Any Given Sunday | RealTime Fantasy Sports

Waivering: Week 6

Tue Oct 12 8:40am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Booker will get some starts

For the second straight week, we were really hit hard by injuries. Several backs went down, making for a busy waiver wire once again. This is the part of fantasy that isn’t too fun. Staying healthy is as important as anything when it comes to your fantasy season. Hopefully, you aren’t getting it too hard about the email. Either way, good luck in navigating the waiver wire in Week 6. Below are some options to consider for your team.

QUARTERBACK

Jameis Winston, Saints. Winston had his second four-touchdown game of the season last week. And he attempted a season-high 30 passes. This might be a trend going forward, giving Winston a few more chances to air it out. This would certainly help his fantasy value. Winston is available in 47 percent of leagues.

Matt Ryan, Falcons. We know the Falcons aren’t the best team out there, but Ryan still keeps producing decent numbers for his fantasy owners. He has 20-plus fantasy points four straight games. He has attempted 35-plus passes in every game. He gets the work on a weekly basis and produces consistent numbers. Surprisingly, Ryan is available in 31 percent of leagues.

RUNNING BACK

Devontae Booker, Giants. Saquon Barkley suffered an ankle injury in Week 5 and is expected to miss two to four weeks of action. This leaves Booker as the likely starter for the Giants. The Giants aren’t very good and the line is a bit of a mess, but any starter in the NFL has fantasy value. Booker could have a few decent games as the starter. He has produced in the past.

Khalil Herbert, Bears. It was Herbert, not Damien Williams, that led the Bears in rushing last week with David Montgomery out of the lineup. Herbert ran well, rushing 18 times for 75 yards. Williams remains our favorite Bears back for now, but Herbert has some value. The only knock on him is he has yet to catch a pass this year, which hurts his floor. But he should get around double-digit touches per week while Montgomery sits.

Alex Collins, Seahawks. Chris Carson is dealing with a neck injury that could impact him the rest of the way. He might miss more games because of the injury. Collins is the next man up and worth owning in all formats. He has double-digit carries each of his last two games and 9-plus fantasy points each of those games. Collins is available in 39 percent of leagues.

Samaje Perine, Bengals. Perine split the work with Joe Mixon last week and actually outproduced him. Perine ran well, rushing 11 times for 59 yards. He also caught four passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. Perine could be a factor the next few weeks as Mixon gets healthy. Perine is on the COVID list right now, though, so that is something to watch. He might not be available to play this week. Perine has some potential when on the field, though, and is available in 54 percent of leagues.

Darrel Williams, Chiefs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a knee injury in Week 5 and could miss a lot of time. This leaves Williams as the likely next man up. Williams might split some work with other backs but as long as he starts, he has some value to fantasy teams. He is worth grabbing for fantasy teams, especially if you were a Edwards-Helaire owner.

RECEIVER

Kadarius Toney, Giants. With the Giants banged up at receiver, Toney is getting more chances and taking advantage. He had a career game last week, catching 10 passes for 189 yards. He has 16 receptions his last two games and should continue to rack up the chances going forward, especially with Kenny Golladay now hurting. Toney is available in 75 percent of leagues.

Chris Moore, Texans. Moore played his first game of the season last week and made the most of it, posting a huge game. He had five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. He might have played his way into a much bigger role going forward for the Texans. He could be worth a speculative add in deeper formats. He has always been a big-play threat capable of the big games

Marquez Callaway, Saints. Callaway had a lot of hype going into the season but a slow start got him in fantasy doghouses. He is starting to makeup for his slow start, though. He had his best game of the season last week, catching four passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Callaway has 70-plus yards each of his last two games. He could be a factor going forward, especially if the Saints start throwing the ball a little more. Callaway remains available in 55 percent of leagues.

Tim Patrick, Broncos. It remains a little surprising to see Patrick still available in 37 percent of leagues but that is the case. He has been very productive, getting a chance to start for the Broncos. Patrick has at least 12 fantasy points four of five games. He caught a season-high seven passes last week for 89 yards.

James Washington, Steelers. Washington missed the game last week because of a groin injury. But as soon as he is back with the Steelers, he could play a big role offensively with JuJu Smith-Schuster done for the season. Washington had four receptions for 69 yards on five targets in Week 4, a game that the Steelers were missing receiver Chase Claypool. Washington is capable of the big game in this offense.

TIGHT END

David Njoku, Browns. Njoku had a breakout game, getting his most work of the season with the Browns still banged up at receiver. He had seven receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown in Week 5. Njoku is hit or miss but has 75-plus yards two of five games. He has a high ceiling but also could disappear some weeks. This performance might find him on the field a little more consistently going forward, though.

Hunter Henry, Patriots. Henry has touchdowns two straight games and topped 50 yards for the first time all season in Week 5. Henry wad dropped by some owners early in the year because of a slow start. He is picking it up now, though, and could be a little more consistent going forward. Henry is available in 35 percent of leagues.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Player Notes

Allen Robinson May 9 10:40am ET

The New York Giants signed free-agent wide receiver Allen Robinson on Thursday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The move to acquire a cheap veteran makes sense considering the weak group of pass-catchers on New York's roster, but Robinson has looked like a shell of his former self over the last three seasons. After two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020, Robinson has totaled just 1,029 yards and four touchdowns over the last three campaigns. He tallied 280 yards and no touchdowns with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Although he could provide value as an experienced leader in the locker room, it'd be surprising if he made an impact in fantasy football. Rookie first-round pick Malik Nabers is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver for Daniel Jones right away, while Jalin Hyatt, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayon with compete for looks behind him.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Boyd May 9 10:35am ET

Dynasty | The Titans have signed wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Dynasty Analysis: Amazingly, Boyd has already spend eight years in the league (all with the Bengals). Over the span of his career, he's posted 513 catches for exactly 6,000 yards with 31 touchdowns. The Titans were steadfast in their approach to improve their offense and have now added Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Boyd to a new-look team. The move will certainly have fantasy implications, most notably pushing Treylon Burks down one more spot in the pecking order. Boyd remains a low-ceiling player to have on a dynasty roster but he could have real short-term value should an injury (or a suspension) occur with Hopkins or Ridley.

Rashaad Penny May 9 10:35am ET

Dynasty | The Carolina Panthers are signing running back Rashaad Penny. Dynasty Analysis: Penny is going to compete with rookie Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear for a roster spot this Summer as nothing here should be looked at as guaranteed. Penny has had his moments in the league, including a stretch in Seattle where he was the best fantasy football player in the world for about a month. Unfortunately, injuries have always held him back and he wasn't really even able to sniff the field last year in Philadelphia. Penny's value has dropped all the way down to "watch list," but he'd certainly be roster worthy should he make the team this Fall.

Allen Robinson May 9 9:33am ET

Free-agent WR Allen Robinson (Steelers) agreed to an undisclosed deal with the New York Giants Thursday, May 9.

From TheHuddle

Zay Jones May 9 1:33am ET

Free-agent WR Zay Jones (Jaguars) is scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, May 9, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

From TheHuddle

Sam Darnold May 8 11:30pm ET

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold could be named the team's Week 1 starter over first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, "It's only a matter of time before McCarthy becomes the Vikings' starting quarterback [...] but it is not likely to happen as quickly as some fans might hope, and if anything, the Vikings are poised to err on the side of methodical caution." Such a scenario could see Minnesota let Darnold, whom they signed this past offseason when Kirk Cousins left for Atlanta, start a few games before transitioning to McCarthy. Darnold has struggled to support major fantasy production from his playmakers at previous stops, including the Jets and Panthers, so fantasy managers might want to temper expectations with players like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to start the year. Darnold himself falls to the low-end QB3 tier in fantasy football drafts.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave May 8 11:20pm ET

Green Bay Packers tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft can elevate the offense to the next level, according to tight ends coach John Dunn. "I think in terms of the creativity, it's limitless," Dunn told the media on Wednesday. Musgrave and Kraft were both members of the 2023 draft class and impressed in their own roles throughout last season. Musgrave was the Packers' top tight end for their first 10 games before a lacerated kidney caused him to miss six weeks. With Musgrave sidelined, Kraft emerged as one of Jordan Love's favorite targets, averaging four catches and 47 yards per game. When Musgrave returned in Week 18, he caught one pass for 11 yards while Kraft tallied three receptions for 31 yards. Long story short, Green Bay feels confident that it has two talented, young, impactful playmakers at the tight end position and is prepared to utilize them both in creative ways throughout the 2024 season. Until we get more clarity on their respective roles, they both rank as fringe top-24 options at the tight end position in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs May 8 11:10pm ET

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs believes he has a chip on his shoulder, according to running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "I think he's coming in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder because we all have something to prove," Sirmans told the media on Wednesday. "I think he wants to prove we made the right decision in investing in him." Jacobs doesn't necessarily have a whole lot more to prove after tallying 3,154 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, his signing with Green Bay did surprise many NFL fans, so perhaps he feels a little extra motivation to silence the critics and make sure he lives up to every penny of his four-year, $48 million deal. The Packers parted ways with fellow veteran Aaron Jones this offseason and (barring any unforeseen additions) will enter 2024 with a backfield headlined by Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Given his track record as an every-down back in Vegas, Jacobs easily has the most fantasy appeal of the bunch, ranking as a low-end RB1 heading into drafts.

From RotoBaller

Zay Jones May 8 11:00pm ET

Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones will visit with the Kansas City Chiefs next, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jones, who was cut loose by the Jacksonville Jaguars recently, has already visited with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. All of those teams have varying levels of need for a new wide receiver, but Kansas City could be the most appealing for Jones given that they are competitive year in and year out, offer the opportunity to catch passes from an elite quarterback, and currently have a significant void near the top of their depth chart. It's no secret that second-year receiver Rashee Rice could be facing a lengthy suspension for a pair of off-the-field issues this offseason. Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy would benefit from playing alongside someone like Jones, especially if Rice does end up missing time. Such a dynamic would give Brown, Worthy, and Jones plenty of opportunities to carve out meaningful volume, though Brown would likely have first dibs on the No. 1 receiver role. Therefore, any free-agent deal for Jones would likely keep him off the fantasy radar in a typical 12-team league, at least for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Curtis Samuel May 8 9:33pm ET

Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel could be used out of the backfield this season by offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who utilized Samuel as a runner while the two were with the Carolina Panthers.

Fantasy Spin: Samuel saw a career-high 41 carries and ran for 200 yards in 2020 with Brady running the offense in Carolina. Samuel should already have a chance to carve out a solid role in the passing game thanks to Buffalo's overhauled receiving corps, and a few carries a game would only boost his value. He has upside as a flex option.

From TheHuddle

Nyheim Hines May 8 9:23pm ET

Cleveland Browns RB Nyheim Hines (knee) said he should be 'good to go' for the start of training camp.

From TheHuddle

Nyheim Hines May 8 8:50pm ET

Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) said that he expects to be ready to go for training camp in late July despite having surgery to fix a torn left ACL last August. As long as Hines doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, he will be in the mix for snaps on third downs, especially with Nick Chubb coming off a devastating knee injury of his own last year. The 27-year-old Hines will have a low floor and ceiling, though, in PPR fantasy leagues with Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman also competing for backfield touches in Cleveland. The former fourth-round selection by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has a total of 240 receptions (309 targets) for 1,778 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his five NFL campaigns. Hines hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton May 8 6:23pm ET

Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton is not participating in the voluntary workouts this offseason.

Fantasy Spin: The Broncos have said they will not be trading Sutton, so he will be the main receiver for the team in 2024. He should see a good amount of targets each game and can be a No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Christian Watson May 8 4:40pm ET

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) has looked like a star at times through the first two seasons of his NFL career, but lingering hamstring issues caused the former second-round pick to miss eight games in 2023. The organization is focused on how to prevent flare-ups moving forward, and passing game coordinator Jason Vrable said Watson is "in a great place now" with his hamstring. The 24-year-old has plenty of big-play ability and has racked up 1,033 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns through his first 23 games, but he's become tough to trust in fantasy football due to his availability concerns. Hopefully, he really has turned a corner, because he could have at least WR2 upside catching passes from breakout quarterback Jordan Love. Green Bay is sure to be more careful in managing his reps in hopes of keeping him on the field.

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Kellen Mond May 8 4:40pm ET

The New Orleans Saints waived quarterback Kellen Mond on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Field Yates. He will now go through the waiver process, and it would not be a surprise if he goes unclaimed. The 2021 third-round pick enjoyed a strong college career at Texas A&M, racking up 9,661 passing yards, 93 total touchdowns, and just 27 interceptions in 46 games played. He has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints, but he's thrown just three regular-season passes in his young career. Teams in need of extra quarterbacks for training camp might be interested in the 24-year-old signal-caller, but he's unlikely to ever earn a starting job and could have a tough time making a 53-man roster.

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Zay Jones May 8 4:30pm ET

Free-agent wide receiver Zay Jones is on a visit with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The eight-year NFL veteran was recently let go by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the team added Gabe Davis as a free agent and Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jones has caught just 287 passes for 3,028 yards and 18 touchdowns through his first 104 NFL games with the Bills, Raiders, and Jaguars, but his 2022 season performance (823 receiving yards) showed he can be a key contributor to an offense. CeeDee Lamb is the clear No. 1 target in Dallas, but Brandin Cooks looks to be slowing down, and Jalen Tolbert has under 300 receiving yards through his first two NFL seasons. If Jones lands in Dallas, he could become the No. 2 option for Dak Prescott, which would raise his fantasy value and ceiling in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson May 8 3:33pm ET

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson said he currently weighs 205 pounds after playing the 2023 season at 215 pounds.

Fantasy Spin: Jackson is still one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy and will be a No. 1 quarterback in fantasy leagues this upcoming season.

From TheHuddle

Malachi Corley May 8 3:00pm ET

According to a source, the New York Jets had been monitoring rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley as high as pick No. 40 for a potential trade in this year's draft. They ended up selecting him in the third round after trading up to pick No. 65, and general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh were both elated. A veteran scout described Corley as "rugged." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been excited to work with Corley since watching tape on him last month. The 22-year-old had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons at Western Kentucky and will give the Jets some solid depth at the position behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in 2024 and beyond. Corley could play right away in the slot for the Jets, but it remains to be seen how his after-the-catch prowess will translate to the NFL.

From RotoBaller

Martavis Bryant May 8 3:00pm ET

The Dallas Cowboys notified wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday that they are moving in a different direction and will release him, according to a person familiar with the situation. Dallas gave Bryant a chance to jump start his NFL career, but he will now need to seek employment elsewhere. The move to release him results in no dead money against the team's 2024 salary cap. The 32-year-old veteran hasn't played in the NFL since 2018 with the Raiders. He could latch on with another team now that he's available on the open market, but Bryant will be a long shot to carve out a substantial role again in his career. The former fourth-rounder in 2014 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Clemson caught 145 passes for 2,183 yards and 17 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons.

From RotoBaller

Justin Shorter May 8 2:30pm ET

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Justin Shorter is expected to compete for a depth role in training camp this summer behind wideouts Khalil Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman and veteran Curtis Samuel. Shorter, who was taken in the fifth round last year out of Florida, didn't play at all in his first season in the NFL due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old stands at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds and will be competing with the likes of Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella and Quintez Cephus for the No. 4 role in Buffalo. Shorter will most likely have to contribute on special teams to make that happen, but there's no denying that there is plenty of opportunity in Buffalo's receiver room in 2024 now that both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are out of town.

From RotoBaller