Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 5

The matchups of Week 4 delivered a blend of favorable and unwanted developments for managers. This included the return of Dalvin Cook and Darrell Henderson into their teams’ starting lineups. We also witnessed Chuba Hubbard’s first game as Carolina's primary back, while New England progressed through their first contest without James White operating as their... Read More

Peyton Barber (RB, LV) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Josh Jacobs has been sidelined for six games since entering the NFL (2019) while contending with multiple health issues during that span. Jacobs could also encounter additional health challenges even after he returns from his current ankle injury. If Jacobs misses additional time... Read More

Marlon Mack (RB, IND) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of Leagues ANALYSIS: This recommendation is for anyone who is in a position to stash Mack, on the premise that he could resurface in a new environment. He had been limited to 13 offensive snaps, five attempts, and 16 rushing yards from Weeks 1-3 while... Read More

Darrel Williams (RB, KC) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Williams does not present standalone value as managers plan their Week 5 lineups. However, his usage has steadily increased during each of his last four matchups. He also continues to function as the RB2 in Andy Reid’s offense while remaining directly below Clyde... Read More

J.D. McKissic (RB, WAS) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (PPR) OWNED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: McKissic was already a viable roster addition for managers in PPR leagues even before news surfaced that Antonio Gibson was contending with a hip issue. Not only did McKissic’s ongoing involvement as a receiver supply the potential for him to accumulate targets and... Read More

Samaje Perine (RB, CIN) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 2% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Perine has been limited to 28 rushing yards on nine attempts this season, and his involvement as a receiver has also been minimal (4 targets/3 receptions/30 yards). However, that includes his four touches during Cincinnati’s final drive in Week 4 after Joe Mixon suddenly... Read More

Kenny Gainwell (RB, PHI) - Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Gainwell will be mentioned as a recommended pickup on a weekly basis until he is rostered in at least 60% of all leagues. He possesses favorable strengths that have compelled Nick Sirianni to capitalize on Gainwell’s versatility, including his continued deployment as... Read More

Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 3 Analysis

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As the season unfolds, an expanding collection of tools are available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position. Those results provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the wide receiver position, which... Read More

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 4

After three weeks of the regular season, many of you have already contended with the absence of a player that you had projected to be your team's primary back. Any managers who embraced the opportunity to seize Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook at the onset of their drafts have now been added to that unwanted list. Other backs who... Read More

Tony Jones Jr. (RB, NO) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Jones generated 1,481 rushing yards during his final three seasons at Notre Dame (2017-2019). He was later signed as an undrafted free agent by New Orleans. He only was involved in five offensive snaps last season. However, his effectiveness during the preseason... Read More

Royce Freeman (RB, CAR) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Freeman was the eighth back to be selected during the 2018 NFL Draft (3.07), but his career trajectory was hardly favorable during his tenure with Denver. He finished second to fellow newcomer Phillip Lindsay in attempts (130/9.3 per game), and yardage (521/37.2) during 2018,... Read More

Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB, SF) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Wilson was mentioned as a waiver add on a repeated basis during the final weeks of the 2020 regular season as he presented managers with a critical resource that could help propel their teams to league championships. Now, he can be stashed... Read More

J.D. McKissic (RB, WAS) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (PPR) OWNED IN: 39% of Leagues ANALYSIS: McKissic was only targeted once during Washington’s season opener, failed to register a reception, and carried just one time. However, his target share rose from 4.8% to 13.7% in Week 2, as McKissic collected five of his six targets and generated... Read More

Peyton Barber (RB, LV) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: You may not have the same fervor for pursuing Barber from this week’s waiver wire that you will for the most popular options that remain available. However, he will accumulate rushing attempts and accrue rushing yardage while Josh Jacobs contends with his lingering ankle... Read More

Michael Carter (RB, NYJ) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 54% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Carter was included in last week’s recommendations due to the expectation that he would eventually ascend into an expanded role. Managers were still largely uninspired to target him for their rosters, as his availability only changed by 4%. Carter’s escalating usage had propelled... Read More

Kenny Gainwell (RB, PHI) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 35% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Gainwell has quickly earned a role in Philadelphia's offense that capitalizes on his ability to accrue sizable yardage as both a runner and receiver. This has enabled the promising rookie to cement his status as the Eagles' RB2, and his value should... Read More

Zack Moss (RB, BUF) - Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 54% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Moss has established his presence within Buffalo’s backfield rotation since resurfacing in Week 2. He has accrued 125 total yards on 26 touches over two weeks of action, including 86 yards on the ground. Moss has also assembled 39 receiving yards on... Read More

Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 2 Analysis

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As the season unfolds, an expanding collection of tools are available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position. Those results provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the wide receiver position, which... Read More

Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: If you have selected Dalvin Cook near the onset of your drafts at any point since 2018, then you may have opted to protect your investment through the addition of Mattison. The motivation for including Cook’s direct backup on rosters has been sustained due to... Read More

Kenny Gainwell (RB, PHI) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Gainwell accrued 2,069 total yards (1,459 rushing/610 receiving) in 2019 while operating in the Memphis Tigers’ RPO spread offense. Those were compelling reasons to believe that he could eventually collect touches as both a rusher and receiver in Philadelphia’s backfield - particularly... Read More

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 3

After two weeks of the regular season, some of the running backs that were drafted in the early and middle rounds have performed effectively for anyone who selected them. Hopefully, you are among the fantasy managers that have received favorable results from these players. Unfortunately, other runners have not produced the results that were expected. Some... Read More

J.D. McKissic (RB, WAS) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (Prioritize in PPR) OWNED IN: 29% of Leagues ANALYSIS: McKissic captured a 19.2% share last season, led all backs in targets (110/6.9 per game), and was second in both receptions (80/5.8 per game) and receiving yards (589/36.8 per game). But Antonio Gibson’s ADP surged during draft season, which was... Read More

Zack Moss (RB, BUF) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Moss was being selected in Round 8 during the majority of drafts during July, but his momentum took a downturn in August when he suffered a hamstring injury. He was also inactive during Buffalo’s season-opening loss to Pittsburgh as Devin Singletary bolted for 80... Read More

Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 1 Analysis

After months of research, conversation, and recommendations regarding potential usage and production for wide receivers, we can finally shift into the analysis of actual regular-season matchups. The results of Week 1 provided a collection of impressive performances, including several surprising developments. It also delivered our first opportunity to examine the massive assortment of numbers that... Read More

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 2

After months of drafting and reshaping rosters, the highly-anticipated return of NFL matchups finally occurred. This was the first opportunity to witness regular-season game action, along with our initial chance to evaluate running backs as they performed during their opening day matchups. Many of you should be extremely satisfied with the production that your backs... Read More

Elijah Mitchell (RB, SF) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 4% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Mitchell accumulated 3,864 total yards and 46 touchdowns during his collegiate career at Louisiana-Lafayette, which compelled the 49ers to select him in Round 6 of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, Raheem Mostert and third-round selection Trey Sermon were expected to share the vast majority of touches that... Read More

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PHI) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 8% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It was easy to envision factors aligning favorably for Gainwell which would eventually propel him into an ongoing role in Philadelphia’s offense. He can burst for significant yardage due to his acceleration as a runner, and also possesses the ability to operate as... Read More

Latavius Murray (RB, BAL) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 55% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Murray appeared primed to seize a consistent role within New Orleans’ reconstructed offense, as the Saints entered the regular season with an attack that was highly deficient in dependable receiving weaponry. That seemed to provide Sean Payton with the incentive to deploy Murray... Read More

Tony Jones Jr. (RB, NO) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 21% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Jones was signed as an undrafted free agent by New Orleans in 2020 but was limited to five offensive snaps during the season. He also remained firmly outside the fantasy landscape throughout nearly all of the offseason. But his performance during the preseason... Read More

Mark Ingram II (RB, HOU) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 19% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Texans head coach David Culley was included on Baltimore’s staff from 2018-2020 (assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach) and maintains an excellent relationship with Ingram. But the nebulous nature of Houston’s overcrowded backfield did not present a reason for optimism that Ingram... Read More