The Way This Works...
To see this article's purpose, please refer to the intro from Week 2.
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The Running List of Past Recommendations
I'll update this throughout the season so you have a wealth of considerations beyond my weekly recommendations. I change their standing as developments occur.
Scroll past these running lists for new suggestions.
Add Nows
Most of these players will not be available, but you'll get a sense of who has been recommended and who to snap up if they become available.
Preemptive
These players may not give you production this weekend, but they are worth considering because there's potential for them to deliver due to injuries or personnel changes.
- Isaac Guerendo
- Cam Akers
- Alec Pierce
- Sean Tucker
- Kayshon Boutte
- Jalen Nailor
- Chris Brooks
- Rakim Jarrett
- Julius Chestnut
Preemptive/Monitor
You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players.
- Andrei Iosivas
- Allen Lazard
- Audric Estime
- Bub Means
- Tyler Goodson
- Tre Tucker
- Xavier Hutchinson
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Brenton Strange
- Dalvin Cook
- Trey Palmer
- Sterling Shepard
Monitor
These players have the talent to contribute to your lineup immediately if elevated to a starting role. If you can't find any talent with playing opportunities to have at the end of your roster, it's worth adding 1-2 of these options in case injury strikes, and you can beat the demand on the waiver wire.
Forget (For Now...)
They have too many players ahead of them on their depth charts to earn an impact anytime soon. Or, they suffered an injury.
Add Now: QB Bryce Young, Carolina
The Skinny on Young: The Panthers got improved production from Young since he returned to the lineup. Young has been better in the pocket against pressure, and he has moved efficiently to create space for quicker throws while under pressure. Young was also accurate in the vertical game last week, but his receivers made mistakes that hurt Young's overall production.
Recommendation: Young looks more confident with his place. His footwork, movement, and processing are quicker than we saw earlier in the season. With Carolina facing a weaker Buccaneers defense twice down the stretch as well as Dallas' decimated unit, Young gives fantasy GMs a potential plug-and-play option for bye weeks and emergencies who could continue to grow into a productive option and cheap.
Add Now: TE Theo Johnson, NY Giants
The Skinny on Johnson: The Giants' rookie has seen his production rise since Week 5. Between Weeks 1-4, he earned 8 targets, 3 receptions, and 37 yards with at least 44 snaps in each contest.
After Week 4, Johnson has earned 18 targets, 14 receptions, 164 yards, and a touchdown -- and with no less than 55 snaps in each contest. Johnson has seen his average production rise by over a target more per game, nearly two additional catches per game, and over 20 yards per game.
3-5 targets, 3-5 catches, and 30-50 yards may not be starter production at the position, but it's a better baseline than before. Because Johnson is athletic, he's a big-play threat up the seams and after the catch in the open field.
Guess what other rookie in New York became a significant offense contributor in Week 5? Tyrone Tracy Jr. As most understand, a good ground game creates a strong play-action passing component and the position that often benefits the most is the tight end.
As Tracy has emerged, Johnson has to a lesser extent.
Recommendation: Johnson is on bye in Week 11, but has Carolina in Germany this weekend without Darius Slayton in tow. Carolina is the most generous unit for tight-end production in the league. When he returns from the by, he faces Tampa Bay, Dallas, New Orleans, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Indianapolis. The Saints are the only defense on this list not ranked inside the top 15 most generous units to fantasy tight ends. Tampa, Indy, and Atlanta and in the top 10.
Johnson could surprise down the stretch, offering low-end starter value.
Preemptive: WR Noah Brown, Washington
The Skinny on Brown: A special teams and contested-catch specialist at Ohio State and Dallas, Brown enjoyed his greatest success last year with C.J. Stroud. He's at his best working against zone coverage or on-on-one at the boundary in the red zone.
The Texans ironically cut Brown this summer because they had a loaded depth chart at receiver. Now in Washington, Brown hasn't enjoyed the same success with rookie Jayden Daniels, but half of his eight games with the Commanders have resulted in at least 3 catches for 55 yards.
Brown has earned 12 targets, 8 catches, 133 yards, and a touchdown in Weeks 8 and 9 against the Bears and Giants. He has earned 6 targets in both games--an indication that Brown and Daniels are developing a greater rapport as the season has unfolded. After all, Brown didn't arrive in Washington until training camp ended so he and Daniels have needed time to acclimate to each other and the offense.
Recommendation: Brown faces the Steelers in Week 10, which may seem like a challenging matchup on the surface because Pittsburgh is the 10th-stingiest fantasy defense for receiver production. Digging deeper, Brown's player archetype matches players like Allen Lazard (9.8), Kristian Wilkerson (10.8), and Michael Pittman Jr (17.3).
Their production in parenthesis gives us insight that Brown's archetype and role should earn him opportunities for no worse than 10-12 points in PPR formats. All four players work the middle against zone defenders and match up well up the seam as mismatches against safeties or at the boundary in the red zone against smaller cornerbacks.
Long-term, Brown faces the Eagles twice, the Cowboys, Titans, Saints, and Falcons. While the Titans are the least generous unit to fantasy receiver production, the rest of these teams are neutral or favorable matchups.
If you need a potential WR4 in your lineup who could emerge as Daniels' reliable third option in the passing game, Brown could help.
Monitor: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington
The Skinny on Rodriguez: A physical interior runner from Kentucky, Rodriguez has spent a few years around the Commanders organization as a contributor or depth player. He lacks dynamic athletic skills, but he's a solid all-around contributor off the bench who can help the Commanders with inside running when Brian Robinson Jr is absent.
Recommendation: Monitor Robinson's progress with his leg injury during this week's practice. If he's out again, Rodriguez gives you a puncher's chance at relevant points as a desperation flex if you need someone last-second.
Final Thought
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.