💰️ Waiver Wire Report

QB
Likely taken but top priorities if available: Justin Fields, Brock Purdy
LV Geno Smith: ($1 - $2): Coming off a 289 yard / 3 TD game, Geno Smith is a fine plug-and-play this week as they are home vs Chicago, the team giving up the most points to opposing QBs.
Players you can drop: Michael Penix Jr., Joe Burrow, J.J. McCarthy

RB
Likely taken but top priorities if available: Cam Skattebo, Bhayshul Tuten, Quinshon Judkins
ARI Trey Benson ($75 - $100): Owned in 52% of leagues, if he is available, he is worth unloading the clip to acquire. Expect him to project similarly to James Conner, if not even better given he has no Trey Benson to steal work.
LAR Blake Corum ($3 - $5): Continues role as change-of-pace back to Kyren Williams, one injury away from being a top play each week
HOU Woody Marks ($3 - $5): Role has continued to increase, ran more routes than Chubb and turned it into a two-man backfield. Opportunity to continue increasing role.
MIA Ollie Gordon II ($2 - $4): Upside without an injury is he grows into the 2023 Raheem Mostert role, more likely outcome is he’ll be used in positive game scripts and occasionally find the end zone
Players you can drop: James Conner, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy, Kaleb Johnson, Tank Bigsby

WR
Likely taken but top priorities if available: Chris Godwin, Jauan Jennings
LV Tre Tucker ($3 - $5): Expecting people to chase last week’s 3 TD performance but not someone you’re going to have comfort starting weekly
CHI Luther Burden III ($2 - $4): This is a second-half stash as you’ll need to be patient with the Bears as they ramp up Burden or trade away DJ Moore, but Burden could finish the season very strong
DAL KaVontae Turpin ($1 - $2): Cowboys lacking weapons with CeeDee Lamb missing next few games, Turpin could see manufactured touches
Players you can drop: Marvin Mims Jr., Adam Thielen, Hunter Renfrow

TE
CLE Harold Fannin ($3 - $5): can be played if necessary, more valuable as a second half stash
BAL Isaiah Likely ($3 - $5): possibly coming back from injury week 4, could fill void with Mark Andrews’ struggles
JAX Brenton Strange ($1 - $2): Usage steadily increasing, fine to add if desperate for TE production
Players you can drop: Evan Engram, Colston Loveland, Ja’Tavion Sanders

⚕️ Injury Corner w/ Deepak Chona

WAS Jayden Daniels - "Day to day". Avg = 1-2 wks. If this = playoffs, suspect he'd play. Wk 4 TBD, lean toward return

SF Brock Purdy - Trending toward Wk 4 return

MIN JJ McCarthy - Out of boot = progress. Injury video suggests mild severity. Suspect he has chance to play Wk 5. Likely out Wk 4

NYG Tyrone Tracy - Shoulder dislocation. Best case = non-op treatment + in-season return (avg 3 wks). High re-injury risk all season. Some cases = shut down for surgery (season-ending)

DAL CeeDee Lamb - Lean Wk 6-7 return. Early return typically carries production dip ~20% + re-injury risk ~15% 1st 4 wks

TB Mike Evans - Avg hamstring = 2-3 wks. Report suggests "low grade" but MRI still pending. His reaction did not suggest low grade. Age 32 + soft tissue history predict slower return. Wk 4 TBD, data favors sitting

TB Chris Godwin - Reports suggest Wk 4 return = possible. Data strongly suggests limited snapcount + volatile target volume 1st 6 wks

SF Brandon Aiyuk - Video = promising. Data projects mid-Oct (~Wk 6-7) return + slow (4-6 wk) ramp. Can lift PUP tag post-Wk 4

KC Xavier Worthy - Data favors return Wk 4. Suspect strong production when active. Re-injury risk remains high all season (up to ~50%)

NE Stefon Diggs - Mediocre stats, but only at 53% snap share. Progression (41->52->53%) suggests plan = 6 wk ramp up.

WAS Terry McLaurin - Quad. Left Wk 3, didn't return. No clear injury play. Timeline TBD

LV Brock Bowers - 38 yds x2 wks post-PCL. 83% snap share suggests no setback. Dip averages ~4 wks. Consider buy low value

BAL Isaiah Likely - Practice progression trending toward Wk 4 return. TEs + WRs see efficiency + snap share dip x4 wks

CHI Colston Loveland - Hip. Reports suggest chance to play Wk 4. Practice = key

Deepak Chona is an Orthopedic Sports Surgeon by day, data-driven injury analyst by night. You can follow more of his insights at @SportMDAnalysis.

📊 Poll of the Day

Yesterday’s poll: Which 3-0 team is most likely to miss the playoffs?

Very interesting to see the lack of faith in the 49ers by the market. They’ve gone 3-0 despite missing time from George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Brandon Aiyuk.

Completely understand the Colts but bit surprised more people didn’t choose the Bucs after winning all three games on come from behind final drives with a total point differential of just 5. Not to mention the injuries stacking up.

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