This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.
This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based upon both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column is posted every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedule. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.
Week 5 saw the last of the unbeatens go down as the Patriots and Broncos bounced back to take down the last two undefeated teams. The waiver wire is interesting this week from a running back perspective as once again injuries create opportunities. Two of those opportunities will fall upon rookies Branden Oliver and Andre Williams who each had good Week 5 showings. If you need help at running back, this is the week to spend your money or blow your top waiver priority.
QUARTERBACK
Primary Targets
Austin Davis, STL - Davis is an obvious add at the position this week after posting his second consecutive game of at least 327 passing yards with three touchdowns. Davis has a legit No. 1 wide receiver in Brian Quick, two decent tight ends in Jared Cooks and Lance Kendricks and Kenny Britt has started contributing as well. All the numbers suggest Davis is going to be a good quarterback in this league as his 7.9 YPA and 282 passing yards per game (including a partial Week 1) are both seventh in the league. With Zac Stacy banged up and the running game not overly effective, the Rams may roll with a pass-happy offense. FAAB: $10-14
Running BACK
Primary Targets
Andre Williams, NYG - Williams is owned roughly in half of all formats and will get the chance to show why the Giants selected him with their fourth-round pick. A bruising running back who runs downhill, Williams shouldered a huge workload and was the focal point of the Boston College offense last year. Williams had an impressive three-game stretch toward the end of last season when he had 897 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Many questioned his receiving ability, but he caught both targets Sunday for 18 yards. Rashad Jennings has already been ruled out this week, and if Williams is successful the Giants can take their time bringing him back. With his pedigree and the Giants moving the ball effectively in the Ben McAdoo offense, Williams is the top waiver add, if he's available. FAAB: $40-60
Branden Oliver, SD - Oliver was mentioned in this column a couple weeks ago once Danny Woodhead was placed on IR and he moved up the depth chart a spot. Oliver got a big opportunity yesterday after Donald Brown left the game and looked very impressive. He was able to break tackles, showed a good burst of speed and ran by defenders in the open field. Oliver finished the day with 182 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown against a team thought to have a stout run defense. It's unknown how long Brown will be out, and Ryan Mathews is probably 2-3 weeks from returning. If those two miss time, Shaun Draughn (forth $1 or FSCS) will spell Oliver and get 5-10 touches per game. It appears that Oliver will be the main Chargers running back this week and has an excellent matchup against the Raiders. FAAB: $35-50
Ronnie Hillman, DEN - The groin injury to Montee Ball will keep him sidelined for the next few weeks and makes Hillman the de facto starter for Denver. He managed 65 rushing yards on 14 carries after Ball left the game, though he's never averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in either of his first two seasons in the league. It'll be interesting to see if Hillman can get the ground game going after Ball struggled early this season or if the offensive line isn't that good at run-blocking. C.J. Anderson who was inactive Sunday and rookie Juwan Thompson (three carries, 15 yards and a touchdown) will get some touches and the latter could be used as the goal-line back. They'll face a Jets defense that had been good against the run before their debacle in San Diego. FAAB: $30-45
Secondary Targets
Storm Johnson, JAC - Johnson finally got his first carry of the season Sunday and broke off a nice 20-yard run in the game against Pittsburgh. He's the perfect player to stash on your bench who could emerge the next couple weeksin a similar fashion as Jerick McKinnon or Branden Oliver. The Jaguars are already in the middle of a lost season, and Gus Bradley could be looking for a backfield spark with the lack of production they've gotten so far. If there's any caution here, Johnson put the ball on the ground too much in college and pass protection is always a concern for rookies. Still, he has a lot of upside if he gets a shot at being the feature back. FAAB: $3-6
Wide Receivers
Secondary Targets
Kenny Britt, STL - Britt appears to have formed some chemistry with Austin Davis and has put together back-to-back relevant fantasy games. He has 68 and 69 receiving yards in his last two games and found the end zone for the first time in a year and a half Sunday. While it seems like he's been around forever, Britt just turned 26 and should see single coverage as teams double Brian Quick. FAAB: $4-8
Corey Fuller, DET - It looks as though Calvin Johnson could be out this week if the Lions take the cautious route with their superstar. Fuller and teammate Jeremy Ross would both see an uptick in targets should Johnson be held out. Fuller appears to have more upside and has 4.43 forty speed to help stretch the defense. Both Fuller and Ross should see single coverage with Golden Tate attracting the safety to his side of the field. FAAB: $3-6
Hail Mary
Travis Benjamin, CLE - Brian Hoyer (only one interception, 7.6 YPA) has quietly been impressive this season when you consider the lack of receiving options at his disposal. It appears he's going to spread the ball around between Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins and Benjamin who found the end zone twice Sunday in the Browns' historic comeback. It's hard to expect consistent production from Benjamin week to week, but he might earn some more targets from Hoyer after his Sunday performance.
FAAB: $2-4
TIGHT END
Secondary Targets
Tim Wright, NE - Wright looked fantastic Sunday night, catching all five of his targets for 85 yards and finding the end zone for the first time this season. New England utilized both him and Rob Gronkowski heavily in the passing game in two-tight end sets and the solution to the passing game's struggles should be to continue that. Wright has also likely grasped the New England offense by now, something that was an unrealistic expectation at the beginning of the season. Wright should have a bigger role, and should Rob Gronkowski get injured again, his stock would skyrocket. FAAB: $4-8
Hail Mary
Ben Watson, NO - Jimmy Graham's owners will be nervous the next few days until the Saints determine the severity of his shoulder injury. The timing is good for said owners and the Saints as they're one of two teams (Kansas City) on bye this week. If Graham misses time Watson will slide into his role and benefit from Drew Brees' tendency to target his tight ends. Watson turned in a decent performance after Graham left and finished with five catches for 43 yards. Obviously there's a huge discrepancy between the talent of Graham and Watson, but a tight end in the Sean Payton system with Brees under center is one of the more ideal situations in the league. FAAB: $2-4
