We're 25% through the season. The one-quarter mark! Some of your draft picks have panned out and some...well some have made you want to pull your hair out. With bye-weeks upon us, more waiver wire and free agency adds will be used and players will come and go from your roster. This is a list of players that are owned in 50% of leagues or less and NEED to be stashed on your roster:
1. Leonard Hankerson, WR (ATL) Owned in 38.3%
Hankerson is easily my #1 add this week. I have added him in 3 leagues, 2 of which I'm starting him in. He has surpassed Roddy White as the #2 receiver on a potent Atlanta Falcons offense and with Julio Jones attracting so much attention, it leaves Hankerson with one-on-ones and open looks in the slot. Hankerson has twice as many target as Roddy White does and is a more trusted asset to Matt Ryan at this point. Hankerson has two touchdowns this season, one of which, last week, coming along with a 100 yard performance. Hankerson will be a consistent play and should be owned in all 10-team leagues.
2. Allen Hurns, WR (JAX) Owned in 32.6%
Hurns has two straight games with a touchdown and has quietly become the most targeted receiver in Jacksonville. Robinson has a far and away better catch rate than his more popular teammate Allen Robinson (73.3% to 37.5%). He also had 11 receptions last week, which shouldn't go unnoticed in the Jaguars coaching staff. Robinson will continue to draw looks from defenses, which should open up the field for Hurns. Averaging 6 catches/game, Hurns should be a guy that is, at the very least, waiting on your bench.
3. Darren McFadden, RB (DAL) Owned in 49.2%
Lance Dunbar is out for the season. Joseph Randle is in the doghouse after being deliberately told NOT to jump over the goal line in order to score a touchdown and then doing it anyway (but he got the TD, so who cares, right? That's my opinion). McFadden will take over the pass-catching role that was Dunbar's and seems to be taking a bit of a chunk out of Randle's role. Randle didn't record a carry in the 4th quarter last week vs. New Orleans. It will still be a committee, but McFadden will have a larger role than he did before.
4. Josh McCown, QB (CLE) Owned in 2.8%
In a 2-QB league, McCown can be a starter. That's right! A starter! McCown has two straight 300-yard 2-touchdown games. In a year that most people, including myself, thought that Manziel would be the starter by now, McCown is doing his best to keep the starting role. How long will that starting role last? Who knows. McCown is 0-3 in his starts this year. The Browns lone win came with Manziel at the helm. But, fantasy football is all about stats and that's what McCown is producing.
5. Gary Barnidge, TE (CLE) Owned in 24.1%
Another player that I have added in a league, Barnidge has two straight games with six catches and a touchdown - 100 yards and 75 yards respectively. With McCown playing well, Barnidge is reaping the benefits. Or maybe it's the other way around? Maybe McCown is playing well because he has a 6'6 250 lbs Tight End who can run a 4.6 40-yard-dash. My money is on Barnidge. He's a great stash and he's a great bye-week fill in. I have Greg Olsen on a bye this week and I picked up Barnidge to fill his spot. Yes, he's playing Baltimore, the team that's ranked #1 against the position, but a guy of that frame and talent has to bust through this Terrell Suggs-less defense.
A few of these posts in a row are redundant. Start thinking about other topics you could explore. There was a big story recently on gambling in fantasy leagues. Branch out a bit.
ReplyDeleteDr C