Things for the running backs seem to be settling in a bit. It’s been a very volatile season across the player group. Yes, there are injuries, but the offenses have shaken out and are showing more signs of consistency. For reference, this is usually how I feel in week 3 or week 4. It’s a weird season.
We’re also at that time of year where plenty of starters are dinged up and we’re beginning to see more unfamiliar names, like undrafted guys from 2021 breaking through and getting targets. I’ll be monitoring, but there aren’t any huge surprises in the waiver list below.
I added drop-candidates at the bottom of this post as well.
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Top Overall Players Available to most of you:
- Quarterback: C.J. Stroud
- Running Back: Chuba Hubbard, D’Onta Foreman, Kareem Hunt
- Wide Receiver: Joshua Palmer (for the 2nd or 3rd week in a row)
- Tight End: Dalton Schultz, Logan Thomas and Taysom Hill
- Defense: NY Jets
Should Be Gone (available between 15-30% of leagues):
Quarterbacks:
- Brock Purdy – he really should be rostered everywhere
- Jared Goff – don’t worry about that Baltimore game. He was do for a stinker. The Lions will bounce back.
- Geno Smith – even with DK out, Smith can still put up TD passes
Running Backs:
- Javonte Williams – he’s the primary ball handler in Denver and can catch passes too. He’s good enough to add.
- Jaylen Warren – the Steelers want him more involved, plus he found the end zone this week.
Wide Receivers:
- Courtland Sutton – Wilson looks for him on the goal line. I’d roster and flex him
- Diontae Johnson – he looked good in his first game back
- Michael Thomas – he should be rostered, though I’d prefer flexing other receivers
Tight Ends:
- NA.
Defense/Special Teams:
- Eagles – they were dropped a lot due to the matchup against the Dolphins, so they’re more obtainable than usual and they play Washington this week
- Browns – they had a bit of a fantasy football hangover after battling with San Fran in week 6. They’ll be back to their dominating selves next week.
Could Be Available (available between 31-50% of leagues):
Quarterbacks:
- C.J. Stroud – he was on bye and for some reason is only owned in about half the leagues out there. Snap him up.
- Russell Wilson – lots of negative press, but he’s still averaging a decent amount because he’s using his legs a bit more than he has in the past few seasons. Also, his receivers and backs are all talented.
- Matt Stafford – credit the Steelers with limiting Stafford’s production this past week.
Running Backs:
- Khalil Herbert – only grab him if you can spare the roster space or stash him on IR. He broke out, then found the IR. Foreman did a great job in his place and Roshcon Johnson will be around too. But if you have IR slots and he’s on waivers, stash him.
- AJ Dillon – he gets more carries than Jones despite Jones averaging more carries and being the better receiver. I don’t get it, but that’s the world we’re living in.
Wide Receivers:
- Joshua Palmer – he’s an immediate flex option at WR. You should grab him immediately
- Romeo Doubs – with Watson dinged up again, Doubs will score well even in a bad passing offense
Tight Ends:
- Dalton Schultz – he was my pick in this grouping last week as well. He approached the bye week on a hot streak and I think he can keep it going.
Defense/Special Teams:
- Pittsburgh Steelers – they’ve been through their bye and are primed to score well the rest of the way so long as Watt is healthy
- Kansas City Chiefs – they’re one of the top fantasy defenses out there and available for close to half of you
- NY Jets – Plenty of folks dropped the Jets on their bye week. They are readily available for about half of you as well.
Probably Available (available between 51% and 70% of leagues):
Quarterbacks:
- NA
Running Backs:
- Kareem Hunt – Ford was having a great game, then went down and Hunt had 2 TDs.
- Chuba Hubbard – coming off a bye week, I still think he’s the best RB in Carolina and could be in line for a higher workshare percentage
- D’Onta Foreman – you didn’t believe me last week, did you? 3 TDs later, I think he’s worth a stash this week.
- Tyjae Spears – rookie RBs usually get a few more touches after the bye week and Spears has rewarded Tennessee when he has gotten the ball.
Wide Receivers:
- Rashee Rice – he’s ascending. I’d grab him and hope he becomes the best WR for the Chiefs. Honestly, I think he already is (Kelce, being a TE, does not qualify)
- Curtis Samuel – he didn’t score a ton of points, but had a lot of targets vs the Giants. I still think he’s worth the spot
- Tank Dell – grab him!!
- Josh Downs – Minshew’s slinging it and Downs is catching passes. I like the rookie.
Tight Ends:
- Logan Thomas – tough week vs the Giants, but he’ll continue to get plenty of targets in this offense.
- Dalton Kincaid – he had a great target week vs the Patriots. I still don’t love the workshare there, but never ignore an ascending rookie.
- Jonnu Smith – he splits targets with Pitts, but he’s consistently involved. The Falcons aren’t a sexy team, but the passing game is improving.
Defense/Special Teams:
- Seattle Seahawks – they’re quietly climbing the ranks and have been through their bye week, so they’ll be a stable add for most players out there.
Sleeper Grabs (available in more than 70% of leagues):
Quarterbacks:
- Kyler Murray – It’s looking like a week 10 return. It’s time to stash Murray.
Running Backs:
- Devin Singletary – I’ll repeat what I said last week, he has a very real shot at taking the primary ball carrying job away from Dameon Pierce this week.
- Darrell Henderson – he’s spent a lot of years in this system and started games for the Rams last year. I think he’ll probably be here to stay for the Rams this year. Williams should still be the primary, but Henderson might have 3rd back usage later in the year too.
- Royce Freeman – he looked arguably better than Henderson (his numbers were better). This will continue to be a pretty even split for the Rams
- Emari Demarcado – he should score decently while we await the return of James Conner
- Jordan Mason/Eli Mitchell – let’s see what happens on MNF tonight
- Pierre Strong – Ford’s injury leads me to believe Strong will get more chances
Wide Receivers:
- Jameson Williams – no points, but 6 targets. The Lions are paying more attention to him. Better to grab him now before he officially breaks out.
- Rashid Shaheed – he’s a legit flex candidate each week
- Jayden Reed – if Watson misses a lot of time, Reed will get many more targets
Tight Ends
- Taysom Hill – he’s very quietly accumulating more targets than he has at any point in his career. He’s also the best power rusher on the team so far this season.
- Michael Mayer – he’s FINALLY out running consistent routes. Hoyer and O’Connell didn’t get him the ball, but he has progressed. To star the year he was mostly used as an inline blocker. Now he’s running option routes off the line of scrimmage. I think Jimmy G will use him ore when he’s back in action
Defense/Special Teams:
- Cincinnati Bengals – hopefully you can find a better target in one of the categories above, but I like the Bengals defense. They’ll be playing with more leads now that Burrow is healthy and they are through their bye.
Drop Recommendations
- Anyone expected to miss the season (assuming you aren’t in dynasty)
- Jordan Love
- Dak Prescott
- Sam Howell
- Jeff Wilson, Jr.
- Jamal Williams
- Antonio Gibson
- Samaje Perine
- Keontay Ingram
- Zach Evans
- Ronnie Rivers
- Elijah Moore
- Juju Smith-Schuster
- Josh Reynolds
Hi Sean,
Thanks for all the insightful information and for posting it on Monday so I have 2 days to process it.