Scouring the waiver wire can be a winning strategy, but it’s far from foolproof.
If you were among the many (like me) who hopped on the Kirk Cousins bandwagon after his stellar Week 3 performance, you were treated to one-touchdown, four-interception clunker in Week 4. The same can be said for Donald Brown, who laid an egg against the worst rushing defense in the NFL on Sunday.
Luckily for you, the season is young, and there are plenty of talented players still flying under the radar on the waiver wire. With another slate of bye weeks coming up, chances are you’re in the market for a starter somewhere on your roster.
Ask, and you shall receive. Here are the top players to target at each position, as well as a list of other players to keep your eye on as the week progresses.
Quarterback: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
Call us crazy, but we like Bortles in his first NFL start at home. The Jags take on a Pittsburgh Steelers team that just gave up 300 yards and two touchdowns to Mike Glennon, and even if this game isn’t close, Bortles should throw a ton. It’s as good a week as any to roll the dice on the rookie.
Other quarterbacks to watch: Eli Manning, Teddy Bridgewater, Mike Glennon, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger
Running Back: Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings
Matt Asiata got the goal line carries Sunday, but it’s clear who the most talented back in Minnesota is. McKinnon exploded for 135 yards on just 18 carries against the Atlanta Falcons and had a touchdown called back by a penalty. He seems poised to be the new guy, and the Vikes take on a less-than-stellar Green Bay Packers run defense on Thursday night.
Other running backs to watch: Darrin Reaves, Justin Forsett, Andre Williams, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Branden Oliver
Wide Receiver: Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns
Hawkins was a PPR beast in his first three games, racking up 21 catches on a team-high 32 targets, and is still available in many leagues after Cleveland’s Week 4 bye. Hawkins won’t rack up the touchdowns, but he’s almost like a poor man’s Julian Edelman in that you can usually depend on him for lots of catches and a decent amount of yards.
Other wide receivers to watch: Brian Quick, Eddie Royal, Jordan Matthews, Louis Murphy, Devin Hester
Tight End: Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jaguars’ defense is a gift that keeps on giving. Jacksonville gave up 14 or more fantasy points to tight ends in each of the first three weeks, and Miller was targeted 11 times by Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday. If Miller is still available after his big game, make sure you grab him.
Other tight ends to watch: Dwayne Allen, Eric Ebron, Jace Amaro, Owen Daniels, Coby Fleener
