Running back is thin this week in fantasy football and could be like this for a while. Hopefully, you were able to lock down one of our hits last week which included Alexander Mattison, Michael Carter, and Cordarrelle Patterson. If you haven’t, it’s time to look into some deep backup stashes that could pay off league-winning dividends come winter.
Here are the players you should be considering during your weekly waiver wire run in fantasy football based on at least 60% availability. I also include adds for those in deeper league formats. If you have any questions or need any fantasy football waiver wire advice, feel free to hit me on Twitter @101chalk.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers
88% availability on ESPN
74% availability on Yahoo
Especially dangerous in open space, Hubbard is a playmaker. With Christian McCaffrey missing at least a couple weeks, Hubbard is an instant fantasy football RB2 candidate. And even if McCaffrey comes back healthy, it isn’t inconceivable that load management is in the cards.
Ty Johnson - New York Jets
93% availability on ESPN
90% availability on Yahoo
Jets backfield remains muddled even though Coleman missed Week 3 due to an illness. Johnson and rookie counterpart (Carter) haven’t pulled away from each other in the running back competition. Carter is the preferred stash but Johnson is worth a consideration for needy teams.
Rhamondre Stevenson - New England Patriots
91% availability on ESPN
90% availability on Yahoo
Given the lack of options at running back on the fantasy football waiver wire, we’re picking out scraps and hoping to find gold. James White is likely headed to IR and Damien Harris seems to have already fallen out of favor in New England. Harris only logged six carries against the Saints, although game script played a part. The rookie Stevenson was an inactive scratch in Week 3 but there is an obvious opportunity for touches after the recent events.
Giovani Bernard - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
88% availability on ESPN
84% availability on Yahoo
Ronald Jones is (once again) in Bruce Arians’ doghouse. Leonard Fournette is the starting running back for the defending champs, but Bernard has a set role as the third down and pass-catching back. You won’t deploy Bernard often, but he’s worth flex consideration in PPR leagues depending on the Bucs’ matchups.
Gio Bernard had 10 targets yesterday in a game where the Buccs trailed the whole way.
A nice flex fill in during weeks with a projected negative game script for the Buccs.
Shouldn’t be too many of those though.
— Michael ProScout Liu (@MiKeMeUpP) September 27, 2021
Wide Receiver
Christian Kirk - Arizona Cardinals
77% availability on ESPN
49% availability on Yahoo
How is Kirk available in over 75% of ESPN fantasy football leagues? Casual gamers are slow to adapt based on Bayesian Inference. Kirk is a must-add.
Devante Parker - Miami Dolphins
39% availability on ESPN
61% availability on Yahoo
Devante Parker is actually available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues. I’ve always seen Yahoo as a sharper crowd so this could be a sign that the sharps are off the Miami veteran. If he’s available and you’re short on WR or Flex options, he’s worth a look. Even though his fantasy production has been bad, he’s seen at least seven targets over the first three weeks of the season. You could do worse.
Emmanuel Sanders
76% availability on ESPN
74% availability on Yahoo
Josh Allen is heating up and you should be trying to get in on the fun. Sanders still has big play ability and we saw it on display this past weekend. Be weary of spending up as Sanders is still a boom-or-bust weekly option unless Diggs misses time. But based on matchups (your’s and the Bills’), you may want to roll him out as a Hail Mary.
Tim Patrick - Denver Broncos
86% availability on ESPN
77% availability on Yahoo
Another Broncos wide receiver goes down and Tim Patrick continues to trend up. Hate seeing KJ Hamler go down given expectations to see him take a step forward. But Patrick once again finds himself in a top role in the Denver passing game.
Quintez Cephus - Detroit Lions
86% availability on ESPN
71% availability on Yahoo
This is more of a speculative (deep) fantasy football league add, after waivers clear, given the lack of options in the Lions’ passing game. Cephus was on the field for over 70% of the team’s offensive plays but only saw 1 target after seeing 13 combined over the past couple of weeks. Kalif Raymond got the points in Week 3 but Cephus is the better talent. Bet on talent.
Tight End
Cole Kmet - Chicago Bear
78% availability on ESPN
66% availability on Yahoo
There are a lot of questions around the Bears but we know that Kmet has basically relegated Jimmy Graham into retirement. Kmet had a 96% snap share to Graham’s 16%, so there’s an opportunity to produce in wasteland.
Dawson Knox - Buffalo Bills
95% availability on ESPN
90% availability on Yahoo
I can’t believe it either but Dawson Knox is TE6 on the season so far. It’s early and I don’t expect it to last but like I mentioned above… you want a piece of this Buffalo offense. Knox is a cheap entry into the fray.
For more fantasy football waiver wire advice, make sure to check out The Undroppables.
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