Each week of the NFL campaign we sift through the deeper options at each position with an eye on identifying streaming fantasy options with favorable matchups for you to pick up and plug into your lineup.
As bye weeks roll on and injuries mount, the need for replacement options grows. Here are players found on waiver wires in most ESPN leagues who can help fill those gaps in your roster.
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
You don't need me to tell you about Fitzmagic. Instead, let's look to Mayfield as a strong QB2 or superflex streamer ahead of a game with a Kansas City defense that, while flashing an improved pass rush of late, has still allowed the seventh-most points per drive to opponents this season, with the fourth-lowest rate of forcing three-and-outs. There is clearly a good bit of risk in deploying a rookie signal-caller with fewer than 400 total passing yards the past two weeks, but healthy Vegas indicators (high point total for this visit from the Chiefs' elite offense) suggest there is a fun fantasy ceiling for Mayfield. An offensive coaching overhaul creates some mystery as to how the scheme could look come Sunday, although volume will likely be on the rookie's side, as he has at least 41 passing attempts in three of the past four games. I trust that the significant sample of Kansas City's secondary issues will resurface at times in this game, with Mayfield capable of capitalizing.
Running Back
Atlanta employs more of a bullpen approach to its backfield deployment than, say, the Steelers, who prefer to ride an ace at the position. Which is to say, the Falcons like to mix in a pair of backs to handle backfield responsibilities at a nearly even snap rate. Smith played on 44 percent of the team's offensive plays against the Giants in Week 7, for instance, while Tevin Coleman handled 56 percent. We even find Smith running nearly the same number of routes as Coleman in recent games. Washington has been solid in rush defense but has ceded 44 receiving yards per game at a 77 percent catch rate to backfields this season. Neither player has truly separated from the pack the way Devonta Freeman had in previous campaigns, affording Smith this even share and, thus, value out of the flex or RB2 spot in deeper leagues during this heavy bye week.
Duke Johnson Jr., Cleveland Browns
While I often prefer to rely on the more predictive metrics such as opportunity rates (snaps, routes, targets, touches, etc.) or success rates (yards before and after contact, elusive rating) when evaluating running backs, this nomination is simply about the value of change. We don't know how interim Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens will deploy Johnson on Sunday against the Chiefs, but we do know this offensive coach was involved in Bruce Arians' fantasy-friendly usage of David Johnson in Arizona in recent seasons. Johnson was seventh among tailbacks in routes per yards run last season, so we do in fact have some statistical precedent for how productive the player is when heavily used in the receiving phase. If Smith is the ideal streamer for deeper leagues, Johnson is the choice addition in 10-team PPR leagues. We found the Miami product floating in free agency in nearly half of ESPN leagues as of Tuesday morning, ahead of a matchup with a Chiefs defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing backfields in ESPN PPR scoring this season.
Wide Receiver
The top receiver taken in the 2018 draft, Moore has hauled in 75 percent of his targets while producing 15.6 yards per catch this season. It's admittedly been a slow start to the season for Moore, with the team affording him just 11.3 routes per game and three targets per game during the first seven games of the season. This past week against the Ravens, however, Moore leapt to 26 routes out of a possible 29 dropbacks and was targeted on an encouraging 23.1 percent of his routes (the same clip as Christian McCaffrey). This resulted in 90 yards on six targets, suggesting his recent spike in snaps and routes was warranted. Next up is a Tampa defense allowing 198.1 receiving yards per game to wideouts, fourth most in the league.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
MVS will surely be a strong waiver candidate this week, but I'm guessing he'll still be available in a significant enough number of leagues come Thursday that we can still qualify him as a worthy streaming candidate. This rookie out of South Florida rates in the 90th percentile in the 40-yard dash (4.37) and 87th percentile in hand size among receiving prospects dating back to 1999, per MockDraftable. It could have just been the Packers easing Randall Cobb back into the offense, but it's notable that Valdes-Scantling earned more routes and snaps en route to a score against the Rams. Given the slate-leading 57-point projected total for this marquee interconference matchup with the Patriots, getting cheap shares of this game could prove profitable.
Tight End
When looking on the waiver wire in your league for tight ends, be careful, it's really ugly out there. This week, byes prove particularly tough on the position, leaving Clay as a reasonable streaming option, if only because he has at least three catches in four of the past five games, albeit with very modest yardage results. Clay has averaged 5.7 targets with a team-best reception-per-route rate of 23.1 percent during the past three games, which is impressive relative to the tight end position and the Buffalo offense these days. The Bears have been stingy against tight ends, so Clay's utility comes almost solely from opportunity rates.
Hayden Hurst, Baltimore Ravens
This is a deep shot on a player available in well over 90 percent of ESPN leagues. Hurst, like Moore, was the top player drafted at his position this season, and also like the Carolina receiver, he has been slowly integrated into the offense. The Ravens employ a frustrating committee at tight end, but I like Hurst's chances at seeing some meaningful red zone attention after scoring a touchdown last week. It also helps that Hurst faces a Steelers team that has allowed the fifth-most yards per game (73.4) and second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Defense/Special Teams
For the adventurous crowd, consider this aggressive, if flawed, defense. The Jets have the fifth-highest blitz rate in the league, sending added pressure on 31.6 percent of opposing dropbacks. If we see Brock Osweiler behind center again for Miami, it's worth noting he rates 37th out of 41 qualified passers since 2016 in passer rating when blitzed (77.1). Osweiler has the eighth-highest interception rate per attempt when blitzed and the fourth-fewest yards per attempt (6.19) under such duress.
Individual Defensive Players
Defensive Line
With eight sacks total -- and four of them coming in the past two weeks -- we'll likely see Ford earn one of the largest leaps in roster percentage this week among defenders. If this endorsement is too obvious, then let's look to Pittsburgh's Stephon Tuitt, who plays a ton of snaps and has 12 tackles and two sacks across his past two outings.
Linebacker
It's not often you'll find a player of Lee's caliber so widely available, even in IDP leagues where roster rates prove lower. But with a long recovery from a hamstring injury coupled with the team's recent bye, we find a potential top-10 player at his position available for a few clicks. Another name to consider is Kansas City's Reggie Ragland, who will see an uptick in snaps and tackle opportunities now that Anthony Hitchens is injured.
Defensive Back
Reid was on the field for every defensive snap against the Dolphins in Week 8 and hasn't missed a single tackle yet, per Pro Football Focus. Reid leads all safeties who have played at least 20 percent of their team's defensive snaps in tackle rate this season. Reid should be busy corralling Broncos ball carriers on Sunday afternoon in Denver.