Bye Week: Texans, Broncos, Ravens, Vikings
With me skipping week 9 there’s no recap this week. Nice relaxing break. You can call it my own bye week if you wish.
This week there’s a few fewer byes but still plenty of guessing. Across 35+ games there’s a real mix of talents on the waiver wire. In some leagues, people are dropping the likes of Funchess and Rudolph so just check your waivers and see if there’s a gem. But be warned, some of those guys are being dropped for a reason. Your call to make is whether they can return to form again.
QB:
Baker Mayfield (CLE vs ATL)
38% owned
Mayfield has managed over 200 passing yards in all but one week since becoming the starter in week 3. However, with three consecutive weeks with 2 TDs and a combined 2 INTs his game is tightening up a little. He’s not really utilizing his running ability yet but the Browns won’t be in that position too often. Atlanta has adapted since losing some key defencemen so aren’t as much of a pushover. But with the QB landscape on the waiver being rather ugly, he’s maybe the one you can have some confidence in.
Eli Manning (NYG @ SF)
9% owned
I did say the landscape was ugly... San Francisco isn’t a pushover like they were before either but coming fresh off a bye week and with all his weapons available, Eli has to be an option. The defensive line for the 49ers won’t cause as many issues for the Giants OL as other teams so Manning might actually have a chance to make some plays.
Nick Mullens (SF vs NYG)
1% owned
After starting his NFL career on fire, Mullens has a matchup against the Giants who aren’t the strongest defense. He will only be a stopgap although with another good performance it may be until the end of the season and the return of Jimmy Garoppolo. The debut for the ages will be hard to repeat but every great QB has to start somewhere.
RBs:
Nyheim Hines (IND vs JAX)
34% owned
After having a week 9 bye and a less productive week 8 quite a few teams ended up dropping Hines and if you’re light at RB he may be a useful pickup. The Jags run Defense is still good but not 2017 good and Hines should probably be seen as a longer-term investment than just 1 week.
He’s had 4 weeks scoring over 10 points this season and with Jordan Wilkins not impressing it looks like it’s Marlon Mack and Hines carrying the bulk of the load.
Ito Smith (ATL @ CLE)
32% owned
Smith still hasn’t had the surge of being picked up yet although 32% is quite respectable. Like Hines, he’s a guy you may be able to plug in at times throughout the remainder of the season with Davonta Freeman on IR. In week 9 it was Tevin Coleman that took off but Smith got himself a touchdown against a strong Redskin run D. He has TD upside and possibly as well as being able to run between the tackles.
Mike Davis/Rashaad Penny (SEA @ LAR)
40/14% owned
Chris Carson’s health questions make these two more valuable to own. The Seahawks have improved their offensive line (mostly by better coaching) and the running back isn’t as irrelevant as before. Davis is splitting the bulk of the load with Carson and Penny is being sprinkled in. But if Carson misses time then the first round rookie draft pick should see more usage and Davis will be used much heavier. There’s not a lot out there at the moment so you have to hunt for the opportunities.
WRs:
Tyrell/Mike Williams (LAC @ OAK)
31/25% owned
It would appear that week to week one or both of the Williams’ are bringing in a TD or two. There are players with much higher ownership numbers yet much lower TD and point scoring ratios. Each player has 4 TDs on the season. Mike started the season on fire while Tyrell is the current form player. Both are worth a start although if you have a choice, I’d be going for Tyrell.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WAS @ TB)
26/20% owned
I will always be willing to have a space for the WR3 in an Aaron Rodgers offense. Randall Cobb is barely a WR2 at the moment and with the news that Geronimo Allison may need core muscle surgery, it leaves Valdes-Scantling to become the WR2. Since Allison went down MVs has never scored less than 12.5pts. The highest drafted of 3 rookie WR's in this years draft he has proved a quality backup and now his recent run in the team should get extended. With more experience should come even better play and he may become a weekly starter for some, especially in deeper leagues.
Quincy Enunwa (NYJ vs BUF)
15% owned
Enunwa returned from injury last week although in a dire game for the Jets. As he gets back up to speed he may well end up returning to the #1 receiving option for Sam Darnold who honestly needs all the help he can get right now. Prior to his injury, he was averaging over 13 fantasy points per game. He had 7 in week 9 but with neither Jermaine Kearse nor Robby Anderson really making a jump, Enunwa should be the main guy again.
TEs:
Ben Watson (NO @ CIN)
48% owned
If he’s not owned in your league and you are really struggling at TE, Watson is your guy. Even with the weapons, the Saints have he’s made 26 catches for 292yds and 2TDs. Losing Ted Ginn and a struggling Cameron Meredith has led to Watson seeing more targets and it’s working well for them. He can have dead weeks but if you ignore the Minnesota game, he’s a double-digit fantasy points player.
CJ Uzomah (CIN vs NO)
19% owned
Like Hines earlier, Uzomah may be available after having a bye last week and is a startable option each week. With 17 receptions for 184 yards and 2TDs even with Tyler Eifert active for 4 games, he’s worth a spot if you don’t have an elite option.
Chris Herndon (NYJ vs BUF)
13% owned
After posting a 4th game scoring more than 8 points and this time without the aid of a Touchdown I think it’s safe to call Herndon an option. With the wide receivers struggling they needed some help and he’s finally risen above the pack of Tight Ends and the Jets.
DSTs:
Chargers (LAC @ OAK)
44
With me skipping week 9 there’s no recap this week. Nice relaxing break. You can call it my own bye week if you wish.
This week there’s a few fewer byes but still plenty of guessing. Across 35+ games there’s a real mix of talents on the waiver wire. In some leagues, people are dropping the likes of Funchess and Rudolph so just check your waivers and see if there’s a gem. But be warned, some of those guys are being dropped for a reason. Your call to make is whether they can return to form again.
QB:
Baker Mayfield (CLE vs ATL)
38% owned
Mayfield has managed over 200 passing yards in all but one week since becoming the starter in week 3. However, with three consecutive weeks with 2 TDs and a combined 2 INTs his game is tightening up a little. He’s not really utilizing his running ability yet but the Browns won’t be in that position too often. Atlanta has adapted since losing some key defencemen so aren’t as much of a pushover. But with the QB landscape on the waiver being rather ugly, he’s maybe the one you can have some confidence in.
Eli Manning (NYG @ SF)
9% owned
I did say the landscape was ugly... San Francisco isn’t a pushover like they were before either but coming fresh off a bye week and with all his weapons available, Eli has to be an option. The defensive line for the 49ers won’t cause as many issues for the Giants OL as other teams so Manning might actually have a chance to make some plays.
Nick Mullens (SF vs NYG)
1% owned
After starting his NFL career on fire, Mullens has a matchup against the Giants who aren’t the strongest defense. He will only be a stopgap although with another good performance it may be until the end of the season and the return of Jimmy Garoppolo. The debut for the ages will be hard to repeat but every great QB has to start somewhere.
RBs:
Nyheim Hines (IND vs JAX)
34% owned
After having a week 9 bye and a less productive week 8 quite a few teams ended up dropping Hines and if you’re light at RB he may be a useful pickup. The Jags run Defense is still good but not 2017 good and Hines should probably be seen as a longer-term investment than just 1 week.
He’s had 4 weeks scoring over 10 points this season and with Jordan Wilkins not impressing it looks like it’s Marlon Mack and Hines carrying the bulk of the load.
Ito Smith (ATL @ CLE)
32% owned
Smith still hasn’t had the surge of being picked up yet although 32% is quite respectable. Like Hines, he’s a guy you may be able to plug in at times throughout the remainder of the season with Davonta Freeman on IR. In week 9 it was Tevin Coleman that took off but Smith got himself a touchdown against a strong Redskin run D. He has TD upside and possibly as well as being able to run between the tackles.
Mike Davis/Rashaad Penny (SEA @ LAR)
40/14% owned
Chris Carson’s health questions make these two more valuable to own. The Seahawks have improved their offensive line (mostly by better coaching) and the running back isn’t as irrelevant as before. Davis is splitting the bulk of the load with Carson and Penny is being sprinkled in. But if Carson misses time then the first round rookie draft pick should see more usage and Davis will be used much heavier. There’s not a lot out there at the moment so you have to hunt for the opportunities.
WRs:
Tyrell/Mike Williams (LAC @ OAK)
31/25% owned
It would appear that week to week one or both of the Williams’ are bringing in a TD or two. There are players with much higher ownership numbers yet much lower TD and point scoring ratios. Each player has 4 TDs on the season. Mike started the season on fire while Tyrell is the current form player. Both are worth a start although if you have a choice, I’d be going for Tyrell.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WAS @ TB)
26/20% owned
I will always be willing to have a space for the WR3 in an Aaron Rodgers offense. Randall Cobb is barely a WR2 at the moment and with the news that Geronimo Allison may need core muscle surgery, it leaves Valdes-Scantling to become the WR2. Since Allison went down MVs has never scored less than 12.5pts. The highest drafted of 3 rookie WR's in this years draft he has proved a quality backup and now his recent run in the team should get extended. With more experience should come even better play and he may become a weekly starter for some, especially in deeper leagues.
Quincy Enunwa (NYJ vs BUF)
15% owned
Enunwa returned from injury last week although in a dire game for the Jets. As he gets back up to speed he may well end up returning to the #1 receiving option for Sam Darnold who honestly needs all the help he can get right now. Prior to his injury, he was averaging over 13 fantasy points per game. He had 7 in week 9 but with neither Jermaine Kearse nor Robby Anderson really making a jump, Enunwa should be the main guy again.
TEs:
Ben Watson (NO @ CIN)
48% owned
If he’s not owned in your league and you are really struggling at TE, Watson is your guy. Even with the weapons, the Saints have he’s made 26 catches for 292yds and 2TDs. Losing Ted Ginn and a struggling Cameron Meredith has led to Watson seeing more targets and it’s working well for them. He can have dead weeks but if you ignore the Minnesota game, he’s a double-digit fantasy points player.
CJ Uzomah (CIN vs NO)
19% owned
Like Hines earlier, Uzomah may be available after having a bye last week and is a startable option each week. With 17 receptions for 184 yards and 2TDs even with Tyler Eifert active for 4 games, he’s worth a spot if you don’t have an elite option.
Chris Herndon (NYJ vs BUF)
13% owned
After posting a 4th game scoring more than 8 points and this time without the aid of a Touchdown I think it’s safe to call Herndon an option. With the wide receivers struggling they needed some help and he’s finally risen above the pack of Tight Ends and the Jets.
DSTs:
Chargers (LAC @ OAK)
44
If they’re available, the Chargers are the team playing the Raiders this week. I probably don’t need to say a lot more than that. They’ve been very much boom or bust although their main busts were against the Chiefs and Rams.
Colts (IND vs JAX)
13% owned
The Jags offense has been pretty poor this season and it would appear 2016 Blake Bortles has returned. The Colts meanwhile have a good defense with good young talent and I’ve not been afraid of using them earlier in the season. That being said they have only had 1 big week and 2 good weeks so this has the opportunity to go wrong.
Colts (IND vs JAX)
13% owned
The Jags offense has been pretty poor this season and it would appear 2016 Blake Bortles has returned. The Colts meanwhile have a good defense with good young talent and I’ve not been afraid of using them earlier in the season. That being said they have only had 1 big week and 2 good weeks so this has the opportunity to go wrong.
Bills (BUF @ NYJ)
12
The Bills aren’t a conventional choice but their defense isn’t the worst. The Jets offense, on the other hand, lead the league in turnovers and Sam Darnold has only managed 2 games without at least one interception. Defenses are feasting against the Jets and the Bills are a top 16 Defense currently so this does look tasty on paper.
*Owned % based on ESPN.
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