In a 2020 season riddled with injuries, it is even more vital that we, as fantasy owners, ensure that in the case of an injury we have good depth. Picking up the right guys on the waiver wire can make you win your league. In 2017, picking up Alvin Kamara may have seemed crazy to some and yet he finished as the RB3. The waiver wire is where leagues are won and I am here to give suggestions on intriguing fantasy options. For every player on this list, the ownership is below 50% on ESPN. Depending on how active or knowledgable your league is, these players may or may not be available however I tried to put some guys that will definitely be on the waiver wire in your league. Now let’s dive into this week’s pick ups.
Running Back to Target:
Zack Moss: 41% owned
Moss has had an inconsistent role in 2020 leading to many games with less than ten total touches. However, at this stage of this season finding a player who can get 81 rushing yards in a game, as Moss did against the Broncos this past Saturday, can be very difficult. I think Moss is most certainly worth the pickup if you really need a running back to start. Moss had more carries than fellow back Devin Singletary which could mean more touches in the future. He’s worth a spot on your bench at the very least.
Ito Smith: 2% owned
I will be honest when I say I haven’t seen too much of Ito Smith this year. I do know that he was just declared the starting running back of the Falcons over Todd Gurley. Similar to Moss, you aren’t going to find many starting running backs on the waiver wire. Smith can be a very valuable flex piece and even your starting running back if your team needs it. I think he has some solid touchdown upside given this high-flying offense. Look for him to be a quality fantasy player the next couple of weeks.
Salvon Ahmed: 22% owned
Ahmed was explosive against the Patriots on Sunday rushing for a career high 122 yards not to mention a touchdown. The impressive part of the day was how he had a team-leading 23 rush attempts. Ahmed clearly has a big role in this offense and if Gaskin is still injured then Ahmed could have a great day against an awful Raiders defense. I think that Ahmed is a must-pickup and can be an RB2 given his opportunity and how poor his opponent is for the upcoming week.
Wide Receivers to Target:
Allen Lazard: 26% owned
Lazard has not done a ton since returning from his injury, but he just had his biggest game since the injury with five receptions for 55 yards. Lazard is a very solid and reliable flex option if you need one. I think he provides some depth in case an injury happens during your playoff game as well. Lazard can give you touchdown production too given his 6’5 frame and I think that he is getting healthier by the game.
Keke Coutee: 41% owned
Please pick Coutee up. He can win you your league. He is coming off a 5 catch performance in which he had 53 yards and a touchdown. Coutee is the spark your team needs to finish off its great season. Coutee had a touchdown the week prior not to mention his nine reception game for 141 yards just two weeks ago. I love Coutee and would be shocked if he was still available next week. Get Coutee while you can. He is what your team needs to be declared victorious.
Russell Gage: 21% owned
Gage has been spectacular since Julio Jones went down with an injury. Gage has had over 50 yards in each of the past three games with touchdowns in the last two. He has established himself as the clear WR2 in the Falcons’ offense which means he will have a ton of targets. This offense is very productive and I would expect Gage to put up low-end WR2 numbers the rest of the season. He is the perfect pickup to finish out your postseason run. He and Ryan clearly have a great connection.
Jalen Reagor: 16% owned
We all love to make fun of Philly for passing on Justin Jefferson but let’s not forget how productive Reagor has been this year for a rookie. He has 34+ yards in four out of the last five games and has four or more targets in five out of the last six. Philly wants him involved in the offense and I think he is a very solid flex value player at this stage of the season. He is certainly worth the pickup and with Jalen Hurts playing as well as he is the Jalen-Jalen connection could be quite lethal in the last couple of games. Especially with a great matchup against the Cowboys this weekend.
Tight Ends to Target:
Irv Smith Jr.: 7% owned
Tight end can be very weak on the waiver wire this late in the season so a guy like Irv Smith Jr. can be a solid fill-in tight end at this point. He had 63 yards and a touchdown a week ago and had a solid three receptions for 37 yards this past Sunday against the Bears. Don’t have high expectations with Smith Jr. but he can be an okay fill-in if you really, really need a tight end.