Weeks like this one are where things get weird on the fantasy football waiver wire. Sure, there are options available if you’re looking incredibly deep at things, but I can’t in good conscience recommend players that will likely appear across other columns this week.
Byron Pringle, who I like as much as any second-year UDFA, needs two starters to miss time in order to potentially make an impact and could still be the fourth-highest priority in the receiving game. Jon Hilliman will get snaps and carries but is on a short week against a tough opponent and a coach that keeps his team aware of trap game type scenarios. Even Adrian Peterson, who is under the 50% threshold I use, is in a chaotic situation with low volume on a team that can’t figure out what its offensive identity is. So this week will appear a little lean, but it’s only because I can’t tell you to play or add someone that I wouldn’t.
Teams on a bye: Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders
Mohamed Sanu 43.3% owned
Atlanta Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu may be the most underrated, underappreciated wide receiver playing right now. After being the overlooked name with A.J. Green and Marvin Jones in Cincinnati, he now appears to be benefitting from a similar situation with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. With double-digit PPR points in every contest outside of Week 2, Sanu has shown himself to be a reliable option at a position that is running out of them on the waiver wire.
You can find a futher breakdown of Sanu’s great day last week in his PFN OSM Report. What’s more, is that the production appears to be sustainable enough with Sanu receiving six targets in all but last weeks’ game. Want a cherry on top? An 80% catch rate boosts his stock with fantasy football owners as much as it does with Matt Ryan.
Gerald Everett 3.4% owned
With back to back impressive weeks in the books, Gerald Everett looks like he may be providing fantasy football players another weekly option at the tight end position. With the waiver wire full of choices that aren’t nearly as involved in their offense, Everett is establishing himself as yet another option for Jared Goff.
No, he’s probably not putting up 100+ yards again, but garnering 8 and 11 targets over the previous two games has the arrow pointing up. He won’t face competition from other TEs on the roster as Tyler Higbee is used overwhelmingly as an inline blocker. The Los Angeles Rams have been adding new wrinkles to the offense in order to keep opponents guessing, and Everett has the potential to contribute back to his days as a prospect and former second-round pick. Widely available on the waiver wire, he should at the very least be on your bench.
Auden Tate 13.7% owned
With A.J. Green and John Ross both on the sideline, it’s sophomore WR Auden Tate that stands to benefit from a fantasy football perspective. With 6+ targets each of the past three weeks, he’s found himself as a consistent factor in the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense. The touchdown helped save his day last week but there are guys out there on the waiver wire who don’t have the playing time and upside of Tate.
Despite the strong performance against all receivers not named JuJu Smith-Schuster last week, the Baltimore Ravens secondary can be had by a better quarterback. At 6’5 and 228 pounds, Tate can find mismatches in the red zone and at the goal line. With names like T.Y. Hilton, Allen Robinson, John Brown, and Tyrell Williams off this week, Tate could find his way into more than a few starting lineups.
Andrew Jordan is an editor and writer for the Pro Football Network covering Fantasy Football. You can follow him @The_ATJ on Twitter.