After an eventful start in the waiver realm, this week may not live up to the previous weeks. By now most relevant players are owned, and unless a team suffers an injury, big games are possible flukes. This forces fantasy owners to be mindful of the situation and volume of their pickups.
Here are my waiver wire pickups for this week.
Rex Burkhead– The Patriots backfield is always a question mark; touchdowns and passing work can go to any of the four backs on the roster. In Week 3 with James White out for family reasons, Burkhead was the guy. He took six carries for 49 yards and two scores and added seven catches for 49 yards and another score. This compares to Sony Michel, the second-highest scoring Pats back, who, despite not receiving any goal line work, still managed to rush for 117 yards. The difference between the two is that Burkhead received much more volume. In the situations that counted, Burkhead was on the field. In fact he was in the backfield for 46 percent of snaps. In no way am I claiming that Burkhead is the guy in New England, but he is worth a pickup and possibly a flex play.
Scoville Units: Habanero- 275,000
Carlos Hyde– With Chris Carson potentially out, in steps Carlos Hyde. During the Seahawks Week 3 game against the Cowboys, Carson suffered a knee sprain, and luckily he injured no ligaments. While this is a best-case scenario, it does still leave Carson out one to two weeks or limited this week at a minimum. Hyde will be able to handle that role sufficiently. Coming up against the Dolphins, look for him to be a good week-to-week flex play.
Scoville Units: Tabasco- 45,000
Jeff Wilson Jr.– Raheem Mostert is still questionable this week against the Eagles and leaning towards doubtful, Tevin Coleman is still on the IR and Jeff Wilson just scored two touchdowns. While I still feel that Jerick McKinnon is the better back on the 49ers, Wilson’s touchdowns definitely make him playable and roster-able. Coming up against the Eagles this week, Wilson could easily get in the end zone.
Scoville Units: Banana Pepper- 500
Greg Ward– The Eagles offense has been a train wreck all year aside from Jake Elliot and Miles Sanders. Carson Wentz has not looked like the old Wentz we are used to, and not many receiving options have emerged. The only Eagles receiver that is intriguing is Greg Ward. I have been high on Ward since the latter part of last year. I chalk this up to my love for converted QBs. I have been a fan of Braxton Miller, Terrelle Pryor, and, of course, Julian Edelman. Will Ward be the next in this group? I sure hope. In Week 3, Ward caught 8 catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. With volume like that, he could become the only relevant Eagles wideout.
Scoville Units: Cayenne Pepper- 50,000
Braxton Berrios– I know what you are thinking, a Jets and an Eagles receiver is this real? Yes, yes, it is. With Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims all still out, Berrios has stepped in and feasted. In back-to-back weeks Berrios has caught a touchdown and upwards of 50 receiving yards. With no competition for volume, Berrios should continue to produce.
Scoville Units: Thai Pepper- 100,000
Justin Jefferson– Finally, Justin Jefferson has arrived and hopefully for good. After putting up sub double digits in both of the first two weeks, he exploded for seven catches, 175 yards and a touchdown. When the Vikings drafted Jefferson, it seemed like the perfect Stefon Diggs replacement, crisp routes, good hands and plenty of polished skills. This comparison is what makes me extremely excited for Jefferson. Fluke? I think not.
Scoville Units: Carolina Reaper- 2,200,000
Tee Higgins– There is a new 85 in Cincinnati and his name is Tee Higgins. Is he the second coming of Ochocinco? No, but Higgins has been a popular target for Joe Burrow. Over the last two weeks, he has received six and nine targets, respectively. Along with this, Higgins caught two touchdowns this week. With A.J. Green far from his former self, look for Higgins to continue to emerge.
Scoville Units: Ghost Pepper- 1,041,000
Dalton Schultz– Last week, our own @michaelsicoli2 told you to sit Dalton Schultz. This week I am telling you to seek him out on the wire. The problem for Schultz is that the Cowboys have too many mouths to feed, between Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Gallup, Ceedee Lamb, and apparently Cedric Wilson, only so many of them can get the ball. The positive is that none of those players are tight ends. Schultz still received six targets and because of his lackluster four catches for 48 yards, he might not be the toughest to add. The Cowboys are a high flying offense, so if you are looking for a tight end, Schultz is definitely worth a play.
Scoville Units: Serrano Pepper- 23,000
