ALWAYS have a backup plan.
The trade deadline has passed, and by this point, it’s more likely than not that you know whether you can make a legitimate run at the trophy. Because you can no longer make reinforcements via trade, the waiver wire becomes extra competitive this time of year, especially as players begin to wear down and get injured. Any team who already has a star-studded starting lineup should be looking for insurance on the waivers in case one of their guys gets injured.
This article will look a little different. It has a focus on backups and handcuffs who could come in handy, but will cover more players.
Note: Teams on bye include Cardinals, Panthers
*Owned % are in terms of the Yahoo platform at the time of writing
JaMycal Hasty, JAX- RB (4%)
Rookie standout Travis Etienne Jr. is hurt and might miss time. Hasty had an impressive showing in Baltimore and is the clear RB2 on the team.
Mike White, NYJ- QB (5%)
If you are a football fan, you know the story of Mike White. His magic should last a couple more weeks, so pick him up.
Brian Robinson Jr., WAS- RB (68%)
Antonio Gibson has a rich and concerning injury history, and if he is your starter, there is no excuse to not add Brian Robinson if he’s on your league’s wire. Robinson should be a priority pickup for a lot of people, especially considering he’s coming off of a productive week of 125 total yards.
Treylon Burks, TEN- WR (51%)
Treylon Burks has 181 yards in his last two games, in addition to a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Because of his increase in volume every week, Burks should be expected to put up solid FLEX numbers moving forward, and he’s only owned in about half of leagues.
Gus Edwards, BAL- RB (56%)
Gus Edwards is in for J.K. Dobbins who has been injured. Edwards, who rushed sixteen times and found the endzone, could prove useful until Dobbins is back.
Van Jefferson, LAR- WR (23%)
Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson II could both miss the remainder of the fantasy season, meaning that Van Jefferson is the default WR1 in LA. If/When Matthew Stafford comes back, he could have a very high volume in the offense.
Zonovan Knight, NYJ- RB (3%)
James Robinson has not fallen into favor in New York, and Michael Carter has joined Breece Hall with the injury bug, meaning Zonovan Knight is the next man up in the Meadowlands. If Knight can follow up his 103-yard performance strongly, he can become a real difference-maker in fantasy.
Zay Jones, JAX- WR (26%)
Zay Jones had an insane 11 catches on 14 targets with 145 yards, helped by Trevor Lawrence’s step up of his game. Jones can take advantage of weaker coverage as the WR2 on the team and can help lift bottom-end teams into and through the postseason.
Matt Breida, NYG- RB (1%)
Saquon has been having a historic comeback season, and so far, this is the first time since 2018 that he has had a season without injury. However, it’s better safe than sorry. Saquon owners who have room on their bench might want to consider adding on his handcuff, just in case.
Benny Snell Jr., PIT- RB (1%)
In the last two weeks, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have both struggled with injuries. Benny Snell would move into a starter’s role if the two are sidelined, and Snell was productive with his share in the second half of the Monday Night Football game. Najee owners should prioritize adding the safety option.
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