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- 🏈 Running to the Waivers
🏈 Running to the Waivers
Top adds for Week 2... + Najee’s OK? Dak‘s NOT.
Good morning. What a weekend. Nothing beats ignoring life for 7 hours every Sunday. We missed it.
"It's called NFL RedZone T. It's like watching normal football, but we don't have to watch the trash teams until they get into the red zone"
— Fitz (@FitzGSN_)
5:04 PM • Sep 4, 2022
Reddit user u/aketchum339 reminds us that the fantasy season isn't decided after Week 1. Some "This time last year" facts: Ty'Son Williams was the RB9 & Austin Ekeler was the RB28. Your 0-1 start to the season is a fluke, don't sweat it.
And congrats to everyone who stashed top waiver wire pickups - Jaylen Warren & Jeff Wilson. It's now official - you're better than your friends. From deep dives last Thursday:
Or subscribe to the Morning Huddle, where you'll have these guys a week early.
— Morning Huddle (@MorningHuddleUp)
1:02 AM • Sep 13, 2022
Today's newsletter outlines the top waiver wire pickups, with insights from the best analysts in the business.
MARKET
Losing Dak is a massive downgrade for CeeDee, while Amon-Ra St. Brown now has 8+ catches and 10+ targets in seven straight games.
We've now seen Christian Kirk make two appearances with Trevor Lawrence:
Week 2 Preseason: 32% target share on 8 targets
Week 1: 28.5% target share on 12 targets
We've made some massive adjustments to our ROS rankings - sharing the newsletter with three people gives you access.
WAIVERS
Watching the Wire
Jeff Wilson // Niner Noise
RUNNERS: Jeff Wilson Jr.
Per @AdamSchefter, Elijah Mitchell is expected to be sidelined for about two months with a sprained MCL. The depth chart behind Wilson is questionable and the 49ers love to run (they ran around 57% of their plays on Sunday, a game they lost). In the 8 games he's started in his career, Wilson averages 17.6 PPR PPG.
Jamaal Williams: Jamaal Williams saw only 4 less carries than Swift (15 to 11) & converted two TDs.
Darrell Henderson Jr: The Rams RB1, Henderson outpaced Akers in snaps (54 to 12) and carries (13 to 3), and was utilized in the passing game (5 grabs for 26 yards).
Jaylen Warren: The offensive line was awful, and Mitch Trubisky struggled to move the ball down the field, but I'm a sucker for good volume. Warren saw all the RB snaps once Najee left (But read Quick Slants).
Dontrell Hilliard: Turned four targets into three catches, 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Strong handcuff in potential James White role?
Rex Burkhead was the clear Texans RB1 w 48/68 snaps and 27 routes to Pierce's 5. Rex an add, Pierce a hold.
Brandin Cooks turned in yet another 35% target share game
— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek)
3:35 PM • Sep 12, 2022
RECEIVER: Curtis Samuel
Samuel did his best Deebo Samuel impression, lead Washington with 11 targets (8-55-1) and 4 rushing attempts for 21.2 PPR points. Overlooked this offseason, Samuel is only owned in 8% of leagues and draws a plus Week 2 matchup against the Lions.
Taysom Hill is a QB, RB & WR with TE eligibility. Don’t be the guy complaining that Hill shouldn’t be a TE. Be the guy winning the league.
Kyle Phillips led the Titans with 6 catches and 66 yards after dominating Titans camp. Phillips had a 42.9% target rate in Week 1 (9 targets on 21 routes), almost never seen in a rookie WR. 2021 Hunter Renfroe?
Robbie Anderson led the Panthers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards in Week 1 against the Browns, despite being as thin as paper.
Zay Jones earned 9 targets against the Commanders and looks like the WR2 on high-volume passing O.
Jahan Dotson: Elite usage in Week 1 (88% of snaps) and 2 TDs. Every down WR worth adding.
If he's available, Julio Jones is the WR1 add. Don’t buy the hype on Devin Duvernay.
Devin Duvernay scored two touchdowns but only participated in 51% of the routes and registered a 14% target share.
Long way to go before you can put him in any lineups, don't overspend on the wire.
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland)
1:39 AM • Sep 12, 2022
PASSER: Marcus Mariota
Mariota ran the ball 12 times for 72 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Saints. Per @dwainmcfarland, he had a 22% designed rushing attempt share and 11% scramble rate. He had a decent fantasy day despite throwing 0 TDs.
The case for Carson Wentz: He put up 27.7 points in the opener & displayed chemistry with a strong WR group of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel. The Commanders have a dream matchup against the Lions next week. He's a great streaming option if you drafted Dak Prescott.
The case for Cooper Rush: Just kidding.
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.
Cincinnati Bengals @ DAL - Dak is out and the Cowboys offense forgot the regular season started.
San Francisco 49ers vs. SEA - Great D-Line playing against a weak offense.
Denver Broncos vs. HOU - Houston looked decent Week 1 but the Broncos opened as 10.5 favorites
Green Bay Packers vs. CHI - Aaron Rodgers owns the Chicago Bears. And their defense should dominate a weak Bears O.
Buffalo Bills vs. TEN - The Titans were slow out of the gate and the Bills are in mid-season form.
Los Angeles Rams vs. ATL - Expect a bounce back performance from the Rams.
Cleveland Browns vs. NYJ - Joe Flacco is the Jets QB.
KICKERS: Ban them.
Brian Daboll: Legend.
QUICK SLANTS
Saquon Barkley is back. He hit 21.1 MPH on a run - the second fastest of any player in the NFL Week 1 and the fastest he's hit since 2019. (video)
Three RBs saw at least 90% of their team's RB rushes this week: Joe Mixon, Jonathan Taylor, and Derrick Henry.
The next player on that list (84.6% share) is Cordarrelle Patterson per @LateRoundQB. Cordarrelle doesn't care about your aging RB regression models.
Dak Prescott had surgery on his fractured right (throwing) thumb on Monday and will be out 6-8 weeks.
The Score's Jordan Schultz reports there's a "good chance" Najee Harris will play in Week 2.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said the team is "evaluating all options" at quarterback following Dak Prescott's hand injury.
Remember: Jon Gruden got a $100 million contract for 10 years. You can do anything you set your mind to. Get after it today.
Jake, Eddie, Matt & Coach Wehler.
Tweets of the Day
Christian really drops that joke in.
Christian Watson is, in fact, the perfect replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland)
8:40 PM • Sep 11, 2022
Live look at Aaron Rodgers postgame press conference
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero)
11:52 PM • Sep 11, 2022
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