Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 5: Jerick McKinnon and Branden Oliver Highlight a Week of Deep Options

The fantasy football waiver wire is deep this week, with plenty of matchup plays and long-term speculative moves. Last week was the last week, as I noted in the tight end section, to buy on Larry Donnell, Travis Kelce, and Dwayne Allen. After the three touchdown game for Donnell and Kelce’s breakout performance against the Patriots, both in primetime, those opportunities have sailed.

But this is a good week for shopping and weeding out your roster with some moves as we continue into the bye week. At running back, Jerick McKinnon (22% owned) looks like a decent option going forward. Matt Asiata got the touchdowns at the goal line last week, but McKinnon finally worked into the rotation and got 18 carries and went over 100 yards. He’s questionable with an ankle injury and the Vikings play on Thursday, but with Bridgewater’s emergence to give the offense a jolt, combined with Asiata being as workmanlike as they come, McKinnon should get more opportunities. I wouldn’t let his status on the injury report deter a pickup with a longer term view that he may be the Minnesota back to own in a few weeks.

McKinnon leads a host of names at running back who will likely get a chance as the season goes on, due to injuries or ineffectiveness in front of them.

Let’s get to all the possibilities–if you can’t find one within your budget or league structure, then you play in the deepest, most connected league in the country.

QUARTERBACKS

Last week, Eli Manning (66%) was put forth as the matchup start in shallower leagues. That paid off handsomely, and the Giants go against the Falcons’ suspect defense this week and again could be an option if you, say, are stuck watching Tom Brady play.

Shallow: The other shallow league matchup play is Carson Palmer (67%) going against the Denver Broncos in a game where the Cardinals, despite a top defense, will likely have to pass to have a chance.

Average: Blake Bortles (34%) and Teddy Bridgewater (29%) were both highlighted here last week, both were in the top 15 in my weekly starter rankings, and will likely be weekly top 20 selections going forward, depending on matchup.

Deep: The good news, if you are in a deep league or a “start 2” league, is that there are options this week. Sean Glennon (11%) draws the Saints, who have been suspect all year. The riskier play is to wait and see who is declared the starter for St. Louis, between Shaun Hill (5%) and Austin Davis (3%) because Philadelphia’s defensive secondary is a play against at this point.

RUNNING BACKS

Shallow: The Baltimore running situation–such a disaster a year ago–has produced great team numbers every week. It’s just been one of those situations where knowing who to go with is difficult. Bernard Pierce did not get a touch despite being active, and Justin Forsett (63%, 17 touches) and Lorenzo Taliaferro (61%, 15 touches) split and both got a touchdown. Both will be flex, top 30 starts again this week.

Your matchup based flex start in a shallow league is LeGarrette Blount against the Jags. Teams playing against Jacksonville have often had the lead, resulting in more carries, and more opportunities for the 2nd back on the team. LeVeon Bell will be the top projection, but he will need rest. The other 2nd RBs who have played against Jacksonville have averaged 66 yards from scrimmage and scored 3 touchdowns in 4 games.

Average: Andre Williams (40%) finally got a decent amount of touches and yards last game. I think part of that was the short week and the fact that Rashad Jennings had 31 carries the previous Sunday. Still, the matchup is against Atlanta, who are allowing the most fantasy points to backs (McKinnon and Asiata being the latest). If Williams gets 30% of the touches, he is a flex start.

Deep: Lots of speculative options here. The Panthers’ backfield situation has quickly deteriorated, and it could very well be Darrin Reaves (0%) who is Mr. Right Now. Branden Oliver (8%) was highlighted here last week and got nearly as many touches as the (so far) ineffective Donald Brown in San Diego.

At what point does Antone Smith (5%) start getting more touches in Atlanta? So far, all he does is get a handful of plays a game– and score a touchdown. He did it again on Sunday. Ordinarily I would like to see better usage rates, but this could be a stash and play if he emerges to start getting 10-15 touches going forward.

Denard Robinson (7%) got almost the same number of touches as Toby Gerhart this week. Gerhart did have an early fumble, but a situation to monitor.

WIDE RECEIVERS

How is Brian Quick (54%) still out there in nearly half the leagues? Regardless of who the quarterback is, this is a great long term pickup and immediate matchup play against the Eagles secondary.

Shallow: Other matchup plays among guys possibly available include Markus Wheaton (58%) and Rueben Randle (65%) going against Jacksonville and Atlanta, respectively.

Average: Prediction, Eddie Royal (30%) who was highlighted here last week, will not be eligible by next week. Put a bid in. Don’t forget about Mohamed Sanu (46%) coming off a bye, and Allen Robinson (46%) is a decent gamble now that Bortles is starting.

Deep: Jarius Wright (1%) had more targets than Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson combined in Bridgewater’s first start, and was used in a variety of roles. Will that continue? Probably not, but he could still be an option going forward, and is on the same page as the rookie in the short term.

Robert Woods (8%) is a decent longshot option in Buffalo now that Kyle Orton has been named the starter. Woods was targeted 29 times, nearly as often as Sammy Watkins, by Manuel but the outgoing starter could only hit him 11 times. Worth a chance that he thrives with a quarterback who anticipates and is more accurate.

Brandon LaFell (8%) appears to have emerged as the favorite of the coaches on the outside in New England, and made a few plays to further that role on Monday. Not a fan of the matchup this week, though.

Short term gamble? Louis Murphy (1%) will get to play against the Saints defense and be a sleeper play if Mike Evans is out.

TIGHT ENDS

So long to Travis Kelce, Larry Donnell, and Dwayne Allen, and on to new sleeper options at tight end. The good news? Some good one week matchup plays.

Shallow: Owen Daniels (59%) gets to go against a Colts team that has been vulnerable against tight ends. Keep an eye on Jordan Reed’s status (61%) as well, because he could be back in the lineup on Monday night (and we’ve seen Seattle struggle relatively this year with tight ends).

Average: Eric Ebron (31%) got a touchdown last week, and touchdown vulture Joseph Fauria is out with an injury.

Deep: The one area the Cowboys have been vulnerable is against tight ends, so Garrett Graham (15%) is a deep sleeper. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins (6%) could see an uptick in looks with Mike Evans out. Also, Clay Harbor (0%) had 8 catches in Bortles’ first start.

OVERALL

Brian Quick
Jerick McKinnon
Lorenzo Taliaferro
Justin Forsett
Eddie Royal
Jarius Wright
Robert Woods
Branden Oliver
Darrin Reaves
Rueben Randle