2013 Fantasy Football, Week Six Waiver Wire: Are Alshon Jeffrey and Justin Blackmon Owned?
Welcome to TheFantasyFix.com’s week six fantasy football waiver wire. Injuries are still decimating teams and matchups are becoming easier for us to recognize and exploit. This week the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins are on a bye, meaning those of you with shares of Matt Ryan or Julio Jones could be cruising the wire for some bye week magic. We’ll be looking at players like Alshon Jeffery, Justin Blackmon, Keenan Allen and Percy Harvin in this week’s edition of the waiver wire..
Before we get to this week’s potential waiver wire pickups, it’s important to note that I indicate below each name what type of waiver priority I would use on said player as well as the amount of FAAB I’d be willing to use to acquire their services. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.
Alshon Jeffery | Bears and Justin Blackmon | Jaguars
Blackmon returned from suspension in week five and immediately paid dividends for those who stashed and started him. The second-year receiver hauled in five-of-nine targets for 136 yards and landed in the end zone once. He averaged 27.2 yards/reception — and arguably more impressive, more than 50% of the yards he gained came after the catch (15.6 YAC/reception). The obvious downfall is the fact he plays for Jacksonville. But with Blackmon and Cecil Shorts running routes and Maurice Jones-Drew carrying the rock, defenses may be a bit more likely to spread the respect around. And for fantasy purposes, it can’t hurt that the Jags will often be playing catchup.
Alshon Jeffrey’s target totals have increased from five in week two, to 13 in week five. Being opposite Brandon Marshall — who is often drawing two defenders — can’t do anything but help this number remain somewhat consistent the rest of the way. Against the Saints, Jeffrey and quarterback Jay Cutler connected on 10-of-13 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. His next four opponents? The Giants, Redskins, Packers and Lions — all of whom are among the top twelve friendliest defenses to opposing wide receivers.
Disclaimer: These players needed to be mentioned based on the fact they’re not yet owned in 100% of Y! or ESPN leagues. However, they are likely owned in most, if not all of 12-team and larger formats at this point. If by chance they’re available, have no reservations about using your number one waiver priority on either one.
Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 1 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 50% or more
Players I’d drop for him: Golden Tate, Miles Austin, Sidney Rice
Keenan Allen | Chargers
The rookie out of CAL is turning heads for his ability to separate, his great hands and the quickness he displays after the catch. The Chargers have used Allen on more-and-more snaps each week, peaking with a 100% snap participation in week five’s losing effort to the Raiders. As his snap count increased, so has the amount of targets the former Golden Bear has earned. Phillip Rivers looked the rookie’s way nine times on Sunday night and the two connected on six of said attempts for 115 yards and one touchdown.
Keenan Allen was the only Chargers pass catcher who appeared in each of the team’s offensive snaps in week five. Consider that along with the fact he earned the most targets of any Charger not named Antonio Gates this past week and we could have the makings of a new number one wide receiver target in San Diego.
Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 3 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 20-30%
Players I’d drop for him: Ryan Broyles, Lance Moore, Cordarrelle Patterson
Terrance Williams | Cowboys
A lingering week three hamstring injury has prevented Miles Austin from taking the field. With Austin inactive in week five, Terrance Williams once again shouldered the load once carried by the former. Williams hauled in each of the four passes Tony Romo tossed his way — one of which he broke for 82-yards — totaling 151 yards and one touchdown.
Williams’ work is primarily coming off the line of scrimmage — ten of his 19 targets have been between 0-9 yards according to our friends at ProFootballFocus.com — leading us to believe the Cowboys are leaving the big play opportunities for Dez Bryant. But at any point any point and time, a defensive breakdown or a little shake-and-bake can earn these professionals a pleasant amount of yards after the catch — and even a potential touchdown — like Williams did on Sunday. Continue to ride the hot hand while Austin is sidelined.
Consider in leagues: 12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 10%
Players I’d drop for him: Ryan Broyles, Lance Moore, Cordarrelle Patterson
Garrett Graham | Texans
Garrett Graham potentially earned some ownership in deeper leagues prior to week five, but with the news that Owen Daniels will miss the next four-to-eight weeks with a fractured fibula means that he deserves some more attention.
Through five weeks — and playing in week three — Graham reeled in 15-of-20 targets for 141 yards and three scores. Matt Schaub has been pretty bad thus far, but we know he likes to use his tight ends. If you have a guy on bye or want to deal your Jordan Cameron/Julius Thomas to improve your team’s strengths in other areas, you could do a lot worse than Garrett Graham.
Consider in leagues: 12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: <5%
Players I’d drop for him: Fred Davis,Owen Daniels, Brandon Myers
Austin Pettis | Rams
Pettis landed in the end zone twice in week five, giving the former Boise State Bronco four scores on the season. He’s reeled in 22-of-34 targets for 222 yards through five weeks, making him a legitimate target for fantasy footballers in deeper formats.
Consider in leagues: 12+ teamers
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Kenny Britt, Greg Little, Cordarrelle Patterson
Zac Stacy | Rams
Desperate for a running back and willing to deal with the running back by committee headaches? Then Zac Stacy could be your (bye-week) guy. Stacy appeared on the field for more than 50% of the Rams’ offensive plays in week five and carried the ball 14 times for 78 yards. He failed to score or earn and targets out of the backfield, but averaged 5.5 yards/carry which is definitely encouraging.
Additionally, Jeff Fisher indicated Stacy played well enough to earn a start in week six against the Houston Texans who are allowing more than 20 fantasy points per week to opposing bell-cows.
Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 10-15%
Players I’d drop for him: Ahmad Bradshaw, Mark Ingram, Isaac Redman
Percy Harvin | Seahawks
Harvin returned to practice this week after August’s hip surgery and rehabilitation landed him on the PUP list. Harvin is eligible to return to game action in week seven against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to make the add and stash.
Consider in leagues: 10+ teamers
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 15-20%
Players I’d drop for him: Lance Moore, Kenny Britt, Cordarrelle Patterson
Chad Henne | Jaguars, Nick Foles | Eagles and Mike Glennon | Buccaneers
Henne and the Jaguars may be down by four or more touchdowns at the end of the first quarter against the Broncos in Denver in week six. This could make for three quarters of garbage time scoring with a healthy pass catching duo of Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon. The Broncos are currently yielding close to 26 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers.
Michael Vick injured? Never would’ve guessed. Filling in for the scrambling playmaker, Foles launched 25 passes — connecting on 16 of them — for 197 yards and two scores. The Eagles will face a Tampa defense currently allowing close to 16 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Starting a rookie quarterback in the mess that is the Tampa Bay offense may not be the best and brightest of ideas. But if you’re a Matt Ryan owner, you could do a lot worse (say, Brandon Weeden?) considering the Bucs will be facing an Eagles pass defense surrendering the fifth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks (~26) per game. Mike Glennon is a fine desperation play in week six, especially in the deeper formats.
Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for them: Carson Palmer, Matt Schaub, Brandon Weeden
Philadelphia | D/ST
The Eagles take on the Buccaneers in week six, a team allowing more than ten fantasy points per week to opposing defenses. The Bucs are starting rookie gun-slinger Mike Glennon, which could make for a Philadelphia defensive feast.
Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Atlanta, Miami, New York Giants
Advanced statistics courtesy of our friends at ProFootballFocus.com.
3 Comments
For a bye week fill who do you like better Andy Dalton,Sam Bradford, Matt Cassel, Terrelle Pryor or Geno Smith?
Don’t love any of these options to be honest, but I’d give Pryor a go. Is Chad Henne still available? I think he racks up a ton of garbage points this week.
Joique Bell, Kenbrell Thompkins, or Zac Stacy for flex this week?