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 on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column will run every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedules. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.
Players listed/discussed last week: Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Jamaal Williams, Kenyan Drake, Jacquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber, Rod Smith, Josh Gordon, Seth Roberts, Cordarrelle Patterson and Ricky Seals-Jones.
Other pundits will speak differently but considering the merry-go-round that's been the Seattle backfield, look at Barber by a hair over Davis even though they have the same prices. Good luck in the playoffs.
QUARTERBACK
Secondary Targets
Josh McCown, NYJ - Hmm, for some reason he has more than 300 passing yards in each of his last two games with two rushing touchdowns. If this is a playoff week, it's tough to get on board with McCown with two bad matchups on the road (at Denver and at New Orleans). Still, he's been serviceable, though he's likely not the QB who's gotten you to this point. FAAB: $2-$4
RUNNING BACK
Primary Targets
Peyton Barber, TB - In something of a surprise move, Barber, not Jacquizz Rodgers, was announced as the starter shortly before kickoff Sunday
This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column will run every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedules. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.
Players listed/discussed last week: Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Jamaal Williams, Kenyan Drake, Jacquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber, Rod Smith, Josh Gordon, Seth Roberts, Cordarrelle Patterson and Ricky Seals-Jones.
Other pundits will speak differently but considering the merry-go-round that's been the Seattle backfield, look at Barber by a hair over Davis even though they have the same prices. Good luck in the playoffs.
QUARTERBACK
Secondary Targets
Josh McCown, NYJ - Hmm, for some reason he has more than 300 passing yards in each of his last two games with two rushing touchdowns. If this is a playoff week, it's tough to get on board with McCown with two bad matchups on the road (at Denver and at New Orleans). Still, he's been serviceable, though he's likely not the QB who's gotten you to this point. FAAB: $2-$4
RUNNING BACK
Primary Targets
Peyton Barber, TB - In something of a surprise move, Barber, not Jacquizz Rodgers, was announced as the starter shortly before kickoff Sunday for the Buccaneers. Barber was given a full workload, turning 27 touches into 143 yards and last week with Doug Martin out with a concussion. Barber handled the goal-line work as well. While Martin could return as early as this week, the Bucs aren't likely to go back to him, considering he averaged 3.2 YPC this season after averaging 2.9 last season. FAAB: $15-$25
Mike Davis, SEA - The Seattle backfield has been a mess all season, but it's finally getting easier to read the tea leaves. Davis lead the backfield with 16 carries Sunday night and caught all four of his targets. It appears as long as Davis stays healthy he'll be the lead back and third-down work will fall to J.D. McKissic. Davis has a great schedule for the fantasy playoffs as the Jaguars, Rams and Cowboys (especially minus Sean Lee) rank in the bottom third of yards allowed per carry. FAAB: $15-$25
Giovani Bernard, CIN - Joe Mixon left Monday night's game with a concussion and could at least miss this week's game. With Jeremy Hill already on IR, Gio will get the bulk of the work as coach Marvin Lewis' last days wind down. Gio finished Monday night's game with 96 yards from scrimmage, including 5.9 yards per carry against a stout Pittsburgh run defense. He will get as much work as he can handle while Mixon is out. FAAB: $15-$25
Secondary Targets
Kerwynn Williams, D.J. Foster, Elijhaa Penny, ARI - The Cardinals' backfield is a committee with Adrian Peterson out. Williams should continue to get early down carries, Foster will handle passing downs (five targets Sunday) and Penny will be used in short yardage/goal line. The presence of all three hurts the value of each, though Williams might be the most attractive. The return of AP, which could happen this week, will greatly diminish the value of each player. FAAB: Kerwynn, $4-$8; Foster, $2-$4; Penny $1-$2. Go 2x if AP is ruled out early in the week before waivers runs.
WIDE RECEIVER
Secondary Targets
Jermaine Kearse, NYJ - Kearse needs to set aside some of his paycheck to send to Robby Anderson as teams have focused on stopping the speedster the last few games, leaving Kearse open. As a result, Kearse has gone 7-105-1 and 9-157 in his last two games (thank Josh McCown!). As mentioned, the next two games aren't cupcakes for the Jets, but Kearse has shown the ability to produce. FAAB: $3-$6
TIGHT END
Secondary Targets
Dwayne Allen, NE - Rob Gronkowski's suspension will probably hold up (see Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib), meaning New England will have to turn to Allen. He hasn't gotten many opportunities this season, but he could be a great play this week. With Gronk and Chris Hogan (shoulder) likely out, the Patriots might have no choice but to target Allen, especially in the red zone. Just don't expect much after next week. FAAB: $3-$6
