Welcome to my brand new series for the 2019 Fantasy Football season. Each week I'm going to talk about players I like on the waivers who should still be there after they clear. About players that I love that you should trade for, and about players you should either trade away or leave on the waiver wire. I kind of took my favorite topics and combined it into one article with all of my takes for your viewing pleasure. Without further ado, let's get into it.
Players I Like:
Case Keenum
Keenum has quietly been a good fantasy QB to start this season. Over the last 2 weeks, he's the no. 5 quarterback with over 50 fantasy points. He has thrown at least 37 times in both weeks for 601 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers. He is sitting on your waivers for free. If you need a quarterback, PICK HIM UP.
Jeff Wilson
Everyone is running out to pick up Mostert on waivers today and paying the big bucks. Don't do that. Go get Jeff Wilson for free. Wilson had 10 rushing attempts, played 21% of the snaps and was the preferred red zone back, scoring 2 touchdowns. Mostert is decent, but Coleman will be back soon and that's blowing precious FAAB when it isn't needed.
TJ Jones
Jones was a preseason star with 12 catches, for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. With recent injuries, he has made his way onto the active roster. Last week in his first start, he had 3 catches for 38 yards and a score. With Danny Dimes (another like) becoming the starter, Jones can build on the preseason connection they made and hopefully lock down a starting role.
Damiere Byrd
Byrd is not a big name receiver which is why most people don't know that he has 14 total targets in the last 2 weeks. Those targets turned into 10 catches for 87 scoreless yards. Anytime you can grab a receiver averaging 7 targets a game for free on your waiver wire, you do it. Kingsbury often runs 4 receiver sets and Byrd sees a lot of time on the field. It's only a matter of time before the blow-up game comes, and you'll want him on your roster when it happens.
Tyler Eifert
I told my buddy who needs a tight end to pick up Eifert this week because he has no tight end. Instead, he asked me if he should pick up Witten, or Dissly because Eifert is no longer a play-maker. Unbelievable. Eifert has 10 targets, has played an average of 36% of the snaps and has at least 3 catches in the first two weeks. He's currently a top 15 PPR Tight End and is most likely available for free in your league. Volume is and always will be king. Pick him up and stop considering bums.
Players I Love:
Joe Mixon
Mixon is currently the 56th best running back in PPR leagues. Ouch. He's averaging 1.9 yards per carry as well. Double ouch. On top of all that, he plays the Bills this week. Mixon owners are getting fed up and the time to capitalize is now. Despite season workload concerns, Mixon has 25 touches in the first 2 weeks even while missing over a quarter in week 1. The Bengals offensive line is beaten up but should start returning to health and the passing game is thriving which should set up the run.
Todd Gurley
Gurley was in my predraft avoid list. I wanted nothing to do with him at his then price. 2 weeks into the season his price has fallen considerably even though it isn't well deserved. Gurley has played at least 64% if the snaps in both games, has 35 touches and over 150 rushing yards. Gone are the days where Gurley is a top 5 back, but he's still a way above average RB2 and he's cheap currently. There are minimal workload concerns and he is still the primary passing back. Buy him before he has a big game and the price goes back up.
Mike Evans
Chris Godwin has come in and set the world on fire throughout the first two weeks, scaring many Evans owners. Evans is currently the 71st PPR receiver while Gdwin is the 14th. Godwin has 15 targets compared to 13 for Evans. The opportunity has been there but he hasn't been converting with only 6 catches for 89 yards through the first two weeks. Evans is still only 26 and has been a dominating receiver in this league. I would expect his efficiency to come back towards the mean of his career and the touchdowns to follow. Get him while he's so cheap.
Randall Cobb
Gallup was hurt against the Redskins in week 2 and everyone is scrambling to pick up Devin Smith. Don't. Instead, find your Cobb owner and make him an offer. Cobb should step up as the number two option and has shown he still has plenty left in the tank. Through the first two weeks with Gallup active, Cobb had 11 targets, 9 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. The Gallup injury clears up 7 targets a game and you can expect at least 2 or 3 of those to be added to Cobb.
Austin Hooper
Hooper had a great game in week 1 and a not so great game in week 2, making his owners maybe a little uneasy. The truth of it is that Hooper has 13 catches on 15 targets, for 107 yards during the first 2 weeks. He's averaging 8.5 yards per catch and has been a focal point for Matt Ryan. This season tight end is even uglier than usual and being able to acquire a tight end averaging over 7 targets a game in a good offense is a rarity without giving up elite assets
Players I'm Leaving:
Kerryon Johnson
Johnson just had 16.8 fantasy points and things are looking up, right? Well no, not really. He's played just 56% of snaps throughout the first two weeks and hasn't topped 18 touches in a game. If you have Johnson he's probably your RB2 at best and isn't getting the kind of playing time that I'm comfortable with there.
Sony Michel
Sony has carried the ball 36 times throughout 2 games. So what's the problem? He has 0 targets, not a single one. Most people knew that Sony would be the primary ball carrier but not get a lot of passing work, but zero is horrible. For a team that uses so many backs, in my opinion, Sony is the most useless and the most likely one to lose work to Harris.
T.Y. Hilton
I liked Hilton pre-draft after Luck retired and he started to fall. I thought it was good value. Trading him right now isn't a must, but I think after scoring 3 touchdowns the first 2 weeks, you can get off the Hilton train and get a great return on investments. A trade that I'm looking to make myself where I can is Hilton for Evans, who I wrote about in the"players I love" section. Throughout the first 2 weeks, Hilton is the no. 7 PPR receiver, but that's mostly an illusion. He has yet to reach the 100-yard mark and has most of his production from 3 touchdowns. Not sustainable. The one positive is that he does have a very easy schedule coming before his bye and could get a big game or two.
Adam Thielen
If you've watched any Vikings games or paid attention at all, you would know that this is no longer Kirk Cousin's team. This is Dalvin Cooks stomping grounds now. The emphasis on the run game has really hurt the Vikings passing attack. Cousins has yet to complete more than 14 passes in a game and has only 2 touchdowns. This has resulted in 8 catches off of only 11 targets for Theilen who has been a target monster the last two years. Many may see this as a buy-low opportunity, but without a Dalvin Cook injury, I don't think this situation is going to get better.
That wraps up my Week 3 and first-ever Like/Love/Leave. I hope that you're able to make at least one positive change to your team after reading this and that by opening up my thought process to you that you become a better team manager. If you would like to stay up to date on my articles and DFS content, follow me on Twitter @HessDFS and don't be afraid to shoot me a question. I'll see you all next week!