Dynasty Waiver Wire
This past week I was thinking about the difference between redraft and dynasty analysts. Redraft folks get to reset the clock every year, have a bigger pool of players to pick from weekly and can often afford to make the bigger mistakes. Dynasty analysts are like architects. They are responsible for designing where every brick goes and have much less room for error. Dynasty folks are looking at the big picture of a prospect and not just the flavor of the week. With all these things in mind, everyone should take a step back and look at what their longterm plan is for their team this season and beyond. Are you a contending team willing to shop rookie draft picks and younger non-producing players? Are you a building roster looking to acquire those rookie draft picks, take risk on unproductive players, injured players and risky young assets? Above all, knowing where you stand is the number one question every dynasty manager has to step back and answer.
Quick Links
- Advanced Metrics
- Advanced Efficiency Metrics
- Red Zone Data
- Third Down Stats
- NFL Snap Counts
- Points Allowed
Wavier Wire Tip: Now is not the time to be frugal with your waiver wire dollars. Be aggressive and don’t let talent slip through your fingers.
BYE Weeks: COWBOYS, RAVENS
Quarterback
- Ryan Tannehill
- Matt Moore
- Matt Schaub
The Titans offense isn’t great, but they were finally somewhat unlocked with Ryan Tannehill starting. The skill players were given opportunities to make plays in the open field and the defense had to respect the deep ball. Looking ahead to Week 8, the Titans are playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have given up the sixth-most pass yards in 2019. Tannehill is not only a premium addition but is also a quality streaming option for the week.
Losing Patrick Mahomes is devastating for the Kansas City Chiefs. The upside is for our fantasy rosters. Moore is a serviceable quarterback with a 60% career completion percentage who can come in and run the offense. We even had the opportunity to see Tyreek Hill still be productive with Moore stepping in.
Matt Ryan left his Week 7 matchup with an ankle injury. At this point, there is no timetable for return. Schaub becomes a priority add due to the quality skill weapons at Schaub’s disposal and experience in the offense. Schaub last started during the NFL regular season in 2015. In Schaub’s two starts in 2015, he posted three touchdowns to four interceptions for the Baltimore Ravens.
Running Back
- Ty Johnson – J.D. McKissic
- Brian Hill
- Wendell Smallwood
There just isn’t much depth available in the Lions backfield with C.J. Anderson out of town and Kerryon Johnson dealing with a knee injury. Ty Johnson could see extended run as the starter and might be the top waiver-wire addition in all fantasy football this week. Johnson is not the type of player you should be slow playing. If you have a significant amount of your waiver dollars left I would be aggressive going after Johnson. The “next man up” running back for the Lions is not McKissic. Due to his diminutive size, I am expecting another body to be brought in this week as insurance.
Ito Smith exited Week 7 with a concussion and has already been ruled out for Week 8. If this wasn’t confusing enough, Devonta Freeman has been unreliable week to week. Hill would be injected into a Matt Schaub lead offense with a limited upside.
In a rainy game against the San Francisco 49ers, Smallwood looked good with the ball in his hands. While he only had six total opportunities, the Redskins are planning the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 and will need to be creative getting the ball in space. Smallwood will ultimately still have Adrian Peterson to deal with, but in a game where the Redskins will likely be down quickly, there could be a lot of work for Smallwood.
Wide Receiver
- Kenny Stills
- Olabisi Johnson
- Jake Kumerow
It seems like Kenny Stills and Will Fuller are the perfect compliments for each other. When one is injured the other is injured and visa Versa. At this point in the season, Fuller just sustained a significant hamstring injury and will be out for an extended period of time. If you want a player who is efficient with opportunity Stills is you man as he comes into Week 8 being #1 in yards per target and yards per pass route and is #3 in true catch rate (via playerprofiler.com).
Adam Thielen leaves the Vikings with a 26% target market share vacated and 91.6% route participation (routes run per team pass play). While we know Johnson is not the same quality of player as Adam Thielen, we know Johnson has been on the field and has the size and explosiveness to be a difference-maker and contributor.
Aaron Rodgers is amazing at the art of playing quarterback and is, unfortunately, looking for weapons ANYWHERE. While not a household name for most, Kumerow was an unearthed gem by Michael Chapeton (@DynastyGuruFF on Twitter). Chapeton found Kumerow using his PSI (Prospect Success Indicator) advanced metric which had Kumerow checking in at the top 1/3 of NFL wide receivers. Finally, Chapeton went as far as to say Kumerow has a chance to be the next Adam Thielen. Invest/buy now before you lose your chance.
Tight End
- Jonnu Smith
- Jacob Hollister
- Foster Moreau
If you were debating Jacob Hollister versus Luke Willson from the Week 7 waiver-wire your questions should be considered answered. Hollister both out-snapped Willson and had six total touch opportunities on the day. In deeper tight end premium formats Hollister is a premium add who could be a contributor for the rest of the season.
The Raiders are changing up their philosophy and are playing with more two tight ends on the field. Moreau is the second tight end for the Raiders and has been seeing his snap share increase every week. In fact, Moreau has the 11th highest per game average of his position since Week 4 of 2019. It would take a deeper league or tight end premium format to consider Moreau as a viable pickup.
