Fantasy football waiver wire targets after Week 8: Emerging Colts and Patriots RBs to consider

What to make of the Colts’ wild RB situation?

This week’s waiver wire doesn’t feature any absolute no-brainers. Every target comes with a caveat — or two. But it’s always a good week to improve your team. And there are a pair of emerging running backs — and a sneaky addition at receiver that could be season-changing — that should help fantasy teams improve, no matter the league size or scoring setup.

As we do every week, we did not consider players owned in 50% or higher of ESPN leagues for this list of waiver wire targets. So while a player like 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t qualify for this list, he’s a good player to add, if he’s available. Here are the best waiver wire targets after Week 8.

Stock up, stock down from Colts’ 41-21 win over the Lions

Stock report in Week 8.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-2) will be moving on to the most difficult part of their schedule now following the 41-21 win over the Detroit Lions (3-4) on Sunday, which was an encouraging victory on the road.

We saw a bit of a change in the backfield as the Colts rode the hot hand of Jordan Wilkins in the second half, benching rookie Jonathan Taylor. We also saw another strong performance from quarterback Philip Rivers.

As is the case every week, the stock report can fluctuate on a weekly basis. Sometimes it’s a bit reactionary from just the previous week. Other times it can be taking notice of a trend taking place.

Here’s a look at the stock report for the Colts following the Week 8 win:

Tunnel Vision of Week 9

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Patrick Mahomes	416-0	5
Russell Wilson	261-23	4
Matthew Stafford	336-10	3
Justin Herbert	278-21	3
Aaron Rodgers	291-9	3
Running Backs	Rush Receive	TD
Dalvin Cook	30-163 2-63	4
Alvin Kamara	12-67 9-96	0
DeeJay Dallas	18-41 5-17	2
Giovani Bernard	15-62 3-16	2
Nyheim Hines	5-8 3-54	2
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
DK Metcalf	12-161	2
Davante Adams	7-53	3
Robert Woods	7-94	2
Corey Davis	8-128	1
Tyreek Hill	4-98	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Travis Kelce	8-109	1
Jared Cook	5-51	1
Eric Ebron	4-48	1
Jack Doyle	2-18	1
Ross Dwelley	16	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Mike Badgley	3	3
Will Lutz	2	4
Cairo Santos	2	3
Younghoe Koo	1	4
Sergio Castillo	0	3
Defense	Sck-TO	TD
Dolphins	2-4	2
Steelers	4-4	1
Colts	5-2	1
Eagles	4-2	1
Seahawks	3-2	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

WR Adam Humphries – Concussion
WR T.Y. Hilton – Groin
WR Kenny Golladay – Hip
RB Darrell Henderson – Thigh
RB Tevin Coleman – Knee
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Ankle
TE George Kittle – Foot

Chasing Ambulances

Nothing seemed too serious this week. although Monday checkups can surprise.

RB Tevin Coleman – Left in the first quarter and never returned when he re-injured the same knee that held him out for most of the year. Raheem Mostert is on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. Jerick McKinnon suffers from “tired legs” and only had three carries in the loss. James Hasty is still the only healthy man standing. He only carried 12 times in Seattle but scored once and the 49ers abandoned the run.

TE George Kittle – Left the game with an ankle injury. If he cannot play, HC Kyle Shanahan said that Jordan Reed is expected back this week and would take his place again.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Hobbled by his ankle again, he gave way to Nick Mullens who was sharp with 238 yards and two scores against a defense that had stopped caring. Hosting the Packers this week isn’t that attractive if Mullens gets the start.

RB Darrell Henderson – Injured his thigh at the start of the second quarter after running for 47 yards on eight carries. Malcolm Brown (10-40) and Cam Akers (9-35) shared the workload for the rest of the game. The Rams head onto their bye, so Henderson likely has time to heal unless the injury is worse than expected.

WR Kenny Golladay – Injured his hip and left without a catch in the loss to the Colts. Marvin Jones only caught three passes for 39 yards but two were touchdowns. Marvin Hall replaced Golladay with four receptions for 113 yards thanks mostly to a 73-yard catch.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Philip Rivers – After posting only four touchdowns over his first five starts, Rivers has thrown for three touchdowns in each of the last two weeks. He finished with 262 yards and three scores at the Lions this week and heads to Minnesota this week.

Chargers backfield – The committee approach now includes three running backs – Justin Jackson (17-89), Troymaine Pope (10-67), and Joshua Kelley (7-32). Austin Ekeler is expected to be back in Week 10 at Miami but this week hosting the Raiders will again use all three backs. Jackson is the only safe start with the most usage. Pope only had one carry on the year until showing up on Sunday. In the end, they probably have just one more week before Ekeler takes most of the workload back.

QB Drew Lock – He threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Chargers though all three scores happened in the fourth quarter. It’s likely just a blip on his season, but the Broncos will face the Falcons this week.

RB Jordan Wilkins – He only had one carry in the two games prior to Sunday, so it was a surprise to see him lead the Colts with 20 runs for 89 yards and a touchdown plus catch a 24-yard pass. Jonathan Taylor was limited to 11 carries for only 22 yards in that game. Wilkins provided the hot hand and took over the game in the second half, helping the Colts to their win over the Lions. Taylor remains the starter but the team won’t be shy about giving Wilkins a chance to contribute if Taylor is struggling.

Ravens backfield – Mark Ingram missed Week 8 with an ankle injury and never practiced despite coming off their bye. Facing a Steelers defense that allowed just 68.8 rushing yards per game, the Ravens used Gus Edwards (16-87, TD) and JK Dobbins (15-113) with great success even in a loss. The Ravens play at the Colts this week but Edwards and Dobbins are pairing for much better production than the average backfield.

RB Giovani Bernard – He has minimal involvement while Joe Mixon is healthy, but starting for the last two weeks, he’s been productive. After totaling 96 yards and a touchdown against the Browns in Week 7, Bernard ran for 62 yards and a score versus the Titans and caught three passes for 16 yards and another touchdown. The Bengals head onto their bye and Mixon should be back for Week 10, but Bernard was a big part of the Bengals win over the Titans.

WR Jarvis Landry – It was very windy and rained in the Browns loss to the Raiders. Baker Mayfield only completed 12-of-25 for 122 yards in that contest but Landry dominated the throws with 11 targets and four receptions for 52 yards. No other receiver was thrown more than three passes and this was the first game without Odell Beckham. It was a bad weather game, so it’s harder to draw conclusions, but Rashard Higgins (1-14) did little to replace Beckham.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – The rookie is now splitting the carries and catches with Le’Veon Bell. The impact was softened when Edwards-Helaire ran in a score in Week 7, and his eight runs for 46 yards were matched with six runs for 39 yards from Bell. Against the Jets – who Bell would have a chip on his shoulder about – the rookie only ran for 21 yards on six runs while Bell gained seven yards on six carries as well. Both had three catches. This is nothing but a negative for Edwards-Helaire and yet not enough so far to justify a fantasy start for Bell.

QB Tua Tagovailoa – The No. 2 overall draft pick debuted with a win over the Rams though he was mostly there while it happened, rather than being an instrumental part. The rookie only completed 12-of-22 passes for 93 yards and one touchdown while running twice for a net of no yards. He’ll need to do more this week in Arizona.

RB DeeJay Dallas – The rookie from Miami ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries plus caught five passes for 17 yards and another score in the win over the 49ers. Chris Carson was a game-time decision that was inactive, but chances are that he’ll be active for this week at the Bills. But Dallas’ only start resulted in two touchdowns.

WR Jalen Reagor – The Eagles 1.21 pick returned after missing five games with a thumb injury and caught his first NFL touchdown when he ended with three receptions for 16 yards in the win over the Cowboys. He also gained six yards on his first NFL run. Travis Fulgham (6-78, TD) remains the primary wideout but Reagor is getting back on track.

TE Dallas Goedert – The Eagles tight end was active this week after coming off injured reserve but only caught one pass for 15 yards. It was only his first game since Week 3 but he was quiet in the two games after his productive season opener. The Eagles may finally be turning away from being a tight-end heavy attack to using their wideouts more.

RB Zack Moss – He’s starting to look more like Devin Singletary of last year. In 2019, Frank Gore would typically get the highest number of carries even though Singletary would do much more with his fewer touches. Now, Singletary is the less productive runner and Moss was finally given the same 14 rushes that Singletary had in the win over the Patriots. Singletary ran for 86 yards on 14 carries while Moss gained 82 yards on his 14 runs and scored his first two rushing touchdowns in the NFL. This is a committee backfield but Moss is getting a bigger share of the workload.

Huddle player of the week

Dalvin Cook – The Packers had no answer for Dalvin Cook who rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries and added a 50-yard score on his two receptions for 63 yards as the leading receiver as well. The Packers kept the game close enough that the Vikings never bothered to let the other backs handle the fourth-quarter mop-up duty. Cook cranked out 48.6 fantasy points in a PPR league and 46.6 without receptions points.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Philip Rivers	262	3	QB	Josh Allen	177	1
RB	Nyheim Hines	62	2	RB	Johnathan Taylor	31	0
RB	DeeJay Dallas	58	2	RB	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	31	0
WR	Corey Davis	128	1	WR	Kenny Golladay	0	0
WR	Mecole Hardman	96	1	WR	Diontae Johnson	6	0
WR	Marvin Jones	39	2	WR	Calvin Ridley	42	0
TE	Eric Ebron	48	1	TE	George Kittle	39	0
PK	Mike Badgley	3XP 3 FG		PK	Robbie Gould	3 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 143				Huddle Fantasy Points = 28

Now get back to work…

Colts rode hot hand with Jordan Wilkins in win over Lions

Jordan Wilkins forced the Colts to use him.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-2) got off to slow start in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions (3-4), but all of that changed when they gave the backfield reins to Jordan Wilkins.

With rookie running back Jonathan Taylor struggling to get anything going during the first half of the game, the Colts went with the back who was constantly churning out positive yardage.

From the start of the third quarter on, the Colts rode the hot hand of Wilkins to a victory.

“Jordan (Wilkins), you guys know how we feel about Jordan. Yeah, I guess he is complimentary in one sense. In that sense, someone has got to start and
Jonathan (Taylor) is doing it,” said Reich after the game. “But we have a lot of confidence in Jordan. He played especially well today, so we kind of rode his hot hand a little bit. He just was seeing it well, great balance, some great runs.”

Wilkins wound up taking 20 carries for 89 rushing yards and a touchdown. The third-year back out of Ole Miss out-carried (14-1) and outgained (57-0) in the second half. They both got a goal-line carry on the same drive. Taylor couldn’t punch his in while Wilkins did on the very next play.

The Colts have made it clear they want to get all of their running backs involved. However, Taylor was seeing the majority of the work since Marlon Mack went down with a torn Achilles. But this was something new from Wilkins that may change how we look at the backfield split.

“I can tell you that we think very highly of Jordan (Wilkins), so we will look at this film. Sometimes, it’s a question of Jordan just getting the hot hand. Things didn’t come up maybe right for Jonathan (Taylor),” Reich said. “We will evaluate it. We want to continue to use all three of those running backs however it plays out. We believe in all three of them. They all are different. It is kind of like our tight ends, as you guys know how we look at our tight ends. I kind of look at our backs a little bit like that as well. We will continue to use all three of their skills.”

The Colts will need their rushing attack to remain consistent when they play teams like the Ravens, Packers and Titans, and it will be interesting to see if the workload will be more split moving forward.

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Studs and duds from Colts’ 41-21 win over the Lions

Studs and duds from Week 8.

The Indianapolis Colts (5-2) came out of the bye week with a 41-21 win over the Detroit Lions (3-4) on Sunday at Ford Field to hold a tie for first place in the division.

The Colts played well in mostly all three phases of the game. From Philip Rivers having another solid day to Jordan Wilkins taking over the backfield due to a struggling Jonathan Taylor.

Here are the studs and duds from the Week 8 win:

Jordan Wilkins is the Colts’ player of the game vs. Lions

Jordan Wilkins had a career day.

The 41-21 win for the Indianapolis Colts (5-2) against the Detroit Lions (3-4) was the textbook definition of a “team win.”

From a strong effort defensively to big plays on offense, everything seemed to click for the Colts in this game. One player that was a big key to success was running back Jordan Wilkins.

After having just two carries in the previous two games, Wilkins ran the ball 20 times for a total of 89 yards. He also had a game-sealing touchdown along with a two-point conversion.

With rookie Jonathan Taylor struggling, the game really changed once Wilkins took over as the main option in the backfield. While Nyheim Hines had a great day with two scores, the Colts really struggled on the ground in the first half. This was a career day for Wilkins as the Colts bounced back in a statement game.

The Colts will need this type of team effort if they want to beat the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) next week. As the AFC playoff picture shapes out, Indy keeps emerging as a real threat that can hang around with any team.

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5 Colts with something to prove at training camp

These Colts have a lot to prove in the coming weeks.

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to begin training camp on July 28 and while they are hoping to do so without any hiccups, it remains to be seen what kind of changes the team will undergo.

Regardless, once training camp does begin in a few weeks, there will be a number of players falling into the perennial category of having something to prove. Whether it’s coming back from injury, looking to bounce back after a poor season or simply looking to stay on the roster, a lot of players have something to prove in 2020.

Here are five Colts with something to prove at training camp:

WR Parris Campbell

Everyone’s favorite comeback kid. The 22-year-old wide receiver really went through it during his rookie campaign. Four separate injuries, three of which required surgery, forced him to miss crucial time in training camp, the preseason forced him to play in just seven games.

But now, Campbell is fully healthy and looking to regain his role as the slot wide receiver in the offense. He will have a chance to prove himself, too. The Colts are still in love with his skill set in the West Coast offense and he has the type of game that will be valuable to a quarterback like Philip Rivers.

But the Ohio State product has to stay on the field if he wants any shot of carving out the role as the No. 3 wide receiver.

Pages: 12345

2020 Colts training camp preview: RB Jordan Wilkins

Will Jordan Wilkins make the roster?

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

Name: Jordan Wilkins
Position: RB
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 216
Age: 25
Free Agent Year: 2022

Background

Wilkins was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 draft along with Nyheim Hines to give the Colts a solid trio in the backfield. Though he hasn’t seen a whole lot of time working in an extensive role during his two seasons with the Colts, Wilkins has been an effective runner in spurts.

In his two seasons, Wilkins has taken 111 carries for 643 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He has been a solid depth piece for the backfield, but his 2020 outlook is intriguing to say the least.

Expected Role

Wilkins is expected to be the RB4 in the running back room. The depth chart already has two starters on early downs in Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor. There’s no competition there outside of those two splitting the work at the top. Then Nyheim Hines is virtually locked for a pass-catching role on third downs and even in some two-back sets. This doesn’t leave Wilkins with a whole lot of playing time. If the Colts want to keep four running backs, Wilkins will most likely be a healthy scratch if those three ahead of him are healthy.

2020 Outlook

Wilkins has been a strong depth asset for the Colts and has even shown to be explosive when given the chance. But with Taylor, Mack and Hines all ahead of him on the depth chart, the Ole Miss product won’t see much work. There is even the chance that Wilkins is on the roster bubble when the cut-down day arrives.

While it might be hard to hear, the Colts may not have the luxury of carrying four running backs. If they are already carrying three quarterbacks, a fullback and because their desire is to always have offensive line depth, the fourth spot in the running back room could be a casualty. Now, that’s all speculation right now and it could wind up not being the case as the Colts typically carry four backs on the active roster. But it’s at least something to think about.

Bottom Line

Wilkins is a good running back. He’s a smooth runner with excellent balance and strong vision. But right now, he’s the RB4 in a backfield that has three solidified roles ahead of him. At best, he’s a healthy scratch each week waiting to see time due to injury. At worst, he doesn’t make the cut because the Colts need depth at other positions and can’t carry four running backs.

How does Jonathan Taylor impact the Colts RB room?

Taking a look at how Jonathan Taylor impacts the depth chart.

With the shocking trade up to pick No. 41 and the selection of running back Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has once again stuck to his philosophy of taking the best player available. Taylor is a dynamic playmaker, but his addition is somewhat puzzling.

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With an already crowded backfield of Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, to add another back seems like a luxury—not to mention trading up three spots to get him. Also, Mack came off a career year with 1,091 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

The Colts’ sudden success in the run game has mostly contributed to their dominant offensive line play up front, but Mack has played a huge part in that success as well. Taylor will no doubt have success in this system too.

Where Taylor differs from Mack is his experience and success entering the league. Taylor was a two-time first-team All-American at Wisconsin and finished fourth all-time in FBS rushing yards with 6,174 career yards.

This pick is nothing to be upset over, but it might be a sign that the Colts will not re-sign Mack as he heads into the last year of his contract. If that’s the case, this was a great pick for building into the future at the running back position.

Another guy who may be on the hot seat is Wilkins, who has filled in as the third back in this system. While Wilkins has been a solid player who has had some big plays, he has been used sparingly and will be a free agent after the 2021 season.

We don’t yet know how the Colts will implement these backs in the backfield but given the draft capital, talent and the fact that the Colts traded up for him, this selection is likely to send some waves in running back room.

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Colts’ 2019 player review: RB Jordan Wilkins

Reviewing the 2019 season for Jordan Wilkins.

The Indianapolis Colts backfield might be flowing through one player for the most part, but the depth that Jordan Wilkins is a part of makes it one of the deepest position rooms throughout the entire roster.

2019 Stats

Games Played: 14
Snaps: 173 (18.1% – offense)/189 (50.7% – special teams)
Carries: 51
Rushing Yards: 307
Touchdowns: 2

Season Review

Because Marlon Mack is the starting running back and Nyheim Hines is used as the pass-catcher in the backfield, there isn’t much to go around for the rest of the room. But when Wilkins got his chances in 2019, he was extremely efficient.

Averaging six yards per carry on the year, Wilkins was both reliable and explosive when called upon. He even had a pair of games in which he had over 80 rushing yards despite having fewer than 10 carries.

Wilkins also played a big role on special teams, which has helped his case keeping a role.

Offseason Outlook

The Colts backfield is a position group that is pretty much set this offseason. They have their starter in Mack, a versatile weapon in Hines and a reliable depth player in Wilkins. This means that there isn’t likely to be much change with the group this offseason outside of a few additions as camp bodies.

That’s good news for Wilkins, who will be entering his third season. He hasn’t made a large impact, but he has proven to be reliable when given the opportunities.

Conclusion

Wilkins has been solid since entering the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2018. He hasn’t had a whole lot of responsibility, but he has succeeded when called upon. The same should be expected when the 2020 season rolls around.