Written by: Alexander Amir
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (29.0% owned)
Believe me, I don’t like it. This is purely an upside pick if you’re needy at QB. But Dak has quietly put together two 20+ fantasy outings, and with Amari Cooper now catching passes from him, the Dallas offense might have found a spark. He has a bunch of favorable matchups ahead, including against the Falcons, Redskins, Saints, and Eagles twice. Wait and see for a week or two more, but Dak could break out in a big way.
Running Backs
Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles (39.0% owned)
With Jay Ajayi hurt and Corey Clement all but phased out of the offense, it’s down to Smallwood and Josh Adams with meaningful touches in the Philly backfield. Smallwood hasn’t been very efficient on the ground but has salvaged a couple matchups with receiving touchdowns. With a thinning RB market, you might as well pick up a guy who is at least getting consistent usage. He’s going into a bye this week, so you may even be able to get him as a free agent rather than off waivers.
Devontae Booker, Denver Broncos (11.6% owned)
This is a streamer pickup — if Royce Freeman remains out with a high ankle sprain this week, Booker will get very similar usage as he did this past Sunday. 9 carries for 78 yards and 4 catches for 23 yards is solid for a PPR Flex play, and Houston has a middling fantasy defense against running backs. Phillip Lindsay will still be the starter, but the Broncos have supported two fantasy-relevant RB’s all year.
Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals (20.4% owned)
Why is Kirk still not owned? Yes, he doesn’t get many receptions per game, but he makes them count when he does. He’s scored double digit fantasy points in 0.5 ppr scoring in 4 of the past 6 weeks, and gets more and more comfortable with rookie QB Josh Rosen each week. He accounts for just over 28% of his team’s receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, 15th best in the league. The Arizona offense isn’t high powered, but Kirk is becoming an increasingly reliable flex option. He’s also going into a bye, so you may be able to wait until he clears waivers and add him as a free agent.
DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (21.6% owned)
Well, well, well. Fantasy owners had all but given up on DeVante Parker this year after high preseason hopes that he would consume the targets left by Jarvis Landry. He finally broke out, to the tune of 6 catches for 134 yards, with fellow receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills injured, and this could be the start of something down in Miami. Take him for the upside, and you could even consider using him as a flex this week against the Jets if Stills can’t go.
Tight Ends
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (31.9% owned)
Andrew Luck’s ole’ reliable is back! Doyle had 6 catches for 70 yards and touchdown in a game where Eric Ebron had just 3 catches for 37 yards (but also a touchdown). The Colts offense has been picking up, and Doyle returns just in time. He has a bye this week, but target him as a free agent if you have an empty roster spot.
Chris Herndon, New York Jets (5.0% owned)
Herndon very quietly has scored a touchdown in 3 straight weeks. He doesn’t get a ton of yards, but in such a thin tight end market, and especially with a heavy bye week coming up, you could do far worse than Herndon as your starting tight end. He’s also playing against the Dolphins, who have allowed 3 tight end touchdowns in the past 2 weeks.
Defense/Special Teams
Miami Dolphins (21.5% owned)
Miami’s D has been roughed up by the Lions and Texans in the past couple weeks, but now they get to face a struggling Jets offense that mustered just 10 points and barely over 200 yards. Darnold has been extremely turnover prone, Isaiah Crowell has been a very inefficient runner, and the Jets receivers have been inept. This is a strong start in a heavy bye week.
Dallas Cowboys (24.7% owned)
The Cowboys’ defense has had its moments this season, good and bad, so this is a bit of a risky play. Additionally, the Titans are not very turnover prone, offering little opportunity to accumulate fantasy points. However, the Titans also can’t score many points themselves, which makes Dallas a safe, if unspectacular, streaming option. Ezekiel Elliott will probably be given the ball 20+ times to milk as much time out of drives as possible, so the Titans will have limited opportunity to score. Don’t expect a huge game, but Dallas will do its job.