Kirk Cousins (QB, WAS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add as QB2

OWNED IN: 30% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: Kirk Cousins put on an absolute show in the Washington Redskins' rout of the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday. He finished with 324 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-25 passing, giving him a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating. We're not here to completely derail the Cousins hype train, but just offer a friendly reminder -- every quarterback shreds the Saints' defense.

This isn't to take anything away from Cousins, who also torched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 317 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7. Performances like that one and the most recent game against the Saints put Cousins into the conversation as a must-start QB1. But the reality is that those types of performances are too few and far between.

Cousins is absolutely worth adding as a backup, or even as a QB2 in two-quarterback leagues. The back end of the Redskins' schedule includes some intriguing matchups, although this week is not one of them. Washington travels to face the undefeated Carolina Panthers, who happen to rank as one of the stingiest pass defenses this season. Even with the return of DeSean Jackson and his recent breakout performance, Cousins can't be trusted this week in Carolina, but there is upside moving forward. Following Carolina are home outings versus the Giants and Cowboys and a road trip at Chicago. Plan accordingly.