Can you believe it? The NFL season is already upon us and with it brings the first installment of the all-important seasonal series – NFL Fantasy Football Waiver Advice. In this first article we will take a look some guys who may have gone undrafted and could be floating around the waiver wire heading into Week 1 and just might be worth grabbing.
Quarterback
Matt Ryan, ATL- It seemed like it was only a few years ago that Matt Ryan was among the top quarterbacks drafted, yet after a 2015 season which saw him finish with more turnovers (24) than touchdowns (21) he finds himself owned in under 50 percent of standard leagues and barely ranks as a QB2. While Ryan’s 21 touchdowns were the fewest he has thrown since his rookie season he still completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,591 yards which both ranked him towards the top five in the NFL last season. Luckily for Ryan, Julio Jones is still on the roster and the addition of Mohamed Sanu to replace the aging Roddy White will continue to provide consistent pass catching options as well as Devonte Freeman who caught 73 passes out of the backfield last year. In Week 1 Ryan will be at home against the Buccaneers who allowed the ninth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2015 which included a game against Ryan and the Falcons in which he threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns.
Joe Flacco, BAL- Flacco has seen his ADP rise in recent weeks but still finds himself being taken later in most drafts and his current ownership levels sit around 15 percent. Flacco is coming off a season that ended due to a torn ACL but before getting injured he completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,791 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He averaged over 15.5 fantasy points per game in 2015 which included six of his 10 contests seeing him score over that mark including four games of 20 fantasy points. He enters the 2016 season healthy and with some new weapons which include free agent signings Mike Wallace and Ben Watson as well as the now healthy Breshard Perriman who the Ravens took in the first round last season but did not play due to injury. Along with those relatively new additions to the offense returning receivers Kamar Aiken and Steve Smith Sr. will also add depth to the Ravens passing attack. In Week 1 the Ravens open the season with a home game against the Bills who had troubles in the secondary last season and lost some key players in the offseason should present a decent matchup. Flacco is a QB2 to begin this season in standard leagues but given the weapons around him there is certainly potential for him to creep into becoming a low end QB1.
Sam Bradford, MIN- The writing was on the wall for Bradford in Philadelphia after the Eagles drafted Carson Wentz with the No.2 overall pick and the season ending injury to Teddy Bridgewater paved the way for his trade to the Vikings. Despite his relative shortcomings in 2015 Bradford still completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His trade to the Vikings could be a blessing in disguise as he returns to more of a traditional offense under Norv Turner than the Chip Kelly offense he ran in Philly. The Vikings are still a run first offense thanks to Mr. Adrian Peterson however their receiving groups boasts some impressive talents in last year’s breakout rookie Stefon Diggs and this year’s first round pick in Laquon Treadwell. Bradford admitted that there is only so much of the Vikings playbook we can learn before Week 1 and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has yet to name Bradford the starter but if named the starter the offensive play calling will likely be simplified. If playing Bradford finds himself with a relatively favorable matchup against a Titans defense that allowed the fifth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks last season. He is currently owned in under 10 percent of standard leagues and is going largely undrafted in most formats so odds are he is available.
Running Back
Justin Forsett, BAL- Forsett was a surprise cut by the Ravens on deadline day but he went unclaimed and the Ravens have resigned him. Jeff Zrebiec who covers the Ravens for the Baltimore Sun tweeted that Forsett is expected to play a significant role in the offense in Week 1 which bodes well for his value. Currently Forsett is owned in just about 50 percent of standard leagues as many owners cut bait after he was let go by the Ravens. Before getting injured in 2015 Forsett ran for 641 yards while adding 31 catches for 153 yards. Ravens face off against the Bills in Week 1 which is not a great matchup but Forsett’s offensive involvement is the upside fantasy owners should be looking for off the waiver wire.
Spencer Ware, KC- The Chiefs are unsure if Jamaal Charles will be ready for Week 1 and it’s expected that Ware will lead a committee of backs which gives him the edge when it comes to who to claim off the wire this week. Ware is owned in just about 50 percent of standard leagues and was being drafted in the later rounds of most drafts. When Charles returns Ware should likely be his primary backup and given the injury history with Charles he definitely a top handcuff to own.
James White, NE- With Dion Lewis expected to miss at least the first six weeks as he begins the season on the IR/PUP list the primary third down role will be Whites. White replaced Lewis last season after he suffered a torn ACL and went on to catch 40 passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns while adding just 56 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. White is only worth picking up in PPR formats and finds himself owned in just about 40 percent on standard leagues so check the wire if you need some additional depth at running back.
Wide Receiver
Victor Cruz, NYG- Cruz is listed as the Giants No.3 wide receiver behind Odell Beckham and rookie Sterling Shepard but after playing 29 snaps during the Giants third preseason game he figures to be a full-go for Week 1. The Giants figure to be slinging the ball plenty this season and while Cruz is unlikely to reclaim his previous fantasy value there is still certainly some upside here given the level of production he provided at his peak. Cruz is currently owned in less than 20 percent of standard leagues and finds himself going largely undrafted but he is somebody worth grabbing off the waiver wire if you are looking for some extra depth or want to take a flier based off his past success.
Michael Thomas, NO- Thomas is a popular sleeper heading into the season after the Saints went and drafted him in the second round this year. The Saints still boast a high powered passing attack and Thomas figures to replace the role left by Marques Colston. To fuel Thomas’ fantasy value Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters that those who play fantasy football should want to own shares of Thomas as he figures to play a key part in their passing attack. Thomas is owned in just under 70 percent of standard leagues and his average ADP is around 130 so check your waiver wire and see if he is available.
Breshad Perriman, Bal- The Ravens took Perriman in the first round last season but never played a snap due to injury. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds with a 40-time clocked at a ridiculous 4.27 seconds there is a ridiculous amount of upside here with Perriman and he fortunately plays on a team with a quarterback with an arm that has little issue throwing deep. The Ravens have plenty of receivers on the depth chart but nobody on the roster can match the talent that Perriman possess yet he is owned in under 10 percent of standard leagues and is not going drafted. There may not be an immediate impact with Perriman but he is a great depth stash and is somebody worth grabbing off the waiver wire.
Tight End
Zach Miller, CHI- Miller set career highs in 2015, catching 34 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns with the majority of his production coming over the final eight games of the season. With Martellus Bennett now in New England Miller is the No.1 tight end in Chicago where he will look to carry over his success from the end of 2015 into the new season. Miller is owned in about 60 percent of standard leagues and is being drafted as a TE2 but if he can continue to produce as the Bears top tight end then there is some TE1 upside.
Eric Ebron, Det- Calvin Johnson saw 150 targets in 2015 but now that he has retired Matt Stafford will have to spread those targets throughout the offense and Ebron is a prime candidate to for a breakout season. Golden Tate is the team’s No.1 and he figures to lead the team in both targets and receptions but after that Ebron will be competing largely with free-agent signee Marvin Jones for No.2 targets. In 2015 he caught 47 passes on 69 targets for 537 yards and five touchdowns. Ebron is owned in under 50 percent of standard leagues and while he is being drafted as a TE2 there is definite upside here.
Martellus Bennett, NE- Bennett was acquired by the Patriots in the offseason via trade from the Bears and while he is playing second fiddle to Rob Gronkowski the New England offense is very pass heavy and for the first time since Aaron Hernandez there is a legitimate pass catching tight end on the roster to play opposite of Gronk. Bennett is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and seeing as most defensive game plans will be focused on stopping Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski there is a real possibility that Bennett could still be TE1. He is currently owned in about 70 percent of standard leagues so those in shallower leagues should find him available and he is worth the claim.