This week’s fantasy football waiver wire feature is dedicated to Julio Jones’ owners. The entire country, except those jerks in your league, is sorry for your loss.
When will a “Fantasy Football Empathy… pass it on” PSA be created?
Now, we can’t replace JJ’s weekly fantasy production in standard and points-per-reception leagues, but at some point the healing process needs to begin and that hole in your heart and lineup needs to be filled.
As your fantasy football therapist, I’m happy to suggest six wide receivers available in more than 50 percent of leagues on FOXSports.com that you should target on the waiver wire.
Julio Jones Inspired Waiver Wire Targets:
1) Alshon Jeffery
Ownership: 34.6 percent
Analysis: Over the last four weeks, Dez Bryant leads all fantasy football wide receivers in scoring with 74.1 points. Second on that list is Jeffery with nearly 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Over the last three games, Jeffery has 22 receptions on 32 targets compared to Brandon Marshall’s 16 on 27. Within Marc Trestman’s system, Jeffery should remain valuable the rest of the season.
2) Keenan Allen
Ownership: 1.7 percent
Analysis: With Malcom Floyd on the shelf for the season, Allen emerges as the team’s deep threat. In the past two games, he’s caught 11 of 15 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown (could have been two). Philip Rivers is completing nearly 74 percent of his passes (second-best in NFL) and averaging 322 pass yards per game with 13 touchdowns.
3) Austin Pettis
Ownership: 2.7 percent
Analysis: Due to a lackluster rushing attack, Sam Bradford has been looking to throw inside the opponent’s five yard line. Through the first five games, Bradford has targeted Pettis three times inside the five – that’s tied for third-most in the NFL. Tavon Austin only has four more targets than Pettis and only more more reception. Bradford will continue to spread targets around, but when it comes time to start a WR3 or FLEX option, Pettis is moving up my weekly rankings and is definitely worthy of a roster spot.
RELATED: We’ll have to wait and see if a two-headed monster of Zac Stacy (14 carries last week) and Daryl Richardson (13 carries) can get anything going the next few weeks, otherwise Pettis’ value remains solid.
4) Reuben Randle
Ownership: 14.4 percent
Analysis: Julio Jones-less owners need to look for high-ceiling talent on the waiver wire. Eli Manning has attempted the fourth-most passes (204) in the league. Opportunity is knocking.
Randle is coming off the best fantasy performance of his two-year NFL career with 21.6 fantasy points to show for it. He’s tied with Hakeem Nicks for second most targets on the team with 38. This may be a long shot, but if you’re a JJ owner with a low waiver priority this week, Randle may be the best option remaining.
Plus, with the way the Giants’ defense has failed to stop anybody, Manning’s pass attempts should continue to rise.
5) Harry Douglas
Ownership: 7.2 percent
Analysis: Now in his fifth season with the Falcons, Douglas has constantly played the role of fourth wheel in the passing game. Check out his career team stats:
2012: 320 rec. yards / 1 TD
WR Rank: 5th
2011: 498 rec. yards / 1 TD
WR Rank: 4th
2010: 294 rec. yards / 1 TD
WR Rank: 4th
2009: Missed entire season
2008: 320 rec. yards / TD
WR Rank: 4th
In addition to Roddy White, Douglas has fought Michael Jenkins, Tony Gonzalez and, most recently, Jones for targets. With White hobbled by a hamstring and a ankle (we’ll have to wait and see his status for Week 7 and beyond), Douglas and Gonzalez are Matt Ryan’s top options in the passing game. Jacquizz Rodgers is also a threat to Douglas’ targets, but in deeper leagues the former Louisville Cardinal should be added to rosters.
6) Vincent Brown (PPR)
Ownership: 16.5 percent
Analysis: With only eight receptions for 50 yards through the first three games, fantasy owners who took a flier on Brown were prepared to head to the cage to cash out. However, on a recent FOX Sports Team Report podcast, UT San Diego’s Michael Gehlken reasserted the Chargers’ plan to get Brown more involved in the offense – especially with Malcom Floyd out for the season.
In the last two games, Brown has caught 15 passes on 18 targets for 158 yards. Philip Rivers is chucking the ball all over the yard because of the weakness (Ryan Mathews) at running back. Like Drew Brees, look for Rivers to spread the wealth to Allen and Brown, while continuing his rapport with tight end Antonio Gates.
Fowler's Remaining Waiver Wire Targets
The X-Tra Point
Before we go our separate ways for the week, I must pass along this gem from last night's Monday Night Football chat. Now, I've been hosting fantasy football chats for the past three seasons and never has there been a question in the queue like this. Enjoy.
Comment From Logan Wilson
Ryan, I met this smoking hot chick a couple weeks back and she is a maniac in (NSFW). But I just discovered she has the worst B.O. and morning breath, so I started having second thoughts. Then Sunday morning she was looking at my fantasy team in the morning and somehow benched Peyton Manning for Blaine Gabbert. She's gotta go, right?
I'll answer that with a question (and there are MANY):
Why was Blaine Gabbert on your roster?
As always, fantasy football waiver wire claims vary from league-to-league, team-to-team. So if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter @FOXSportsFowler (better option) and I'll be happy to help.
