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.
- Audric Estime
- Drew Lock
- Bryce Young
- Alec Pierce
- Jameis Winston
- Kayshon Boutte
- Darius Slayton
- Ricky Pearsall
- Demarcus Robinson
- Theo Johnson
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.
Preemptive/Monitor
You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players.
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
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: WR Mike Williams, NY Jets
The Skinny on Williams: Traded to the Steelers less than two weeks ago, Williams only had a small package of plays during his first week in Pittsburgh. Still, he caught his only target for a 32-yard touchdown to beat the Washington Commanders.
Russell Wilson is a moon-ball specialist in the vertical game. Williams is a contested-catch receiver who uses his height, length, size, and vertical skill to win above the rim.
Giving Wilson a second option who can work the opposite side of the field places defenses in a specific bind that plays into Pittsburgh's offensive strengths. As you can see above, whenever the opponent plays Cover 1 -- man-to-man coverage with a single-high safety -- Wilson will attack the man-to-man coverage if the safety is not shading on that side.
Add Williams to the equation, and a safety must pick their poise. Eventually, we may see more Cover 2 -- two safeties -- or Cover 4 -- two safeties and zone coverage with man-to-man principles. When defenses shift to these coverages, they are run-friendly looks, and the Steelers have the horses in Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson to run over opponents.
If the Steelers can get the most from Williams, Pittsburgh can use even more two-tight-end sets that can win against a variety of coverages and make it harder for opponents to disguise them. It may not make Wilson a top fantasy passer at year's end, but he'll be helping everyone else.
Wilson will be efficient, his receivers will author big plays, and the ground game will remain stable.
Recommendation: I presumed Williams would be a more desired property on the free agent market, but it illustrates how utilization data has worked its way into the fantasy consciousness. No one is into chasing points and they don't see enough snaps and targets from Williams to add him.
Sometimes, you look at the matchup of skills between two veteran players and know you better jump in before it becomes cost-prohibitive. This is one of them.
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