2015 Fantasy Football, Week 7 Waiver Wire: Target James Starks
Week six of the National Football League is officially in the books. And with that, fantasy football fans are looking towards the waiver wire to see if their team can be improved in any way.
Before we get to this week’s potential waiver wire pickups, it’s important to note that I WOULD spend my first waiver priority on James Starks if you have it to use. The season isn’t getting any younger, so we don’t want to finish the season with the top waiver priority sitting in our pockets. Use it if you need it, keeping in mind the Packers are on a bye. Also, the other players listed below are in no particular order.
Teams on a bye in week six: Bears, Bengals, Broncos, Packers
James Starks | Packers
Packers’ running back James Starks apparently didn’t know he was going to be the starting in week six until just before the first snap of the game. Seems odd, but the surprise strategy definitely worked for Starks and the Packers in week six. He carried the rock ten times for 112 yards (11.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown, then added a reception on two targets with one score through the air. The duo of Lacy and Starks are pretty equal in terms of touches through six games — 76 and 74, respectively — with Starks producing the most yards from scrimmage. The Packers are on a bye in week seven, so it could provide time for Eddie Lacy to heal up if he were banged up last week, but this feels like a two-headed monster going forward.
Consider in leagues: All
Waiver Priority Worthy: 1 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 50%
Players I’d drop for him: Jamaal Charles, Darren McFadden, DeAngelo Williams
Stefon Diggs | Vikings
The name many expected to hear associated with the term “breaking out” in Minnesota was Charles Johnson. And that could very well still happen once the young pass catcher is healthy enough to get back on the field. But in the meantime, another young receiver on the Vikings is making quite the name for himself. Stefon Diggs is not exactly an unknown. He was one of the top wide receiver recruits coming out of high school when he selected to stay home and attend the University of Maryland over just about every big name school in the country. Diggs struggled to stay healthy himself in college, but over the past three weeks has shown America what all the fuss was about. Diggs is earning his time due to Johnson’s injury, but given what we’ve seen from Stefon in his absence, I have a hard time believing the Vikings’ brass will have him watching games from the sidelines going forward. He’s hauled in 13-of-18 targets for 216 yards in weeks four and six for an average of 16.6 yards per reception. Diggs has only one drop, but has coughed up the ball twice in the last two contests which is a concern.
Consider in leagues: All
Waiver Priority Worthy: 4 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 10%
Players I’d drop for him: Brandon Coleman, Devin Funchess, Nelson Agholor
Christine Michael | Cowboys and Charles Sims | Buccaneers
Reports suggest that Christine Michael has been taking many of the first team reps during the Cowboys’ bye week, meaning the former Seahawk could finally get a chance to show off those freakish athletic skills we’ve all been waiting to see. There are still a lots of mouths to feed in Dallas, so consider Michael a long shot or depth add if you’re stable of ball carriers is on the weaker end.
In PPR formats, Charles Sims becomes an interesting option due to his role in the Bucs passing game. Sims does have 150 yards on 37 carries, but has 14 receptions on 17 targets for 193 yards (13.8 yards per reception) and two scores through the air.
Consider in leagues: 12+ teams
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Devin Funchess, Nelson Agholor, Cole Beasley
Ben Watson | Saints
Journeyman Ben Watson is up to 25 catches on 31 targets and two touchdowns this season for the Saints. Heading into week six, Watson owned a season-high of only five targets (in each of weeks one and five) and averaged just 4.2 targets per week. But 12 targets in week six pushed that average up to 5.5 targets per week. He’s no Rob Gronkowski or Gary Barnidge, but Ben Watson is a fine option in a pass heavy offense for teams singing the bye week blues in leagues of 10 or more.
Consider in leagues: 12+ teams
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 0-5%
Players I’d drop for him: Richard Rodgers, Owen Daniels, Heath Miller
Pittsburgh D/ST
The Steelers take on a Kansas City Chiefs team without superstar running back Jamaal Charles in week seven. The Chiefs have surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points (9.0 per game) to opposing team defenses through six weeks. Week seven should be a good time to run out the Pittsburgh defense should you be looking for a bye week solution.
Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 10 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 0-5%
Players I’d drop for him: Giants, Jaguars, Texans