BTD Fantasy Football: Waiver-Wire Pickups, Strategy & Fitzmagic

The second week of the NFL season is in the books. And it’s looking like I was wrong and Ryan Fitzpatrick is the best quarterback of all-time (sorry Jameis Winston). It’s obviously still early in the season, but patterns and trends are starting to take shape. The Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills are bad and produce almost zero offense (bad news for David Johnson and LeSean McCoy owners). The Rams and Chiefs look like offensive juggernauts. And don’t forget about RYAN FITZPATRICK!

That graphic is why fantasy football experts tell you to wait on a quarterback. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have been pretty good, but six different quarterbacks scored 30 points or more last week and 12 scored more than 22 points. The NFL is full of QBs who put up fantasy points.

More Fantasy Football Tips:

1. If you have an player playing on a Thursday night game, get them out of your flex spot! For example, let’s say you had Alex Collins and he’s your third best running back so you naturally put him in your flex spot because if you had to sit someone Collins would get the boot. This past Thursday the Ravens and Bengals squared off, so once you make that decision to start Collins get him out of the flex spot and in a RB spot instead. That way if another player gets injured or is ruled out before the Sunday games you have more flexibility going forward.
2. More fun timing tips... Let’s say you already have the lead going into Monday night and your opponent doesn’t have any more players left to play but you do. Go ahead and throw that guy on the bench. I don’t care if it’s a defense, quarterback, superstar whatever. Once you have the victory don’t let the Monday night game ruin your week because your quarterback decides to throw a million interceptions and leave you with negative points. Take the W, bench your player and move on.

TOP WAIVER-WIRE PICKUPS (WEEK 2)

Running Backs

1. Giovani Bernard - Cincinnati Bengals
2. Matt Breida - San Francisco 49ers
3. Austin Ekeler - LA Chargers
4. Javorius Allen - Baltimore Ravens

Joe Mixon is having knee issues and will be out for a couple weeks, so if Giovani Bernard is available absolutely pick him up. Breida and Ekeler, I think are safe flex plays moving forward as well.

Wide Receivers

1. Keelan Cole - Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Desean Jackson - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Josh Gordon - New England Patriots
4. Tyler Lockett - Seattle Seahawks

Keelan Cole and even Dede Westbrook look like they are fantasy relevant thanks to the always surprising Blake Bortles. Josh Gordon is the ultimate wild card, but now that he’s teaming up with Tom Brady snatch him off the waiver-wire if some poor soul dropped him.

Tight Ends

1. Eric Ebron - Indianapolis Colts
2. O.J. Howard - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Jesse James - Pittsburgh Steelers

After a disappointing week one, tight ends around the NFL exploded offensively. Ebron looks like he is hear to stay. Ryan Fitzpatrick is managing to keep like 5 WRs and 2 TEs relevant for fantasy football. I don’t think Jesse James is going to repeat his huge performance, but it’s worth a shot if you’re desperate.

TOP DEFENSES TO STREAM

1. CHI Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
2. CLE Browns vs. New York Jets
3. MIA Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders

If you’re looking for a defense to grab from the waiver wire and plug in your lineup look no farther. You shouldn’t ever trust the Browns, but playing against Sam Darnold on a short week (Thursday game); give me the Browns defense!

DUMP EM

1. Josh Doctson - Washington Redskins
2. Marlon Mack - Indianipolis Colts
3. John Ross - Cincinnatti Bengals
4. Robby Anderson - New York Jets
5. Tarik Cohen - Chicago Bears
6. Peyton Barber - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Jordy Nelson - Oakland Raiders

If you’re going to be picking guys up from the waiver-wire then you’re going to have to drop players, as well. Here’s a few guys that I’ve seen on fantasy football rosters that I would have no problem with dropping for someone else. Barber and Nelson could still bounce back and I would think long and hard about dropping them, but I just don’t think they are going to ever be start worthy on a successful fantasy football team.

BTD’s WEEK TWO RECAP:

Standings:

1. Erik Briggs (2-0)
2. Marcus Russell (2-0)
3. Albert Lee (1-1)
4. Patrick Moen (1-1)
5. Justin Sattelmaier (1-1)
6. Joe Londergan (1-1)
7. John Severs (1-1)
8. Kyle Wilson (1-1)
9. Travis Johannes (0-2)
10. Callie Cornilles (0-2)

Come back next week for more tips and analysis after week 3 is in the books. If you have fantasy football questions throw them our way.