Fantasy football waiver wire: Will Fuller, Vikings RBs are top targets
With byes a major factor for the first time all season, fantasy owners may have to be a bit more strategic this week in their roster additions. If your team doesn't have any glaring needs and none of your starters are getting the week off, it might be a good idea to look a week or two down the road for a player you might need later.
The best pickup recommendation last week turned out to be Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who threw for four touchdowns and ran for another. But beyond that, Wendell Smallwood and Charles Clay were also great adds.
Recommended bids based on a free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) of $100 for the season.
BEST BETS
WR Will Fuller, Houston Texans ($14). Returning from a broken collarbone he suffered in preseason, Fuller made his presence known in a big way -- with four receptions for 35 yards and two touchdowns in his season debut. Those short passes aren't even his specialty. Look for more deep routes in the weeks to come.
RB Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings ($13). Starter Dalvin Cook is out for the season with a torn knee ligament, so his workload has to go somewhere else. Latavius Murray is bigger and should take over the starting role, but McKinnon's receiving skills and his ability to break big plays will make him a better fantasy pickup in PPR formats.
If you need a running back with guaranteed touches, go ahead and bid double-digits on Murray as well. But both are dealing with ankle injuries. Unfortunately, these two backs combined may not even equal what Cook could have done on his own.
WR Andre Holmes, Buffalo Bills ($10). The veteran has just six catches all season, but two have been for touchdowns. With No. 1 wideout Jordan Matthews out at least a month with a thumb injury, Holmes should see an uptick in targets.
TE Tyler Kroft, Cincinnati Bengals ($8). I grossly underestimated Kroft's potential impact in last week's waiver wire column by not even including him -- despite the absence of starter Tyler Eifert. Six catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns later, it's probably going to cost you more to land this Kroft.
Seahawks backfield: How to assess the fantasy options
(ROOKIE) REPLACEMENTS
RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints ($8). The Saints are one of four teams on bye this week (the Falcons, Broncos and Redskins are the others), so you won't be able to use him right away. However, the rookie third-rounder caught a team-high 10 passes for 71 yards and a TD in Week 4. His role in this potent offense is growing, so grab Kamara if he's available before the price goes way up.
RB Wayne Gallman, New York Giants ($8). The Clemson alum saw his first NFL action in Week 4, racking up 42 rushing yards on 11 carries and catching a short touchdown pass. Starter Paul Perkins has done nothing and backup Orleans Darkwa is sidelined by a back injury. Gallman could get a closer look this week against the Chargers, but his ceiling is capped by the Giants' below-average offensive line.
RB Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers ($7). Another rookie running back pressed into service due to injuries, the UTEP alum rushed 13 times for 49 yards and a score. Keep an eye on Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams this week in practice. Jones could be asked to do a lot more.
RB Elijah McGuire, New York Jets ($6). The sixth-round pick from Louisiana-Lafayette got his chance last week with Matt Forte inactive. Starter Bilal Powell ran all over the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, but still left some meat on the bone for McGuire. Highlighted by a 69-yard TD run, he racked up 131 total yards -- which should put him in line for more work, even after Forte returns.
WR Juju Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers ($6). It's tougher for rookie receivers to make an immediate fantasy impact, but Smith-Schuster has moved up the depth chart to become the Steelers' primary option in the slot. He's seen his snap count rise each game and he caught his second TD of the season on Sunday at Baltimore. (And who wouldn't want to celebrate that?)
BONUS PICK
RB Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Just in case your league members couldn't wait for Martin to serve his three-game suspension, he'll return to the active roster for this week's game against the NFL's worst defense, the New England Patriots. The only thing working against him is a lack of preparation time for the Thursday night kickoff.