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.
- Bryce Young
- Alec Pierce
- Jameis Winston
- Kayshon Boutte
- Darius Slayton
- Ricky Pearsall
- Theo Johnson
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Devaughn Vele
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.
- Jordan Mason
- Dylan Laube (see below)
- Ray Davis
- Cam Akers
- Alec Pierce
- Sean Tucker
- Jalen Nailor
- Chris Brooks
- Noah Brown
- Demarcus Robinson
- Mike Williams
- Dylan Laube
- Drew Lock
- Audric Estime
Preemptive/Monitor
You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players.
- Andrei Iosivas
- Tyler Goodson
- Xavier Hutchinson
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Brenton Strange
- Jordan Mims
- Ameer Abdullah
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.
- Michael Penix Jr.
- Isaac Guerendo
- Sterling Shepard
- Julius Chestnut
- Tre Tucker
- Trey Palmer
- Brenton Strange
- Dawson Knox
- Nelson Agholor
- Adam Trautman
- Dalvin Cook
- Allen Lazard
- Jalin Hyatt
- Rakim Jarrett
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: David Moore, Panthers
The Skinny on Moore: A seventh-round selection of the Seattle Seahawks, Moore showed promise as a deep threat working with Russell Wilson. Moore averaged over 17 yards per catch during his first 2 NFL seasons, catching 43 targets for 746 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Seattle didn't renew Moore's rookie deal in 2021 and Moore has been on three other teams during the past four years. Since Week 8, Moore has earned no less than 46 snaps -- a significant bump in playing time that was closer to 9-19 snaps for most of his first seven weeks.
In Week 12, Moore earned 6 catches on 10 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. This was Moore's fourth-best output during his seven-year career and he looked like a starting receiver.
Bryce Young found Moore repeatedly against the blitz and delivered well-placed targets against tight coverage, which Moore won -- including a slant in the end zone for Moore's touchdown.
Recommendation: Adam Thielen is back, but Moore gives Young the best combination of versatility and veteran knowledge on the receiving corps. With Ja'Tavion Sanders unlikely to play this week after injuring his neck against the Chiefs in Week 12, Moore should be one of the top 2-3 target-getters for the Panthers against a generous Buccaneers defense.
Moore should earn at least 5-7 targets this week against Tampa Bay. With Dallas, Philadelphia, and another contest with the Buccaneers in Week 17, the Panthers have a favorable slate of passing matchups where Moore could benefit.
Preemptive: Kimani Vidal, Chargers
The Skinny on Vidal: Imagine D'Andre Swift. The Bears runner excels on plays in space or runs that simulate open space like Toss and Draw. It makes Swift effective as a high-end role player who can deliver fantasy starter value, but he's more limited as an NFL running back than fantasy GMs perceive. As long as Swift produces the rest doesn't matter to most.
Vidal has the budding skills to become what the average fan thought Swift could be. A rookie runner from Troy, Vidal is bigger than tall, explosive, runs with strong contact balance and power, and Vidal has better pass protection skills than Swift right now.
J.K. Dobbins is dealing with a knee injury that could force him out for 2-3 weeks. Gus Edwards will take over as the lead option and we may see a cameo appearance from Hassan Haskins in red zone duty.
If Edwards were to get hurt, Haskins lacks the explosion to factor as a primary back. Vidal would be the most logical replacement.
Recommendation: Although Vidal's four games of box scores aren't impressive, he has had impressive moments thus far. The next three weeks against the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Broncos isn't an easy schedule, but you're considering Vidal as a preemptive addition if you have Dobbins or Edwards and want a shot at a lead back if injuries further decimate the depth chart.
Preemptive/Monitor: Cade Stover, Texans
The Skinny on Stover: A former linebacker at Ohio State, Stover switched to tight end mid-career and displayed excellent hands and ball-carrying skill for the Buckeyes. Stover is a Jake Ferguson type of prospect with a higher ceiling as a receiver/runner.
Stover had his best game as a rookie in Week 12 with the Titans, catching three of four targets, including a touchdown. With the Texans' offensive line ailing, C.J. Stroud could begin targeting the tight end more often and the two have a healthy rapport they built in Columbus.
Recommendation: The Jaguars are a generous defense to tight ends and Stover could be worth a one-week addition before the Texans' bye in Week 14. If your depth chart still needs a tight end after the bye, the Chiefs and Ravens are good matchups for Stover if his targets continue trending upward.
Final Thought
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.