Jack Brickman
Hall-of-Famer
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- Aug 12, 2012
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Through five weeks, can anyone honestly tell me if there is a single good team in the AFC North? The Browns crushed the Ravens and limped to victory against the lowly Jets, but are coming fresh off a prime time ass-whooping at the hands of the still undefeated 49ers. The Ravens beat two of the worst teams in football and the Steelers, who might suck. The Steelers lone win came against another of the worst teams in the NFL, the sad sack Bengals. About the only team I am sure on is the Bengals, and I am sure they blow.
So much has changed in a year. The once-mighty Ravens defense is in shambles. The potent Browns offense of last season's second half is nowhere to be found this year, at least outside of the Ravens massacre (which was a garbage time score away from being a 22 point victory). The Steelers are stumbling onward without Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, or Le'Veon Bell, their three franchise mainstays of the past half-decade. The Bengals suck. Well, okay, not everything has changed.
The rest of this season is going to be very interesting for this once-mighty division. The Browns are 2-3 but still absolutely have a shot to win it, as does every other team but the Bengals. The outcomes of the divisional games are going to be huge for the eventual division winner.
But now it's time for this week's waiver targets.
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Waiver Wire QB Targets:
Gardner Minshew, QB JAC - Minshew continues to impress as the quarterback of the Jags, and has been remarkably consistent as a fantasy player, scoring between 18 and 25 points in every game thus far this season. His next four games come against teams that are all in the bottom half of the league in giving up points to fantasy quarterbacks.
Kirk Cousins, QB MIN - Cousins has probably long since been dropped in your league, and with good reason. However, if Minnesota continues to throw the ball in an effort to keep their two star receivers happy, he could be a nice pick-up to cover a bye week as he takes on a bad Eagles secondary this week.
Sam Darnold, QB NYJ - Darnold returns from his brief bout with mono this week, and you definitely shouldn't be adding him as a streaming option given the upcoming schedule where he faces off against the Cowboys and Patriots. However, he might be worth a speculative add based on just how good he was to end last season. If you've got an extra roster spot in a deeper league and your QB situation isn't ideal, he's an option.
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Waiver Wire RB Targets:
Jon Hilliman, RB NYG - With Saquon Barkley likely still out and Wayne Gallman in concussion protocol, it's next man up in New York! I honestly didn't even know John Hilliman existed until Sunday, but any starting RB is worth an add in fantasy.
Chase Edmonds, RB ARI - Edmonds has seen an increase in each of the past three weeks. While I don't imagine David Johnson misses any time with the back injury he's been dealing with, Edmonds is at least worth looking into. He's a good pick up in deeper leagues if you're weak at RB.
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Waiver Wire WR Targets:
Keke Coutee, WR HOU - Coutee finally had a decent game on Sunday against the Falcons, and if Kenny Stills misses more time, he could be in line for another solid performance when the Texans face off against the Chiefs this weekend.
Robby Anderson, WR NYJ - Anderson has likely been dropped in a lot of leagues, which just seems like madness to me given the pick you likely invested to draft him. He's been without starting quarterback Sam Darnold for weeks now and has faced an absolutely brutal slate of opposing cornerback match-ups. Darnold returns this week, and while it might be a few weeks before Anderson pays true dividends, I'd be grabbing him before it's too late.
Preston Williams, WR MIA - Williams is an intriguing option in leagues where you really need a bye week fill-in, as the Dolphins match up against the lowly Redskins secondary in what will undoubtedly be an unwatchable mess. I wouldn't be bothering with him unless you actually need a spot starter, though. The Dolphins don't get to play the Skins every week, after all.
Byron Pringle, WR KC - Pringle blew up on Sunday night with Sammy Watkins inactive. If Watkins misses any more time, Pringle is absolutely worth a start in fantasy, although he will likely lose all of his value when Watkins returns.
Zay Jones, WR OAK - Jones was just traded to a receiver-needy Raiders team. He probably won't produce right away, but he's worth a speculative add in deeper leagues.
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Waiver Wire TE Targets:
Chris Herndon. TE NYJ - Herndon returns from his four-game suspension this weekend, and many owners have likely forgotten all about him. Don't be one of them, as he played very well last year and could absolutely continue that this season.
Gerald Everett, TE LAR - Everett has seen his targets spike considerably the past two weeks. It's impossible to know if that is a blip or a trend at this point, but he's a nice option if your team is really hurting at TE.
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I'll be back on Thursday night with this week's Start/Sit column.
So much has changed in a year. The once-mighty Ravens defense is in shambles. The potent Browns offense of last season's second half is nowhere to be found this year, at least outside of the Ravens massacre (which was a garbage time score away from being a 22 point victory). The Steelers are stumbling onward without Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, or Le'Veon Bell, their three franchise mainstays of the past half-decade. The Bengals suck. Well, okay, not everything has changed.
The rest of this season is going to be very interesting for this once-mighty division. The Browns are 2-3 but still absolutely have a shot to win it, as does every other team but the Bengals. The outcomes of the divisional games are going to be huge for the eventual division winner.
But now it's time for this week's waiver targets.
---
Waiver Wire QB Targets:
Gardner Minshew, QB JAC - Minshew continues to impress as the quarterback of the Jags, and has been remarkably consistent as a fantasy player, scoring between 18 and 25 points in every game thus far this season. His next four games come against teams that are all in the bottom half of the league in giving up points to fantasy quarterbacks.
Kirk Cousins, QB MIN - Cousins has probably long since been dropped in your league, and with good reason. However, if Minnesota continues to throw the ball in an effort to keep their two star receivers happy, he could be a nice pick-up to cover a bye week as he takes on a bad Eagles secondary this week.
Sam Darnold, QB NYJ - Darnold returns from his brief bout with mono this week, and you definitely shouldn't be adding him as a streaming option given the upcoming schedule where he faces off against the Cowboys and Patriots. However, he might be worth a speculative add based on just how good he was to end last season. If you've got an extra roster spot in a deeper league and your QB situation isn't ideal, he's an option.
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Waiver Wire RB Targets:
Jon Hilliman, RB NYG - With Saquon Barkley likely still out and Wayne Gallman in concussion protocol, it's next man up in New York! I honestly didn't even know John Hilliman existed until Sunday, but any starting RB is worth an add in fantasy.
Chase Edmonds, RB ARI - Edmonds has seen an increase in each of the past three weeks. While I don't imagine David Johnson misses any time with the back injury he's been dealing with, Edmonds is at least worth looking into. He's a good pick up in deeper leagues if you're weak at RB.
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Waiver Wire WR Targets:
Keke Coutee, WR HOU - Coutee finally had a decent game on Sunday against the Falcons, and if Kenny Stills misses more time, he could be in line for another solid performance when the Texans face off against the Chiefs this weekend.
Robby Anderson, WR NYJ - Anderson has likely been dropped in a lot of leagues, which just seems like madness to me given the pick you likely invested to draft him. He's been without starting quarterback Sam Darnold for weeks now and has faced an absolutely brutal slate of opposing cornerback match-ups. Darnold returns this week, and while it might be a few weeks before Anderson pays true dividends, I'd be grabbing him before it's too late.
Preston Williams, WR MIA - Williams is an intriguing option in leagues where you really need a bye week fill-in, as the Dolphins match up against the lowly Redskins secondary in what will undoubtedly be an unwatchable mess. I wouldn't be bothering with him unless you actually need a spot starter, though. The Dolphins don't get to play the Skins every week, after all.
Byron Pringle, WR KC - Pringle blew up on Sunday night with Sammy Watkins inactive. If Watkins misses any more time, Pringle is absolutely worth a start in fantasy, although he will likely lose all of his value when Watkins returns.
Zay Jones, WR OAK - Jones was just traded to a receiver-needy Raiders team. He probably won't produce right away, but he's worth a speculative add in deeper leagues.
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Waiver Wire TE Targets:
Chris Herndon. TE NYJ - Herndon returns from his four-game suspension this weekend, and many owners have likely forgotten all about him. Don't be one of them, as he played very well last year and could absolutely continue that this season.
Gerald Everett, TE LAR - Everett has seen his targets spike considerably the past two weeks. It's impossible to know if that is a blip or a trend at this point, but he's a nice option if your team is really hurting at TE.
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I'll be back on Thursday night with this week's Start/Sit column.
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