter is notable for TE-needy managers in deep leagues.

14. DST Los Angeles Chargers (11%): After a strong showing in Week 1, the Chargers now get a great matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.

15. K Chris Boswell (4%): Whether it’s Justin Fields or Russell Wilson under center, Pittsburgh’s offense seems to be good enough to move the ball but not quite good enough to score many touchdowns. That’s good news for Boswell’s fantasy football stack. He made six field goals on Sunday.

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

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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
Josh Allen	232-39	4
Baker Mayfield	289-21	4
Jayden Daniels	184-88	2
Anthony Richardson	212-56	3
Lamar Jackson	273-122	1
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Saquon Barkley	109 2-23	3
Joe Mixon	159 3-19	1
De’Von Achane	24 7-76	1
J.K. Dobbins	135 3-4	1
Alvin Kamara	83 5-27	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Jayden Reed	4-138 1-33	2
Tyreek Hill	7-130	1
Mike Evans	5-61	2
A.J. Brown	5-119	1
Cooper Kupp	14-110	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Isaiah Likely	9-111	1
Foster Moreau	4-43	1
Brock Bowers	6-58	0
Kyle Pitts	3-26	1
Juwan Johnson	2-26	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Chris Boswell	0	6
Blake Grupe	5	4
Brandon Aubrey	3	4
Ka’imi Fairbairn	2	3
Chase McLaughlin	4	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Vikings	5-2	1
Bears	3-3	2
Cowboys	6-2	0
Saints	4-3	0
Chargers	3-3	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Jordan Love (GB) – MCL
WR Jordan Addison (MIN) – Ankle
WR Puka Nacua – Knee
TE David Njoku (CLE) – Ankle
TE Jake Ferguson (DAL) – Knee
RB Kenneth Walker III – Abdomen

This feels very light for a group of players that are just now playing games that matter.

Chasing Ambulances

QB Jordan Love (GB) – He suffered a Grade 2 sprain to his MCL, which is expected to sideline him for around three weeks. That puts newly-signed Malik Willis into the starting role. Willis was just acquired, so he has no real experience in the scheme or with the receivers. Downgrades for all Packer fantasy options until Love gets healthy.

WR Puka Nacua (LAR) – He was injured this summer and once again is having problems with his knee. We’ll know more soon, but it is a bad sign that he was ruled out of the game and was visibly limping. Should Nacua miss any time, he’ll be replaced by Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson would see an uptick, but as was shown on the Sunday night game, it ends up to be mostly Cooper Kupp shouldering a giant share of the targets.

WR Jordan Addison (MIN) – Sprained his ankle and it was not the same ankle he injured this summer. Addison was not on crutches when he left the stadium, but he also did not speak with anyone. Brandon Powell is his backup if needed, but the Vikes didn’t pass much in Week 1. The Vikes host the 49ers this week and will need more than just Justin Jefferson to stay in the game. But there are no fantasy options here that warrant a pickup.

RB Kenneth Walker III (SEA) – The Seattle back left the game with what was described as an abdominal injury but he said that he was “good” after the game and it does not appear to be an issue going into this week’s game at the Patriots.

TE Jake Ferguson (DAL) – The tight end went down with a knee injury that appeared to be potentially serious. Early speculation is that he may have missed an ACL tear, but he’ll get an MRI on Monday to determine the prognosis and treatment.

TE David Njoku (CLE) – He is speculated to have a nigh-ankle sprain which could last weeks depending on the severity. Jordan Akins would take his place but his receptions would more likely end up with other wideouts or running backs.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Week 1: Reality check – What says fantasy football more than Week 1 when your best players flop and mediocre players blow up. Here’s a quick reminder of the best players from Week 1 of last season.

QB Mac Jones – 316 yards, 3 TD
RB Tyler Allgeier – 94 yards, 2 TD
RB Joshua Kelley – 91 yards, TD
RB Miles Sanders – 98 yards
RB Justice Hill – 9 yards, 2 TD
WR Kendrick Bourne – 64 yards, 2 TD
WR Romeo Doubs – 26 yards, 2 TD
WR TuTu Atwell – 112 yards

And some of the worst from Week 1, 2023:

QB Dak Prescott – 143 yards
QB Lamar Jackson – 169 yards
QB Jalen Hurts – 170 yards, TD
RB Rachaad White – 49 yards
TE Trey McBride – 23 yards
WR Ja’Marr Chase – 39 yards
WR Amari Cooper – 37 yards

Week 1 is usually very different from the rest. Never make any decisions based off just Week 1.

RB Najee Harris (PIT) – It is just one game and Justin Fields was the quarterback but the first week of the new offense under OC Arthur Smith and there wasn’t any committee backfield. Harris gained 70 yards on 20 carries, and caught one pass for nine yards. Jaylen Warren was held to only two runs for seven yards (he had been banged up, though) and the dreaded Cordarrelle Patterson only ran four times for 13 yards.

TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – The Steelers defense did a great job on the Falcons, but it was still encouraging to see Kyle Pitts score a touchdown on his three catches for 26 yards in his first game with Kirk Cousins. Drake London (2-15) had a bad debut, but at least this offense noticed Pitts.

Rookie Wide Receivers – So, how well did those rookie wideouts repay your optimism?

Marvin Harrison (1-3)
Malik Nabers (5-66)
Rome Odunze (1-11)
Brian Thomas Jr. (4-47, TD)
Xavier Worthy (2-47 catch, 1-21 rush, 2 TD)
Keon Coleman – (4-51)

A few scores, but not much yardage. Welcome to the NFL!

Rookie Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams (14-29-93 pass, 5-15 rush)
Jayden Daniels (17-24-184 pass, 16-88 2 TD rush)
Bo Nix (26-42-138 pass, 5-35 TD rush)

Rough start for passing yardage, but those passing touchdowns are coming. Soon. We hope.

RB Tony Pollard (TEN) – Another team where the committee backfield never appeared. Pollard ran for 82 yards on 16 carries and scored, while Tyjae Spears was limited to four runs for 21 yards. They split the work as receivers with three or four short catches each. They both averaged over five yards per carry against the Bears, but Pollard was the clear primary.

QB Baker Mayfield (TB) – Granted, he played the Commanders and their terrible defense from last year, but it was still impressive when he passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

RB J.K. Dobbins (LAC) – The dangerous runner has always been an injury waiting to happen, and that may hold true again with the Chargers. But for Week 1, Dobbins was back to rookie form when he ran for 135 yards and a score on ten carries versus the Raiders. He added three receptions for four yards while Gus Edwards plodded his way to 26 yards on 11 rushes. Get him while he is still healthy…

RB Jamaal Williams (NO) – Kendre Miller is on injured reserve for at least four weeks and Williams was effective rushing for 38 yards and a score on 11 carries, plus caught a 13-yard pass. Granted – it was against the woeful Panthers but Williams let Kamara rest in the second half.

RB Bucky Irving (TB) – The Buccaneers added Irving in the draft since Rashaad White was far from effective last year, despite his heavy workload. White only gained 31 yards on 15 carries against the Commanders while the rookie gained 62 yards on nine rushes. White also caught six passes for 75 yards and was always a weapon as a receiver. Irving is doing everything he can to become the lead rusher.

RB Tank Bigsby (JAC) – The second-year running back impressed coaches this summer as a player who finally “got it.” Travis Etienne was one of the heavier-used backs last year and Bigsby was brought on to help last year. Bigsby ran for 73 yards on 12 carries (6.1 YPC) with the same amount of carries as Etienne, who was limited to only 44 yards on his twelve runs. Bigsby doesn’t yet have stand-alone fantasy value, but he is impacting what Etienne did.

WR Alec Pierce (IND) – He scored and almost had two touchdowns. He gained 125 yards on three catches that included the 70-yard score. The third-year wideout has been locked into sub-600-yard and two touchdown seasons. Michael Pittman and the rookie Adonai Mitchell are still more attractive fantasy options.

WR Devaughn Vele (DEN) – I’m sorry, who? The Broncos seventh-round pick is a 6-4, 203-pound ex-Utah wideout who is a 26-year-old rookie because he was on a Mormon mission. Unbeknownst to all but his closest friends and family, he caught eight passes in the preseason as the Broncos weeded through their crop of rookies and free agents. Oh, and he also tied Chris Godwin with eight catches on Sunday, more than any other NFL receiver not named Kupp . Not Troy Franklin, their fourth-round pick. Vele was the preferred target for Bo Nix and while he only gained 39 yards, he became a pass sponge for a team that needs to throw a lot.

Different and NOT good – NFL teams use the summer to determine their eventual final roster, and each Week 1 ushers in lower production from teams that are still getting into synch and mostly trying to avoid summer injuries. That’s translated into mostly lower scores and, even worse, lower production from our fantasy players.

Last year, there were five 300-yard passers in Week 1. Five years ago, there were 13 300-yard quarterbacks in Week 1. For this season? Just two. Tua Tagovailoa and Matt Stafford, and both passed for just one score.

Last year, there were eight 100-yard receivers. Five years back, there were 18 in Week 1. This week there were just seven. Only 11 wideouts gained more than 75 yards. There were 15 last season and 26 in 2019. Fantasy scoring is down.

Let’s talk tight ends. Isiah Likely was the only tight end with more than 60 yards. Only four gained more than 40 yards and just five caught a score. It was a fantasy point drought to kick off 2024.

The good news – it will be turning up starting next week.

Huddle player of the week

Saquon Barkley (PHI) – The Giants were long-limited to only Barkley as their only offensive weapon. Without him, they could do nothing in their loss to the Vikings and chances are every fan and front-office type regrets letting him go. But in his first game as an Eagle, he looked like the missing piece that can propel the Eagles to the Big game. He ran for 109 yards on 24 carries with two scores, plus caught two passes for 23 yards and a third touchdown.

He won’t get 33.2 fantasy points every week, I mean, probably not, right?

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Baker Mayfield	289 3-21	4	QB	Joe Burrow	164	0
RB	J.K. Dobbins	135 4-3	1	RB	Javonte Williams	23	0
RB	Alexander Mattison	19 4-43	1	RB	Derrick Henry	46	0
WR	Jayden Reed	171	2	WR	Marvin Harrison	1-4	0
WR	Alec Pierce	3-125	1	WR	Chris Olave	2-11	0
WR	Xavier Worthy	2-47 1-21	2	WR	Drake London	2-15	0
TE	Isaiah Likely	9-111	1	TE	Evan Engram	1-5	0
PK	Chris Boswell	6 FG		PK	Younghoe Koo	1 XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 196				Huddle Fantasy Points = 27

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 1

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 1 pickups.

Welcome to the 2024 season. If you’re an IDP league, you already know the grind that is ahead, which makes raising that league title over your head even sweeter. We’ll be here along for the ride with you.

Defensive linemen

DE Marcus Davenport, Detroit Lions

Davenport is a boom-or-bust candidate, and he’s in a make-or-break season. He missed all but four games with the Minnesota Vikings last season due to an ankle injury. He’ll be lining up opposite of third-year stud Aidan Hutchinson, who is expected to make a jump from his 11.5 sacks last season. That will only benefit the 27-year-old Davenport, who had a career-high nine sacks in 2021.

DE Gregory Rousseau, Buffalo Bills

After tallying eight sacks in a promising sophomore campaign in 2022, Rousseau only had five sacks last season. He’s entering a pseudo-walk year as the team has a fifth-year option they can choose to utilize or pass on after this year. The 24-year-old had a strong preseason among the league leaders with 2.5 sacks.

Linebackers

LB Dorian Williams, Buffalo Bills

The Bills lost Matt Milano to a biceps injury, and the second-year man from Tulane is expected to start in his place. Williams had 40 total tackles and a pass defense in 17 games last season. It’s hard to find bulk tackles on waivers, and Williams could supply that in the opening weeks.

LB Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams traded Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in a preseason move. That opened a spot potentially for the undrafted rookie from LSU. He had 12 tackles in the preseason and could be an early-season diamond in the rough on waivers.

[lawrence-related id=492441]

Defensive backs

SS Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

“Harry the Hit Man” is a potential Hall of Famer, but at age 35 this season, he’s going undrafted a lot. He had 93 tackles last year, but for just the second time in his career didn’t have an interception. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 34th-best safety in the NFL last season out of 95 qualifying players. He played the seventh-most snaps among safeties in 2023 at 1,111. So any concerns about his role being tapered are probably overstated. Scoop him up if the injury bug has bitten you.

FS John Johnson, Los Angeles Rams

Johnson is kind of an enigma in fantasy circles as he has been a stud every other season in the league. Years 2, 4 and 6 tackles: 119, 105, 101, respectively; Years 1, 3, 5, and 7 tackles: 75, 51, 61, 42. If that pattern continues, he could be on the verge of another 100-tackle season. The team let Jordan Fuller walk in free agency and drafted SS Kamren Kinchens, but JJ III appears the favorite to start alongside Kamren Curl.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 1 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver-wire targets for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

With the long offseason behind us, fantasy football is finally back in our lives. With that comes the constant scouring of talent on the waiver wire.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in MyFantasyLeague (MFL), 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 IDP free-agent report: Week 18

Check your waiver wire for these IDP one-week plays.

We have reached the NFL regular-season finale. If you’re going of all the marbles this week, let’s help put them in the right places.

Defensive linemen

EDGE Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars

The 2022 No. 1 overall pick was considered a bit of a project when he was drafted, but he has taken a significant step forward in Year 2 going from 3.5 sacks to nine. He also is on fire with four sacks in the last three games. The cherry on top? He faces the Tennessee Titans in Week 18, who have allowed the most fantasy points to D-linemen over the last five weeks. Whether he serves as a DL/EDGE/LB, he’s a strong play in Week 18.

DT Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams

We have another nose tackle this week, and for good reason, the third-round rookie has 3.5 sacks the last two weeks. He’ll face the San Francisco 49ers this week. The Niners aren’t a good matchup at face value, but they’re expected to rest some starters. Only four defensive tackles have more than his nine sacks on the season.

Linebackers

LB Sione Takitaki, Cleveland Browns

The BYU product typically hovers on the fringe of a pickup. He’ll deliver some weeks and disappear the next. What he did in Week 17 was deliver in a big way with 17 tackles. He’ll have a midrange matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals to pile on.

LB Devin Bush, Seattle Seahawks

Another outstanding stat line in Week 17 came from Bush, who had 17 total tackles. Albeit, 12 of them were assisted tackles, so his point total may not have been as high in some leagues. He had six tackles in Week 16 as well, so he’s on a hot streak. He’ll have a midrange matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18.

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LB Deion Jones, Carolina Panthers

A former fantasy stud with the Atlanta Falcons, Jones had his best performance of the season with seven tackles and a sack in Week 17. He has a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he’s playing for a contract for next season and looks to be motivated.

Defensive backs

FS Donovan Wilson, Dallas Cowboys

It’s not a great matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 18 as they’ve allowed the fewest points to the position the last five weeks. However, Wilson has been on fire, totaling 11-plus tackles in the last two weeks and five-plus in six straight games.

SS Jordan Battle, Cincinnati Bengals

Battle has lived up to his name with at least seven tackles over the last three games. He has seven stops in six of the last seven games as well. He just doesn’t add much outside of that category. He has a chance to finish strong against a top-five matchup the last five weeks in the Cleveland Browns.

SS Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

Freshly thrust into the starting lineup, Cross finished Week 17 with nine tackles. He added six in the previous week as well. He has a chance to go for the trifecta against the Houston Texans in the season finale. The Texans are a solid matchup for opposing DBs the last five weeks.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 18 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver-wire targets for Week 18.

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 IDP free-agent report: Week 17

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 17.

Two weeks left in the season, and whether you’re in the fantasy playoffs or a season-long grind, there are important decisions to make on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive linemen

DE Malcolm Koonce, Las Vegas Raiders

DE Maxx Crosby is drawing all the attention on the other side, and he hasn’t had a sack in the last two games. Koonce has five! He had two forced fumbles two weeks ago and six tackles last week. He faces the Indianapolis Colts this week, who have allowed the sixth-most points to the position the last five weeks. Put him atop your wish list.

DT Christian Barmore, New England Patriots

The 315-pound tackle has been feasting on quarterbacks the last two weeks. He has 12 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble combined in the last two games. He has a “meh” matchup against the Buffalo Bills this week, but it’s hard to ignore what he has done of late.

Linebackers

LB Shaquille Leonard, Philadelphia Eagles

He may have been picked up and stashed when he signed with the Eagles, but it took a few weeks for him to get acclimated. He showed he still has some fantasy prowess left in the tank with seven tackles and a sack in Week 16. He has a midrange matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this week and is at least a flex candidate.

LB Duke Riley, Miami Dolphins

Riley has been steady at the position the last four weeks. He broke out with eight tackles in Week 13 and has delivered five tackles in three straight games. He sprinkled in a half-sack and a pass defense, but you’re not looking for elite counting numbers here. He provides a high floor, though.

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LB Myles Jack, Pittsburgh Steelers

He went back to the practice squad after a solid Week 16 game, so this may be a fringe candidate. However, he delivered six tackles and a sack in his first action of 2023. The Seattle Seahawks are the toughest matchup against LBs in Week 17, but he’s a good depth piece if you’re still playing come Week 18.

Defensive backs

SS D’Anthony Bell, Cleveland Browns

Bell has settled in as the starter and produced the last three weeks. In Week 16, he had six tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass defenses. Bell had five tackles and an INT in Week 15. So the production continues to increase, and he has a midrange matchup against the New York Jets.

CB Desmond King, Houston Texans

After 11 tackles in Week 16, King has at least 10 tackles in three of the last four weeks. He had a one-tackle game in there, too, and those are the ebbs and flows you deal with when using corners. He’ll have a midrange matchup against the Tennessee Titans this week.

S Jartavius Martin, Washington Commanders

Martin had his worst game in Week 16 over the last three weeks. He secured only six tackles. That shows how good he was in the two previous games with 10 tackles and a sack and seven tackles. There’s a midrange matchup against the San Francisco 49ers for him this week to build on his binge.