A couple quick resources as you journey into two days of claims and bids:
Are we throwing a bag at Demercado? — Justin M.
This is regarding Emari Demercado of the Cardinals. He should be the primary back for as long as James Conner is out. The estimate now is that Conner is week to week. We hope for more clarity by the time we have to bid, but Arizona signed Tony Jones on Monday so it seems that’s an indicator that Conner is out indefinitely. That also muddies Demarcado’s role to the point I think caution is warranted. He’s a 24-year-old rookie. He looked okay but was heavily involved and the Cardinals only dressed two backs, so the floor is high. He had a practice squad grade in the draft season. I’d only bid between 20-30%. I’m generally aggressive but this doesn’t seem likely to be a season-long role.
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For RB waiver wire pickup, would you prioritize Roschon Johnson or Emari Demercado in a PPR format? — Joe G.
Johnson is interesting. There’s probably about a 50% chance he won’t be able to go in Week 6 due to a concussion last Thursday. But he has 10 days, so it’s possible he’ll be fine. Remember, concussions are binary. You’re either 100% or out. It seems like Khalil Herbert is out weeks, too. Given the uncertain status of Johnson, with a lean toward playing, in my opinion, I think you can get him for 10-to-20%. I’d put him on the same block with Demacardo. If you want to go 30% and 30% here, I can live with it. But, again, both are probably only options through October.
Drop Miles Sanders for Jaleel McLaughlin or Jeff Wilson Jr.? — Alexander K.
Don’t drop Sanders. He’s a No. 1 RB on a team that has had trouble scoring but that will probably see positive regression. We don’t know how long McLaughlin is going to have a defined role given that Javonte Williams reportedly had a chance to play in Week 5. I thought you needed to add McLaughlin aggressively last week. He’s rostered in the majority of leagues. If he’s available now, I’d be more cautious because it seems Williams has taken a turn for the better. Samaje Perine also got twice as many snaps. The Broncos may be in tear-down mode, which could include Williams. So I would not drop McLaughlin. Wilson is the more widely available player and a good pickup given that De’Von Achane is a candidate for injured reserve with a knee injury. Raheem Mostert is also undersized and thus more susceptible to injury. There will be a lot of touches for Wilson in the foreseeable future, I believe. (Though of course, Wilson is also a huge injury risk himself.) This is great speculation. Also note that Wilson may not be activated for a couple of weeks since his roster window off IR just opened and that could be three weeks max (though the Achane injury likely moves that up).
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Had a solid week from Jonnu Smith but some tough matchups are coming up. Should I roll with Jonnu or target Logan Thomas or Dalton Schultz off waivers? — Justin M.
Why is Jonnu getting anything? Arthur Smith is just the worst. Jonnu is averaging 7 targets a game the past four weeks. That’s just insane usage. A bet on Jonnu Smith is a bet on Arthur Smith continuing to annoy the entire fantasy market, which seems like a great bet! I’m not ever betting on the second tight end in a two-tight-end offense, however. Not over a No. 1 like Thomas or Schultz. I like Shultz more because the passing game in Houston is averaging about 300 yards a game and C.J. Stroud may be great.
Are there any rookies or young wide receivers who might be good second half of the season additions? I’m looking for guys who might not have made a splash yet. I’m fairly set in my receiver room but I play in a keeper league and want to have options for 2024. — Daniel B.
After about Week 10, there are no rookies. So I think this is decent speculation if the price is basically free. What highly drafted rookie who may be cut — or is soon to be cut — will find himself in a primary role come December? I’m looking at some consistent involvement now, a weak No. 1 WR and solid draft pedigree (where he was drafted). That guy for me is Jonathan Mingo. The 39th overall pick has averaged seven targets in each of the past three games. I don’t believe in Adam Thielen. I think there’s some chance, maybe 20%, that Mingo becomes a Top 30 WR by December.
In a 10-team, PPR league, with two starting RB spots, should I drop Najee Harris (my current RB2) for Jaleel McLaughlin/Justice Hill — I already have Travis Etienne as my RB1?
Harris is still getting the most opportunities. You can’t cut him. I don’t mind picking up McLaughlin but can’t you drop someone else? Justice Hill isn’t good and had a horrible fumble. I still think Keaton Mitchell gets a chance to help this beleaguered Ravens offense and poor running game. He’s the guy I’d add before Hill. I get that Harris is a draft bust and I hated him all draft season. But it goes against my principles to cut a back who is getting the most snaps. Anything is possible with touches and nothing is possible without them.
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Best Week 6 Defense/Special Teams streaming options? — Vincent C.
You always want to stream the opposing offenses. I’d target the offenses that have given up the most sacks, since that correlates best with defensive scoring. That would mean the Falcons at home against the Commanders. I’d also think about the Vikings against the Bears, though that’s way behind the Falcons. Even with their defensive injuries, the Bills against the Giants are a great streaming option, but I’m figuring the Bills are not available for you. I’d put the Bills behind the Falcons though.
Antonio Gibson has made some terrible bone-headed plays all year but has done some stuff in the passing game. Is he a zeroRB stash still? Like, if Brian Robinson goes down, do you think he steps into a three-down role? — Jim B.
He’s always in the doghouse. But probably. I am not comfortable playing Gibson as a standalone player like I would be comfortable playing Tyjae Spears, for example. So Robinson needs an injury to be playable at all. I get that wasn’t the case last week but, going forward, I expect it will be. To me, in most formats, Gibson is a drop.
Been riding the Anthony Richardson roller coaster with Russell Wilson as my backup. Is Russ a case of bad at real football, good at fantasy? Is his floor high enough that he’s viable to get me through or should I make Sam Howell or Jared Goff a waiver priority? Alternatively, is Richardson’s inability to stay on the field cause of enough for concern that I should give up an asset to try and get a Tua Tagovailoa or Trevor Lawrence? Or a sell-low flier on Dak Prescott? — George S.
Sam Howell isn’t going to last given his pace to be sacked exactly 11,543 times this year. You can’t trade for Tua given the cost and it’s crazy that he’d be the answer to issues involving QB injuries, like he’s a rock. Richardson is likely out weeks. Confirm that first. I like Goff’s floor way more than Howell’s. I absolutely despise trading for QBs. I’d pick up Goff for nothing before I explore trades. Pick up Howell, too. Or just pick up Gardner Minshew and wait for Richardson to come back (if he’s not hurt too badly).
Is it time to sell high on De’Von Achane or Zack Moss? — Nick O.
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It’s definitely time to sell Moss, but who’s buying? Nobody. So he’s sort of a forced hold. You can maybe get something like a QB from the Jonathan Taylor manager, but why make the Taylor manager so happy/secure? As for De’Von Achane, he’s got the knee issue. The sell-high window is closed for now.
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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