As of: Tuesday, Oct 27 stats and roster rates. Check Wednesday through Friday practice reports before you bid.
Waivers cleared. The furnace is still running. Most of your league just spent its budget on the obvious names, and these six might still be sitting on your wire with a real path to points this week.
Roster rates below are Yahoo's from before claims ran (sorry, Sleeper doesn't publish roster %s!) They'll climb fast, so check your own league before you bid.
The pour scale:
Heavy is real budget, go hard.
Medium is a solid bid with a clear role behind it.
Some is a measured bid when the fit is right.
A splash is a dollar or a free claim.
This week's pour
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets
Rostered: 48%
Week 8: vs. Raiders
Pour: heavy
Two straight weeks, two 100-yard games, two touchdowns: 6-103-1, then 5-115-1. Things look good. Garrett Wilson was seen arguing with QB Geno Smith on the sideline, and there are rumors that he may be asking for a trade. In the meantime, Cooper has worked into the Jets' No. 2 receiver role, and the Raiders come to MetLife on Sunday. If Cooper is somehow still free in your league, this is the bid you don't flinch on.
The cast: WR3 with a ceiling well above it.
Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos
Rostered: 35%
Week 8: vs. Chiefs
Pour: heavy
In the first game back from IR, Coleman led Denver's backfield in touches (11), scrimmage yards (69) and routes (11), ahead of both RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins. Then Sean Payton said that the Broncos need to get Coleman more touches. When the head coach tells you where the volume is headed, believe it.
The cast: Flex against Kansas City this week, with an RB2 future if the workload keeps rising.
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Commanders
Rostered: 17%
Week 8: vs. Eagles (Sunday night)
Pour: medium
Terry McLaurin's season is over, and those targets have to land somewhere. Okonkwo caught 11 balls for 129 yards over Washington's last two games, on 13 targets, and earned all seven looks against the 49ers after McLaurin went down. Tight end is a wasteland in most leagues. Six or seven targets a week is a starting tight end.
The cast: Low-end TE1 coming off the Week 7 bye.
Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders
Rostered: 8%
Week 8: vs. Eagles (Sunday night)
Pour: medium
The quiet winner of the McLaurin news. Williams' route share nearly doubled once McLaurin left, from about 40% to 78%, and Williams led Washington's receivers in snaps and routes that night. Dan Quinn has said a bigger role is coming. With Stefon Diggs living in the slot, Williams gets the outside work and the deep shots.
One crack to watch: Washington has been linked to Brian Thomas Jr. in deadline talk. That's rumor, not news, but a trade would cut into this role.
The cast: WR3 or flex in deeper leagues. The lowest-rostered name on this list, and the one most likely to still be there.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars
Rostered: 46%
Week 8: vs. Colts
Pour: some
Volume is the most reliable metal in the shop. Strange has drawn at least seven targets in every game over the last month, sixth-most among tight ends in that span, with lines like 7-95 and 7-68. No touchdowns required to build a floor.
The cast: High-end TE2 streamer with low-end TE1 upside at home against Indy.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, Cardinals
Rostered: 18%
Week 8: at Cowboys
Pour: a splash
With Marvin Harrison Jr. traded to Houston, Bourne has turned into a steady target earner: 14 targets over the last two games and 36 on the season. The flaw in the casting is efficiency. Those 14 looks produced just 56 yards, and Bourne is still looking for a first touchdown. Dallas is the kind of matchup that fixes that in a hurry.
The cast: Deep-league flex and bye-week patch.
Still cooling in the mold: stashes
These won't help everyone this week, but they're cheap now and won't be later.
Elijah Mitchell, RB, Eagles (barely rostered): Saquon Barkley tweaked his hamstring and then hurt his back in Monday's loss to Dallas, and Dameon Pierce left that game with an injury too. Barkley says neither issue should cost any time. But with Jalen Hurts out for the season and Tanner McKee under center, Philadelphia is going to lean on the run. If both backs sit, Mitchell starts Sunday night.
Seth McGowan, RB, Colts (7%): Played a season-high 34.5% of snaps in Week 7. Jonathan Taylor trade talk will run hot until the Nov 10 deadline, though ESPN reports Colts ownership doesn't want to move Taylor. If Taylor goes, McGowan is the starter.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Saints (49%): The Saints are on bye, and Tyson is expected to debut in Week 9 after the hamstring injury. Tyson could slide in as the No. 2 target behind Chris Olave. Stash now, before the debut sets the price.
The cooling rack
Pour | Player | Rostered | Week 8 | The cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavy | Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets | 48% | vs. Raiders | WR3 with a ceiling well above it |
Heavy | Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos | 35% | vs. Chiefs | Flex now, RB2 if the workload keeps rising |
Medium | Chig Okonkwo, TE, Commanders | 17% | vs. Eagles (SNF) | Low-end TE1 |
Medium | Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders | 8% | vs. Eagles (SNF) | WR3 or flex in deeper leagues |
Some | Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars | 46% | vs. Colts | High-end TE2 with TE1 upside |
A splash | Kendrick Bourne, WR, Cardinals | 18% | at Cowboys | Deep-league flex, bye-week patch |
Pour heavy: Cooper and Coleman. Spend real budget if either is free.
Pour some: Okonkwo, Williams and Strange, in that order if you need a tight end, Williams first if you need a receiver.
A splash: Bourne, plus whichever stash fits your bench.
Before Sunday night: check Friday's designations for Barkley and Pierce. That decides whether Mitchell is a stash or a start.
Before you bid, check snap share and xFP residual on the waiver board. Hot metal doesn't wait. Get your claims in.