No matter how well you thought you drafted, fantasy football is ultimately a war of attrition. Do you have what it takes to survive injuries, bye weeks, and, special for this season, postponed or cancelled games? Some weeks this season it may be difficult to put together a complete starting lineup, let alone one that has a chance of winning. So you turn to the waiver wire and you ask around about potential trades.
For a bye week or one week injury fill-in, rely on the waiver wire. Tons of people stream a position or two as is, and you can hopefully add a key player for that week without sacrificing anything major. Some people try to trade for a player they will only need for one week, hoping that they’ll be able to flip that player for someone else afterwards. That doesn’t work out very often, and that one week fill-in just takes up space on your bench or you drop them.
Of course fantasy football is all about winning each individual week, so there may occasionally be one week fill-in trades that are worth your while. You give up someone on your bench you’d never play for a useful player for that week and they help you win. But never give up anything significant for a player you will only use once. You shouldn’t ever give up on a week, but you also don’t want to sacrifice so much of your team’s future that you are left worse off even if you have one more win.
Trades are about making moves that will help you this week and for the rest of the season. While you can find a gem through mining the waiver wire, you’re a lot more likely to make your team better through a trade. People often try to just trade for quality but sometimes quantity can help. Depending on the state of your team, maybe you’re lacking depth, quantity could help you fill some gaps and give you more pieces to flip in a better trade.
The most important thing with trading is to be open to anything. Everyone is available for the right price. If you get offered Miles Sanders, James Robinson, and DK Metcalf (or something like that) for Alvin Kamara you’d have to seriously consider it. No one is ever off limits in fantasy football trades.
Until someone sends you an insanely awesome trade offer, keep checking the waiver wire, and this column, to help you navigate this crazy season.
Start
QB: Ben Roethlisberger (vs CLE) – There are plenty of reasons to think Roethlisberger can have a great performance this week, starting with the matchup. The Browns have allowed multiple touchdown passes by every quarterback they’ve faced, except for Philip Rivers this past week who had zero, and that includes Dwayne Haskins. Dak Prescott even threw for 502 yards against them. Big Ben has been getting the ball out fairly quickly so far this season, but he should have plenty of time this week as Cleveland has struggled to generate a consistent pass rush. The veteran quarterback should be able to take advantage of the less than stellar Browns defense. Roethlisberger is completing 69.9% of his passes so far this season, which would be the best completion percentage of his career. He has thrown for multiple touchdowns in every game, adding up to 10 total touchdowns through four games, and just one interception. Yes, Roethlisberger isn’t going deep as often as he used to, but he has a slew of pass catchers who can make things happen after the catch. Chase Claypool just has a breakout week and joins JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington to form a fearsome receiving corp. Eric Ebron has also been a reliable option for Big Ben, along with James Conner and other running backs out of the backfield. With the talent around him and a plus matchup, expect big things from Roethlisberger in Week 6.
Also consider: Kirk Cousins (vs ATL) – If you’re desperate for a bye week fill in, Cousins has the best matchup in football, and might throw more if Dalvin Cook is out. Matthew Stafford (@ JAX) – With Kenny Golloday healthy Stafford’s ceiling has risen, and the Jaguars defense isn’t exactly formidable.
RB: David Montgomery (@ CAR) – With Tarik Cohen out, volume has kept Montgomery’s fantasy value afloat. He hasn’t been efficient but the sophomore back seems to be guaranteed around 15 touches per game, which should give him a high-end flex/low-end RB2 floor most weeks. Montgomery is even finally getting work in the passing game, seven catches this past week and 14 targets over the last two games, which helps to solidify his scoring floor. It was tough sledding on the ground the past two weeks for Montgomery, but the Colts and the Buccaneers are two of the top run defenses in the league. This week has the makings of a breakout for Montgomery. Carolina has allowed over 100 yards rushing and at least one rushing touchdown in four of five games so far this season. Stopping the run is really the biggest flaw in the Panthers defense. They’re also allowing over eight catches and almost 69 yards receiving to running backs. Unless the Bears bring in another running back, keep an eye on Le’Veon Bell, Montgomery will remain a workhorse and a viable starter in your fantasy lineup.
Also consider: Ronald Jones (vs GB) – Jones is the guy for Tampa Bay, and it might be for real this time, plus the Packers are awful against the run. Adrian Peterson and D’Andre Swift (@ JAX) – Against a porous Jaguars run defense Peterson should have a good game, and Swift could be a solid flex in PPR leagues.
WR: Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks (@ TEN) – While Fuller is both a safer play and a higher upside play than Cooks, both of the Texans top wide receivers have a good chance to help your fantasy team. Each of the past three weeks the Titans have allowed opposing wide receivers to accumulate over 200 yards receiving and at least one touchdown. Fuller has scored a touchdown each of the past three weeks, going for over 100 yards one of those weeks and eclipsing 50 yards in the other two. Cooks is coming off his best game of the season, eight catches for 161 yards and a score, and tallied 95 yards receiving in Week 2. Tennessee has allowed at least one opposing wide receiver to eclipse 50 yards receiving in every game so far, and allowed Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley to go over 50 yards this past week, along with Stefon Diggs’ 106 yards. It wouldn’t be surprising to see both of Houston’s dynamic receivers produce. Cooks and Fuller, as well as their quarterback, may also benefit from the absence of Bill O’Brien. In Houston’s first game without their former head coach, Deshaun Watson had his best passing game of the season, as did Cooks, and Fuller continued to be productive. While we can’t say for sure that that production was because O’Brien was fired, those performances were certainly a good sign. Against a lackluster Titans pass defense, you should feel good rolling both Cooks (as a flex with upside) and Fuller (as a WR2 with upside) out this week.
Also consider: Julian Edelman (vs DEN) – It’s tough to trust any Patriots pass catcher if Cam Newton is out but Edelman is always the safest option and the Broncos secondary isn’t scaring anyone. Justin Jefferson (vs ATL) – Yup, the Falcons secondary also stinks, don’t let this past week scare you off of Jefferson in a game that could see the Vikings rely more on the pass.
TE: T.J. Hockenson (@ JAX) – A two catch, nine yard, and a touchdown outing in Week 4 may have you hesitating about starting Hockenson but you shouldn’t worry. That was the first time this season Hockenson has had less than four catches and 50 yards in a game, and it was his second touchdown of the season. The volume hasn’t always been there, just one game with over five targets, but the production has, he averaged over 13 yards per reception in the first three games. Coming off the bye, Hockenson has a good chance to get his sophomore campaign back on track in Week 6. Through five weeks Jacksonville has allowed solid outings to the likes of Jack Doyle, Drew Sample, and Darren Fells. They held Mike Gesicki to just one catch but that catch was a 15 yard touchdown. The Jaguars were also torched by Jonnu Smith to the tune of four catches, 84 yards, and two touchdowns. It isn’t easy to find a reliable tight end in fantasy football, so when you do don’t hesitate to start him in a great matchup.
Also consider: Irv Smith (vs ATL) – After a solid four catches for 64 yards last week, Smith could see his receiving role grow, and tight end is yet another position Atlanta can’t stop. Eric Ebron (vs CLE) – Ebron hasn’t gone below five targets or 40 yards since Week 1, and the Browns have allowed over 50 yards and a touchdown in three of five games, but keep an eye on the hand injury that kept Ebron out of practice on Wednesday.
Sit
QB: Josh Allen (@ KC) – Even though he’s in the “Sit” section, you’re probably starting Allen. Despite his struggles against the Titans, the Bills quarterback is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. However, this is the rare week to consider benching Allen. Even though the Chiefs were just lit up by Derek Carr, they are still one of the toughest matchups for quarterbacks. Don’t forget, Kansas City shut down Lamar Jackson in Week 3, and Carr was just the first quarterback to throw for more than one touchdown against them. Part of the optimism surrounding Allen’s fantasy prospects heading into the season was his willingness and success running the ball, but he hasn’t run the ball more than four times or for over 20 yards since Week 1. Granted he hasn’t needed to run as often this season since he has improved a lot as a passer, but using his legs more would give Allen an even higher floor. The third year passer may need to scramble more often this week as he faces one of the best pass rushes in the league and his offensive line is allowing around a 30% pressure rate. If you happen to have a top-tier backup, great, otherwise you’re likely rolling with Allen, but you might not feel great about it.
Be wary about: Joe Burrow (@ IND) – After his worst start of the season Burrow gets another tough matchup, the Colts defense on the road. Teddy Bridgewater (vs CHI) – There will be plenty of weeks that Bridgewater is a worthy starter as the season goes on, but this week isn’t one of them as he faces on the best defenses in the league.
RB: Los Angeles Rams RBs (@ SF) – It’s time to play everyone’s least favorite game, guess which Rams running back is the starter this week! LA’s backfield is getting close to Baltimore Ravens levels of confusing, with Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown, and Cam Akers each getting at least nine touches this past week. Henderson led the backfield with 15 rushing attempts and 3 catches this past week, and has led the group in touches in three out of five weeks so far. The week prior, he carried the ball just eight times and caught one pass. In the past two weeks Henderson averaged 2.5 yards per carry. That’s bad. Sean McVay seemed to like what he saw from the now healthy rookie, Cam Akers, so maybe he will be the starter going forward. But Malcolm Brown likely isn’t going away as he has seen double digit touches in three of five weeks and never fewer than seven. Facing the 49ers defense certainly won’t help matters. Despite all their injuries the Niners haven’t allowed any team to go over 100 yards rushing. If you absolutely have to start one player from this group, McVay makes it sound like Akers could be the guy. Your best bet is to avoid this situation for at least one more week and just play everyone’s other least favorite game, wait and see.
Be wary about: Kareem Hunt (@ PIT) – You probably have to start Hunt, but the Steelers defense has held Saquan Barkley, Melvin Gordon, David Johnson, and Miles Sanders all in check, no one would blame you if you benched Hunt. Melvin Gordon (@ NE) – Gordon also has a tough matchup plus he’ll lose some touches to the returning Phillip Lindsay, and make sure to keep an eye on the situation with his DUI.
WR: A.J. Brown (vs HOU) – This might surprise you given that Houston has struggled to defend wide receivers this season. That is, they struggled to stop wide receivers while they aren’t being covered by Bradley Roby. While being shadowed by Roby, Tyreek Hill, Marquise Brown, Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, and D.J. Chark combined for just 10 catches on 15 targets for 84 yards and two touchdowns. While Brown showed no rust in his return from injury, is he any better than above receivers that you should feel confident starting him? Simply put, no. Last season Roby only covered Brown on 17 routes across the two games between the Texans and Titans. Brown was able to scrape together three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. In his first game back from injury Brown was peppered with passes from Ryan Tannehill, catching seven of nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. Purely on volume alone Brown may be able to put together a solid day. However while this Texans defense doesn’t have many strengths, their greatest weakness is defending the run, so the Titans may try to make this a big Derrick Henry game. You may not have any other worthwhile options, but don’t be surprised if Brown lets you down.
Be wary about: John Brown (vs KC) –While Stefon Diggs will likely get his, Brown could really struggle, if he plays, in a matchup that is just as tough for the wide receivers as it is for their quarterback. Tee Higgins (@ IND) – Once again, if a quarterback has a tough matchup it stands to reason the wide receivers do as well, and the Colts have been among the best as defending wide receivers. Tyler Boyd might have a bit of an easier time out of the slot.
TE: Tyler Higbee (@ SF) – On the bright side, in Week 5 Higbee out snapped 56 (82%) to 30 (44%) which was almost exactly the same as their season averages, so Higbee is on the field. That’s it though, that’s the entire extent of the bright side. Moving on to the significantly murkier and shadowy side, Higbee saw just two targets in Week 5 (two catches for 12 yards) and hasn’t received more than four targets or 40 yards receiving since Week 2. Meanwhile, Gerald Everett had four targets come his way in Week 5, caught all of them and turned them into 90 yards. In almost 30 fewer snaps Everett had twice the targets and catches and 7.5 times the production. It doesn’t get much murkier than that. You can’t start either one of these tight ends right now, the usage rates are too crazy to trust either one, but we focus on Higbee because he was pegged for a huge breakout that clearly isn’t coming. If all of that wasn’t enough to scare you off, you should be scared by a matchup with the 49ers defense. The Niners can still defend both the run and tight ends. This past week Mike Gesicki was the first tight end to have over 45 receiving yards against them, and they allowed their first touchdown to the Dolphins other tight end, Adam Shaheen. San Francisco has shut down the likes of Zach Ertz, Even Engram, and Chris Herndon. Higbee won’t fare any better, stay away from this one.
Be wary about: Jimmy Graham (@ CAR) – Graham has become a touchdown or bust play and he faces off against a stout Panthers defense. Rob Gronkowski (vs GB) – The Packers have been one of the better defenses against tight ends this season, and It looks like Gronk is ceding work to Cameron Brate.
Follow Moshe Kravitz on Twitter @MosheKravitz