Buy Low
Tyler Kroft, TE, CIN - Kroft makes a repeat appearance as Tyler Eifert has gone on injured reserve. Kroft has redraft value as a viable red zone receiver and reliable target, but he also has dynasty value as Eifert appears to be in the danger zone of his body breaking down. Our Matt Waldman told us not to sleep on Kroft (http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=waldmantop10wk5) and now he has full opportunity to wake up.
Kevin Hogan, QB, CLE - Hogan could be a surprise starter in redraft leagues because of the same combination of running ability and play from behind game scripts that made us interested in DeShone Kizer. By all measures, he has been much more efficient than Kizer and could hold onto the job for the rest of the season. Hogan seems to have decent chemistry with tight end David Njoku and wide receiver Ricardo Louis, and he could get Josh Gordon and/or Corey Coleman back this year.
Kirk Cousins, QB, WAS - Cousins didn’t light up the box score in the first two weeks, but he went off against Oakland and played very well against Kansas City going into his bye. Jordan Reed is healthy, Terrelle Pryor is getting in synch with Cousins in the deep game, and Josh Doctson is starting to make an impact. Washington’s offense and Cousins’ prospects are both looking up.
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL - Ryan is making another appearance in the buy low column because he stalled out against the Bills going into the bye. The Dolphins are starting a rookie corner and Ryan’s unit has a rested Julio Jones, so this week the quarterback should return to the top five form he had displayed last year, and Week 7 vs. New England is even more promising. He’s a good target in redraft league minor trades if you aren’t happy with your quarterback.
Jared Goff, QB, LAR - Goff played better than the box score showed last week, and there could have been at least three more scoring drives for the Rams without bad breaks. He has the fearsome Jaguars defense this week and his owners might wonder if this is the start of a downturn in his usefulness. It shouldn’t be, as the offensive line and assemblage of weapons is meshing well with Goff’s abilities and Sean McVay’s play design. This unit has already shown explosiveness and more of those field goal drives are going to turn into touchdowns soon.
Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, RB, NE - Make sure these guys aren’t on your waiver wire unless you’re in a very short bench league. They are good talents in a very fertile environment for fantasy production. Both can contribute as runners and receivers. All it takes is an injury or hot usage streak to make you very happy that you held onto them.
Isaiah Crowell, RB, CLE - We don’t know exactly how much DeShone Kizer was holding this offense back. Kevin Hogan has been better than him and could unlock more scoring drives for Crowell to finish and more competitive game scripts that will keep him on the field more in the second half. We know Crowell showed starter talent and he’s still on the upslope of his career. He’s basically free in redraft and I saw him traded for a third round pick in dynasty. There’s a reasonable chance that his value will correct soon.
Mack Brown, RB, WAS - In very deep dynasty leagues, Brown is a good speculative. He appeared to have more burst than Samaje Perine, and if Perine fumbles again, the team could turn to Brown while Rob Kelley is out.
Aaron Jones, RB, GB - Jones was better than Ty Montgomery as a runner, and it’s not crazy to think that he could displace Montgomery from the running back work in the base offense with Montgomery being relegated to a passing game role. It’s also not crazy to think Jones is a comparable talent to Ryan Grant, who was a fantasy RB1 playing with Aaron Rodgers.
Taylor Gabriel, WR, ATL - Gabriel still has been getting no respect in the fantasy community despite his explosiveness and high big play efficiency last year. Now that he will be all alone in the #2 role with Mohamed Sanu out and possibly facing a rookie corner against Miami this year, everyone could be reminded that he was a WR1 for a good part of the second half last year.
Brice Butler, WR, DAL - Butler is converting big plays with regularity despite a small share of snaps and routes. Terrance Williams' drop resulted in a pick six that was the difference in a bitter loss to the Packers and the Cowboys could be passing a lot more if they are without Ezekiel Elliott for six games. He's free on the waiver wire in a lot of leagues.
Tanner Gentry, WR, CHI - Don't assume the Bears know what they have in skill player talent. Just look at how they are underusing Tarik Cohen (another potential buy low in redraft, where he might be dropped soon). Gentry has bounced on and off of the active roster. He's back there again, and this time with Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback. The two had a budding connection that could be special in time. Gentry is worth an add in deep dynasty leagues and should be on our deep redraft radar.
Sell High
Javorius Allen, RB, BAL - Allen’s value is almost completely due to situation with injuries in front of him at both receiving back and lead back between the tackles. Alex Collins could get more work if he earns more trust from the coaches by atoning for his early fumbles. Danny Woodhead and Terrance West will return at some point this year, for West, sooner than later. If you are flush at running back and don’t need Allen, cash him in.
CJ Anderson, RB, DEN - The Broncos fed Anderson going into the bye, but his hold on the job is likely to be loosened as the year goes on, and that’s without any nagging injuries that seem to always keep him from staying in top form for long. If you have good depth behind Anderson or he’s your #3, he has a great matchup this week and next and should extend the sell high window as long as he’s healthy.
Adrian Peterson, RB, ARI - Peterson at least has opportunity, but it’s maybe the least valuable opportunity in the league. Arizona’s offense is terrible at opening holes in the running game, and they often revert to a pass-heavy offense. David Johnson could also be back by Thanksgiving. It’s time to wring whatever you can from Peterson in dynasty leagues and don’t overpay for him on the waiver wire.
Darren McFadden, RB, DAL - McFadden should be the starter for the games Zeke Elliott is much more likely to miss after the ruling that the injunction holding up suspension is now vacated. He could lose the job or get hurt, and the Cowboys running game isn’t the juggernaut it was last year. Pawn him for whatever you can to the Zeke owner if you were holding him hostage.
Zach Ertz, TE, PHI - Don’t sell Ertz just because. It’s not like he’s heading for a big downturn in numbers. That being said, he’s not going to be a premium tight end scorer and his reception/yardage pace is well ahead of his career norms, and Alshon Jeffery has been blotted out by strong #1 corners in four out of five games this year. If you can get a Gronk/Kelce level bounty for him like a premium RB/WR, it is worth a thought with streaming tight end seeming more and more like the strategy du jour with the glut of viable options and clear weekly matchups to target.
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