Week 14 Street FA Report – Playoff Edition
Each week we will recommend a group of players that are owned in less than 50% of RSO league that should be rostered. Depending on roster and league sizes not all of these players may be available. For that, we will offer 1 player that is owned in <10% of leagues as our Sleeper add.
Add of the Week
Jaylen Samuels, RB – PIT (Owned 47%)
Week 13: 2 Car/5 yards, 3 Rec/20 yards, 1 TD
I said last week to add you stud RB handcuffs and on cue, both Kareem Hunt and James Conner are now shelved for many playoff-bound teams. In the case of James Conner and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it will be Jaylen Samuels who will be stepping into the starting role for at least week 14. Samuels hasn’t shown much in the running game yet (12 carries for 31 yards) but he has been more effective as a receiver with two (2) receiving touchdowns. Therefore, it is likely for veteran Stevan Ridley to have a role in Conner’s absence as well. He fits a more traditional ground game runner to use around the goal line. The Steelers have been passing 67% this season and a league-high 78% the last three weeks so it will be interesting to see how the offense functions without its two best runners. Still, if you have made it this far with RB problems this may be your saving grace for the final three weeks. At a minimum, you should be putting in a high bid to keep poach from Samuels from other contenders.
Suggested Bid: 95% remaining cap space
RB Add
Jeff Wilson, RB – SF (Owned 3%)
Week 13: 15 Car/61 yards, 8 Rec/73 yards
If you lose out on the sweepstakes to grab the obvious Jaylen Samuels make sure to put in a second bid for 49ers backup Jeff Wilson. Similarly to Conner’s situation, it isn’t clear yet whether Matt Breida will only be absent for one week or if his ankle injury will force him to miss multiple games. Either way, a starter is available and needs to be added. The schedule isn’t kind to the 49ers for the playoffs (Denver, Seattle, and Chicago) but Wilson proved himself valuable in the passing game with eight (8) receptions in garbage time last week. With only fullback Kyle Juszczyk as competition for touches, there should be a safe floor to Wilson in PPR leagues. Wilson may be a nice consolation prize for those with less cap available.
Suggested Bid: 60% remaining cap space
WR Adds
Bruce Ellington, WR – DET (Owned 15.5%)
Week 13: 7 Rec/35 yards
Thank you to everyone who finally got Adam Humphries’ ownership above the 50% threshold finally. Now, we need to give Bruce Ellington the same treatment this week. Ellington has been targeted 26 times in the last three (3) games which has given him a tremendously safe floor in PPR leagues despite his low yard total. The Lions have a slightly easier schedule throughout the playoffs (Arizona, Buffalo, and Minnesota) in which the number one corner will continue to be matched up against Kenny Golladay. The Lions are ninth in the pass-run ratio at 63% so there shouldn’t be much change in their game plan and Ellington will continue to receive a large number of targets. Hopefully, he is able to increase his yard totals and maybe sprinkle in a touchdown or two. That would push Ellington in the WR3 category.
Suggested Bid: $2,000,000 or 40% remaining cap space
Chris Conley, WR – KC (Owned 27%)
Week 13: 3 Rec/25 yards, 1 TD
Another recommendation from week 12 Chris Conley has shown he is valuable with Sammy Watkins out of the lineup. Conley actually out targeted Tyreek Hill last week seven (7) to six (6) and scored his third touchdown in the last two games. The Chiefs have a tough matchup this week against the Ravens who have been notorious for killing fantasy production of opposing offenses, just as Julio Jones last week. If you can make it through this week though, Conley may be a sneaky flex play for the final two weeks if Watkins remains out.
Suggested Bid: $1,000,000 or 20% remaining cap space
TE Add
Ian Thomas, TE – CAR (Owned 24%)
Week 13: 5 Rec/20 yards
Another injury has finally put an end to Greg Olsen’s season and therefore another starting tight end is lost for the season. It will be difficult to find startable options this late in the season but Ian Thomas has about as good as any for being added to a team’s TE rotation. The target shares have become monopolized by Christian McCaffrey in Carolina but we know that Cam Newton likes to involve the TE if he is comfortable with him. Thomas had five (5) receptions after Olsen left the game suggesting that Newton at least won’t be ignoring the position, unlike last year when Olsen was out.
Suggested Bid: $1,000,000 or 20% remaining cap space
Sleeper Add (<10%)
Auden Tate, WR – CIN (Owned 8.4%)
Week 13: N/A
This is a complete shot in the dark but with A.J. Green out in week 12 Auden Tate surprisingly had seven (7) targets but was a surprise inactive last week with Green back. With Green now out for the rest of the season, Tate should be activated again and have a chance to be the number two behind Tyler Boyd. His 6’5” frame should also give Tate opportunities to see red zone targets. With backup QB Jeff Driskel being the starting QB now this may give Tate an inside track to early and important targets. We often see backups thrust into starting roles favor their practice squad and backup receivers due to their familiarities.
Suggested Bid: $500,000
