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Wide Receiver
Taylor Gabriel, Chicago (22% owned, Yahoo!). It’s crazy that we’re still talking about Gabriel as a waiver wire option. While the masses flocked to Allen Robinson, Gabriel leads the team in receptions (27) and receiving yards (303) and has scored twice. The guys listed below may have had shinier lines than Gabriel (5-110-0) in Week 6 but make no mistake, this is the guy you want on your squad. Gabriel’s target separation (2.17 yards) ranks seventh in the league and he hasn’t dropped a pass yet. He has massive upside for the second half of the season and already had his bye.
Albert Wilson, Miami (10% owned, Yahoo!). While he lacks consistency, Wilson (6-155-2) can exploit weak defenses and has repeatedly made big plays. Three of his four receiving touchdowns have gone for over 40 yards, with a long of 75 coming against Chicago. He has 188 yards after the catch, which is where he does most of his damage. But he’s failed to reach 10 PPR points in three games, doesn’t have a red zone reception, and heading into Week 6 was averaging only 16 air yards (0.7 per target). Also consider his best game came with backup Brock Osweiler under center. Temper expectations and keep in mind that Wilson has never had more than 554 yards receiving and three TDs in his previous four NFL seasons.
Tyrell Williams, Los Angeles Chargers (9% owned, Yahoo!). He’s another big play specialist whose Week 6 performance may well be a flash in the pan. Williams caught 3 of 4 targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland. The three receptions tie his season high, and he’s not seen more than five targets in any game while playing an average of 49.2% of snaps. But Phillip Rivers is playing lights out and the Chargers average the fifth-most points (29.2) per game. You could do worse than hitching your wagon to a high powered offense.
Running Back
Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay (33% owned, Yahoo!). After averaging under three yards per carry through four games and failing to score, Barber seemed likely to be benched for rookie Ronald Jones II. But he held onto the starting job coming out of the bye and put up big numbers against the Falcons (13 rush attempts for 82 yards, four receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown). Barber more than doubled his average yards per carry against a Falcons defense that gives up the third most fantasy points to opposing running backs. His four receptions were a season high as well, and that trend may continue with Jameis Winston under center. With a 63.6% opportunity share, his role appears safe and he plays on one of the most powerful offenses in football.
Marlon Mack, Indianapolis (26% owned, Yahoo!). Mack returned from a three-week absence (hamstring) and gave a shot in the arm to the Colts bottom-feeder run game. Indianapolis averages only 83.1 rushing yards per game, but Mack (12 rush attempts, 89 yards) showed why he’s the clear early-down option. Even after only playing in two games, he’s second on the team in rushing yards behind Jordan Wilkins and is averaging over five yards per carry. As evidenced by his 40-yard dash time and speed score, Mack is the most talented back on this team.
Ito Smith, Atlanta (9% owned, Yahoo!). Devonta Freeman is hurt (foot) and Tevin Coleman has been uninspiring in his absence. Enter Smith, who has 27 touches over his last three games and a rushing TD in each. Freeman has only appeared in two games this season and didn’t do much in either. Coleman is averaging under four yards per carry and has only 13 receptions. Smith may need a perfect storm to take over the backfield, but stranger things have happened. An increased opportunity share (28.6%) would help, but it’s hard to ignore his 12 red zone touches.
Tight End
C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati (33% owned, Yahoo!). Uzomah, listed as a Bank On for Week 6, hauled in six of seven targets for 54 yards. The seven targets mark a season high, and his snap share (67%) has risen steadily over the past four weeks. With Tyler Eifert on injured reserve (ankle) and Tyler Kroft banged up (foot), Uzomah should own the target share and snap count for the time being.
Quarterback
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago (29% owned, Yahoo!). After finishing as QB1 in Week 4 with over 40 fantasy points, it was fair to wonder how Trubisky would follow that up coming off a bye. Against Miami, he threw for 316 yards and three TDs while adding 47 rushing yards on eight attempts. It was the second straight game that he rushed for more than 45 yards, elevating his weekly floor. Trubisky’s performance was good for fourth among all fantasy QBs heading into Monday Night Football. He gets decent matchups for the next two weeks in the Patriots and the Jets.
Waive Goodbye
Wide Receiver
Taywan Taylor, Tennessee. He strung together solid showings in Weeks 2-4 but has fallen off the map since. Taylor has seven targets in his last two games and lost a fumble in Week 5. The Titans offense is terrible, and the 27 snaps Taylor is averaging per game are not sustainable for fantasy production.
Running Back
Derrick Henry, Tennessee. It might be painful to drop Henry, but there are plenty of better options available. You can argue about his talent until you’re blue in the face, but do you really want a guy on your fantasy team who hasn’t topped six PPR points or scored this season? He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry and his long run is 14 yards. Did I mention the Titans offense is terrible?
Quarterback
Josh Allen, Buffalo. Allen appears unlikely to become a viable fantasy asset this season. He got our hopes up with decent outings in Weeks 2-3 but hasn’t scored more than 10 fantasy points in a game since. Now he’s injured the elbow on his throwing arm, which forced him to leave Sunday’s loss in the third quarter.
Tight End
Niles Paul, Jacksonville. Add another victim to the fantasy wasteland of tight end. After losing Austin Sefarian-Jenkins to IR last week, the Jags are in dire straights after Paul injured his left leg. He was seen leaving the locker room on crutches.
