Is it me, or did Week 5 feel like an injury ward was rapidly being filled with players? I think the blue tents saw an obnoxiously high amount of traffic in week 5. Quarterbacks and running backs seem to be going down left and right. Concussions, knees, and ankles, OH MY! Well, if like me you have a team with six starters injured, this is the column to read. Lets untangle that wire and see who will be the best options to help you in Week 6 and beyond.
NOTE: If you are new around here this column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston
Unfortunately, Winston has a bye Week 6 but he has a very, and yes I mean VERY, soft schedule for Weeks 7 through 9. Seattle, Tampa Bay and Atlanta are up in those weeks and they are all bottom 10 in defending quarterbacks. In Week 4 Winston had 279 yards and 4 touchdowns. This makes him a worthy add with that “murderer’s row” of kindness coming up. You may want to hug Lasik Jameis at some point during the next four weeks.
34% rostered on Yahoo
23% rostered on ESPN
38% rostered on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
#Saints QB Jameis Winston currently owns the league’s highest TD per Pass Attempt Percentage at 10.3 percent. pic.twitter.com/ayoCvj3aas
— Michael Balko (@MichaelBalkoJr) October 11, 2021
Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy came back from his concussion protocol and had 288 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Steelers in Week 5. He the next four weeks have three pretty good matchups in them with the Washington Football Team and the Cowboys being two of them. Teddy has been consistent and has food weapons to throw to. I like him.
18% rostered on Yahoo
16% rostered on ESPN
23% rostered on Sleeper
12% Free Agent Budget
Geno Smith
Geno Smith came on after Russell Wilson went down with an injury to his finger in week 5. Smith has elite wide receivers in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Geno looked really good moving the ball in relief. Geno completed 10 of 17 passes for 131 yards and 1 touchdown. He also ran for 23 yards. He looked pretty good.
1% rostered on Yahoo
0% rostered on ESPN
0% rostered on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Other quarterbacks to consider: Davis Mills, Tyler Lawrence
Running Backs
Darrell Williams
Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an MCL sprain in Week 5. Darrell came on in relief and had 27 yards on 5 carries with 3 receptions for another 18 yards. Williams looks like he will produce well in this offense with CEH out. If you are needy at running back, he is a great add for the next few weeks.
16% rostered on Yahoo
7% on ESPN
19% on Sleeper
20% Free Agent Budget
Darrel Williams handled 6 of 7 #Chiefs RB opportunities after Clyde Edwards-Helaire exited last night's game.
Jerick McKinnon got the other.
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) October 11, 2021
Devontae Booker
Booker came in after Saquon Barkley suffered a low ankle sprain in Week 5. It appears Barkley will be out Week 6. Booker produced well in Week 5 he had a total of 19 touches for 58 total yards and 2 touchdowns. For Week 6 at least, I would do a plug and play.
6% rostered on Yahoo
4% on ESPN
11% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Khalil Herbert
Herbert played excellent in Week 5. He had 75 yards on 18 carries. He split total touches with Damien Williams as they each had 18 in total. You could do worse than adding Herbert if you are needy at running back.
19% rostered on Yahoo
4% on ESPN
21% on Sleeper
5% Free Agent Budget
Other running backs to consider: Samaje Perine, Giovani Bernard
Wide Receivers
Kadarius Toney
Toney, Toney, Toney has done it again. What has he done? Well, he broke out with 10 receptions for 189 yards on 13 targets. That was a massive 33% target share. He also threw a pass and a punch. Apparently, the Giants figured out how they could use Toney’s speed, while the rest of the team is in the emergency room with injuries. Add him and then punch him into your line up.
17% rostered on Yahoo
12% on ESPN
31% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Marquez Callaway
The preseason darling finally broke out in season. Callaway had 4 receptions for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns. But I am more impressed with his 8 targets for a 27% target share. Only Alvin Kamara saw as many targets in week 5 from Winston. Callaway looking like a nice add to have after his bye in week 6.
30% rostered on Yahoo
39% on ESPN
39% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Tim Patrick
Patrick was targeted the second most on his team by Teddy Bridgewater with a total of 9 targets. He had a 24% target share which got him 7 receptions for 89 yards. I love the target share and the volume. Plug and play away.
31% rostered on Yahoo
29% on ESPN
43% on Sleeper
10% Free Agent Budget
Other wide receivers to consider: Mecole Hardman, Chris Moore
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry
Henry led the Patriots in targets in Week 5. That got him a 27% target share of 8 targets for 6 receptions, 75 yards and a touchdown. If you missed out on Dawson Knox or Dalton Schultz last week, I would add Henry. The Cowboys and the sixth friendliest defense to tight ends is up next.
46% rostered on Yahoo
35% on ESPN
51% rostered on Sleeper
12% Free Agent Budget
Evan Engram
Engram had 4 targets for 4 receptions and 55 yards in Week 5. He has a total of 16 targets over the past three weeks. He also has a very soft schedule for the rest of season. The Giants don’t face a defense that is tough on tight ends until Week 17 when they play the Bears. The best is yet to come for Engram.
31% rostered on Yahoo
30% on ESPN
35% on Sleeper
3% Free Agent Budget
Other tight ends to consider: Donald Parham Jr, Dan Arnold, David Njoku
Thanks for checking out our waiver wire column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back soon for Mike’s weekly Money Makers and Heart Breakers
