Fantasy soccer waiver wire: Pickup locks embrace Richardson and three Bears

The NFL is a “subsequent man up” league. By extension, your fantasy soccer league is as properly. You acquired your staff throughout the draft, but it surely’s the strikes you make because the season unfolds that may in the end determine for those who’re playoff-bound or planning for subsequent season. Each week, we’ll assist you to establish the gamers accessible in additional than 50% of ESPN leagues whose worth has taken a flip for the higher and ought to be added to your roster as starters or as good stashes to your bench.

Subsequent man up

Of us, brace yourselves as “bye-mageddon” is right here. The Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Payments, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets are all off this week. That is lots of firepower that will likely be left on the fantasy sidelines.

In the meantime, this previous Sunday gave us loads of fantasy headlines, just like the offense of the Detroit Lions, the passing assault of the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers and, after all, the “Saint of all trades” Taysom Hill — extra on him later. However first, let’s give attention to one of many largest redemption tales — Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson.

Richardson, who’s rostered in simply 43.5% of ESPN leagues, noticed his first begin since Week 8. He actually delivered, placing up a season-best 28.0 fantasy factors in opposition to the Jets and reminded everybody why his dual-threat means had a lot hype within the preseason.

Richardson’s roster proportion took an enormous hit when Joe Flacco changed him a number of weeks in the past, however that was then. That is now. If he is accessible in your league, grabbing the Colts QB ought to be a prime precedence — whether or not you want a starter or simply wish to improve your backup.

Richardson has all of the upside you want as we transfer one week nearer to the fantasy playoffs He faces the Lions in Week 12 — a protection permitting the fourth-most passing yards per recreation. The chance is right here. Do not miss it.

Different QB choices

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (28.3% rostered): Stafford completed with a season excessive 27.8 fantasy factors in opposition to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Having each Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on the sphere clearly makes an enormous distinction for Stafford. He focused his large receivers on a season-high 93% of passing makes an attempt. Trying forward, Stafford is greatest considered as a low-end QB1 in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (42.7%): Tagovailoa delivered his greatest fantasy efficiency of the season on Sunday, scoring 23.5 factors in opposition to the Raiders. He additionally posted his highest yardage whole since Week 1 and likewise tied a season excessive in completions. It was his twenty seventh profession recreation with a completion fee of at the least 70%, tying Russell Wilson for probably the most in any participant’s first 5 seasons. Tagovailoa continues to maximise his playmakers within the passing recreation, making him a powerful, high-end QB2 choice in opposition to the Patriots in Week 12.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (40.0%): Williams scored 16.2 fantasy factors in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday. It was one in every of his higher outings this season. Credit score to new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown for simplifying the gameplan with fast, quick throws, because it has made a noticeable distinction. He is additionally constructing sturdy chemistry with fellow rookie Rome Odunze. Trying forward, Williams profiles as a QB2 choice in opposition to a Minnesota Vikings protection permitting the sixth-most passing yards per recreation.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (17.7%): Maye delivered his greatest efficiency of the season in opposition to the Rams, throwing for 282 yards (2 TDs) and including 27 dashing yards for 17.9 fantasy factors. He is been regular since taking up in Week 6, scoring 15-plus factors in 4 out of six video games. With all these Week 12 byes, Maye is a strong QB2 choice in opposition to the Dolphins.

Subsequent RB up

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears (14.2%): Johnson had 11 touches and 11.1 fantasy factors in his first recreation with Brown calling the performs. The play-calling was balanced, properly thought out, and arrange each Johnson and D’Andre Swift for fulfillment. The Bears’ offensive line ranks third in run block win fee, which is vital right here. Johnson and Swift mixed for 27 touches in opposition to the Packers, so there’s potential for extra work forward. Johnson is value including as a bench stash in most leagues, however he may very well be a flex choice in deeper codecs.

Different RB choices

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (42.3%): The Jaguars could also be struggling proper now, however do not sleep on Bigsby, particularly along with his roster proportion now beneath 50%. He was inactive on Sunday in opposition to the Lions as a consequence of an ankle harm, however this is the factor — Travis Etienne Jr. completed with simply 6.3 fantasy factors on 15 touches. Bigsby has proven he could make an influence on this backfield. Bear in mind, he is scored double-digit fantasy factors in three of the 4 video games wherein he is had double-digit touches this season, together with two with over 23 fantasy factors. Now’s the time to scoop him up.

Zamir White (30.4%) and Dylan Laube (0.1%), Las Vegas Raiders: Alexander Mattison injured his ankle within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Dolphins, and White suffered a quadriceps harm. As we look forward to updates on each, White turns into a waiver wire goal if Mattison misses time as he will surely see loads of quantity within the Raiders backfield. Nonetheless, if each White and Mattison are out, control Laube.

I do know what you are thinking-why Laube? Properly, Ameer Abdullah took over when White and Mattison left the sport, however he is extra of a passing-down again. Laube, though he is been inactive for many of the season, had an every-down position within the preseason. The Raiders’ operating recreation wants a spark, particularly with their offensive line rating thirty first in run block win fee. Laube has a strong faculty resume as each a runner and a receiver, and he may very well be the man to fill that potential void.

Cam Akers, Minnesota Vikings (26.0%): Akers has had 12-plus touches in each of his final two video games. In the meantime, Aaron Jones, who has been coping with a rib harm, had 16-plus touches in his final two outings. With the Vikings sitting at 8-2, they could proceed to present Akers extra work whereas permitting Jones to get more healthy for the playoffs. That mentioned, for now Akers is simply a strong stash as he is not somebody try to be beginning simply but.

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (17.3%): Earlier than the Cardinals’ Week 11 bye, Benson posted back-to-back video games with at the least 9 touches and scored double-digit fantasy factors. Whereas he is not going to take over because the starter from James Conner, keep in mind, Conner has by no means performed a full NFL season. He is already logged a heavy workload this yr, with 19-plus touches in eight out of 9 video games. For those who’ve bought room in your bench, Benson is a strong stash.

Subsequent WR up

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (57.0%): In opposition to the Packers, Odunze noticed seven-plus targets for the third time this season. He is now scored 12-plus fantasy factors in all of these video games. Odunze additionally led his staff in targets. With the Bears having the second-most favorable WR schedule going ahead and a matchup subsequent week in opposition to a Vikings protection permitting the third-most WR fantasy factors, Odunze ought to be rostered in lots of extra leagues.

Different WR choices

Christian Watson, Inexperienced Bay Packers (48.4%): The Packers have a crowded WR room with Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed all getting important snaps and operating a excessive proportion of routes. However have in mind, Reed primarily operates from the slot. Inexperienced Bay additionally tends to run extra 12-personnel after they have a lead, however they shift to 11-personnel when trailing. It is good to see the Packers making an effort to get Watson extra concerned, however we’ll have to see if this continues transferring ahead. With a positive rest-of-season schedule, Watson is value including, if solely to see how his position develops.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (40.4%): With the Panthers buying and selling away each Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, Legette has emerged as a prime goal alongside Jalen Coker. He is posted six-plus targets and scored at the least 13 fantasy factors in two of his final three video games. With one of the vital favorable schedules for fantasy wideouts forward, Legette is a flex choice in deeper leagues in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 12.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints (14.0%): Valdes-Scantling has been a constant performer for the Saints recently, main their WR group in routes run and now scoring 16-plus fantasy factors in back-to-back video games (with seven whole targets over that pair of video games). New Orleans is on a bye in Week 12 however, after that, their remaining schedule (Rams, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Packers, and Raiders) units up properly for fantasy receivers, offering MVS with a powerful probability to maintain producing.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (1.6%): Over the past 4 video games, Westbrook-Ikhine has been a strong fantasy choice, scoring 12-plus factors in three of these contests. His season-high 19.7 factors and 6 targets got here in opposition to the Vikings this previous Sunday. With DeAndre Hopkins now in Kansas Metropolis, Westbrook-Ikhine has stepped up as a starter. He is a participant to observe, particularly for these in deeper codecs. The Titans have the third-most favorable WR schedule going ahead.

Subsequent TE up

Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers (13.9%): Dissly led the Chargers in receiving yards on Sunday night time in opposition to the Bengals, regardless of not operating as many routes as anticipated. He caught 4 out of his six targets, ending with 18.0 fantasy factors. Now, this is the factor: Dissly is a part of a TE rotation that additionally consists of Tucker Fisk and Stone Smartt. Nonetheless, Dissly runs probably the most routes of the trio. The Chargers have probably the most favorable TE schedule transferring ahead and, with so many groups on bye, he ought to be a prime goal on the place.

Different TE choices

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (46.2%): Accidents to Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and others have led to an even bigger position for Hill. However who anticipated him to get 15 touches and rack up 41.5 fantasy factors in opposition to the Cleveland Browns final Sunday? Hill grew to become simply the fifth participant in NFL historical past with three dashing touchdowns and eight receptions in a recreation. Curiously, three of these 5 gamers have been with the Saints on the time. Whereas Hill will not be prone to get 15 touches following the Saints’ Week 12 bye, he is nonetheless a future fantasy starter with strong upcoming matchups in opposition to the Rams and Giants.

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (31.7%): Smith had a breakout recreation on Sunday in opposition to the Raiders, scoring 28.1 fantasy factors. He reeled in a career-high 101 receiving yards and tied his career-best with two receiving scores within the recreation. Since Tagovailoa has returned, Smith has seen extra snaps, which is a constructive signal. He is additionally had six-plus targets in three of the final 4 video games. With that position and upside, Smith is a strong TE2 choice heading into Week 12 in opposition to the Patriots.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants (2.0%): The Giants are making a QB change, benching the struggling Daniel Jones and turning to Tommy DeVito as their new starter. Previous to the Week 11 bye, Johnson had been concerned within the passing recreation, with six targets in each of the final two video games. He scored seven-plus fantasy factors in each, together with a strong 14.1-point efficiency. Over the three video games main into the bye, Johnson was focused on 17% of his routes, the second-highest fee on the staff. Even with DeVito on the helm, Johnson stays on the TE2 radar for these in deeper codecs, particularly in opposition to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers protection that is been beneficiant to tight ends, permitting the third-most fantasy factors per recreation to the place.