🏈 Romeo, my Romeo

Waiver wire pickups for Week 4: Doubs, handcuff RBs, and that guy Craig Reynolds.

September 27, 2022

Good morning to everyone except the team behind Call of Duty. You cost me one.

And good riddance to the Pro Bowl. The NFL is ending the biggest joke since my football career and replacing it with a skills competitions and a flag football game, which they say "can't be worse." We'll see about that, Roger.

Today's newsletter covers the best waiver adds of the week, curates content you need to read to believe, and makes fun of the Cardinals.

WAIVERS

Checking out The Wire

If Khalil Herbert is available in your league, you need a better league. He's the #1 add if available, along with Alexander Mattison. Herbert averaged 15.4 fantasy points last season whenever David Montgomery missed time. Mattison averages 20.1 fantasy points whenever he starts for Dalvin Cook.

  • Jamaal Williams: Also owned in your league, it's worth checking if Williams is available. Swift is expected to miss 2 weeks and Williams has been startable this year.

  • Gus Edwards can return in Week 5 after missing the first four weeks. Edwards is the RB2 and should step up if Dobbins struggles.

  • Craig Reynolds is a sneaky pickup. Should see 10+ touches with Swift out, Reynolds has a stellar 3.88 career yds after contact/attempt and was 3rd in the NFL in this stat (behind Nick Chubb & Penny).

RECEIVER: Romeo Doubs

Tired of annoying the sh*t out of fantasy football fans, the Packers switched to a better model in Week 3: Get the ball to Doubs. In a near full-time role, Doubs caught all eight of his targets for 73 yards and drew praise from HC Matt LaFleur: "not even close to his ceiling". He ran the most routes on the team and beat one of the best secondaries in the league. Watch of each of Doubs 8 receptions (video) and then go pick him up/buy him everywhere.

  • Zay Jones deserves to be picked up. Jones has amassed 24 targets through 3 games and leads the Jaguars with 19 receptions. He's 18th among 95 qualifying WRs in PFF's grades with a strong 21%+ target share.

  • Tyler Conklin is seeing the usage you need at the barren TE position. Averaging 12.7 points per game (TE3), Conklin has seen 24 targets in three games. Add.

  • DeVante Parker was a bright spot for the Pats in Week 3, but with Mac Jones potentially out for the next few weeks, we're passing.

Don’t buy the hype: Mack Hollins exploded for 10 targets, 8-158-1 receiving, but let someone else grab him. Hunter Renfrow should return this week and Hollins is the 5th option on the Raiders.

PASSER: Zach Wilson

The Jets expect Wilson back this week, which means he's healthy. The young QB has got a big arm mixed with rushing upside (4 TDs in Wk12-15 last year) and amazing supporting cast. If you're QB-needy, he's worth stashing.

Kenny Pickett continues to be a tempting option for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Mitch Trubisky proves weekly that he's not the answer. Like Wilson, Pickett has long term upside and is free in most leagues.

For more pickups, check out FantasyPoints Week 4 Waiver Wire article (and the other content below).

INJURY UPDATES.

Mac Jones has "what doctors diagnosed as a severe high ankle sprain that would cause many to have surgery, per sources. He is likely to miss multiple games."

  • @ProFootballDoc breaks down the Tua Tagovailoa controversy and explains the NFLPA's role in investigating the concussion protocol process (video).

D/ST

Defense Wins Championships

When key offensive players are out, especially o-linemen and QBs, suddenly there are more D/ST sleepers. This week shapes up to have no shortage of viable options. For more rankings, check out SportingNews.

  1. Green Bay Packers vs NE - Brian Hoyer may be the Pats QB.

  2. Philadelphia Eagles v JAC are a top-5 unit so far this season and are stacked top to bottom.

  3. Los Angeles Chargers @ HOU

  4. Tennessee Titans @ IND

  5. Minnesota Vikings play NO and Chi next, two teams who just aren't that great.

  6. Cleveland Browns @ ATL

  7. New York Giants vs CHI 

  8. Arizona Cardinals enter their easiest stretch of the season and face Baker Mayfield this week.

  9. Los Angeles Chargers @ HOU

  10. Dallas Cowboys vs WAS - Carson Wentz gets paid to make erratic throws.

KICKERS: Ban them.

CONTENT

@SportMDAnalysis' thread on NFL injury updates is a must-read. Two snippets:

  • Dalvin Cook has a good chance to play Wk 4. But VERY HIGH risk of re-injury this year. Trading him away now. Vikings HC: "Shoulder injury something Cook's prepared to try to play with." Not a good mix.

  • D'Andre Swift's moderate AC (shoulder) sprain, avg 2-4 weeks. If he sits, expect back Wk 7 at full strength

@jlarkytweets drafted a great Week 3 recap thread.

On buying Joe Mixon: Mixon's ankle injury is not expected to linger into TNF in Week 4. Mixon with 20 targets, only 1 behind Ekeler for RB leader of 2022. No TDs through 3 weeks, but 9 RZ (5 GL) carries, and 2 RZ targets. He will find the end zone soon. Plus, Mixon has a 16.3% target share this year (4% above his career high).

Some great insight from @DanSchneierNFL on Jerry Jeudy’s quiet Week 3. Jeudy's getting open, but Wilson needs time to gel with his WRs.

PFF's NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Recap: Immediate takeaways from Sunday's games. One highlight: "Rhamondre Stevenson season could be arriving: Stevenson led the backfield in carries (12), rushing yards (73), receptions (4) and receiving yards (28). Stevenson received back-to-back drives at the end of the first half so that he would remain in on two-minute drills."

CBS's Fantasy Football: Biggest winners and losers from Week 3, game-by-game snaps, targets, more for every team. "I called Clyde Edwards-Helaire a sell-high candidate last week, and I'll stand by that if anyone is buying. The Chiefs have no real interest in establishing the run, as he has just seven or eight carries in each game so far. The receiving role (12 targets in three games) is decent, but not enough to overcome his limited usage elsewhere."

Baldy breaks down Lamar Jackson's greatness:

QUICK SLANTS

  • The Cardinals are currently 27th in yards per play. And dead last in yards per play allowed, per @adamlevitan.

  • Browns DE Myles Garrett was transported to local hospital after suffering non-life threatening injuries in car crash. An update from the Ohio Highway Patrol on what they found upon arriving at the scene is here.

  • Games feeling closer than ever? There have been 17 games decided by three points or fewer this season, the most such games through the first three weeks in NFL history.

  • Most recent update on David Montgomery: ‘day to day’ rather than ‘week to week’ which is potentially good news.

  • 49ers All-Pro tackle Trent Williams will be ‘out some time’ with high ankle sprain, downgrading the 49ers offense.

This video of a mentalist named Oz Pearlman reading Ravens' players' minds is insane. Worth a watch if you've got headphones as you sit and read this on the toilet.

Have a great day, legends.

Jake, Eddie, Matt & Coach Wehler.

Tweet of the Day

We all wanted to be a professional athlete at one point. And failed. But, at least we don't have to work with the Chargers medical staff.

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