Waiver Wire Roto Wizard Video week 5 NFL 2022

"The Fantasy points abandoned Tom Brady. But then something happened that the Fantasy Points did not intend. They were picked up by the most unlikely creatures imaginable. Geno Smith and Jared Goff, of the same game." ~ Excerpt from "The Lord of the Fantasy Points"

What a week. Oy.

Week 4 of the NFL season had a little bit of everything for Fantasy managers - upsets, amazing performances by relatively low-rostered players, injuries at key positions and busts galore.

The first overseas game occurred in London, to a rousing rendition of "God Save the King" (I'm still trying to process the adjustment after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II). People who managed to wake up in time for the 9:30 AM EST game were treated to a fun back-and-forth contest between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints. Hopefully whoever in your league rostered Alvin Kamara received some sort of notification or text that he was a surprise inactive after being expected to play all week - that situation created plenty of angst with folks who live on the West Coast scrambling for a pivot option.

As referenced above, Jared Goff and Geno Smith somehow finished as a QB1 and QB2 on the week, in the midst of a 48-45 shootout in Detroit. The Lions have to be one of the most exciting teams to watch for Fantasy purposes - their offense is capable of putting up a ton of points even without D'Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and (arguably) their most talented receiver hasn't even stepped onto the field yet this season (Jameson Williams). Negative game script forced Goff to pass 39 times, and he finished with four touchdowns and 378 yards through the air. Smith matched his every move, throwing for two scores and 320 yards through the air, adding another touchdown on the ground as well. Fantasy players who went against the grain and drafted D.K. Metcalf or Tyler Lockett have to be pleased with their early returns - Smith has managed to keep both players WR2 relevant.

Without question the lowlight of the week is injuries at the running back position, most notably Jonathan Taylor and Javonte Williams. Taylor struggled mightily against the Tennessee Titans, rushing for just 42 yards on 20 carries, before leaving the game with an ankle issue. Though the injury doesn't sound overly serious. Indianapolis squares off against Denver on Thursday night, putting his recover efforts in a time crunch. His Week 5 status is definitely in jeopardy.

Williams is by far the bigger buzzkill, as he was carted off the field after being evaluated for a knee injury early in the second half. This was the worst timing possible, as Melvin Gordon was being benched for committing yet another egregious fumble, so the backfield work was finally in his control. Initially deemed questionable, Williams was quickly listed as "out" instead, and was spotted on crutches after the game. All reports coming out of Denver are negative as they hold their breath on MRI results, which will be released on Monday afternoon.

It is also worth noting that last week's recommendation Justice Hill left Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring strain, allowing J.K. Dobbins to dominate backfield touches in Baltimore. This is a real shame, as Hill was averaging over 5 YPC prior to sustaining the injury, working as the clear-cut backup option.

With so much turmoil happening, let us attempt to focus on the positive, and dig through the waiver wire for players that might help you as we approach the beginning of bye weeks. As always, please note that my FAAB recommendations are out of a $100 total budget.
 

Quarterback

Geno Smith (14 percent rostered) - Seattle choosing Smith as their starting quarterback over Drew Lock was a much-scrutinized decision at the end of the preseason, but he has rewarded their choice with his stellar performance so far. Smith has surpassed the 17-point mark in three of the first four games this season, and he has passed for over 300 yards in consecutive weeks. His high completion percentage (78%) has led to few mistakes, and it is obvious to those watching Seattle that he is improving his chemistry with both D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Recommendation: Should be rostered in 14-team leagues or larger as a streaming option for those dealing with injuries or as a bye-week fill-in. Can be acquired for a $5 bid.

Teddy Bridgewater (1 percent rostered) - Tua Tagovailoa's scary concussion on Thursday Night prompted plenty of headlines across the NFL, from internal practices and procedures to the competence of the independent neurologists that the league hired. Though my opinion matters little to Roger Goodell, it is shameful how Miami was allowed to rush him through the concussion protocol and place him in harm's way during Week 4. It remains to be seen how long Tagovailoa will remain out, but Teddy Bridgewater will do his best to keep Miami afloat in the short-term. Bridgewater has a stronger arm, but often refuses to take chances downfield - something that will hurt Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Expect passes to come closer to the line of scrimmage on screens and sweeps.

Recommendation: Should be rostered in 14-team leagues or larger as a streaming option for those dealing with injuries or as a bye-week fill-in. Can be acquired for a $5 bid.

Running Back

Mike Boone (1 percent rostered) - Boone is sure to be the "hot" pickup of the week in competitive formats, as Melvin Gordon was already on a team in over 75 percent of leagues. It is difficult to envision a scenario where Gordon completely dominates touches, given his propensity for putting the ball on the ground. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett has already confirmed as much, criticizing his butter hands and saying that "putting the ball on the ground won't be tolerated". Enter Boone. Primarily known as a pass-catching specialist, Boone struggles in pass-protection, which will limit his early-down workload. I'd expect a 63/35 split in favor of Gordon, with Boone used as the favored third-down option or when the team plays from behind. That role makes him worthy of a stash. Currently I don't expect Denver to bring in additional competition, though the team's beat writers have floated other names, such as D'Ernest Johnson or Phillip Lindsay.

Recommendation: Boone has limited upside behind Gordon, but should be added in 12-team PPR formats or larger as an upside FLEX option. Can be acquired for a $10 bid.

Rachaad White (11 percent rostered) - One of the lone highlights for Tampa Bay during their drubbing at the hands of Kansas City, White saw increased touches as the team attempted to give Leonard Fournette a breather in the second half. It is worth noting that prior to this week, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich indicated that White should see the field more moving forward. His status as a clear-cut handcuff to an RB1 was already valuable, but if the team starts to use him as a James White-esque back for his receiving skills, his outlook becomes much brighter. Fournette's workload has been absurd since joining the team in 2020 - it is worth noting that he has missed multiple games in consecutive seasons. Should Fournette miss any period of time, White is in the same discussion as an Alexander Mattison or Tony Pollard as a plug-and-play option.

Recommendation: White is coming off the best game of his career, even though it was mainly in garbage time. He is an adept receiver and upside handcuff that should be rostered in 14-team leagues or larger. Can be acquired for a $5-$10 bid.

Mark Ingram (21 percent rostered) - To say "Alvin Kamara was a surprise scratch" on Sunday morning is an understatement, as he had logged multiple limited practices throughout the course of the week. No direct explanation was given regarding the sudden decision to rest him, so it can be assumed that either he wasn't healthy or experienced some sort of setback to the rib injury he's been nursing all year. In his stead, Ingram initially received the bulk of backfield touches, before missing some time in the second half. With no clarity given about the health status of Kamara, Fantasy players could do worse than picking up Ingram before a smash matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. The Seahawks just allowed nearly 6 YPC on the ground against Detroit.

Recommendation: This is more of a "wait and see" endorsement than anything else. Fantasy players who are able to get some sort of clarity regarding Kamara's health status can consider Ingram, who has been a FLEX worthy option in the past when given a spot start. Approach with caution. Can be acquired for a $5 bid.

Wide Receiver

Josh Reynolds (10 percent rostered) - Reynolds was thrust into a larger role in Week 4 as Detroit was without both Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark - he responded with a 7/81/1 line on 8 targets, marking his third week in a row with over 10 points in a PPR league. A former teammate of Goff's in Los Angeles, it is evident that Goff trusts his friend, especially around the red zone. I can't guarantee the health status of either St. Brown or Chark for Week 5, but if either were to miss time again, Reynolds would be a FLEX option in deeper formats.

Recommendation: As long as Detroit is behind in games, Goff will keep slinging the rock around the field, and Reynolds will benefit. Should be considered in 14-team leagues or larger as a short-term solution while the Lions deal with injuries and Jameson Williams isn't active yet. Can be acquired for a $5 bid.

Corey Davis (7 percent rostered) - I was shocked to see Davis only rostered in 7 percent of leagues, but here we are. With the New York Jets making the switch back to Zach Wilson under center, Davis immediately becomes more interesting. Wilson pushes the ball down the field much better than Joe Flacco, and Davis was one of his favorite targets last year. Coming off of a 5/74/1 game on a team-high 7 targets, Davis has eclipsed the 13 point mark in PPR formats in three of the first four games, and will be a focal point on a team that will need to throw it early and often to stay competitive.

Recommendation: Davis will need to compete with Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson for targets, but still has a high enough floor to warrant consideration in a 12-team format or larger. Can be acquired for a $5-$10 bid.

George Pickens (37 percent rostered) - Pickens' inclusion on my list has nothing to do with his otherworldly catch from Week 3, but rather who I expect under center for the remainder of the 2022 season. With Pittsburgh "in need of a spark" on offense, head coach Mike Tomlin put in their first-round rookie Kenny Pickett, much to the delight of the crowd. As they came into the league together, Pickens and Pickett have had plenty of time to gel in the preseason, and it is clear that they have a connection on the field. Pickens set a career-high with 6 receptions for 102 yards on 8 targets, primarily coming in the second half after the switch occurred. For the team to stay competitive, I expect Pickett to remain under center - this is one of those "once the bottle is popped, you can't put the genie back in" instances.

Recommendation: Pickens appears to be the apple of Pickett's eye (even more so than Diontae Johnson), making him relevant in 12-team leagues or larger. His elite speed and large catch radius

Wan'Dale Robinson (6 percent rostered) - I've spoken about Robinson for the last three weeks running, and hopefully my followers have been paying attention. Whenever Robinson steps back onto the field for the New York Giants, he instantly becomes their alpha receiver. It feels odd typing that since Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay are still (technically) employed, but anyone with a pulse can see the shortcomings of either player. The current regime hand-selected Robinson as their version of an Isaiah McKenzie - someone who can be placed into multiple roles and exploit the best matchups. Robinson is an adept receiver and running back when given the chance, and should see plenty of touches right away. Think of him as a poor man's Curtis Samuel for the time being. Even though he has failed to impress so far, I think he is one of the most electric rookies at the position.

Recommendation: Robinson's ownership has fallen due to his lingering knee issue that has kept him off the field since Week 1. Don't make the mistake of waiting to pick him up. He should be rostered in 14-team leagues or larger, and will be a PPR flex almost instantly. Can be acquired on the cheap for $5 now, rather than $20 later.

Tight End

Will Dissly (2 percent rostered) - The resurgence of Geno Smith has not only kept Seattle's receiving core afloat, but pushed Dissly into a stream-worthy option at the position. It goes without saying that most teams are struggling at tight end, and any additions made are in the off-chance of a touchdown. Look no further. Dissly's overall volume has been low, but he has found paydirt three times in the first four weeks, and is tied with Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce and T.J. Hockenson for the position lead in scores.

Recommendation: "Big Country" (tip of the cap to the boys over at TheFantasyFootballers for the nickname) has ridden his high-horse into the end zone enough times to catch my eye. At a position that is so dependent upon touchdowns, one could do worse. Can be acquired for next to nothing - a $0-$5 bid should claim him in 14-team leagues.