Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, Week 7: Jordan Reed Is Becoming the Man in Washington
By Jason Lisk
Jordan Reed has missed a game and been on a bye week in the last three weeks. He also did not score a touchdown, so he is likely under the radar. However, he was the tight end who played by far the most snaps for Washington in his return. The short term injury is providing you value. He has been targeted six times in each of the last two games he has played, with 9 total catches. Fred Davis, meanwhile, has been targeted on a pass just once in the last three games.
Reed is the Washington tight end and has an opportunity for an expanded role in the second half of the season. Now is the week to buy if you need tight end help. Let others jump on glory touchdown dance hound Christian Fauria. Fauria had three touchdowns last week on three targets. He had one catch in the four games prior, and still has less than 100 yards on the season.
QUARTERBACKS
Nick Foles again should be the primary pickup at quarterback, going against Dallas this week. He was on a majority of rosters by the end of last week but still available in enough leagues that you still may find him. After the performance against Tampa Bay, it is obvious that you want Chip Kelly’s quarterback . . . and Foles has made a case to remain the starter. If you get him, start him this week.
Ryan Tannehill is your other matchup play, going against the Bills this week, among likely free agents.
From the Desperation Department in deep start 2 QB leagues, you can wait to see who will start for Minnesota. The Giants are in bottom 4 in points allowed to quarterbacks, so this is a case of Moveable Object vs. Resistable Force.
RUNNING BACKS
Zac Stacy continues to get a featured role in St. Louis. That may not be worth a whole lot, as he failed to put up huge numbers despite the Rams leading big most of the game, but at least he has been better than Daryl Richardson.
If you want to get ahead on some guys that could move into bigger roles in the next few weeks, look to Andre Ellington in Arizona and Khiry Robinson in New Orleans. Both are the lesser halves of platoon roles where they are getting about one-third of the carries, but Ellington is vastly outperforming Rashard Mendenhall to date. Robinson is filling the role expected of Mark Ingram, and could get even more carries at the expense of Pierre Thomas going forward.
If you need an immediate option, Joseph Randle may get the carries for Dallas this week with DeMarco Murray’s injury. You want anyone going against the Eagles, though I suspect Randle will not get a full load, and Dallas will continue to rely on the passing offense, as they should.
Meanwhile, if you have the luxury of available roster spots, Shane Vereen should be back week 11 unless there are further setbacks. The opportunity is there in New England to get big production. Over the next week, if he is lurking on the free agency list, he is an add.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jarrett Boykin has only one catch on the season, but will be pressed into action with Randall Cobb and James Jones injuries last week.
Rueben Randle against Minnesota is your third receiver matchup of the week. We have seen plenty of guys have success against the Vikings secondary this year.
Don’t forget about Harry Douglas, as the Falcons had a bye last week, but with Julio Jones out for the year and Roddy White hobbled, he will get his career high in targets from this point forward.
TIGHT ENDS
Kyle Rudolph finally had a big game. He’s still too inconsistent to trust going forward, largely thanks to the quarterback situation. For one more week, though, because it is against the Giants, he is a starting option.
Jeff Cumberland has come on the last two games, and will be the starting tight end for the Giants with the Winslow suspension.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Carolina is still going to be a top recommendation for awhile, until they move into the top ten in ownership. This week, it’s against the Rams. San Diego against Jacksonville is your “who’s playing the Jaguars” pickup of the week. Finally, I would go with the Green Bay Packers at home against Brandon Weeden and the Cleveland Browns.
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Terrance Williams
2. Keenan Allen
3. Andre Ellington
4. Nick Foles
5. Zac Stacy
6. Jordan Reed
7. Joseph Randle
8. Harry Douglas
9. Khiry Robinson
10. Jarrett Boykin