While still in the midst of the Bye Week blizzard, the playoff push is upon us and is only getting more intense as these final three weeks of the regular season loom closer. If the playoffs are still in grasp for any of your fantasy football teams, then the divots at each position on your roster you’re most likely well aware of (should you have any).
This means it’s time to start busting out any of those FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) dollars you may have remaining and get some timely waiver claims in to fill those positional potholes. Because there’s no time quite like the fantasy playoffs and you don’t want to be the one to miss the cut should you have the opportunity to seize in front of you. And in case you’re new to this article series, all players addressed as a potential waiver pickup are under 55-percent owned in Yahoo Fantasy Football leagues.
Kyle Allen, QB (CAR, 15% Ownership)
With Cam Newton recently placed on season-ending Injured Reserve, the Carolina Panthers placed their stake for their playoff push in second-year backup Kyle Allen. And if you’re in need of a quarterback, he’s likely available in your league being only 15-percent owned in all Yahoo leagues. While Allen doesn’t necessarily prove consistent monster fantasy numbers week-to-week, his poor performances were against tough opponents and he’s shown he can sling the rock. In Week 10, he put up his first 300-yard passing performance of the season against the Packers in a loss which came down to the final goal line play that faltered upon Christian McCaffrey being stopped short.
Reaching performances of up to four passing touchdowns (such as his Week 3 introduction to the season), Kyle Allen has proven plenty of merit toward casting your confidence in as a bye week crutch should you have a Russell Wilson on your roster. In Week 11, he’s got the bottom-of-the-barrel Atlanta Falcons secondary at home in Bank of America Stadium.
Darius Slayton, WR (NYG, 10% Ownership)
Hate to beat a dead horse, nor be one to clamor on with “I Told You So” rhetoric. But when it comes to the significance of fantasy free agent Darius Slayton, I’m afraid I’ll be doing both. Following a performance of ten receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Jets, it will be difficult to fly under anyone’s radar at this point.
Although he has proven a volatile talent in regards to fantasy purposes considering his high ceiling and staggering low floor, Darius Slayton is an excellent stash candidate for a run through the fantasy playoffs given his favorable matchups in Weeks 14 through 16: at the Eagles, home versus the Dolphins, and at the Redskins. Slayton is on a bye in Week 11, but I think should you snag Slayton for the fantasy playoffs if you see any position player on your roster who has a rough matchup slated in that time period.
Derrius Guice, RB (WAS, 36% Ownership)
Much as I had recently mentioned in the Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups, running backs are down to a scrap heap in most leagues. Which ultimately means if you’re hurting at this position, the desperation has pushed aside most of your general skepticisms at this point in your willingness to look at the open market. And beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to waiver wire backfield additions this late in the season, which makes the return of Derrius Guice somewhat appealing to a playoff-hopeful fantasy team in need.
Facing difficult matchups in his brief appearance during the 2019 season prior to injury, Guice now has the remainder of the season to show off any of his on-field prowess in the snaps that the Redskins choose to include him in. This element will be making Guice a risky start each week, but given the current availability of other talent at the position (or lack thereof), there’s a ceiling potential here I wouldn’t mind stashing him for as a flex candidate should he have a more promising matchup than the rest of your bench candidates.
Derrius Guice’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield make him an even more enticing pickup in any PPR formats as well. Washington’s plan was to make him an every-down back, and the rest of the season may vie as a perfect trial to the Redskins’ investment in Guice.
Kyle Rudolph, TE (MIN, 34% Ownership)
Don’t look now but Kyle Rudolph has returned to his 2016-17 form! And while the overall percentage of snap involvement has dwindled from above 90% through the first six weeks down under 80% in weeks since, apparently less is more for Rudolph in that case as he’s hauled in all four of his touchdowns across these past four weeks of action.
Since Week 7, Rudolph is averaging nearly five targets per game as well as increased involvement in the red zone. And speaking of which: Kyle Rudolph is now by far the Vikings’ leading target-getter in the red zone (over 32%), being that he was already holding that title prior to Minnesota’s road win in Dallas Sunday night in Week 10 and ended up with two touchdown catches in that victory. This would likely put him up to about 50% of Vikings red zone target distribution.
If tight end is where you’re lacking as you grind out the last of the 2019 fantasy regular season, Kyle Rudolph should handily fill that void for your team.
Other Waiver Wire Candidates:
Daniel Jones, QB (NYG, 37%)
Darren Fells, TE (HOU, 43%)
Hunter Renfrow, WR (OAK, 10%)
Mike Gesicki, TE (MIA, 41%)
Will Fuller V, WR (HOU, 53%)
Ryan Tannehill, QB (TEN, 33%)
T.J. Hockenson, TE (DET, 53%)
Alexander Mattison, RB (MIN, 29%)
Peyton Barber, RB (TB, 27%)
Demaryius Thomas, WR (NYJ, 8%)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (MIA, 11%)
Adam Humphries, WR (TEN, 6%)
J.D. McKissic, RB (DET, 21%)
