Happy Wednesday fantasy friends. Mike here, welcome back to my weekly Waiver HUB. Follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football throughout the season.
Monday night we saw the 49ers lose to the Vikings. Yea doesn’t sound right still but nonetheless the 49ers have taken their 2nd L on the season. Kirk Cousins did throw a primetime INT, but it was mostly smooth sailing otherwise for the Vikings. Kirk threw for nearly 400 yards, had 2 passing TDs, and did it all without Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison was the guy everyone was watching in this game after scoring 2 TDs and gaining 123 yards via the pass. Brock Purdy threw 2 INTs and CMC lost a costly fumble which made it hard to stay positive and competitive. Vikings get the Packers next which should be a fun rivalry game, while the 49ers look to get back on track against the Bengals after 2 consecutive losses. Next week’s MNF is a clash between the Raiders and Lions.
This week’s TNF game is one between the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bills have got to be worried after losing to the Jets, Jaguars, and Patriots, while nearly escaping the Giants. This game could go in many directions with the way some team have been playing lately, but the line favors the Bills by 8.5 with an over/under of 42.5 My prediction in this game is a Bills victory 24-13.
Go out and make some moves and prepare for fantasy postseason greatness. Injuries are inevitable so here’s another chance to hit the waiver wire and get impactful players. Another week gone, another opportunity to make your team stronger and inch your way to that league trophy and an offseason of bragging rights.
Below are my top waiver wire priorities this week. Go get those available players to help your chances at a championship. Good luck this week and remember to check back every week to stay informed on who you could target off of waivers.
TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Josh Downs – Indianapolis Colts
Downs had the best game of his young career against the stout Cleveland defense in week 7. Josh scored the first TD of his career in week 6 when he caught 5 of 8 targets for 21 yards. He follows that up with 5 catches on only 6 targets this time, but instead of 21 yards he was able to reach 125 receiving yards and score a TD. The future is looking bright for Downs, especially with the chemistry he clearly has with Gardner Minshew. Colts get the Saints run defense in week 8 so hopefully we will be seeing a decent number of targets for Josh.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is eligible to return from IR this week although talks of him remaining out until week 10 is a definite possibility. We’ve seen what he can do in the past with his scrambling abilities and use of his strength. After Arizona takes on Baltimore and then Cleveland, the schedule gets a little more favorable for Kyler as he faces middle of the pack defenses defending QBs. Marquis Brown, Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson all should benefit more with Murray behind center.
Gardner Minshew – Indianapolis Colts
Minshew tore it up in fantasy in week 7 filling in for the rookie Anthony Richardson after his season ending injury. Minshew mania took Cleveland to the wire and ended up losing 39-38. Full disclosure, Minshew has turned the ball over quite a bit for a QB1 fantasy starter. If you get past those INTs and fumbles, it gets a lot better. Minshew has 300+ passing yards in back-to-back games and is coming off a 4 TD performance. 2 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs. Colts get the Saints next which isn’t great, but Saints rush defense is lethal so throwing more is ideal for Indi’s chances.
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson Jr – LA Rams
The Rams are without Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers since they both have been put on IR. Henderson got his first action of the year in their absence and ended up taking the majority of RB1 carries. Darrell rushed 18 times for 61 yards and a TD while Royce Freeman had 12 carries for 66 yards. It is tough to determine if that will be the case this week in Dallas with both Henderson and Freeman available, but also have to take in the presences of Myles Gaskin and Zach Evans. Henderson has history with the team and should be able to continue his role in week 8 as the top RB option out of a possible committee. Cowboys’ defense is solid for the most part, but after that they get a very soft Green Bay defense.
Ezekiel Elliot – New England Patriots
Elliot has 26 carries in his last 3 games while Rhamondre Stevenson has 27. That’s almost as even as you can get. Elliot has a 4 receptions game in week 5 but hasn’t been too active in the pass catching game. What makes Elliot appealing most here is he has a rushing TD in back-to-back games and has been known to be a goal line RB in his career in Dallas. Zeke can be a streaky scorer, but that would mean he needs opportunity and an offense that moves the ball. Patriots have scored 46 points in their last 2 games after scoring only 18 total points in the 3 games prior combined. The Patriots face the Dolphins followed by the Commanders and Colts. No awesome defensive teams in their future until they hit week 15 against the defending champion Chiefs.
Wide Receivers
Josh Downs – Indianapolis Colts
SEE TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Tank Dell – Houston Texans
Tank Dell should be able to return to the field this week to face the Panthers in their week 8 matchup after not playing in week 6 and having their BYE last weekend. Dell has proven what he can do, especially in weeks 2 and 3 when he combined for 12 receptions on 17 targets for 217 yards and scored once in each of those 2 games. CJ Stroud is 10th in the NFL in passing yards so potential for Dell is high along with Nico Collins and Robert Woods. Don’t sleep on Dalton Schultz who has scored in each of his last 3 games.
Josh Palmer – LA Chargers
Palmer has been playing very well since Mike Williams was lost for the season weeks ago. Since his subpar first 2 weeks of the season, Palmer has 60+ yards in every game with 7 targets minimum. Josh set a new career high for himself in receiving yards after going for 133 yards last game. Chargers should be able to roll over the Bears on SNF this weekend and Palmer should be a nice contributor once again.
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid – Buffalo Bills
Dalton had 8 targets in week 7 where the Bills lost to the Patriots. That’s the most he has had in an NFL game, and he caught all 8 looks. He led the entire Bills offense in receiving yards with 78 and receptions with 8. Only Stefon Diggs had more targets. Dalton missed week 6 against the Giants, but in all of his other 6 games, Kincaid has caught 80% of his targets each week. He’s actually caught 25 receptions on 27 targets this season. That reliability when targeted. Let’s get him in the endzone already.
Taysom Hill – New Orleans Saints
Taysom is the key in the offense that can do everything from passing to catching to rushing. Hill has mainly been rushing this season getting anywhere from 1 to 9 carries. Hill was Hill was targeted a total of 6 times through week 5 and then in the last 2 weeks he skyrocketed up to 13 targets with 11 receptions for 99 yards. The human Swiss army knife can get you points anytime he is involved on the field. Saints schedule isn’t exactly scary moving forward.