Every week, I try to find players who could be sitting on the waiver wire and are worth picking up for this week based on their matchups. Here’s what I have this week!
Teams on a bye: ATL, BUF, CIN, JAX, NO, NYJ
QB: Justin Herbert, Chargers
Ever since the Chargers week five bye, they have been throwing the ball more often. For the first four games, it was seemingly all run, but since that bye week, they have opened up the offense and let Justin Herbert be a difference-maker. He is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season, and over the past five weeks, he has had his five highest scores of the season. He matches up against the Ravens this week, who are last in the NFL against the pass and 30th in fantasy football against QBs.
QB: Bo Nix, Broncos
Like Herbert, Nix is also coming off his best performance of the season. He threw for over 300 yards and 4 TDs against the Falcons last week and brings his team into Las Vegas this weekend looking to win and stay in the playoff race. Vegas ranks 25th in fantasy football against the QB position, so Nix should be in for another big game.
RB: Trey Benson, Cardinals
In his past two games, Benson has had his most touches of the season, and it has led to his best two performances. The Cardinals are coming out of their bye week, and the best way to keep their star players like RB James Conner healthy is to have Benson be more involved. The offense is humming, and they face a Seahawks team that ranks 27th in the NFL against the run and 23rd against RBs in fantasy football.
WR: Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants
The Giants deciding to bench Daniel Jones is a good thing for all their pass catchers. The one guy who is available in most leagues is Robinson, who is a great play this week in PPR formats. He makes a lot of catches, and his matchup is great. He faces the Bucs, who rank 30th against the pass in the NFL and 28th against WRs in fantasy football.
WR: Joshua Palmer, Chargers
This is mostly about this matchup. Palmer is a fine player, but he is the 4th option in the Chargers passing game behind McConkey, Johnston, and Dissly. Still, in a game vs. the Ravens that should be high-scoring, Palmer offers some upside, especially against this Ravens defense that ranks last in the NFL against the pass and last against WRs in fantasy football.
TE: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers
This is purely matchup-based. The Panthers face the Chiefs this week and will almost assuredly be playing from behind and be in garbage-time mode. It could benefit their WRs, but the player who could benefit most is Sanders. The Chiefs rank 30th in fantasy football against the TE position, and Sanders has actually done quite well this season when he sees targets.
Defense: Commanders
This is simple, folks. They play the Cowboys, who are one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Also, if you don’t think HC Dan Quinn wants to lay a beat down on his former team, then you would be foolish.
