Zero Dollar Bidding: Waiver Wire Look Ahead for Week 9
Zero Dollar Bidding: Waiver Wire Look Ahead Week 9
by Alan Seslowsky
Each week this column will provide you with sneaky zero dollar pickups you can add to your roster today, that may be of great value down the road. The idea is to identify players that have a plausible path to be the high-priced free agent in the coming weeks. The bottom of your fantasy roster should always be used to cycle through high upside pickups that can easily be cut to speculate on another player.
Over the past few weeks, this column encouraged you to pick up Jordan Wilkins, Gus Edwards, Mecole Hardman, and Curtis Samuel when they were free on your waiver wire. All of those players are now the high-priced free agents heading into week 9. Below are three players that should be considered for a zero dollar bid this week.
Benny Snell (RB, Steelers 7% Rostered)
The easiest way to identify the best zero dollar bid players is to ask the question; “Which RBs are one injury away from a top 15 RB ranking next week?” Benny Snell falls squarely into this category. What makes him available for a zero bid over other players that fit the “one injury away” label is that Snell did not have a significant fantasy day this past week. Snell did convert a goal-line carry after starter James Conner failed to get in the endzone. Conner is still rolling as an every week workhorse, but he has a history of not being able to stay healthy. This is the week to pick up Snell. It is clear and obvious he would be fantasy relevant with a Conner injury on an undefeated Steelers team.
Brian Hill (RB Falcons 11% Rostered)
Brian Hill fits the same description as Benny Snell. He profiles as the clear backup to Todd Gurley. In week 8 Hill looked better than Gurley; nearly doubling Todd Gurley’s yards per carry output. Hill has been a player that the fantasy community has been disappointed by in the past, so he is likely going to be available for a zero bid this week. Though Gurley has stayed healthy in 2020, we know that Gurley has a significant injury history. Atlanta has taken a stance that they are unwilling to trade the key pieces of their team, mainly Julio Jones and Matt Ryan, so the Falcon’s offense is likely to stay relvant for fantasy production. Brian Hill makes a ton of sense to pick up as a zero dollar bid this week; as a bet against Gurley’s health.
Allen Lazard (WR Packers, 35% Rostered)
Normally we try to identify players that are under 20% rostered for “Zero Bidding” targets. When a player in sub 20% rostered is a signal that they are likely available in deeper leagues too. Lazard is 35% rostered, but that accounts for leagues that have an “injured reserve” spot. In leagues where there is no IR spot, we are making the presumption Lazard is available. Lazard was firmly in Aaron Rodgers‘ “circle of trust,” an exclusive club that is key to fantasy production on the Packers. Lazard displayed his monster upside in week three with an 8/6/146/1 stat line. That translated to approximately 25 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Allen Lazard was put on IR after that game but was reportedly close to coming back last week. It has been over a month since his injury, so there is a good chance he is off your league’s radar. Let everyone else spend their free agent budget on the risky WRs this week, while you scoop up Lazard for a zero dollar bid. When Lazard comes back, he will be presumably healthy and should be a top 24 option for the rest of the season.
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1st place in head to head and points Thank you!
Me in PPR Play 2RB 3WR 1 Flex
EElliott, JRobinson AGibson LFournette KDrake AEkeler JWilliams
CRidley, CGodwin RWoods, JSmith-Shuster, JJeudy
FA right now are
GEdwards, APeterson, Bscott DDallas JJackson
CDLamb, Jreagor MWilliams
Any I would rather have on my bench? Drop Who JWilliams?
Nice work on your team. Its a monster. I would keep the players you have. Ceedee is a tempting pick up but a lot of uncertainty around him right now.
Team Name: La Flama Blanca
Record: 5-3
0.5pt ppr: Jonathan Taylor owner offered me him and Kenny G for my Chris Carson. I’m loaded everywhere but this is a strong offer. We start 2 RBs 2 WRs and 2 Flex
WRs: Devante Adams, Allen Robinson, Stefon Diggs, Diontae Johnson, Jamison Crowder
RBs: Dalvin Cook, Chris Carson, Darrell Henderson, Raheem Mostert, Deejay Dallas, Alexander Mattison
Not sure we see a healthy Kenny G anytime soon. You are taking on a whole lot of risk. Be careful
Thanks for your input. That’s how I felt too. That’s also how my trade partner must feel by offering it, so we have a consensus!
1WR 1 Flex Full PPR
AB, Godwin, Claypool, Moore
If Godwin plays it will be hard to bench him. I’d go with him and Claypool. Tough call on both
If Godwin doesn’t play AB or Moore?
Carr, Lock or Stafford?
Carr is in a possible shootout game. I’d go with him.
In a ppr for rest of season, would you prefer moss or dobbins?
Both great ROS bets, but I’m putting my cash on Dobbins. Week 9 is looking like a week he could brreakout and not look back
Ppr league
My starting
Wrs: juju and tyreek hill
Rbs: Gibson And David Montgomery
Should I replace for any below?
who should my two flex spots be?
Swift, Harris, jk dobbins, moss, devante Parker, or shenalt
I’d play Dobbins over DMont, but Dobbins admittedly has a lower floor. But the upside is nuclear. All else looks good to me. Good luck!
Full Point PPR
Need 3
James Conner
Chase Edmonds
Jashua Taylor
L. Fournette
JK Dobbins
Z. Moss
DeeJay Dallas
Also Full Point PPR
Need 1 RB & 1 Flex
JK Dobbins
C. Kirk
L. Bell
Devante Parker
James White
CD Lamb
Dionte Johnson
Jordan Wilkins
Edmonds, Dobbins and Conner stick out to me as the best options.
In the 2nd group I would play Dobbins and Johnson. Lower confidence in DJ, but we have seen his healthy upside.
who is the better keeper for next year? swift? or jk dobbins?
Byron said it this morning and I am in 100% agreement that JKD is the best RB in this rookie class. I love Swift too, but Dobbins is the better keeper IMO. No wrong answer