Adam Humphries (WR, TB) - NFL Waiver Wire Pickups

Baller Move: Add in 12- and 14-team leagues

Owned In: 4% of Fleaflicker Leauges

Analysis: With Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson taking the deeper routes/endzone targets, who is there to take over the short routes? In comes Adam Humphries. He has seen his targets increase from QB Jameis Winston each of the past three weeks, and even flashed his versatility in Week 1 by getting a rushing attempt which went for seven yards. The Bucs like getting Humphries involved in the offense.

Last week while the Bucs were playing some catch-up, Humphries caught 9-of-12 targets for 100 yards. He has seen his targets from Weeks 1-to-3 rise from five, to eight, to 12. His 25 targets are second on the team behind only Evans (38), three more than Jackson’s (22). In an offense that is forced to pass due to their poor defense, complete with a QB who is willing to sling the ball around the yard, Humphries has value in PPR leagues moving forward. Playing regularly in the slot, he will catch a bunch of screens and short passes in the Bucs offense. Even if Winston doesn’t need to throw 58 times per game, there will still be enough games where Humphries catches five or six passes.

While he won’t be an exciting option this week, you can’t ignore the 20 target’s he’s received over the past two weeks. It will be hard for him to break through in standard leagues; most of his catches will be short yardage ones and his 5’11”, 195 lbs. frame won’t get him many red zone targets with Evans (6’5”, 225 lbs.) and Jackson (6’5”, 230 lbs.) in town. Still, given the attention he is getting from Winston he is worth a speculative look, especially in PPR leagues.