Every Tuesday, Sportsnet fantasy analyst Andy McNamara will highlight the best sleeper and waiver wire picks of the week. And if you’re looking for more fantasy football advice, message him on Twitter using #AskAndy.
As we enter the halfway point of the NFL season, there are significant fantasy weapons missing as the Saints, Falcons, Rams and Bengals all take a bye-week break.
Below is at least one sleeper or waiver wire pickup for each position group to help out.
Tight End Solution
If you’re in need of adding at the thinnest position group in fantasy football I have not one, but two possibilities for you.
TE: Darren Fells, Houston Texans (Owned in 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues and Draft Kings salary of $3,400)
TE: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (Owned in 20 per cent of Yahoo! leagues and Draft Kings salary of $3,100)
Listen below to hear why you need to grab one of these under the radar players now.
WR: Danny Amendola, Detriot Lions
Owned in 10 per cent of Yahoo! leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,700
Like a glorious phoenix rising so has Danny Amendola from the ashes of fantasy football obscurity. In the past two weeks the veteran WR has caught the eye of Matthew Stafford to the tune of 19 targets for 16 catches with showings of 105 and 95 receiving yards, respectively. That’s no joke, and it shoots Amendola to someone you need to get onto a PPR roster for Sunday.
The Texas Tech alum definitely becomes relevant versus a Raiders defence ranked worst in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Detroit’s really opened up their passing attack as of late with enough ball to go around to give Amendola his third consecutive high-teen fantasy point afternoon.
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins
Owned in 5 per cent of Yahoo! leagues
Draft Kings salary of $4,800
It’s time to wave the wand and release the “Fitz-Magic” for another Ryan Fitzpatrick revenge game. The bearded Harvard grad delivered his best fantasy performance (21.58) in Buffalo on Oct. 20 and squares off against the other former AFC East team in the Jets.
Fitz’s pair of interceptions Monday night were not his fault, and he doesn’t have a lot to work with in Miami. There’s always the puncher’s chance that the soon to be 37-year-old can whip off touchdowns in bunches, especially as a Jets unit giving up the 17th-most fantasy points to QBs roll into South Beach.
Is Fitzpatrick you’re ideal starting quarterback this weekend? Of course not. However, there is upside if you’re stuck at the position since Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Jared Goff are all on bye and Patrick Mahomes isn’t at 100 per cent.
The 95 per cent availability in Yahoo! leagues and possibility of DFS contrarian points at a low salary cap cost intrigue versus 1-6 New York.
RB: Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals
Owned in 62 per cent of Yahoo! leagues
Draft Kings salary of $6,800
Kenyan Drake’s fantasy relevance may only last one game. However, to help chip out a win in your league it’ll be worth adding him. On a short week, Drake will handle lead RB duties as the newest member of the Cardinals as both Chase Edmonds and David Johnson are ailing.
It’s a statement game for the six-foot-one, 211-pound power rusher in an offensive system that seems to be able to plug and play success in the backfield. Even on a poor Dolphins club in 2018, Drake totalled nine touchdowns and over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, so the tools are there.
The 2016 third-round pick is a smart DFS flex option for Thursday against a 49ers front-seven that’s given up 100-plus rushing yards in four straight contests. In season long leagues, at worst Drake is a solid depth acquisition.
An unexciting Cowboys stack
K: Brett Maher (Owned 30 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
DST: Dallas Cowboys (Owned in 33 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
It’s not a cool Dallas combo like Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, but we all know that booking in a reliable kicker and DST can be the difference in winning or losing your week.
Going into their bye, Maher and the defence smacked down double-digit fantasy points. Maher has made six of his last eight FG attempts and is perfect on extra-point tries.
On Monday Night Football, “America’s Team” gets a favourable matchup with the struggling Giants, who’re riding a four game losing streak. Daniel Jones did toss four TD passes Sunday, however, the rookie’s had his share of rollercoaster moments in 2019. That last game doesn’t scare me, and I’m ranking the Cowboys DST as the best available waiver wire option for Week 9.
