With 4 teams on bye in week 5 (Min, Pit, TB, Wash) you may be looking to the waiver wire to fill an open spot in your starting lineup. Here are this weeks top ten waiver adds, players who have dropped from last week’s list due to either lack of production or increase in ownership, and a list of players I would be comfortable dropping today. As always, these are players owned in less than 60% of yahoo leagues.
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Top 10 Waiver Pick-ups:
Michael Floyd WR (57% owned): I know the Cardinals offense is a mess, but Floyd is coming off his best game in 2013 (5-87) and was targeted 10 times by Carson Palmer. Let’s not forget that Floyd ended his rookie season with 14 catches, 213 yards, and a TD over his final two games. Palmer spread the ball around over the first few weeks of the season, but over the last two weeks Floyd is emerging as the clear #2 option in the Cardinals passing game and has the talent to be consistent fantasy producer the rest of the season.
Max FAAB: $17
Alshon Jeffery WR (47%): Alshon has been on this list since week 1 and it was nice to finally see him breakout with 5 catches for 107 yards and a TD. He was very close to scoring two more touchdowns and becoming this weeks #1 add. Jeffery dropped a catchable TD and went out-of-bounds at the 10 after a deep catch with no one in front of him. Since he only had 1 TD, he may still be under the radar enough for you to secure him for a modest bid. It’s clear Cutler trusts him and his targets have increased each of the last 3 weeks (5, 8, 11).
Max FAAB: $15
Danny Woodhead RB (42%): His 2 TDs in week 4 will probably bump Woodhead’s waiver value higher than I am comfortable paying, but if you read this column last week and moved on Woodhead then pat yourself on the back. If you are in a PPR league, break the bank on Woodhead as he is clearly Philip Rivers’ preferred safety valve. Woodhead is averaging just under 6 catches a game over the last 3 weeks and just over 6 carries. He should be a consistent double-digit scorer the rest of the season in PPR leagues. Non-PPR players shouldn’t bother (unless he’s free) as he’s not going to score every week.
Max FAAB: $15 (PPR)
Willis McGahee RB (46%): As expected McGahee was the Browns primary ball carrier and got 15 of the 26 total carriers. He didn’t do much with them (46 yards) and wasn’t involved in the passing game at all (0 targets), but the Browns had a tough matchup vs the Bengals run D (11th in NFL). The Browns also didn’t have any goal-line opportunities, but when they do McGahee should get the ball. Ideally, McGahee would be RB depth on your bench, but I would be OK with him as a flex play when needed.
Max FAAB: $15
Justin Blackmon WR (43%): Another guy you should have moved on last week as he was still a bit under the radar. This week he will be on most waiver lists and should come with a decent price tag. As a Cecil Shorts owner in multiple leagues, it is hard to recommend a Jags WR as long as Blaine Gabbert is under center. Blackmon is worth a stash based on talent alone, but I wouldn’t put him in my lineup until Chad Henne gets the job back.
Max FAAB: $15