The fantasy football playoffs loom large and gamers have minimal chances to add that missing piece for the home stretch. That amplifies the importance of working the waiver wire to determine pretenders from potential league-winners. From here on out this space will focus on one priority add by position, a player with high upside in a favorable situation to produce. Of this week’s priority adds, no player offers more than Saints wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith.
Say Hello to Tre’Quan Smith
Tre’Quan Smith put an exclamation point on becoming the Saints No. 2 receiver in his Week 5 breakout game (3-111-2). A popular waiver wire add, he quickly fell out of gamers’ good graces after three straight quiet games. Smith reminded the football world how talented he is by hanging a 10-157-1 line on Philadelphia. He led the Saints in targets, catches and receiving yards, and his 13 targets eclipsed his previous high of six. Smith ran a season-high 30 routes while playing 71-percent of the snaps.
New Orleans, playing lights out on offense, has topped 40 points in its past three games. The Saints, who scored 43 points against Atlanta in Week 3, face the Falcons and their leaky secondary in Week 12. They also have a plus matchup against Tampa Bay to open the fantasy playoffs in Week 14. Smith’s potential for another big game increases tenfold in those matchups.
Based on his advanced stats and metrics profile, Smith fits the part of an efficient, field-stretching deep threat. He runs a 4.49 40-yard dash and boasts speed and burst scores above the 80th-percentile, showcasing his big-play ability. His 11.2 yards per target rank No. 8. When Drew Brees targets Smith, he sports a 144.1 QB rating, which ranks No. 2 in the NFL.
Gus Edwards Gives Gamers Solid RB Option
Gus Edwards surged out of left field to take over the Ravens backfield in Week 11. He carried the ball 17 times for 115 yards and a TD, averaging an eye-popping 6.8 yards per carry. His efficiency made Alex Collins, who averages 3.6 YPC, look pedestrian in comparison. Collins saved his fantasy day with a score, but his seven carries for 18 yards leave much to be desired.
Edwards benefits from running alongside Lamar Jackson in the latest rendition of Baltimore’s offense. Jackson’s dynamic rushing ability, evidenced by his 27 carries for 117 yards, boosts Edwards’ potential. Teams must account for both he and Jackson out of the backfield, creating situations that Baltimore can exploit.
The downside for Edwards rests in Baltimore’s offensive line and competition from his backfield mates. The Ravens rank No. 21 in run-blocking, and as a team they average 3.54 YPC. Most of that falls on Collins, but his struggles underscore the sub-par blocking he gets. Edwards was one of four Baltimore backs to see action in Week 11, along with Collins, Ty Montgomery and Javorius Allen. There is no guarantee he gets a featured workload going forward.
Lamar Jackson Flashes Footwork, Shows Upside
In a complete 360, the Ravens went from a top-3 team in pass attempts (410) to a run-heavy attack as rookie Lamar Jackson unseated incumbent Joe Flacco. Jackson carried the ball a ridiculous 27 times for 117 yards and no TDs. He completed 13-of-19 passes for 151 yards, no TDs and one interception.
Jackson finished as QB13 in fantasy, giving gamers a glimpse of his high floor from running the ball. He wasn’t asked to throw the ball much, but his college resume shows he’s a capable passer. He recorded back-to-back seasons with more than 25 passing TDs and 3,000 passing yards. His college QBR (85.0) ranks in the 89th-percentile.
At 19, Jackson became the youngest player to win the Heisman award. The first-round pick out of Louisville has rushed 55 times for 256 yards (4.7 yards per carry) on the season. Despite his 22.2-percent snap share, Jackson ranks No. 6 in rushing among QBs. His 14 red zone carries rank No. 1.
Don’t let his lack of passing production in his first NFL start sway you from adding Jackson. His rushing prowess alone gives him a safe weekly floor, and with more time to develop chemistry with his receivers his passing stats will increase. He gets a great rest-of-season schedule: the Ravens next four games come against bottom-10 defenses.
