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.
Another week is in the books and the fantasy playoffs loom in a few weeks for most leagues. The waiver wire is again pretty slim this week with a lot of players coming with some questions. One of the players with a bright future the rest of the way -- Dan Herron -- was profiled in this column last week. If he's still available in your league be aggressive going after him (FAAB: $25-$30) as he's carved out a role in the Colts offense, which might be as their lead back. It was a disappointing week for tight ends as after the elite options few players had noteworthy weeks. Again, there are some players to target on the wire this week; just note the potential red flags for some.
RUNNING BACK
Primary Targets
Latavius Murray, OAK - Murray was headed to being this week's Jonas Gray before a big hit knocked him out of the game with a concussion. Murray had 112 rushing yards on only four carries and found the end zone twice. Perhaps the most impressive part of Murray's game was that he was pulling away from Eric Berry on his 90-yard touchdown run. That's especially impressive considering Berry is 6-foot-3, 225. Murray missed Monday's practice and is in the concussion protocol leaving his status in the air for this week. Still, he should have an expanded role in the offense if he suits up. FAAB: $15-20
LeGarrette Blount, NE - Nothing says Bill Belichick like benching a guy coming off a four-touchdown, 200-yard performance and replacing him with a veteran signed off the street. Blount, familiar with the Patriots offense carried the ball 12 times for 78 yards and two scores against a tough run defense in the Lions. The Patriots backfield is always hard to handicap, and it's likely Jonas Gray is back in the mix this week after being benched due to tardiness to last Friday's practice. FAAB: $12-18
WIDE RECEIVER
Secondary Targets
Jarvis Landry, MIA - Landry was featured here a few weeks ago and continues to see his role grow in the Miami offense. He chalked up two more touchdowns Sunday and has scored in three of his last four games. Landry has at least five catches in each of those four games and his 11 targets Sunday shows that Ryan Tannehill is looking to him often. Despite his recent success he's only owned in approximately a third of all fantasy leagues. FAAB: $5-10
Charles Johnson, MIN - Who? Johnson, the pride of Grand Valley State, was a seventh-round pick by the Packers in 2013 after he ran a 4.39 40 at his school's pro day. Johnson was signed by the Vikings late September off the Browns' practice squad and has come up with big fantasy games the last two weeks. He had 87 receiving yards two games ago and followed that up with 52 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He has 11 and seven targets over those two games and has shown good chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater. FAAB: $4-8
Hail Mary
Stedman Bailey, STL - Bailey has been quiet all season with never getting more than three targets in any game. That all changed Sunday as he had nine targets that turned into seven catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. He had a second touchdown called back due to penalty, and there appears to be a good rapport between Bailey and Shaun Hill. This week he has a nice matchup as the Rams play host to the Raiders at home. FAAB: $1 or FCFS
Donte Moncrief, IND - Moncrief appeared to have a coming out game Week 8 in Pittsburgh only to get buried on the depth chart with the return of Reggie Wayne. It appeared the Colts made an attempt to get Moncrief more involved this week with four targets and a carry. Moncrief played more snaps than teammate Hakeem Nicks and may have surpassed him on the depth chart. He's a good speculative add to your bench in case there's an injury or the Colts show they'll use him more. FAAB: $1 or FCFS
