Postseason Shootout | RealTime Fantasy Sports

Waivering: Week 5

Tue Oct 1 9:14am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Wicks is trending up right now

Injuries continue to mount and now the byes start this week. Fun times, right? Well, that is fantasy football for you. It is never easy. If it was, you would win every season with little effort. So when it comes to the byes, don’t be afraid to take some chances, especially if your bench is weak. You can try a fringe player in a prime matchup and hope it pays off big. And there are a few of those options on our list for this week. Good luck!

QUARTERBACK

Justin Fields, Steelers (59.4% owned). Fields had his best fantasy game of the season let week, scoring 36.1 fantasy points. He has two straight games with 21-plus fantasy points. It really looks like he has earned the starting job in Pittsburgh. And as long as he is starting, he has high weekly potential and should be owned in all formats.

Joe Flacco, Colts (2.5% owned). It seems that Anthony Richardson avoided something too serious but it might not be a surprise if the Colts don’t rush him back. Richardson is struggling right now while Flacco played well in relief of him last week. Flacco was 16-of-26 for 168 yards and two touchdowns. We saw what he did last year in a starting role for the Browns, so the potential for big things is there for Flacco if he gets a few more chances to start.

RUNNING BACK

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (60.3% owned). Hunt dominated the backfield for the Chiefs last week in his first game with the team. He had 16 touches for 85 total yards and scored 10.5 fantasy points. As long as Isaiah Pacheco is out, it looks like Hunt will get a chance to run with the starter’s job in Kansas City.

Jeremy McNichols, Commanders (0.1% owned). McNichols was the No. 2 back last week with Austin Ekeler out. He excelled in that role, finding the end zone two times. As long as Ekeler is sidelined, McNichols has value in this high-powered offense. He should get around double-digit touches in a backup role.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (42.5% owned). Travis Etienne sat a lot more than usual last week, seeing Bigsby get plenty of chances as the lead back. And Bigsby played well once again, rushing seven times for 90 yards. He doesn’t catch passes but has run 21 times for 172 yards this season, averaging an impressive 8.2 yards per carry.

Trey Sermon, Colts (10.4% owned). Starter Jonathan Taylor has an ankle injury and is a little iffy to play right now. He could be up in the air for this week’s game. If Taylor is out, Sermon is the next man up and would have value starting in a good Colts rushing attack. He is worth grabbing, especially if you have Taylor already on your roster.

WIDE RECEIVER

Dontayvion Wicks, Packers (23.6% owned). After not catching a pass in Week 3, Wicks scored two touchdowns last week. He played more after Christian Watson was hurt, leading to five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets. If Watson misses any time, Wicks will have solid fantasy value in an expanded role.

Josh Downs, Colts (35.8% owned). Downs played more in his second game of the season, finishing with eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He is healthy and getting more involved, so he has some weekly potential as the slot receiver in this offense. He is worth a look for teams needing receiver help.

Xavier Legette, Panthers (38.6% owned). With Adam Thielen hurt, Legette got more chances last week and took advantage. Legette had six receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. He also ran twice for 10 yards. Legette is going to have a big role in the offense while Thielen is sidelined.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (47.1% owned). Robinson is a little undervalued right now, being available in a little over half the leagues on our site. He has double-digit fantasy points three of four games. He had a huge game last week, finishing with 11 receptions for 71 yards on 14 targets. The Giants offense is coming to life a little, which is good news for Robinson. He is going to be heavily involved.

Tre Tucker, Raiders (10.1% owned). Tucker has found the end zone two straight games. He has 12 receptions those two games. With Davante Adams hurt, Tucker will play a big role in the Raiders passing game. He has some big-game potential with his chances.

TIGHT END

Cade Otton, Bucs (12.1% owned). Otton had just a catch in Week 1 but has double-digit fantasy points each of his last two games. Otton has 13 receptions for 99 yards on 17 targets his last two games. He has some good spot start value for fantasy teams at the thin tight end position.

Tucker Kraft, Packers (9.5% owned). Kraft scored his first touchdown of the season last week, catching six passes for 53 yards and a score on nine targets. Kraft has multiple catches every game this season. He is another tight end that has some spot start potential in a good passing game.

Taysom Hill, Saints (37.1% owned). Hill had to leave the game early because of an abdomen injury last week but had two rushing touchdowns before leaving. He is the ultimate boom or bust play but when he scores, he can really help fantasy teams. When Hill gets healthy, he can help fantasy teams when games when he is finding the end zone.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Waivering: Week 5

The Paur Report