Buy Low
D.J. Chark, WR, JAX - It’s a bummer to not get to see Chark on Thursday night football, but this can be your opportunity to buy low in redraft and dynasty. There’s no indication that his injuries have the potential to be long term problems, but the combination of the missed game and underwhelming fantasy performances in the first two weeks could give you an opening with a frustrated fantasy GM. Chark is still playing at the top of his game, but Gardner Minshew and the offense are both functioning at high efficiency, spreading the ball around. Defenses are going to get better at defending the Jay Gruden playbook in Jacksonville form and Minshew will eventually rely more heavily on his #1 receiver who is still on the upslope side of his career arc.
Michael Gallup, WR, DAL - Gallup hasn’t lost anything from the time that he was challenging a banged-up Amari Cooper to be the #1 fantasy wide receiver on the Cowboys in the second half of 2019. He has been getting more deep targets, which isn’t very compatible with an offensive line that has been dealing with injuries at both tackle spots. Gallup should continue to get single coverage on the outside and he will turn that into big plays sooner than later - maybe even at Seattle this week after Cam Newton ran them ragged.
Kaden Smith, TE, NYG - Smith is an end of the bench stash for tight end premium leagues and any deep PPR league. Evan Engram came alive last week but how likely is he to stay healthy? Smith was more than relevant last year as a rookie once Engram went down, with two scores in a Week 16 overtime win, and he might even get more involved while Engram is healthy because the Giants are going to be without Sterling Shepard for at least three weeks. Two tight end sets make more sense than three-wide for this offense without Saquon Barkley out there.
Gus Edwards, RB, BAL, Darwin Thompson, RB, KC - These are names best filed away on your waiver wire watch list. We know Edwards can run and rip off big gains in this Ravens offense, and Thompson has looked fast and tough in limited action with Kansas City. Both just need injuries to have prime roles in great offenses. Thompson already saw Darrel Williams go down and he got the call on a key fourth down ahead of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. This duo could be a big deal in fantasy leagues before the year is out.
Will Dissly, TE, SEA - Check your waiver wire in deep dynasty and tight end premium leagues, Dissly might be there. The one-time blocking tight end has been nothing but a beast when he has gotten a chance to play and that was before Seattle decided to let Russ cook. Greg Olsen’s drop that led to a pick-six to open the game against the Patriots might be all Dissly needs to re-establish himself as he is rounding back into form after Achilles surgery.
Curtis Samuel, RB, CAR - There’s an outside chance that Samuel becomes a regular in the backfield with Christian McCaffrey out (hat tip to Chris Allen). That extra boost to modest receiving stats could make Samuel relevant and even better, show the speed and open-field running ability that demands more touches even when McCaffrey returns.
P.J. Walker, QB, CAR - Add Walker to your 2QB/Superflex waiver wire watch list. As much as I love Teddy Bridgewater, he’s going to be overmatched without Christian McCaffrey and the team could decide to see what they have in Walker before 2021 if the season goes south quickly. Walker has the athleticism to contribute as a runner and he can benefit from the excellent group of receivers assembled if he takes over at any point this year.
Buy High
David Montgomery, RB, CHI - I am slowly but surely becoming a Montgomery believer. He showed a new level of burst on his zig zag touchdown catch and run and his long run to help the effort to put the game away. The Bears offense might not support a top 10 season from Montgomery, but he is much more able to take advantage of the big opportunity coming his way, and his stock might still be depressed from his rookie year failures and camp groin injury.
Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN - Boyd had an excellent garbage time touchdown snag to salvage a decent week during a 61 attempt game from Joe Burrow, but he should have gotten a lot more if Burrow hadn’t peppered the ghost of AJ Green with targets. Perhaps it is just reconditioning for Green, but he looks sluggish and every time he goes to the turf, he is slow to get up and makes you wonder if this will be the one that he limps off of the field and into the trainer’s tent. Boyd will be the #1 sooner than later in what promises to be a very high volume pass offense.
Darrell Henderson, RB, LAR - The game is slowing down for Henderson, who finally showed that overwhelming burst that lit up his tape at Memphis. He is the healthiest Rams back and he could be a true lead back this week despite the Rams designs on having a three-headed backfield. The train could be leaving the station for good in redraft and dynasty leagues.
Sell High
James Conner, RB, PIT - Save for a 59-yard run by the Steelers lead back to ice the game against the tired Broncos defense, Conner was not impressive in the win over Denver. Yes, Benny Snell fumbled at a key juncture and Conner’s job isn’t in danger, but that’s exactly why you should cash in before the inevitable injury. Conner isn’t providing enough upside with the Steelers downfield passing game doing a lot of the heavy lifting and the offensive line not blasting open big holes for the linear back.
Leonard Fournette, RB, TB - Fournette did his thing at the end of the game the same way he did for the 2017 Jaguars in his best year as a pro, but he did little on his other touches. He should be clearly ahead of Ronald Jones II now, but Jones isn’t going to completely go away to lower Fournette’s floor, and I’m not convinced that the Bucs will be a winning team this year as they struggled to put away the Panthers and got beaten soundly by a Saints team that got soundly beat by a Raiders team that barely beat those Panthers. Fournette could reprise his 2017 value by landing knockout blows on defenses waiting for the scoreboard to get to 0:00, but I would still take my chances on dealing him at value if someone is eager to take him off of your hands.
Josh Jacobs, RB, LV - I love Jacobs game so much and it is fantastic that the Raiders are finally using this very skilled receiver more in the passing game. I’m terrified that Jacobs is getting the Cadillac Williams treatment - ie ride him until the wheels come off. Last year, Jacobs still gave the team seven more games after suffering a fracture in his shoulder and this year he has already gotten 29 and 30 touches in the first two games and needed some help from the staff to loosen up during the win over the Saints. Now he hasn’t practiced for the first two days of the short week. If you can make a lateral move to Miles Sanders, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jonathan Taylor, Aaron Jones or Derrick Henry from Jacobs, or add a piece to turn Jacobs in Ezekiel Elliott, don’t hesitate.
Sell Low
Cam Akers, RB, LAR - Akers was drafted with a premium top 5-7 pick in rookie drafts and mid-round pick in redraft leagues this year, but the Rams appear to be married to a three-headed backfield unless one of the other backs emerges, and to this point, Akers has been outplayed by both Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. Maybe someone who missed out Akers is looking at this short-term injury as a buy-low moment for him, but I would expect Henderson to do well enough to close the door on Akers ever pulling away from him when both are healthy.
