Waiver Wire Week 5 (for Week 6)

I won’t bother commenting on the entire Raiders fiasco with Jon Gruden as this is going to be fodder for the dumbest and worst impulses American media has to offer. I’m sure Fox News has already run 2-3 hours of commentary about cancel culture run amok, while CNN and MSNBC have engaged in collective pearl clutching and ranting about white privilege.

The only thing more deafening than this noise is the silence surrounding the actual case, which concerns the toxic culture surrounding the Washington Football Team under owner Dan Snyder, which included a lot more than salty language in emails.

The NFL, which is owned by the individual team owners, conducted its own investigation into itself, examined over 650,000 emails, as well as countless complaints of sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of WFT ownership and leadership. Yet we know absolutely nothing about the findings of that investigation. The NFL has not released a single email, including the Gruden emails, to the public. The complaints alleged by multiple female employees of WFT have not been answered.

Gruden was a dumbass for writing what he did. I personally don’t like what he wrote, but I am far from shocked by it and neither is anyone else who has worked for or around the NFL. But he was not forced to step down for using offensive language in an email. He was forced to step down because he insulted the owners and Goodell, and his firing provides a nice virtue-signaling distraction from why none of us have ever seen any results of that “investigation.”

Waiver Wire Quarterbacks Week 5

Guys like Taylor Heinicke and Daniel Jones disappointed their owners big time last week, but one had to see Daniel Jones’s poor play prior to injury coming against a division rival with a surging defense. The bid percentages are going up as FA Budgets dwindle.

Carson Wentz, 14% rostered, 35% FAAB

Wentz put on a show last night in a losing effort, racking up points and getting things started with a nice 75-yard catch and run TD by Jonathan Taylor. He also hit Pittman for a TD who made an incredible effort to come back for the ball and catch it over a defenders helmet. Don’t expect a repeat as the Ravens played God-awful, but at least his ankle worries are behind him.

Teddy Bridgewater, 14% rostered, 40% FAAB

Bridge bounced back from a concussion with 38 attempts, 288 yards, and two touchdowns. He gets Jeudy back soon and is a more stable source of points than most of the guys on the WW.

Geno Smith, 1% rostered, 25% FAAB

Though only a band-aid, Smith actually looked better than Wilson once he went in. The offense improved, and he seemed more than capable of leading a team until Wilson gets back. This does happen with backups, who come in and deliver in the excitement of seeing the field and then fall flat after a week of practice, but Smith seems a good enough band-aid for now.

Drops: Zach Wilson, Jacoby Brissett,

Waiver Wire Running Backs Week 5

Devontae Booker, 9% rostered, 15% FAAB

Booker is going to get volume in an offense that relies on the run, and figures to get passing game work as well as the Giants did not have a dedicated passing down back. The only thing holding his bid amount down is how long Barkley will be out. Saquon could be out only for next week, so some of the other guys might seem more appealing.

Darrel Williams, 19% rostered, 25% FAAB

Darrel will get all of CEH’s touches and possibly a bit more as McKinnon is not suited for goal line work. The problem is that he’s getting the lion’s share of basically jack shit. The Chiefs don’t feature the run game and they don’t pass to their backs with any sort of regularity. Maybe a 2-3 record will change that, but betting on Andy Reid to massively change what has been, until this year, a successful formula is kinda dumb. Though the Chiefs are running a somewhat respectable 38% of the time at 28 times a game over their last three, their defense is stopping no one and that means fewer rushing attempts as the game goes on.

Khalil Herbert, 19% rostered, 15% FAAB

Herbert pushed his way into a 50/50 timeshare with Damien Williams, with Williams seeing the GL looks and targets. Williams looked absolutely terrible at the GL. I expect Herbert to get a crack, but it’s just as likely that the Bears use Ryan Nall or Justin Fields in GL packages. The Bears rushed 37 times in the game against the Raiders which went 100% their way. The coming week against the Packers I don’t expect that to happen, and the Bears will likely be playing catch up. It will be interesting to see how this split goes when the Bears are playing from behind, and the degree to which the Bears abandon the run and let Fields throw.

David Johnson, 29% rostered, 5% FAAB

Talk about desperation, rostering a Texan at this point in the season means you are in serious trouble. However, Johnson is seeing consistent targets, the offense did show signs of life against New England, and neither Ingram nor Lindsay are showing anything at all.

Drops: No one, if you have a warm body hold on for dear life.

Waiver Wire Wide Receivers Week 5

Kadarius Toney, 18% rostered, 75-95% FAAB

If Toney is available go ahead and blow the rest of your budget on him. He’s flat out better than every other receiver on the team. He likely won’t approach these numbers again but there is no way the Giants take him off the field.

Darnell Mooney, 45% rostered, 25% FAAB

The Bears are going to fall behind early and will be forced to let Fields try to win the game. This means another big game for Mooney. If he was dropped in your league snatch him up ahead of this game.

Marquez Callaway, 30% rostered, 25% FAAB

Saints have a bye coming up, and yes Michael Thomas is on his way back, and yes they still only let Jameis pass 30 times a game, but he has skills, the opportunity will still be there after Thomas returns, and the Saints might come out of the bye with a more aggressive offense more suited to Callaway’s skill set. Worth a stash.

Rondale Moore, 40% rostered, 25% FAAB

No big week but snap share is rising, Maxx Williams is out with a knee injury, and he’s on one of the most prolific offenses in football. Rather than banking on talent with a lesser QB, opt for Rondale’s excellent situation and steadily rising opportunity.

Drops: Juju, Elijah Moore

Waiver Wire Tight Ends Week 5

Honestly tight end this year is just a whole lot of nothing. The best options are name like Ricky Seals Jones, Hunter Henry, and Dan Arnold, a depressing mi of limited ability and opportunity. Focus on the WRs and RBs as nothing is really emerging at tight end. Maybe a buy-low offer for TJ Hockenson if you are in need.