Here are my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire target, streaming option, or stash, the player must be available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues.
See If They're Available:
There are always a few players that don't technically make the cut here as a waiver wire option as they're available in under 60% of leagues, but these players should be on a roster. If they're not on a roster yet, they should be a higher priority than those listed as waiver wire targets below.
Christian Watson (WR - Green Bay Packers)
Watson returned from an ankle injury that forced him out of Week 4 and sidelined him in Week 5 this past week, showing up in a big way with 3 catches for 68 yards and a TD (15.8 points).
Perhaps as notable, Packers' top WR Dontayvion Wicks exited and did not return due to a shoulder injury. Even with Wicks healthy, Watson should be owned, but without him, Watson becomes a potential FLEX option. Make sure he's not floating on waivers.
Jaylen Warren (RB - Pittsburgh Steelers)
Warren also returned from injury in Week 6, seeing his first action since suffering his knee injury in Week 3, and while he wasn't fully up to his typical workload (in part due to Pittsburgh comfortably holding a lead with no incentive to push him), he still recorded 9 touches, including catching all 3 of his targets.
It's fairly unlikely we see the RB2 version of Warren that we had at points in the past, but Warren still does present a borderline-FLEX option with fringe-RB1 potential should Najee Harris go down. He's sitting just over a 40% roster percentage (42%) on Yahoo, so just double-check that he didn't sneak through because of his prior injury.
Tyrone Tracy (RB - New York Giants)
He exploded for 130 total yards on 19 touches in his first career start in Week 5, taking a step back to a more reasonable stat-line in Week 6, but even with that, he has shown enough to at least likely force some type of timeshare with Devin Singletary in New York upon his return from injury, if not push for the lead duties.
There's very little certainty what his workload may be once Singletary returns, but the upside is still there for him to be a potential RB2 down the stretch. He should be owned if not already rostered just in case it breaks in his favor.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
These are your players to target on waivers this week - these aren't typically supposed to be a one-week solution but rather a longer-term answer for your team.
Demario Douglas (WR - New England Patriots)
The last month has seen Douglas defintively emerge as the WR1 in New England, seeing three games where he hit 6+ catches, 9+ targets, and 12+ points in his last four games.
With that volume, the Patriots almost certainly playing from behind in nearly every game, and rookie QB Drake Maye now injecting some life into the offense as a whole, Douglas may be approaching FLEX territory at the very least in PPR leagues.
He should be the top priority this week given his volume.
Tyler Allgeier (RB - Atlanta Falcons)
Allgeier remains one of the few 'handcuff' RBs that has their own role in the offense beyond the backup duties, seeing 10+ touches in four of his last five games.
He had a monster 18-carry, 21-touch game of 108 total yards and a TD this past week, but that should be an extreme rarity for him that only comes as a result of having faced Carolina.
He's towards the top of this list because of his availability to be plugged into the FLEX spot in positive matchups while still serving as a handcuff to Bijan Robinson, but if possible, I'd try to add-and-trade Allgeier off of this massive game.
Isaac Guerendo (RB - San Francisco 49ers)
The injury bug continued in San Francisco this past week, hitting RB Jordan Mason with an AC Joint sprain. Mason would exit the game in the first half, return for one play after being taped up, but then was forced to exit again for the remainder of the game after not being able to play through the injury.
There's not much clarity on the timeline of the injury - it could be a multi-week issue for Mason or we could see Mason back this week. If it's the former, Guerendo won't serve much for fantasy, but if it's the latter, we could see him as an RB2 option each week that he serves as the lead back.
He was in a split with Patrick Taylor following the departure of Mason, but ended up with the lead in carries, including the game-sealing 76-yard run where he slid inside the Seahawks' 5-yard line instead of taking the TD.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR - Kansas City Chiefs)
The Chiefs were on their bye this week and that likely influenced many from picking up JuJu like they should've after his Week 5 performance of 7 catches for 130 yards, somehow remaining available in 69% of leagues on Yahoo.
We saw him get this type of volume pretty routinely in the opening three quarters of the 2023 season before the Rashee Rice breakout, tallying 5+ targets in 5 of 10 healthy games last year. He won't be Rashee Rice, but it's very likely he'll serve a substantial role volume-wise in the star WR's absence, especially as defenses return to scheming around Travis Kelce.
He projects as a WR3/borderline-FLEX option in PPR scoring and could push to be a weekly lineup option with another game or two of 5+ catches.
Romeo Doubs (WR - Green Bay Packers)
Similar to Christian Watson (see above), Doubs returned to the lineup this past week with a notable performance, posting 3 catches for 49 yards and 2 TDs. Now, this won't be a sustainable weekly performance from Doubs, but the injury to Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) does open up the potential for Doubs to see a larger role in this offense in the coming weeks.
I still have very little confidence in the Packers' WR corps from a fantasy perspective on a week-to-week basis due to how many mouths there are to feed, but Doubs has solidified himself over the past few seasons as a reliable redzone threat in Green Bay.
Worth an add as a depth WR on the bench with some upside.
Zach Ertz (TE - Washington Commanders)
There are very few TEs as consistent as Zach Ertz in PPR formats this season with the Commanders' TE having posted 6+ points in five of his first 6 games and 4+ targets in all but one of those games.
He's not going to win you your week, but at a position that has seen extreme inconsistencies that's not neccessarily somethign to go for this season.
Gabe Davis (WR - Jacksonville Jaguars)
It's far from an ideal offense to be investing in and even without substantial involvement and/or production in Evan Engram's absence, Gabe Davis likely warrants a stash on the bench after his 8-target game in Week 6 against the Bears where he registered 5 catches for 45 yards and 2 TDs.
Sean Tucker (RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Tucker had a 'coming out game' for the ages in Week 6, tallying 14 carries for 136 yards and a TD while adding another 56 yards and a TD on 3 catches (34.2 points).
Even despite being the "backup" to Bucky Irving's first career start, Tucker actually matched Irving's attempt total and exceeded him in touches and opportunities.
We don't know if this was a one-week absence for Rachaad White, allowing Tucker and Irving to step into expanded roles, but if this absence extends beyond just Week 6, Tucker could push to be a FLEX option, similar to what Irving was pre-White injury.
D'Ernest Johnson (RB - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Travis Etienne was forced out of the game in Week 6 mid-way through the 2nd quarter with a hamstring injury that has been reported as 'week-to-week' according to HC Doug Pederson, ceding the way to a combo of Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson to head the Jaguars' backfield.
Bigsby led the backfield through the 3rd quarter following Etienne's departure with 5 opportunities to Johnson's 2 with Johnson then exclusively getting all of the 4th quarter work with the Jaguars facing a 25-point deficit just 2 minutes into the final quarter.
It is TBD on the workload split between Bigsby and Johnson in a full game (especially one that doesn't feature a blow-out), especially considering Bigsby fumbled a kickoff to open the 4th quarter. One would anticipate Bigbsy is the lead back with Johnson serving as a change-of-pace/3rd-down/receiving back but anything is possible. Johnson's worth a stash in deeper leagues.
Emari Demercado (RB - Arizona Cardinals)
James Conner exited mid-way through the 3rd quarter, getting his ankle taped, and not returning, recording an abnormaly low 29% snap share.
Whether the absence fro the lineup later in the game was simply precautionary (due to the Cardinals being blown out) or if it is something to monitor remains to be seen, but Conner's lengthy injury history suggests that if this isn't one to keep him out of the lineup, there may be other opportunities this season for Demercado to step into the lead duties in relief of the typical starter.
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These aren't the same as waiver wire targets. Yes, you are still getting these players off waivers, but these are purely the best options for this week and this week only. Players can be a streaming option and a waiver wire target, which means they're a solid option to play this upcoming week and potentially beyond.
Quarterbacks:
Matthew Stafford (vs LV)
Andy Dalton (at WAS)
Deshaun Watson (vs CIN)
Runningbacks:
Ty Chandler (vs DET) - if Aaron Jones is inactive
Isaac Guerendo (vs KC) - if Jordan Mason is inactive
Tyler Allgeier (vs SEA)
Wide Receivers:
Demario Douglas (at JAX)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (at SF)
Xavier Legette (at WAS)
Tight Ends:
Zach Ertz (vs CAR)
Cade Otton (vs BAL)
Hunter Henry (at JAX)
Defense/Special Teams:
New Orleans Saints (vs DEN)
Washington Commanders (vs CAR)
Indianapolis Colts (vs MIA)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have greater potential to be a solid option and likely end up being a waiver wire target sometime down the line. You won't see immediate value but these are the guys that possibly could go under the radar and see a notable role shortly.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB - Kansas City Chiefs)
Expected to return this week after misisng the first five games due to mental concerns (PTSD). It's unclear if Kareem Hunt will continue to handle the workhorse role he has been seeing the past two games, but if he doesn't that opens the opportunity for CEH to play a massive role for fantasy.
Trey Benson (RB - Arizona Cardinals)
Emanuel Wilson (RB - Green Bay Packers)
Michael Wilson (WR - Arizona Cardinals)
Brandin Cooks (WR - Dallas Cowboys)
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