Zero Dollar Bidding: Waiver Wire Look-Ahead (Week 3)

Zero Dollar Bidding: Waiver Wire Look Ahead (Week 3)
by Alan Seslowsky

Fantasy football is a difficult and emotionally draining game, yet we can’t quit it. The enduring spirit that makes us grind out the waiver wire is what keeps our championship hopes alive.

One of RosterWatch’s signature in-season tools, The Ultimate Waiver Wire Cheat Sheet, not only provides you with the best pickups of the week but is also a tier-based list of players that you can pick up for a $0 bid. Players that have a plausible path to being the top pickups in the coming weeks.

Each week, this column will provide you with sneaky zero dollar pickups you can add to your roster that may land at the top of our Waiver Wire Cheat Sheet in the coming weeks.

 

Jeff Wilson (RB San Francisco; 2% rostered)

It’s only Week 3 and many of our teams need a patch at running back ASAP. There is going to be fierce waiver wire competition for Mike Davis, the NY Giants trio, Jerrick McKinnon, Josh Kelley, and Derrell Henderson. It’s going to be a long season, and we may need to save FAAB dollars for later on. This week the 49ers are decimated with injuries, including the RB position. Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman are both likely out. Jerrick McKinnon should make for a fine PPR play in the near-term, but special teams player Jeff Wilson has already displayed game breaking ability; and plus ability in the red zone. He is without a doubt the red-zone option that the current 49ers staff trusts the most among available bodies. Wilson is playable this week and could have staying power if the injured SF RBs miss another week.

 

Mecole Hardman (WR Kansas City; 34% rostered)

With all of the Kansas City WRs healthy to start the season, Mecole Hardman was getting overdrafted at his 9th round ADP by players not using the RosterWatch Cheat Sheet. Mecole’s per-play stats are fantastic, but his low target volume is below the threshold to be fantasy viable. Hardman was drafted in the second round of 2019, in the real NFL draft, when the Chiefs did not know if Tyreek Hill would be serving a long suspension. Hardman was drafted to be the Tyreek Hill “replacement.”  Hardman is stuck behind Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and even Demarcus Robinson in the pass-catching pecking order. However, Hardman is the rare high-yield WR handcuff should a Chief WR miss time. It almost happened. Sammy Watkins did his annual blow up on your bench week one, then suffered an in-game injury (concussion) in week two when you started him. This is a reminder of Watkins’ fragility and a queue to roster Hardman for a zero dollar bid. 

 

Curtis Samuel (WR Carolina; 24% rostered)

The number one overall pick in your fantasy league this year, Christian McCaffrey, is out for at least a month. Your leaguemates are cracking open their piggy banks to count their change; ready to plunk it all down on Carolina RB Mike Davis. Davis showed his ability as a pass-catcher in week two hauling in eight receptions, mostly during garbage time. On RosterWatch Podcast #285 our co-founders Byron Lambert and Alex Dunlap debated if Davis is a priority pick up, or RosterWatch nation should exercise restraint with a token bid. A sharp pivot could be to let your competition fight it out over Davis, while we scoop up Curtis Samuel for free. Panthers coach Matt Rhule said of Samuel, “We see him as a guy who could be a running back.” Friend of the RosterWatch podcast, Evan Silva (EstablishTheRun.com) pointed out on Twitter that Samuel had more rush attempts than receptions at Ohio State and averaged 7.5 yards per rush. Samuel also scored 15 rush TDs at OSU. 

Curtis Samuel is the definition of a zero dollar bid that could yield immediate results. 

 

 

20 Comments

  1. ↓ Post By AbnerLofton

    Thoughts on Damien Harris?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      Cam Newton is the goal line RB until further notice. in 14 team league he might be rosterable, but Sony healthy, James White catches the passes. Not great outlook as of now

  2. ↓ Post By vdubnhead

    feels good being on the same page…just $0.00 claimed j.wilson in last night waiver run.

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      Well done vdub:

      Wilson is playable THIS week if you need him

  3. ↓ Post By mc77

    How do you view Robby Anderson in PPR dynasty? I dropped Reagor and picked up Anderson over Shenault. Good move, bad move, or sideways move?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      In a true dynasty where you keep your players forever, all of those guys should be rostered. If you cant fit them I would rank them

      Shenault
      Anderson (though there is a case for him to be #1 based on how hot he is)
      Reagor (who RW loves but is injured)

  4. ↓ Post By Andrew

    I picked up Davis and Pittman because I lost both Barkley and Sutton.
    Gallman AND Hines are now available as someone dropped them. Should I drop one of the 2 I picked up on waivers? Or dump any of Kerryon Johnson, Gibson, Slayton, and M. Williams. Thanks in advance.

    1. ↓ Post By Andrew

      Rest of team is
      D cook
      Ingram
      Beckham
      Cooper
      Ridley
      Hurst
      Montgomery

      1. ↓ Post By Andrew

        Standard league.

    2. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      Tough break, but it looks like you are keeping up the grind. Love that

      I like Hines outlook for the season, but this week vs the Jets the game script looks unfavorable. I’d still roster him and dump K. Johnson.

      1. ↓ Post By Andrew

        Thank you, sir.

  5. ↓ Post By csb01

    Standard league need 1, M. Gaskin, Sony Michele, Adrian Peterson, or Ronald Jones. Also AJ Green or MVS? Thanks

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      MVS is an interesting play with Adams looking iffy. Still hard to trust, Gaskin obviously better in PPR, if forced to pick MVS then AP

  6. ↓ Post By georgelambeth2222@gmail.com

    Wassup? Team name: Toadstools, 1-1. I got a question about bench stashes. Standard league with 5 bench spots. Can start three Rbs. I got CEH as my #1. Should Darwin Thompson be on my bench? Somebody already has D. Williams. Ant other RB stash sleeper suggestions in this injury plagued season? Ito? Jeff Wilson?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      Hi George:

      Of the group you just named. I like Jeff Wilson the best. He has a nice role this week, and maybe even for a few more after this. Thats the guy I would pick up. We talked about him in this article above

  7. ↓ Post By Rusty

    0.5 ppr league

    Who are you starting this week, McKinnon or Jeff Wilson?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      JMK has the higher floor. I think Wilson has the better TD equity.

  8. ↓ Post By DZ

    2 weeks down, 2 RBs out for the year (Saquon and Marlon Mack). Really need to make up some lost ground this week! Between OBJ, D.J. Chark, and James Robinson, need to decide on a WR and Flex. Chark’s juicy matchup vs. chest injury has me lost… any advice?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      Hopefully, you played Robinson. He is an RB1 until further notice

  9. ↓ Post By Ringo Kid

    Can you repost the dynasty draft cheat sheet? Cannot find it on the downloads section.

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