Quarterbacks
1 Week Plug & Play
Tyrod Taylor, Bills
Taylor threw for 228 yards with two touchdowns and an interception Sunday against the Steelers. His play has regressed a bit over the last month but Taylor has a great matchup this week against the winless Browns. Taylor has still put up solid fantasy numbers in two of his last four games. He’s one of the few quarterbacks left on the waiver wire that can be trusted this week. If you’re one of the handful of owners still playing and looking for a starting quarterback, Taylor is at the top of the list.
Availability: Owned in ~ 55% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: Taylor is a top streaming option this week.
On the Radar: No one
Running Backs
Rock Star Free Agent
Bilal Powell, Jets
Matt Forte left Sunday’s game against the 49ers with a knee injury. Bilal Powell replaced him and took full of advantage of the opportunity. Powell rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries (5.0 YPC). He also caught five balls for 34 yards. Forte is expected to miss this week’s game versus Miami. Powell has fresh legs and he’ll once again handle a heavy workload with rookie Bryce Petty under center. He should be the top waiver wire target this week for owners still alive in fantasy playoffs.
Availability: Owned in ~ 30% of leagues.
FAAB: $$$$
Forecast: Powell is an RB2 this week if Forte is out.
Injury Replacement/1 Week Plug & Play
Kenneth Farrow, Chargers
Melvin Gordon sunk fantasy owners last week when he left early against the Panthers with a hip injury. He’s also dealing with a sprained knee. Gordon finished with just three carries for five yards. Early reports say Gordon will be week to week with the injury but Chargers coach Mike McCoy said he’s day to day. If Gordon can’t go against the Raiders, Farrow will get the start and see a majority of touches with Ronnie Hillman also in the mix. Farrow rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries (3.4 YPC) versus Carolina. He did add six receptions for 23 yards. Farrow isn’t a great play this week but should be added by owners still alive in the playoffs in case Gordon is out.
Availability: Owned in ~ 1% of leagues.
FAAB: $$
Forecast: Farrow will be a RB3/Flex option if Gordon doesn’t play.
1 Week Plug & Play
Mike Gillislee, Bills
Gillislee’s fantasy value is heavily tied to scoring but he should have plenty of chances this week against the lowly Browns. Cleveland is dreadful against the run. The Browns allow 146 yards per game on the ground. Gillislee has topped double-digit fantasy points in four of the last seven games he’s played. He’s a risky play because he has to score to pay off but Gillislee has an elite matchup to exploit this week if you’re desperate for running back help.
Availability: Owned in ~ 30% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: Gillislee will top 40 yards and score at least once this week.
Ty Montgomery, Packers
Like Gillislee, Montgomery has been a hit or miss player this year but he hit last week against the Seahawks. Montgomery rushed nine times for 41 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 45 yards. In his first meeting versus the Bears, Montgomery had his best fantasy performance of the season. In that game Montgomery caught 10-of-13 targets for 66 yards and rushed nine times for 60 yards. Montgomery is on the Flex radar this week.
Availability: Owned in ~ 30% of leagues.
FAAB: $$
Forecast: Montgomery is a Flex option in PPR leagues this week.
On the Radar: Justin Forsett (15%), Derrick Henry (45%), Alfred Morris (15%), Charles Sims (10%)
Wide Receivers
Rock Star Free Agent
Dontrelle Inman, Chargers
Inman caught 6-of-7 targets for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. He’s now scored in three straight games. Over that span Inman has 14 receptions on 18 targets. He’s been targeted at least six times in six of his last seven games. With Terrell Williams battling a shoulder injury, Inman is now at least the Chargers 1B receiver. Even with Philip Rivers struggling, Inman is a starting option in a favorable matchup this week against the Raiders.
Availability: Owned in ~ 25% of leagues.
FAAB: $$$
Forecast: Inman is a WR3 for the rest of the season.
1 Week Plug & Play/Grab & Stash
Adam Thielen, Vikings
Thielen has replaced Stefon Diggs as the Vikings top fantasy receiver. He’s become a weekly starting option in PPR formats. Thielen has been targeted 30 times, has 24 receptions and topped 50 yards receiving in his last four games. Last week against the Jaguars Thielen went over 100 yards for the second time this season. With players like Allen Robinson doing nothing for fantasy owners, Thielen is a productive replacement this week against the Colts.
Availability: Owned in ~ 15% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Possible WR2/3 going forward depending on scoring system.
Taylor Gabriel, Falcons
Gabriel stepped up on Sunday with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu inactive. He caught three passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. Gabriel did most of his damage on a 64-yard touchdown reception. He doesn’t see a ton of targets but Gabriel has topped 70 yards receiving in three of his last four games. He also has four touchdowns over that span. Gabriel has a mouth-watering matchup this week against the 49ers. He’ll be worth a start in deeper leagues even if Jones and Sanu are active. If one or both of those guys are out again, Gabriel moves up into the WR3 territory.
Availability: Owned in ~ 50% of leagues.
FAAB: $$-$$$
Forecast: Gabriel is a WR3/4 depending on the Falcons injuries at receivers.
On the Radar: Robby Anderson (1%), Marqise Lee (5%), Cameron Meredith (25%), J.J. Nelson (5%)
Tight Ends
1 Week Plug & Play
Hunter Henry, Chargers
The waiver wire is thin for tight ends at this point in the season. If you’re still alive and desperate for a play, Henry is always a threat to score a touchdown. Henry doesn’t catch many passes but he has scored three touchdowns in his last four games. He has six touchdown catches on the season. Again, there are many better tight ends to start this week but if you find yourself in desperation mode and scouring the waiver wire, Henry has a better than average chance to get you a touchdown.
Availability: Owned in ~ 25% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Henry is a TD-dependent TE2 this week.
On the Radar: Charles Clay (8%)
Kickers
1 Week Plug & Play
Dustin Hopkins, Redskins
Hopkins had a tough matchup last week against the Eagles. This week he gets a Panthers team that ranks in the Top 10 when it comes to allowing fantasy points to kickers. Before Sunday, Hopkins had hit at least two field goals in four of his last five games. The Redskins offense should give Hopkins plenty of scoring opportunities against the Panthers.
Availability: Owned in ~ 25% of leagues.
FAAB: $
Forecast: Hopkins is a Top 10 play this week.
On the Radar: No one
Defense/Specials Teams
1 Week Plug & Play
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons defense dominated the Rams on Sunday. Atlanta’s defense recorded three sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and scored two touchdowns. You probably won’t get a repeat performance this week but the Falcons get another favorable matchup against the struggling 49ers. Atlanta hasn’t been a great fantasy defense this year but its rewarding owners when it counts the most.
Availability: Owned in ~ 50% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: The Falcons are a Top 10 defense this week.
Buffalo Bills
The Ryan brother’s defense has been a miserable failure in Buffalo. One remedy for an ailing defense is to play Robert Griffin and the Browns. RG3 was horrible in his first game back against the Bengals, completing just 12 passes for 104 yards and an interception. The Bills haven’t recorded a sack in the last two games. Expect that to change this week. Buffalo’s defense is worth a look if you’re not happy with your starting option.
Availability: Owned in ~ 55% of leagues.
FAAB: $-$$
Forecast: The Bills defense is a strong streaming option this week.
On the Radar: No one
