NFL
By Bill Carroll
The assembly line is runnin’ slow on MondayThey’ve been livin’ it up and layin’ up Saturday and SundayOn Tuesday they’re about to come aroundBut they still feel bad and they’re kinda downAnd mad cause they’ve got four more day before the weekend rolls aroundOn Wednesday they’re feelin’ fine againAnd they’re workin’ like a dog and diggin’ inTryin’ to do everything they should puttin’ ’em cars together goodAnd I got me a car that was made on Wednesday on WednesdayIf you’re gonna boy yourself a new carYou just better hope you’re lucky enough to get one made on Wednesday
Running Back
While this is the most difficult position to find, especially in deeper leagues, there are still a few waiver wire finds with value and the promise of production:
De’Von Achane is the Waiver Wednesday bee’s knees, the flavor of the month and the toast of the town. If you see him as a flex, which I do, you are likely to life a long and happy fantasy football life. De’Von Achane can even be an RB2 in a deeper league, but be forewarned, even in a once-in-lifetime, 70-20 utter defenestration of Denver, Raheem Mostert played 37 snaps to De’Von Achane’s 30. It is reasonable to assume, for this season, that Achane would be fortunate to come within half of last Sunday’s explosion of points.
Wide Receiver
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Waiver Wednesday also means that Brandin Cooks and Jahan Dotson are both available, except in rather deep leagues, both are low-ceiling, but high floor options, with big play ability. The Green Bay Packers’ young receivers offer a few opportunities to bolster your flex position. Romeo Doubs is more stable than Jayden Reed, however Reed is more efficient.
In every league possible, I have added Joshua Keith Palmer. Palmer has not done that much, to date, and is ranked from WR #35-54, depending upon the scoring system, however with the season-ending ACL tear of Mike Williams, if he continues the current trend, playing 52.64% of the snaps in week one, 67.11% in week two and 60.94% of the snaps, last week, netting him four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, on seven targets at Minnesota. If he is consistently in over two thirds of the plays, he should become a productive flex. He’s played over half of the snaps all season.
Tight End
As is often the case, the Waiver Wednesday pickings are slim, emaciated, scrawny and skeletal. All the reliably productive options tend to quickly at this position. If you snagged Hunter Henry or Sam LaPorta in the later rounds, congratulations, well done! If you did not and you need a Tight End number two with ‘flexiness’, it is time to look to the young.
The Packer’s Luke Musgrave from week one to week two saw his snap percentage jump from 75 percent to 88 percent, facing the Saints he tallied six of eight targets for 49 yards. Thus far he has caught 11 passes for 124 yards in his first three games. In 2023 he has an average of 83.07% snaps played. The Lions’ defense allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position and has given up 263 yards in total through three weeks.
One of the few other semi-attractive Waiver Wednesday options is Jake Ferguson of Dallas. He has 18 targets in three games, 10 catches for one TD, 70 yards and 7.7 [standard scoring] fantasy points per game. Code Otton, who has only been targeted 11 times, with nine catches and 76 yards being generated. In a 10 or 12 team league he just bears watching, in deeper leagues he is worth stashing, his 6.9 yards per target give hope. He is only attractive in either dynasty or very deep leagues.
Defense/Special Teams
Waiver Wednesday is especially important for the most heavily streamed positions, if the Dallas Cowboys are available, run, don’t walk to grab them. After that it gets a bit dicier. The Broncos are widely available after the aforementioned defenestration. I see that as like the home-buying scene in The World According To Garp,
Garp : We’ll take the house. Honey, the chances of another plane hitting this house are astronomical. It’s been pre-disastered. We’re going to be safe here.
So pick up the Broncos defense and try to get into the spirit of T.S Garp. Most of the top defense are gone. So other Waiver Wednesday defense/special teams to consider: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a pretty high floor, averaging 10 plus fantasy points per game. Tampa Bay is ina 2nd place tie for most team interceptions with five.
They twice picked off Jalen Hurts, while holding a high-powered offense to 23 points. They’ve been good this year despite facing Hurts and Cousins, add to that, the Saints will either be sending Jameis Winston into the fray, after a long layoff, or a sore-shouldered Derek Dallas Carr, either way this could present an opportunity.
We just saw the Bengals’ defense post six sacks and two interceptions in a 19-16 win. The Titans allowed the 7th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses and are bottom-10 in both rushing and passing, currently they are tied for 29th in scoring at 15 points per game.
Place Kickers
A Waiver Wednesday favorite of mine, Cameron Dicker missed a 53 yard field goal attempt and made four out of four extra point attempts in Chargers’ 28-24 win over the Vikings. He is going to have many better days, he had 12 and 10 points in weeks one and two, I think the rivalry game with Las Vegas means at least seven fantasy points for him. Brandon Aubrey, Tyler Bass, Greg Joseph and Jake Moody are other kickers I think have a floor of about seven fantasy points. When it comes to D/ST and kickers I emphasize floor over ceiling.
I hope all of you have had a productive Waiver Wednesday and good luck!
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