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My apologies for this being a little late. Normally I like to have this done and published Sunday night or at the latest Monday morning nice and early. But as sometimes happens, extenuating situations got in the way of my early morning writing; mostly my wife being sick and me wanting to be a good husband. But also the Red Sox just won the World Series so maybe, just maybe I had a late night of merriment. Who’s to say which it was more of.
Anyways, please forgive my lateness and here are the players you should be instantly adding to your fantasy team (percent owned in Yahoo leagues).
QB Ryan Fitzmagic, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6% owned)
THE FITZMAGIC IS BACK BABY! After Jameis Winston threw four interceptions against the Bengals, the Bucs benched him in favor of the man, the myth, the legend, who came onto the field and instantly dug the Bucs out of a 34-16 deficit and almost won the game for them. It’s up in the air who Dirk Koetter will start next week but if the magic is real again, you want to make sure he’s on your fantasy team.
RB Doug Martin, Oakland Raiders (53% owned)
Breaking my 50% owned rule but the running back market is pretty thin and barren. I talked last week about getting Martin and Richard on your team which hopefully you listened to so you can just skip this part of the article. Martin got the bulk of the groundwork Sunday, carrying the rock 13 times for 72 yards. Richard meanwhile only saw two carries and it’s clear his role is going to be the passing game. As long as Martin can continue to turn out a couple of chuck plays here and there, he’s worth the snag and start, especially if you’re RB needy.
RB Trenton Cannon/Elijah McGuire, New York Jets (9%/6% owned)
Like I said, it’s a thin running back market out there. With Bilal Powell out for the season, we were all curious to see how the new backup for Isaiah Crowell would play this week. And the answer was not great. Cannon had nine touches for 22 yards behind Crowell and didn’t look all that inspiring. What you hope is that much of his lack of performance came from playing the Bears on the road and not that he’ll be a lackluster backup. McGuire is returning from IR soon and has shown flashes last year in the Jets offense. One of these two guys is in line for a decent role and jury is still out on exactly who.
WR Keke Coutee, Houston Texans (20% owned)
Coutee didn’t play this week due to a hamstring injury but he still saw his fantasy value get a major uptick. Will Fuller balled out Thursday night against the Dolphins but also, sadly in doing so, tore his ACL and is now out for the year. Now, Coutee is the clear WR2 in Houston just as Deshaun Watson is starting to look like the rookie year Watson we all fell in love with. Coutee is a must get given his already productive role in the Texans’ offense and how the increase in regular workload he’s sure to see.
WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers (15% owned)
Finally a D.J. Moore breakout game! And it came against the stout Ravens’ defense so you know it’s legit. Moore has been seeing his involvement in the Panthers’ offense grow and this week he finally tapped into his fantasy potential. He racked up 129 yards on seven touches Sunday (five catches for 90 yards, two carries for 39) and was a major catalyst behind the Panthers’ win. With the Bucs and Steelers on tap, Moore has high FLEX value for the next couple of weeks.
WR David Moore, Seattle Seahawks (3% owned)
If you go searching for D.J. Moore and accidently add David Moore thinking that the D stands for David, at least you’re not wasting your waiver claim. David Moore has also been on a breakout and unlike D.J. Moore, he’s been fantasy relevant from the word go. Moore has been a part of the Seahawks’ passing attack for four games now and in those four games he’s caught 11 balls for 221 yards and four touchdowns. He’s coming off his best game where he posted 97 yards and a touch on four catches. He’s somehow still running under the radar in leagues so be the person to capitalize on your leaguemate’s mistakes.
WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (10% owned)
Sutton has been what I like to call “rookie solid” so far this season. He’s recorded at least six fantasy points in six out of his eight games and is averaging roughly five targets and two catches a game. Solid for a rookie who’s learning the offense and finding his role. Sutton is on this list though not just because he’s “rookie solid”. He’s on this list because the NFL trade deadline is just around the corner and Demaryius Thomas is in plenty of rumors. If the Broncos do move Thomas, then Sutton leaps into the WR2 role in Denver and falls into a heck of a lot more targets. Get him now before he becomes to rich to own.