For the second consecutive week, fantasy football managers may find themselves scouring the waiver wire on Sunday morning for some last-minute help. Whether it’s players on bye or unexpected inactives, plenty of you are starting some seriously fringe guys.
Not sure who to pick up? We’ve got you covered. Here are a handful of players available in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues who can help you this week.
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks (at WAS)
Rostered: 47%
It’s interesting how one ill-timed bad game can really linger. Sam Darnold has been excellent all season. But he posted a dud in Week 7 against the Houston Texans, throwing for 213 yards and a touchdown while turning the ball over twice. Then, the Seattle Seahawks had their bye. That means it’s been three weeks since we saw Darnold actually play well.
Before that disastrous outing against the Texans, Darnold had posted at least 16 fantasy points in five straight contests. He only had one truly elite performance, but he came with a high floor.
Hopefully, the Washington Commanders get Jayden Daniels back after just one game missed due to a minor hamstring strain. That would be great for the overall scoring environment. Even if they don’t, Darnold should have plenty of opportunities against a defense allowing the 12th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
The Commanders will have no answer for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. As long as Zach Charbonnet doesn’t steal all the touchdowns, Darnold should be in for an excellent outing this week.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. IND)
Rostered: 40%
Perhaps Aaron Rodgers is not done. In fact, he’s so not done that the Steelers have stated they’re hoping he returns next year.
While obviously not prime Rodgers, he’s been better than the past two seasons. Rodgers has at least one touchdown pass in every game this season, including multiple in every game since the team’s Week 5 bye.
The Indianapolis Colts are a pass-funnel defense, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks while stifling opposing rushing attacks. With potential negative game script, Rodgers could toss it up 35+ times once again.
Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers (at NYG)
Rostered: 9%
He certainly wasn’t supposed to make this many starts. Yet, here we are.
Mac Jones is not a bad quarterback. This will be his seventh start filling in for an injured Brock Purdy and likely his last. He sure has an incentive to make it a good one. Jones has made a strong case for a starting gig next year, and he very well may get one.
Jones has posted 19+ fantasy points in three of his six starts so far. Now, he gets a New York Giants defense allowing the 12th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. They are easily his softest matchup thus far, making him a very viable option if you need one.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears (at CIN)
Rostered: 50%
By the time you’re reading this, Kyle Monangai will probably have crested the 50% rostership threshold. That’s okay. He’s still worth mentioning.
This one is as straightforward as it gets. Two weeks ago, Monangai saw 16 opportunities against the New Orleans Saints in a comfortable win. He turned them into 94 yards and a touchdown. There’s your proof of concept.
D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are out. The rookie is about to see as much volume as he can handle. He’s going to get it against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that allows the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs.
Not only should you add Monangai if he’s out there in your league, you should force him into your lineup by any means necessary.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 44%
For the second consecutive week, Tyjae Spears’ name appears on this list. Last week, he rewarded fantasy managers with 17.2 fantasy points on 12 opportunities. Granted, it was mostly garbage time, but the fact remains that Spears plays when the Titans are trailing. Guess what’s likely to happen again this week?
Tony Pollard has not played particularly well. This is now a full-blown timeshare.
The Titans are heavy underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers. If they see a negative game script, that typically means more Spears and fewer opportunities for Pollard. We know Spears is a talented player. If he can get 8-10 touches, that could be enough to be a worthwhile desperation start for fantasy managers.
Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Rostered: 20%
The Kansas City Chiefs backfield is about to consolidate from three to two. Isiah Pacheco is out this week with a sprained MCL. Kareem Hunt will obviously start and see the bulk of the touches, but Brashard Smith will be involved.
Throughout his entire coaching career, Andy Reid has always had a passing-down back. It doesn’t matter if that back is specifically suited for the role. Ideally, he would be. But as long as he’s someone other than the early-down back, that works for Reid.
Hunt is now the early-down back. Therefore, we should expect him to relinquish the passing-down role to the rookie. If that puts Smith on the field for even 35% of the snaps, it could be enough to get him RB3 production in a potential shootout against the Buffalo Bills.
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals (at DAL)
Rostered: 11%
My main advice for fantasy managers would be to avoid the Arizona Cardinals backfield. We don’t know what they are doing. I’m not sure they even know what they are doing. The only thing we know for sure is that Trey Benson will be the guy when he is able to return.
When Benson first went down, Michael Carter was the lead back. The next week, he lost his job to Bam Knight. That held for two weeks. Then the team had its Week 8 bye.
Coming out of the bye, the Cardinals cut Carter in a procedural move to add him back to the practice squad shortly thereafter. Then, it was Carter operating as the RB1 in practices.
Emari Demercado is set to return from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. He will reprise his role as the passing-down back. Fantasy managers seem not to be fully aware that it may very well be Carter back in the primary runner role this week.
How valuable will that be in a game in which the Cardinals might see a negative game script? Well, that’s a horse of a different color.
The hope is whether it’s Knight or Carter, the one you start can punch in a short touchdown. That’s the gamble. Rolling the dice on Carter is very risky, but if you don’t have an alternative, he’s there in almost every league.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers (vs. CAR)
Rostered: 28%
It’s surprising to see Christian Watson still available in so many leagues. Fantasy managers are typically more reactionary than that.
Watson returned from a lengthy ACL recovery to post 12.5 fantasy points in his first game back. Given his past history of being a fantasy factor, combined with his higher-than-expected usage in his first game back, Watson looked like the exact type of add fantasy managers would make. Apparently not.
That means Watson is probably available for you in a desperation scenario.
This is not exactly the game script we want in a streamer. The Packers are heavy home favorites against the Carolina Panthers. This game is unlikely to be close, limiting the need for Jordan Love to throw.
The hope in streaming Watson is that he catches a long one. He did it last week with four receptions for 85 yards. Perhaps his volume increases a bit this week, and he can find the end zone.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts (at PIT)
Rostered: 26%
If you want the perfect example of a guy who “won’t get you zero,” it’s Alec Pierce. Other than Week 1, when he still caught his lone pass for 36 yards, Pierce has at least 6.8 fantasy points in every other game. When scraping the bottom of the barrel for fantasy points, that plays.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not a defense to be feared. They allow the second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Pittsburgh especially struggles at defending the deep ball, as we saw Love exploit multiple times last Sunday night.
Pierce is a deep-ball merchant. All he has to do is break free once, and Daniel Jones has been accurate enough to hit him.
Chimere Dike, WR, Tennessee Titans (vs. LAC)
Rostered: 20%
This has nothing to do with the matchup or even streaming. Why is this kid still available in 80% of leagues?
Chimere Dike is the Titans’ WR1 now. He’s overtaken Elic Ayomanor as Cam Ward’s preferred option. Calvin Ridley remains out.
Dike has posted 16.9 and 16.4 fantasy points in each of his last two games. The team has asked him to do more, and he’s answered the call. There’s no reason to expect anything to change.
The Chargers do present a difficult matchup, but there will be a negative game script and plenty of passing volume. What more can you ask for?
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (at LAR)
Rostered: 35%
This is a rough week at tight end. Juwan Johnson had a scorching start to the season. Then, he slowed down, and it looked like his run was over.
Over the past two games, Johnson has rebounded with 5-79 and 5-53 lines. If you can get eight to 10 fantasy points from a desperation streamer, you take it.
The Los Angeles Rams are not exactly a great matchup. But it’s Tyler Shough’s first career start on the road against a very good team. There will be a negative game script. There will be throwing. Johnson could be a PPR scam.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears (at CIN)
Rostered: 23%
Last week, Colston Loveland kind of came through with 6.8 fantasy points. With last-minute desperation spot starters, that is enough. But it wasn’t the breakout performance fantasy managers were hoping for as the Chicago Bears laid an egg against a bad Baltimore Ravens defense.
Well, in addition to the Bengals being the easiest matchup for running backs, they allow the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends.
The runway isn’t as clear with Cole Kmet returning, but we could still see Loveland in the primary tight end role. Maybe this is the week he scores his first touchdown.