Say Hello
Running Back
Jalen Richard (25-percent owned, Yahoo!) and Doug Martin (26% owned, Yahoo!), Oakland. Marshawn Lynch (groin) landed on injured reserve, leaving Oakland’s backfield duties to Richard and Martin. Richard displays solid receiving skills and has been heavily featured in the pass attack (37 targets). But his diminutive size means he’s not built to be a feature back as evidenced by his 2.9 True Yards Per Carry . Martin figures to take early-down work with Richard mixing in on carries and seeing the bulk of targets out of the backfield. In PPR formats prioritize adding Richard, whose +24.6 Premium Production ranks in the top-10. Martin’s workload this season includes 27 carries for 99 yards (3.7 YPC), and four receptions for five yards.
Raheem Mostert (14-percent owned, Yahoo!), San Francisco. He’s had two solid games in a row and is pushing Alfred Morris (3.7 YPC average) out of the picture. The speedy rookie runs a 4.42 40-yard dash and has 165 total yards in his past two games. With Matt Brieda (ankle) banged up Mostert’s opportunity share will continue to grow. Should Breida miss time, Mostert takes over lead back duties. He gets a plus matchup this week against Arizona’s porous run defense, which gives up the most fantasy points to opposing backs.
Wide Receiver
Michael Gallup (6-percent owned, Yahoo!), Dallas. Gallup caught his first TD in Week 7 while playing 85-percent of the snaps, and his 81 receiving yards were a season high. He gets a boost with Dallas trading for Amari Cooper, as defenses will have to gameplan for both of these talented receivers. Stash Gallup, on a bye this week, for a high upside play down the road.
Tre-Quan Smith (18-percent owned, Yahoo!), New Orleans. His snap share has increased every week this season, and in Week 7 it rose to 72.5-percent. Smith was targeted six times – once in the red zone. Meanwhile, Cameron Meredith didn’t see a single target. With Ted Ginn Jr. (knee) on IR, Smith leap-frogged Meredith into the Saints No. 2 receiving role. New Orleans ranks No. 2 in scoring with 34 points per game, so opportunity will turn into fantasy points for Smith.
Jakeem Grant (7-percent owned, Yahoo!), Miami. He has two big games this season and three TDs under his belt. With Kenny Stills (groin) and Albert Wilson (hip) out, Miami needs Grant to step up. He’ll need to find some chemistry with Brock Osweiler until Ryan Tannehill can return, and will compete for targets with DeVante Parker and Danny Amendola. But Grant’s speed and ability to generate yards after the catch (he averages 4.1 YAC per target) give him fantasy upside.
Quarterback
Case Keenum (20-percent owned, Yahoo!), Denver. It’s been a disappointing season so far for Keenum. But he’s got a great chance to build off a Week 7 win and turn things around in Week 8. He’ll face a Chiefs defense that allows opposing quarterbacks to score an average of 21.5 fantasy points per game. Keenum has shown he can produce, scoring more than 24 fantasy points in three games this season.
Tight End
Chris Herndon (1-percent owned, Yahoo!), New York Jets. With TDs in each of his past two games, Herndon is firmly on QB Sam Darnold’s radar. His seven targets in Week 7 were a season high and he saw two red zone targets despite only playing 25.8-percent of the snaps. He’ll need an increase in snaps and routes to stay fantasy relevant but is worth an add at a position decimated by injury.
Waive Goodbye
Running Back
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis. Marlon Mack staked his claim to this backfield upon his return from injury, leaving Hines to pick up the scraps. Hines was feasting on targets but saw only two in Week 7.
Wide Receiver
Josh Doctson, Washington. He hasn’t topped more than seven PPR points or seen more than seven targets in a game this season. Doctson’s TD count equals yours and mine.
Quarterback
Derek Carr, Oakland. The Raiders purged two of their best players to rebuild the roster to Jon Gruden’s liking. Amari Cooper was the latest casualty, acquired on Monday by the Dallas Cowboys. Outside of Martavis Bryant, that leaves an aging Jordy Nelson and perennial underachiever Seth Roberts to catch passes from Carr. He’ll need to get the deep ball working effectively to properly utilize Bryant.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee. Over the past five games he’s caught five passes for 32 yards. Smith is proof that the fantasy community can’t will players into becoming fantasy relevant. He’s also on bye this week.
