The quickest way to fall behind in a fantasy football league is to become complacent and rely on the team you drafted, neglecting the all-important waiver wire. As managers make numerous waiver claims for Week 7, hoping to strengthen their roster, should Alec Pierce be a priority addition off the waiver wire at the Titans?
Alec Pierce Finds a Way To Get It Done for Fantasy Once Again
Hear me out for a second and humor me by answering a question. In a week where there are no true “must-add” players off the waiver wire, what if I told you there was a WR who ranked 24th in PPR scoring (12.7) since Week 3 that was rostered in just a quarter of leagues? Would you be interested? Would it help if he had second-round draft capital and was 6’3″ with 4.41 40-yard speed? Do I have your attention now? I thought so.
I can’t for the life of me figure out why Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce is rostered in only 25.2% of fantasy leagues, but that simply means someone is getting a steal off the Week 7 waiver wire.
Although it wasn’t the prettiest game — not that any are for the Colts at the moment — but Pierce was busy once again this past Sunday, catching three of his seven targets for 49 yards, including the game-winning touchdown to knock off the Jaguars.
This isn’t a fluke, either. Pierce has five or more targets in every game since Week 2 and sits second on the team in target share over this time (16.5%) but doubles Michael Pittman Jr. in air-yard share at 36.4%.
When the Colts need a big play, which is pretty often at the moment, Ryan is looking Pierce’s way. Partially because Pittman is being used in such an odd way. Pittman’s route charts look like they belong to Jakobi Meyers, and his aDOT backs that up (3.05 aDOT since Week 3).
Is Alec Pierce Worth Targeting Off the Waiver Wire Ahead of Week 7 Fantasy Matchups?
For me, Pierce is a fantastic addition off the waiver wire and someone I feel like I’ve been advocating for over the last several weeks. While he didn’t crack 50 yards in Week 6, he had three straight weeks of 60+ yards, including back-to-back 80-yard outings.
He’s within 0.2% of Pittman in targets per route run, thanks to Pittman’s 16-target outing last week. Pierce is also tied for 11th in YPRR since Week 3, ranking behind only Chris Olave, Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, and Tee Higgins. That’s pretty good company, right?
MORE: Wan’Dale Robinson and Alec Pierce Among Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups
As far as the Week 7 matchup, Tennessee isn’t all that good. In fact, they’re one to target for receivers as they sit 31st in fantasy points allowed per game (44.37 PPR) and are dead last in yards per target allowed at 15.23. Additionally, Tennessee is 29th in passing DVOA and 31st in DVOA vs. an opponent’s No. 2 WR. I think the point has been made that it’s a favorable matchup.
We never know when rookies will break out, and Pierce has already begun to do it to little fanfare. He can come off the Week 7 waiver wire and go right into your starting lineup as a Flex option. I’d treat him as a WR3 with WR2 upside, especially if the Titans try to put the clamps on Pittman. If so, Pierce should feast.