I started this article last year and I think it was a success. Long story short, I am going to point out a few players each week to pick up now before you have to spend FAAB or a high waiver claim going into the following week. These are players who are owned in less than 50% of leagues that you can pick up before Sunday kickoff who have the chance to become a high waiver wire player.
Tevin Coleman (SF-RB) – 15% Owned
You probably saw Coleman score twice last week and went “Tevin Coleman is on the Niners?!”. Well, he is back with the team and back with his old QB. He had a great fantasy day off of those two TDs, but it was mainly him getting in the game at the right time when Jeff Wilson got a breather. Now Wilson is the back to own in SF, and I like him going forward until Eli Mitchell gets back, but we know that Niners RBs are always hurt and if Wilson ever goes down, Coleman is likely the next man up in an offense that wants to use their backs. Stash him as a strong handcuff for now.
Kyren Williams/Malcolm Brown (LAR-RBs) – 4%/1% Owned
Cam Akers is going to miss Week 6 for “personal reasons” and we really do not know what that means, but it seems like the team and Akers are trying to work something out. Regardless, it is a bit odd and concerning and we cannot forget that Akers just has not looked good ever since coming back from injury. Kyren Williams is still on the IR, but I want to stash him in case he comes off in the next week or two because they liked him a lot in the preseason and they always said he would have a large role in the offense. Now, in case Williams is not coming off IR anytime soon, Malcolm Brown is a fine stash as well. He was brought in last week which might have been a sign that something was already going on with Akers and he has been in this offense before. Both are worth stashes in deep leagues.
DeeJay Dallas (RB-SEA) – 15% Owned
Rashaad Penny is out for the season, which means it is now the Ken Walker show we have all been waiting for. I love Walker going forward in fantasy and he really could be a stud on an offense that is putting up a lot of points, but there has to be someone else behind him. That man would be Dallas until Travis Homer comes back. He could be used in the passing game more since Walker is not known as a pass catcher in the NFL. Do not start him this week unless you are desperate, but I am fine picking him up for this week and stashing him to see how he will be used in the offense.
THE WRAP UP
Those are the few players I like this week for pickups before they hit the waiver wire. These are players that are worth a spot on your bench and if they don’t hit, then they are easy drops going into Week 5. But you might as well take a shot on these guys in case they actually do hit. I will be doing this article every week before the Sunday games so make sure you keep up with it throughout the season!