X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Player Comparisons
News and Alerts

Fake News or Real Deal? Week 5 Waiver Outlooks

Week 4 featured some good games and performances, as well as some not so good games and performances (**cough, London, cough**). However, as we head into our first full slate of games in the month of October, we continue to search the waiver wire news for the next "Law Firm" Benjarvus Green-Ellis or Reuben Droughns. This isn't always an easy choice to make as these columns in the past have sometimes been notoriously filled with an abundant amount of "fake news" just to get you to click on the story (this isn't the case here, I promise).

Need help and can't decide whether the players featured in articles this week are legitimately worth your roster space? Good thing we are here to put things back into perspective and examine whether this week's news regarding the studs of the waiver wire is actually "fake news" or if there is some authenticity to their performances.

Let's get started!

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!

 

Fake Fantasy News or Real Deal Value?

Deshaun Watson - QB, Houston Texans

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is the latest name being thrown out there in waiver wire columns this week. Watson was drafted by Houston in the first round, 12th overall in the draft this past offseason. He had a fantastic career during his three seasons as a Clemson Tiger, winning numerous awards throughout his tenure with the program. Watson ended his career with 10,168 yards on 814-for-1,207 passing and 90 touchdowns. His mobility also allowed him to compile a staggering 1,934 rushing yards that were complimented by 26 touchdowns on the ground. Watson got off to an ok start in the league, throwing only one touchdown over Weeks 1 and 2 against Jacksonville and Cincinnati. However, many people, especially those on the fantasy side of things, began to take notice of him during Week 3 against the New England Patriots. Watson threw two touchdowns and 301 yards in the contest and narrowly led to the team to a victory over the reigning Super Bowl Champions. However, though he didn’t get the “W” and threw two picks, he automatically showed up on the fantasy radar. Watson followed up the effective performance against the Pats with four touchdowns and 283 passing yards against the Tennessee Titans. As a result, he is now more desirable to fantasy players than the cast of “Magic Mike” is middle-aged women. But I digress.

The real question remains, are the waiver news and columns regarding Watson actually legit, or is is another example of fantasy yellow journalism? Or better yet, is this another classic example of “fake news” in 2017. Though Watson should have silenced any doubters after his effective performance against New England, he didn't and for some reason he still can be found as a free agent in a good chunk of leagues throughout the fantasy realm. Is there a reason for this or are people too oblivious to appreciate what is unfolding? The last remaining undefeated team, the Chiefs, are next up for the rookie. Kansas City is no joke, having acquired victories this season over playoff caliber teams such as the Patriots and Redskins, would a win on Sunday over Andy Reid's squad be enough to catapult him out of the waiver wire pools and onto fantasy teams? Watson undoubtedly has his hands full but the play he has exhibited so far should be enough to finally get him the respect that he deserves. He is playing well beyond his youthful age of 22 years old and is getting better each week as the season progresses. The odds are in his favor as the Chiefs haven't been as hot defensively as there preceded reputation. This season, they have given up 93 rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks, which makes him a healthy option on Sunday.

Verdict

Things are looking good for the rookie. The news regarding Watson is far from fake, especially if he has a solid performance on Sunday against the unbeaten Chiefs. He is definitely the real deal and as a result, we can chalk this up as "not fake news."

 

Alvin Kamara - RB, New Orleans Saints

Last Sunday, we witnessed another overseas matchup in London as the Miami Dolphins “hosted” the New Orleans Saints. The game, which was a monstrosity from the start with 14 flags in the first half alone, will go down as one of the worst games in recent memory. However, if you look past the constant penalties and the exhausting pace of play, we witnessed the fantasy emergence of rookie running back Alvin Kamara. Kamara, who was selected in the third round with the 67th overall pick in the 2017 draft out of the University of Tennessee, put on a splendid performance. Kamara rushed the ball only five times, accruing only 25 yards. However, what he did on the receiving end is what turned him into this weeks’ fantasy wet dream. Kamara had 10 receptions, good for 71 yards and a touchdown in the win. With a performance like that, those involved in the fantasy world scrambled to the waiver wire faster than I run to the dessert table at Thanksgiving. But is Kamara actually the real deal? Or Fake News?

The plan going into the season, or at least what everyone though, was for running back Mark Ingram to see a good chunk of the snaps from the backfield with veteran back Adrian Peterson also getting in his fair share. However, that hasn’t worked out exactly as planned, at least half of it hasn’t. With Ingram getting at least 14 rushing attempts in Weeks 3 and 4, Peterson is slowly starting to fade away. We all have seen the evil eye that he gave to head coach Sean Payton during the Week 1 matchup against Peterson’s former team, the Minnesota Vikings. Perhaps, that was an omen of things to come. With the team getting ready to face the Lions on Sunday, I believe it is safe to say that the London game was Kamara’s official fantasy coming out party. With the Lions having issues stopping passes from the backfield, we can expect Kamara to have another efficient game on Sunday.

Verdict

Expect Mark Ingram to continue to running the ball with Kamara getting his fair share of receptions. Also expect Adrian Peterson to remain irrelevant and unhappy on the sidelines. In any event, it would be a safe bet to say that the Kamara is the real deal and that Kamara being fantasy relevant is "not fake news."

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Player Comparisons
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mason Black3 hours ago

Making First Major League Start On Monday
Tim Hardaway6 hours ago

Jr. Returns To Practice
Maxi Kleber6 hours ago

To Be Re-Evaluated In Three Weeks
Jamal Murray6 hours ago

Back On The Injury Report For Monday
Tyrese Haliburton6 hours ago

Questionable For Game 1 Against Knicks
Marquez Valdes-Scantling6 hours ago

To Visit The Chargers
Nick Pivetta7 hours ago

Expected To Start On Wednesday
Wyatt Langford8 hours ago

To Miss Multiple Weeks
Evan Mobley9 hours ago

Bounces Back In Game 7
Jalen Suggs10 hours ago

Fizzles On Sunday
Franz Wagner10 hours ago

Has A Rough Game 7
Paolo Banchero10 hours ago

Can't Lift Magic To A Win
Donovan Mitchell10 hours ago

Has Another Strong Showing
Steven Kwan10 hours ago

Heading To Injured List
Kyle Manzardo11 hours ago

Expected To Be Called Up Monday
Joe Musgrove11 hours ago

Placed On Injured List
Lance McCullers Jr.11 hours ago

Starting To Throw Off Mound
Evan Phillips11 hours ago

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain
Ryan Pepiot11 hours ago

X-Rays Negative On Ryan Pepiot's Leg
Jeimer Candelario12 hours ago

Scratched From Sunday's Lineup
Ryan Pepiot12 hours ago

Leaves Sunday’s Start Early
Evan Phillips13 hours ago

Placed On Injured List
Caio Borralho13 hours ago

Scores Knockout Win At UFC 301
Vitor Petrino13 hours ago

Suffers First Career Loss At UFC 301
MMA13 hours ago

Anthony Smith Pulls Off Upset At UFC 301
Ryne Nelson13 hours ago

Returning On Sunday
Jonathan Martinez13 hours ago

Has Winning Streak Snapped At UFC 301
Jose Aldo13 hours ago

Gets Decision Win In Return At UFC 301
Max Muncy13 hours ago

Held Out Versus Southpaw
Dak Prescott14 hours ago

Police Won't Pursue Assault Charges For Dak Prescott
Christian Yelich14 hours ago

Continues Making Progress
NFL14 hours ago

J.J. Watt Not Ruling Out A Return
Dylan Carlson14 hours ago

Activated, Starting On Sunday
Wyatt Langford14 hours ago

Sitting Out On Sunday
Ezequiel Tovar14 hours ago

On The Bench For First Time This Year
Tyler Reddick15 hours ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At Kansas
Logan O'Hoppe15 hours ago

Out For Angels
Wenceel Pérez15 hours ago

Wenceel Perez Scratched With Illness
Kyle Manzardo15 hours ago

Could Be Called Up Soon
Michael McDowell15 hours ago

Fade Michael McDowell At Kansas This Week
Corey Lajoie15 hours ago

Corey LaJoie Could Compete For A Kansas Top-20 Finish
Noah Gragson15 hours ago

Is Noah Gragson Worth Rostering At Kansas?
Ty Gibbs16 hours ago

Will Start Sixth At Kansas
William Byron16 hours ago

Is A Must-Play For Kansas Cash Games
Kyle Busch17 hours ago

Is An Ideal Tournament Play For Kansas
Kyle Larson18 hours ago

The Heavy Favorite To Win At Kansas
Denny Hamlin19 hours ago

Looking For Another Win At Kansas
Ross Chastain19 hours ago

Qualifies On The Front Row At Kansas
Martin Truex Jr19 hours ago

. A Quiet Contender At Kansas
Ryan Blaney19 hours ago

Has Major Place-Differential Upside At Kansas
NASCAR19 hours ago

Bubba Wallace Qualifies 23rd At Kansas
Alex Bowman19 hours ago

Has Top-10 Potential At Kansas
Carson Hocevar20 hours ago

A Good Value DFS Play At Kansas
Ricky Stenhouse Jr20 hours ago

. Has Sleeper Potential At Kansas
Austin Dillon20 hours ago

Always A Sleeper At Kansas
Todd Gilliland20 hours ago

An Interesting DFS Play At Kansas
Josh Berry21 hours ago

Around Middle Of The Pack For Sunday
Joey Logano21 hours ago

Tapers Off Speed-Wise At Kansas
NASCAR21 hours ago

Derek Knaus Anchors Rear Of The Field At Kansas
Jarrett Allen1 day ago

On The Injury Report Again For Sunday
Jamal Murray1 day ago

Goes Cold In Game 1
Nikola Jokic1 day ago

Struggles Shooting On Saturday
Anthony Edwards1 day ago

Dominant In Game 1
Maxi Kleber1 day ago

Out Indefinitely
Lonzo Ball1 day ago

Exercises Option For 2024-25
Evan Mobley2 days ago

Fizzles Offensively In Game 6
Darius Garland2 days ago

Plays Well On Friday Night
Donovan Mitchell2 days ago

Explodes Offensively In Game 6
NYI2 days ago

Lou Lamoriello, Patrick Roy To Return Next Season
Mason Marchment2 days ago

A No-Go For Friday
Terance Mann2 days ago

Active At Shootaround
Arturs Silovs2 days ago

Expected To Go Again Friday
Adin Hill2 days ago

Back In Goal Friday
Los Angeles Lakers2 days ago

Darvin Ham Dismissed As Lakers Head Coach
Auston Matthews2 days ago

Uncertain For Game 7
Aaron Rodgers3 days ago

No Restrictions For Aaron Rodgers During Offseason Workouts
Mac Jones3 days ago

Jaguars Don't Pick Up Mac Jones' Fifth-Year Option
Jayden Daniels3 days ago

Has A Chance To Start Immediately
Chase Claypool3 days ago

Bills Sign Chase Claypool
Steve Erceg3 days ago

Has A Chance To Become A Champion
Alexandre Pantoja3 days ago

Looks To Defend Flyweight Title
Jarrett Allen3 days ago

Spotted At Shootaround On Friday
Michel Pereira3 days ago

Ihor Potieria Faces Michel Pereira On UFC 301
Odell Beckham Jr.3 days ago

Signing One-Year Deal With Dolphins
Michel Pereira3 days ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak To Eight
Paul Craig3 days ago

Looking To Rebound At UFC 301
DJ Chark Jr.3 days ago

Signs With Chargers
Kadarius Toney3 days ago

Chiefs Decline Kadarius Toney's Fifth-Year Option
Steven Stamkos3 days ago

Begins Contract Talks With Lightning
Brett Pesce3 days ago

A Potential Option For Round 2
Sam Bennett3 days ago

Should Be Good For Round 2
Adam Fox3 days ago

Doesn't Skate Again On Thursday
Luke Schenn3 days ago

Hopeful For Game 6
Auston Matthews3 days ago

Out For Game 6
Justin Fields3 days ago

Steelers Decline Fifth-Year Option On Justin Fields
Najee Harris3 days ago

Fifth-Year Option On Najee Harris Declined By Steelers
JuJu Smith-Schuster4 days ago

Could Be On His Way Out
Khalil Herbert4 days ago

A Trade Candidate?
T.J. Hockenson4 days ago

Ahead Of Schedule In His Rehab
Nick Chubb4 days ago

"Progressing Nicely"
Caio Borralho4 days ago

Gets Ranked Opponent At UFC 301
Vitor Petrino4 days ago

Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC 301
Anthony Smith4 days ago

A Massive Underdog At UFC 301
Jonathan Martinez4 days ago

Faces A Legend At UFC 301
Jose Aldo4 days ago

Returns At UFC 301
New York Giants4 days ago

Giants Could Sign A Veteran Running Back
Dallas Cowboys4 days ago

Trevon Diggs Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Daniel Jones4 days ago

Has Been Cutting, Plans To Be Ready For Camp
Malik Nabers4 days ago

To Be No. 1 Receiver Immediately
Trey Lance4 days ago

Cowboys To Decline Trey Lance's Fifth-Year Option
Taylor Pendrith5 days ago

A Volatile Option For CJ Cup
Seamus Power5 days ago

Rounding Into Form Ahead of CJ Cup
Davis Thompson5 days ago

A Player To Watch At CJ Cup
Aaron Rai5 days ago

Lacks Upside At TPC Craig Ranch
Min Woo Lee5 days ago

A Dangerous Pick For CJ Cup
Tom Hoge5 days ago

Seeking Second Tour Victory At CJ Cup
Filip Forsberg5 days ago

Collects Two Apples In Game 5 Win
Juuse Saros5 days ago

Comes Through For Predators In Game 5
Nathan MacKinnon5 days ago

Posts Two More Points In Series-Clinching Win
Mikko Rantanen5 days ago

Helps Finish Off Jets With Three Points
Joseph Woll5 days ago

Excellent In Series-Saving Win
Matthew Knies5 days ago

Bangs In Overtime Winner In Game 5
Evgeny Kuznetsov5 days ago

Posts Goal And Assist In Game 5
Seth Jarvis5 days ago

Puts Up Three Points In Series-Winning Game
Mark Hubbard5 days ago

Will Return To Mediocrity At TPC Craig Ranch
Doug Ghim5 days ago

Putting History In Texas Makes Him A Hard Sell
Nate Lashley5 days ago

Looking To Rebound At Byron Nelson
Kevin Yu5 days ago

A Flier Pick With Likeable Upside At Byron Nelson
Andrew Novak5 days ago

Playing Well Heading To TPC Craig Ranch
Patrick Rodgers5 days ago

Withdraws From CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Luke List5 days ago

In Solid Form Heading To TPC Craig Ranch
Tom Kim5 days ago

A Safe Option With A Questionable Ceiling At Byron Nelson
Taylor Montgomery5 days ago

Searching For Form At TPC Craig Ranch
Jason Day5 days ago

To Defend Title At TPC Craig Ranch
Adam Scott5 days ago

Returns To Action At TPC Craig Ranch
PGA5 days ago

Sungjae Im As Good Of A Pick As Any At TPC Craig Ranch
PGA5 days ago

Alex Noren Looks To Take Another Step At TPC Craig Ranch
Mackenzie Hughes5 days ago

Brings Hot Putter To TPC Craig Ranch
Cole Perfetti5 days ago

To Make NHL Postseason Debut Tuesday
Si Woo Kim5 days ago

Trendy Si Woo Kim Heads To Byron Nelson
Connor Hellebuyck5 days ago

Looking To Get Right Tuesday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Colston Loveland - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Draft Prospects: Top 30 Rankings Big Board - An Early Look

Alright, team, soon we'll be cruising into the sunny days of summer, and it’s prime time to lay down my Top 30 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft. For all you draft junkies who’ve been riding shotgun with me through the mock drafts and scouting reports this season—a huge shoutout to you! Now that... Read More


Blake Corum - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Rookie Spotlight: Blake Corum

Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the widespread belief was that Jim Harbaugh would draft and reunite with his former Michigan running back Blake Corum. Instead, Harbaugh opted for a different Wolverine, linebacker Junior Colson, in the third round. Corum will at least play in the same stadium as his former mentor. The Rams... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Rookie Spotlight: Bo Nix

The first 12 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft were heavy on the quarterbacks as six players heard their names called. Of those 12, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix was the final selected when the Broncos took him at pick 12. Will Bo Nix start for the Broncos in 2024? What is the fantasy... Read More


Odell-Beckham-Jr-Fantasy-Football-Rankings-Draft-Sleepers-Waiver-Wire-Pickups-icon-rotoballer

Odell Beckham Jr. Signs With Miami Dolphins: 2024 Fantasy Football Impact

Early during the day on Friday, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. Sources say the deal is worth $3 million with incentives that can push Beckham's financial gains to $8.25 million for the 2024 NFL season. The former 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has been a bit... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Rookie Draft Mock 2024 (Superflex)

Traditionally, quarterbacks go at the top of Superflex dynasty drafts. That is true in startups and rookie-only drafts. However, that rule has faltered over the past two years. The 2022 NFL Draft included zero high-end quarterback prospects, leading to a running back (Breece Hall) landing at 1.01. The next year was different. We had a... Read More


The Fastest Players In The NFL: Who Finished At The Top Last Season?

The 2024 NFL offseason continues to pass by. With several big free agents signing with new teams, exciting rookies being drafted, and training camp just a couple of months away, we're already looking ahead to 2024 Fantasy Football. RotoBaller's David Rispoli digs into some of the NFL's fastest players using NextGen Stats. Which game-breakers were... Read More


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

Free UFL Betting Picks - Best Bets, Odds, Predictions for Week 6

What a week of picking outcomes. I went 4-0 on point spreads and 0-4 on over/unders. One thing that we clearly saw in Week 5: the top four teams in the league put a real beat-down on the four worst teams in the league, and the distinction between those two groups in the 2024 UFL... Read More


Frank Gore Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Undrafted Running Back Rookie Sleepers

Last month's NFL Draft saw a number of really good players left on the board after the seven rounds were over. Some of those players are likely going to make it onto NFL rosters in 2024 as undrafted free agents. Some notable recent running backs who went undrafted include three players who saw extensive playing... Read More


Ezekiel Elliott - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Running Back Sleepers, Undervalued for 2024

The calendar has flipped, and that means we are one step closer to fantasy football drafts. It has surely been a wild offseason that featured many star players changing teams, including at the running back position. Players like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, and Tony Pollard all changed teams this offseason. As a result, we could see some ADP changes at the top of... Read More


Michael Penix Jr. - CFB DFS Picks, Daily College Fantasy Football, NFL Draft Rookies

When Should I Pick Michael Penix Jr. In Rookie Drafts? Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlook

The Atlanta Falcons stunned the football world when they selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was a head-scratching selection considering Atlanta just inked quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency. Dynasty managers now have to figure out when to select Penix... Read More


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 6: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2024)

Week 5 of UFL action was dominated by the top teams, as all four favorites covered their respective spreads. Birmingham, St. Louis, and Michigan all won in convincing blowouts while delivering some impressive fantasy performances along the way. It might be a lot of the same in Week 6. Birmingham (5-0) takes on Memphis (1-4)... Read More


Quarterback Winners and Losers for 2024 Fantasy Football

With the 2024 NFL Draft officially in the books, we're looking ahead to which Quarterbacks exit the draft as the biggest winners and losers for 2024 Fantasy Football. RotoBaller's David Rispoli digs into some of the notable changes at the Quarterback position following the 2024 NFL Draft. Which QBs are the biggest winners and losers... Read More


UFL DFS PICKS, FANTASY FOOTBALL, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

UFL DFS Lineup Picks: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Fantasy Advice for Week 6

Welcome to Week 6 of the inaugural UFL season, RotoBallers! We have a fun football weekend on tap, and there are many different routes we can take to construct lineups for DraftKings contests. Adrian Martinez and the Birmingham Stallions will take their 5-0 record on the road against the Memphis Showboats, where they're massive 11.5-point... Read More