🏈 Starch me up

Good morning. We’re onto Week 12, meaning it’s almost the playoffs. Time for you to crush your league mates like Bill Belichick crushes potatoes:

In today’s newsletter: 1) Waiver Report 2) Rookie Report 3) Quick Slants

Week 12 Waivers

For a list of “obvious pickups who we told you about weeks ago”, i.e. Elijah Moore, Rhamondre Stevenson, Darnell Mooney, Kadarius Toney, this CBS article goes into detail on pickups, as does this Sporting News article. A few key players available in most leagues:

QB: Cam Newton

Cam shouldn’t be available, but probably is. Newton handled 36% of the Panthers' designed rushing attempts on Sunday, finishing with 235 total yards, 3 TDs, a 120.5 passer rating and 25+ fantasy points. Yup, he’s BAAACK. Borderline QB1.

• Taysom Hill: Not only did Hill get paid (see Quick Slants), but Saints starter Trevor Simien hasn’t been great. Hill might win the job from Week 12 on, and if he does, you are looking at a 21+ ppg QB from waivers.

RB: Qadree Ollison

In his first action of the season, Qadree had 9/34 rushing and 2/0 receiving on three targets. Most importantly, he’s better than Mike Davis and Wayne Gallman. Could easily win this backfield after seeing 48% of snaps in Week 11. Matt Waldman breaks down Ollison’s runs (video).

• Tevin Coleman: Jets starter Michael Carter suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss 2-3 weeks. Coleman earned five carries while Ty Johnson saw one rush attempt. He will be the runner in this backfield and should see the goal-line work.

• Ty Johnson: He’s the passing back on a team that should be playing catch-up most weeks. Remember, Carter’s main value was his receiving work.

WR: Michael Gallup

CeeDee Lamb (concussion) and Amari Cooper (covid) will miss the Cowboys' Week 12 game against the Raiders. Gallup should see double-digit targets from one of the NFL’s best QBs. Prescott missed an open Gallup down the sideline on the game's opening play, but the WR still finished with 44 yards on 10 targets. Dak trusts him, and he’s a baller.

• Laviska Shenault: Rapoport reported Jamal Agnew will miss the remainder of the 2021 season with a hip injury. This allows Shenault to move into his more natural position in the slot, where he should see volume. Problem is, we can’t tell if he’s good at football (video).

• Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Whenever a player sees 10 targets with a 30% share, it’s notable. Especially when they are the #2 option for Aaron Rodgers. MVS has big play ability and should see volume while Lazard is out.

• Cedrick Wilson: Missing both starters, Wilson stepped into the #2 WR role behind Gallup and saw seven targets with 4/36 receiving. He’s the Cowboys slot receiver in CeeDee’s absence.

TE: Slim Pickings

Maybe ESPN can do us all a favor and make Taysom Hill a TE again?

Droppable: Mecole Hardman, Mike Davis, Zach Moss. 

There’s still hope: Sterling Shepard, Nico Collins, Khalil Herbert, Dan Arnold.

Rookie Updates

Kyle Pitts is getting doubled-teamed. Too often.

Elijah Moore’s Week 11 usage: * 80% snaps * 81% routes * 11 targets:

Rondale Moore had negative-11 air yards on 11 targets.

Shareholders Meeting

You know what sucks? Losing your entire bet on DFS. You know what rocks? Buying shares on Prediction Strike. It’s the fantasy football stock market we’ve all been dreaming of. To give you an idea, the most you’ll lose on a player in a given week is 15%. The upside is almost unlimited. Last week’s best buy is a Morning Huddle favorite:

Together with Prediction Strike

Quick Slants

• Saints signed QB Taysom Hill to a four-year, $95 million contract extension. Schefter noted that Hill's contract is unlike any other in the NFL because of how it scales his salary up based on his position (worth between $40 million and $95 million depending on position)

• Saints’ TE Adam Trautman suffered a sprained MCL during Sunday’s loss to the Eagles that is expected to sideline him 4-6 weeks, per source.

• Baker Mayfield on fans booing him: "Those are probably the same fans who won't be quiet when we're on offense and trying to operate. So I don't really care."

• If you need an excuse to bet against the Cowboys this Thanksgiving, here it is.

Tweet of the Day

Thanks for joining me this morning, be great today. Hey, NFL taunting committee

- Jake

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PS: We’ve been buying shares of Elijah Moore and Rhamondre Stevenson on Prediction Strike. When someone asks what we’re doing, we say: Investing, nerd.