The epic movie Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas, came up at the Undroppables water cooler this week. We utilized the hashtag #IAmSpartacus and essentially had a lot of fun with someone on Twitter.
With that said, I want to say that there is a lot of wisdom we can gain from movies. I have written professional articles about sales, consulting, and project management. I have taken lines from films that most of us overlook and explained the vast wisdom in what was discussed in the movie.
They show how hard the gladiators train in this movie, and a classic line in the film is:
“Gladiators seek to best all. That is how they survive.”
-Spartacus.
So, please act like a gladiator when you play fantasy football or work that waiver wire. If you want to make it to be champion, you need to do some things. Strive for greatness in your league. Make trades, set your roster correctly, and work that damn waiver wire. Seek to best all, and play to win. Don’t make trades or waiver moves just because. It makes them improve your starting lineup through the bye weeks (right now) and then in the playoffs.
The best way to utilize this article to help you is to pay attention to the players I am saying to add right now and the other players to consider. I often write about a player a week or two before they become a must-add. So get them that week early if you can.
Suppose you are playing dynasty or leagues with extremely deep benches; attempt to acquire some of the players I list in this article. Everyone will write about adding Kenneth Walker, Geno Smith, and Taysom Hill this week. Pay attention to the other players as well.
NOTE: If you are new here, this column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Moving into Week 6, the highest priority people I would have on waivers are Khalil Herbert (49% Yahoo) and Alexander Mattison (55% Yahoo). If one of these guys is available in your league, they are the top 2 waiver wire additions. Herbert meets the qualifications for this article, so that I will write about him.
Quarterbacks
Geno Smith
Geno Smith? I believe in you. I wrote about you last week here as well. Then you give us a top-10 performance in Week 5 with 268 yards and three touchdowns passing. He is currently a top 10 QB on the season. I doubted you against the Saints and I was wrong. Add him if you have been playing someone like Russell Wilson or Matthew Stafford
35% rostered on Yahoo
32% rostered on ESPN
40% rostered on Sleeper
25% Free Agent Budget
Jimmy Garoppolo
In Week 5, Jimmy G threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. Next week the Niners play the Falcons. Only Jacoby Brissett did not throw for either 300 yards or multiple touchdowns against the Falcons this season. So at the very least, he is a good streaming option in a solid match in Week 6.
26% rostered on Yahoo
11% rostered on ESPN
30% rostered on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Other quarterbacks to consider if you are desperate:
- Zach Wilson – 210 yards passing, rushing TD
- Justin Fields – 208 and a TD yards passing, 47 yards rushing
- Daniel Jones – Stream Alert with the Ravens up next
Running Backs
Kenneth Walker
Once Penny got injured, Walker stepped into the lead-back role against a tough Saints defense. He answered with eight carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. That is an average of 11 yards per carry. He tore off the majority of that in 69 yards run. Yes, Gronk, we know this is your favorite number. He will get the touches moving forward for the Seahawks. The main priority add at running back before Week 6.
45% rostered on Yahoo
47% on ESPN
60% on Sleeper
50% Free Agent Budget
Deon Jackson
Jonathan Taylor was already injured. Nyheim Hines got hurt in Week 5. Jackson answered the call to duty. 13 carries for 62 yards and four receptions for another 29 yards. He produced very well in filling in for everyone.
1% rostered on Yahoo
1% on ESPN
5% on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Tevin Coleman
Signs to the practice squad off the street and became the backup in Niner land. He already knows the system. Has a total of 67 yards and two touchdowns on 11 touches in Week 5. This is not the wrong way to get your feet wet in 2022. I will make him an add if I am running back needy.
0% rostered on Yahoo
0% on ESPN
0% on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Eno Benjamin
In Week 5, Eno had 11 total touches, which he turned into 53 yards and a touchdown. They will use him both running the ball and as a receiver. He looks good. To top it off, Darrell Williams got hurt in Week 5, which opens up more touches for Eno.
10% rostered on Yahoo
7% on ESPN
16% on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Other running backs to consider if you are desperate:
- Mike Boone – 38 yards rushing, three receptions for 47 yards receiving
- James Cook – 4 carries, 31 yards, and a TD
- Jaylen Warren – 29 yards rushing, four receptions, 39 yards receiving
Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers
Meyers missed two games but returned with a vengeance against a bad Lions team. In Week 5, he had seven receptions, 111 yards, and a touchdown. He has only played in 3 games thus far but has not scored less than eight fantasy points in half-point PPR. Additionally, he had a 38% target share in Week 5 which makes him tough to ignore if you need help at receiver.
48% rostered on Yahoo
64% on ESPN
62% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Josh Reynolds
I wrote about him in this same spot last week. He now has four straight weeks of double-digit fantasy points. In Week 5, he had ten targets for six receptions and 92 yards. Now 28 targets over the past three games. He is second on the Lions in air yards. This team is passing the ball a lot. Reynolds is on bye in Week 6.
31% rostered on Yahoo
25% on ESPN
47% on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Alec Pierce
Alec was someone you should have considered adding last week. He missed the first two weeks of the season, but he has 61 yards, 80 yards, and 81 yards in the previous three weeks. His targets and receptions have gone up every game—even a 22% target share in Week 5. Snap share is also increasing. Pierce is someone to add now.
8% rostered on Yahoo
8% on ESPN
20% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Other wide receivers to consider:
- Dyami Brown – 4 targets, two receptions, 105 yards, 2 TDs
- Khalil Shakir – 5 targets, three receptions, 75 yards, TD
- Darius Slayton – 7 targets, six receptions, 79 yards
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill
He is my top addition this week. I know he is a boom/bust kind of guy. I know you probably think he is a gadget player. You are correct. But the Saints are simply a better team when they give him snaps and call his name in plays. I don’t know what position to say this guy plays; all I know is if he is healthy, he gives you production. With 22 passing yards, a touchdown passing, nine carries for 112 yards, and three touchdowns rushing. If you punted the tight end position in drafts, let’s kick it to Taysom Hill now. He is the overall TE3 on the season.
30% rostered on Yahoo
11% on ESPN
24% rostered on Sleeper
25% Free Agent Budget
Hayden Hurst
Hurst has been getting some volume here and there in the Bengals’ passing attack. In Week 5, he had seven targets which he turned into six receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. That is a 20% target share in Week 5 too.
30% rostered on Yahoo
25% on ESPN
38% rostered on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Other tight ends to consider:
- Evan Engram – 10 targets, six receptions, 69 yards
- Hunter Henry – 5 targets, four receptions, 54 yards
- Cade Otton – 7 targets, six receptions, 43 yards
Thanks for checking out our waiver wire column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back soon for Mike’s weekly Money Makers and Heart Breakers.
