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It’s often easy to find yourself overwhelmed each week as you look at the waiver wire, wondering which player — or players, mind you — you should be adding to your fantasy football roster and spending your precious FAAB money on. All I hope with this article is that I can help you step away from the crippling panic you may find yourself in (as someone who lost in all his leagues this week, I am 100% in the crippling panic state), and offer some clarity as to who deserves your FAAB money and attention this week on waivers.
Here are my top five waiver prioritize, in order, along with what percentage of your FAAB I think you should be directing towards them (percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, under 75% rostered).
1. Nyheim Hines (21% rostered, 25% of FAAB budget)
Hines will likely be atop everyone’s waiver priority list this week and for good reason. With Marlon Mack out for the season, the Colts backfield is now just rookie Jonathan Taylor and Hines. Taylor will be the starting back, but Hines’ role as the Colts primary pass-catching back offers plenty of value, especially with Philip Rivers under center. Rivers’ talent for check-downs turned Austin Ekeler into a fantasy star last year and Hines might be on a similar trajectory for 2020. I see Hines with FLEX value floor and RB1 ceiling.
2. Malcolm Brown (28% rostered, 10% FAAB budget)
Brown was the clear lead back in Los Angeles Sunday and if that continues deep into the 2002 season, it will set up Brown for a BIG fantasy season. However, if you miss out on Brown, don’t beat yourself up. We’ve seen Brown flirt with the starting gig in LA before but he’s always lost it eventually. With rookie Cam Akers nipping at his heals, Brown might not be in the limelight for long. He has a lot of value immediately, but his rest-of-year value is shaky, hence the low FAAB budget.
3. Robby Anderson (31% rostered, 20% FAAB budget)
Anderson showed out in Week 1, catching six balls for 116 yards and a touchdown. He did record 75 yards of that in one deep touchdown play, but he showed emerging chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater which is great to see this early in the season. You should be buying Anderson not only for his big play potential, but also because the Panthers defense is terrible, meaning Carolina will likely find themselves in plenty of shootouts this year. High scoring games are where players like Anderson thrive.
4. Parris Campbell (23% rostered, 15% FAAB budget)
Campbell saw nine targets in Week 1, tied for the team lead with T.Y. Hilton. Campbell seems to have the Colts slot receiver gig locked down, which is a position that thrives with Rivers throwing the football. I would expect Campbell to emerge as the number two receiver behind Hilton and he could flirt with WR2 production from week to week.
5. Benny Snell Jr. (17% rostered, 15% FAAB budget)
James Conner left Monday night with an ankle injury and in stepped Snell who carried the ball 19 times for 113 yards. Conner’s health is certainly something to monitor as if he returns to the field, Snell will be relegated to a backup role. However, Conner has had a history of injury and missing time, which opens the door for Snell to take command of the Steelers’ backfield.