By MV October 5th 2015
Every week the waiver wire gets thinner and thinner. Below is the list of the best options for week 5.
FSC subscribes to the thought process of not having a reserve quarterback, defense and kicker in order to maximize the possibility of owning the breakout wide receiver or running back. The bye weeks are here and it is now time to start preparing. It is always best to look a couple of weeks out when searching for a fill in or stream option for any of these three positions. Do not wait until the week of, unless you want to waste your FAAB budget on a one week rental. If you prepare accordingly you can get the best option before the streamers bid on the best available defense or kicker.
Remember not to over spend your FAAB on one player. Again the basic rule of thumb is to keep the cost beneath 20% of your total FAAB for any one player. There are always exceptions to this rule and it is contingent upon a ton of variables; what week we’re in, situation, opportunity, etc.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick NYJ – Yep, he’s still available in your league. Mr. Consistency gets zero respect. He now has 7 TD’s on the year which makes him 7th best in the NFL.
Derek Carr OAK – In case he is still available. DC is going to have an excellent sophomore season.
Tyrod Taylor BUF – Tyrod skipped a beat in week 4, but should be owned in every league, if he’s not, grab him. He has the goods to crack the top 10 for the year.
Sam Bradford PHI – Did people give up too quickly on him? We are not 100% sold that he will figure it out even after a 3 TD performance, but we still have faith in Chip Kelly’s madness despite the fact that his tongue is always sticking out of his mouth.
Running Backs
CJ Spiller NO – Did people already drop him? I know for a fact he has hit the wire in some leagues. Grab him, he’s a really good PPR running back and Brees will begin connecting with him. He just can’t ever stay healthy.
Duke Johnson Jr. CLE – I wrote about Duke this summer. His talent is undeniable, but we were scared of this offense and the mashup of RB’s in Cleveland. Couple that with a late summer injury he went undrafted or has eventually been dropped in a lot of leagues. Duke is a long-term hold guy, but is beginning to make a case as a starting RB. Figure it out Cleveland.
Cameron Artis-Payne CAR – Cameron has not done much with the work he has put in so far this season, but the fact that he is getting work tells us that they are preparing for when Jonathan Stewart gets hurt. He will get hurt, be prepared have the Artis formerly known as Payne on your roster and you will have a starting RB for a bunch of games.
Wide Receiver
Leonard Hankerson ATL – Hankerson is clearly the #2 WR in this offense now and is involved. He will be a good fantasy wide receiver three this year.
Dorial Green-Beckham TEN – He may still be available off their week 4 bye. We expect him to take a big leap forward in the second half of his season. Grab him now. His role has increased in each of the first three weeks and he will continue to get red zone looks and he has the makeup to make big plays.
Ty Montgomery GB – Ty did not fit into the list of Targets because I cut off the page after the first 50 wide receivers in terms of targets. Ty had 6 targets and was a weapon that Rodgers looked for. He only caught 3 of them for 15 yards, but he also had two carries. The Packers will work him into the offense as long as Davante Adams is out.
Marquess Wilson CHI – The Chicago Bears wide receiver looks to be a decent fill in option as a flex during bye weeks as long as Jay Cutler is heaving the ball around and while Alshon is sidelined. Eddie Royal can safely be picked up before Wilson if he’s available in your league. One thing stands true here, the Bears are not great and they will be throwing to catch up.
Stefon Diggs MIN – Charles Johnson looks really bad this year, and we really did not talk about him at this point last year either. Diggs caught 6 of his 10 targets for 87 yards and could possibly bump Charles Johnson even when he returns. This is a deep league option only, but someone has to step up in this offense.
Brandon LaFell NE – Just someone to start thinking about as he is eligible to return after Week 8. Currently Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson are the #2-3 WR’s in this offense. Weird, considering Brady will have 35+ touchdowns this year.
Danny Amendola/Aaron Dobson NE – Good luck guessing the week that they score, but if you are desperate there are much worse offenses that you can take a flier on.
Jamison Crowder WAS – What a performance the kid had. #80 hauled in 7 of his 12 targets and flashed greatness with some deep ball capability. He is currently fourth on the passing depth chart behind Jordan Reed (concussion), Pierre Garcon (knee), and Desean Jackson (gangsta’ shit and hamstring). Crowder has a chance to maintain a starting job with all of these injuries.
Kamar Aiken BAL – With Breshad Perriman reaggravating his PCL tear and Steve Smith breaking three ribs, Kamar sets in as Joe Flacco’s number one option in a Marc Trestman offense. And that is the only reason why he is on this list.
Tavon Austin STL – Tavon is finally doing what he was drafted to do 3 years ago. He is playing really well and the beast Todd Gurley could make this offense better helping Tavon’s value. Still, with Brian Quick returning he will be third in the receiving pecking order.
Tight End
Gary Barnidge CLE – Gary caught 6 of his 6 targets this week after a monster week 3. Maybe this was not an aberration. We will see what he does this week against the Ravens who managed to hold Heath Miller to one catch in a Mike Vick Steeler offense last Thursday.
Antonio Gates SD – Philip Rivers still loves the big guy even with his shiny new toy in Ladarius Green. Gates comes back this week from suspension and many owners have been dropping him to make it through a start to the season that has been riddled with BIG injuries that require roster space.