FSH NOTEBOOK: THE WEEKLY WAIVER WIRE

November 7th, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Tuesday Late-Evening Edition

The Weekly Waiver Wire

Noah Brown (Texans) The former Cowboys wide receiver had a welcome to the party kind of game on Sunday blowing up for 153 yards receiving with a score. Brown is barely owned in ESPN Fantasy Leagues (0.9% rostered) and should be considered a stash candidate and low end flex option with a potential high ceiling.

Keaton Mitchell (Ravens) The Ravens rookie running back had the hot hand on Sunday and exploded for 138 yards rushing on just 9 carries. He’ll figure to see more opportunities going forward and only owned in 1.0% of ESPN Leagues; he's another stash candidate (especially in Dynasty).

Tank Dell (Texans) The Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell is owned in just over half (55.7%) of ESPN Leagues), though he seems to be a true boom or bust fantasy play, if he’s available he has a tremendous ceiling and should be owned.

Tyler Boyd (Bengals) The Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd is only owned in 47.7% of ESPN Fantasy Leagues and over his last three games he’s been a solid fantasy WR3. With the Bengals offense starting to heat up and Ja’Marr Chase coming out of Week 9 a little dinged up, Boyd should be on fantasy rosters.

Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers) Even though it may not have looked pretty, the Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has been playing in fantasy starter territory over the past several weeks. During his past three starts Mayfield has averaged 259 yards passing with 5 touchdowns. He’s only owned in 45.4% of ESPN Leagues and offers some streaming value through the remaining Byes.

Odell Beckham Jr (Ravens) After finally reaching paydirt for the first time this season the Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr turned in his best game. OBJ hauled in 5 passes for 56 yards receiving and a touchdown. OBJ is only owned in 42.4% of ESPN Leagues and should be owned. As he starts to look more like the old OBJ, he has a chance for better games being a part of the Ravens 4th best offense in the league.

Jonnu Smith (Falcons) The Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith (fantasy TE14) blew up on Sunday, recording 5 catches for 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. After a quiet couple of games Smith found his mojo in Week 9. Smith has seen at least 5 or more targets in 6 of his last 8 games this season. He remains involved in the Falcons passing game and only owned in 27.1% of ESPN Fantasy games, he should be owned.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (Patriots) Targeted 7 times on Sunday, the Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had his busiest game this season, since Week 1. Smith-Schuster finished as the fantasy WR25 for the week.  JuJu is only owned in 29.9% ESPN Fantasy Leagues and while his Week 9 performance wasn’t a breakout, he may offer some relief as a streaming option through the Byes.

Demario douglas (Patriots) The better option out of Foxboro is the Patriots rookie receiver Demario Douglas. Only owned in 21.9% of ESPN Fantasy Leagues, Douglas has been seeing a steady diet of at least 6 or more targets over the past three weeks. His ceiling has not been exceptionally high, but his floor has been steady and safe as a flex play.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Saturday Late-Night Edition

October 13th, 2018

Week 6: DFS Saturday

So, it’s been a while since my last entry, but like the rest of the fantasy football universe, I too have been playing the usual seasonal and weekly leagues.

So far, my track record for DFS has been break-even, so with some tasty Week 6 matchups, let’s see if there’s an opportunity to cash out this week.

The two primary day games where we could see a lot of fantasy explosions come in the Buccaneers-Falcons and the Bengals-Steelers, where the offensive weapons are plenty and the defenses are struggling.

In Draft Kings I am running a double stack with several players from these two matchups; QB-Matt Ryan paired with WR-Calvin Ridley and WR-Mohamed Sanu in my flex. The Bucs defense has allowed 9 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers and with the focus on Julio Jones, these two look like great prospects to find pay dirt.

Although Big Ben (Roethlisberger) is on the road this week, his week 6 matchup against the Bengals who allow the 7th most receptions to wide receivers make his two primary receivers (Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster) favorable plays this week as well.

Even with changes at Quarterback being made during their bye week, the Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans could be eyeing a huge Sunday against a Falcons secondary that has allowed 10 touchdowns to wide receivers (most allowed).

Speaking of a struggling defense, not only have the Falcons been torched through the air, but with a run defense that allows the 4th most fantasy points to opposing running backs, this is the week to play the Bucs Ronald Jones II. I am reading Jones may not start but given the state of the Bucs running game and this matchup, he should see plenty of opportunity to make some noise.

I have managed to see quite a bit of Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield and I am impressed with his poise in the pocket and his arm strength. It’s a home matchup against a Chargers defense that will still be without pass rusher Joey Bosa. Given time to throw, I like Mayfield on Sunday paired with his number one receiver Jarvis Landry; three straight games with double-digit targets. With that much volume against the Chargers defense that allows the 6th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, Landry looks like a solid play.

That’s my Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

November 22nd 2017

Wednesday Night Edition

On the Cover This Week

Pittsburgh is Steel Rolling 

with Big Ben

The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting atop of their division at 8-2 and tied with the Patriots for the best record in the AFC. They have done all of this with something noticeably missing until just recently.

Heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Indy Colts, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense had yet to really fully display their talents and expectations as a unit. In what should have been a great matchup the Steelers offense was not all it could have been. But it was enough for the win and from that game a much-needed big play spark.

Fast forward to Week 11 and suddenly the Steelers offense led by Big Ben and his Killer Juju-Bees found gold again and struck big on Thursday night. With another toy in his arsenal and an old favorite, Big Ben turned in easily his best performance of the season last Thursday passing for 299 yards and throwing 4 touchdowns against the Titans defense. He finished as the league’s No.2 fantasy QB for Week 11.

It was a statement to the rest of the league to take heed, Big Ben and Company are back and Steelers offense is just heating up. With Antonio Brown playing lights out, the emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster, the deep threat of Martavis Bryant, and the smooth Le’Veon Bell, Big Ben is well equipped to do some serious damage to opposing defenses.

Big Ben is only the No.16 fantasy QB through 11 weeks, but his stock is on the rise and he is trending in the right direction. With matchups against defenses like the Packers, Patriots, Texans, and the Ravens at home, Big Ben and the Steelers passing game could be ready to make a run and get a on sweet roll.

That's My Take.

~David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

October 30th 2017

Monday Evening Edition

Sunday’s Heroes

(Week 8)

It was one of the most exciting games of the season, watching Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson duel with Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Fortunately for the Seahawks, they had Russell. There’s little doubt, his Sunday performance single-handedly won matchups for fantasy owners and may have scored some cash for DFS players.

Wilson played brilliantly on Sunday completing 26 passes for 452 yards and throwing 4 touchdowns; he also added a couple of scrambles and runs for another 30 yards. It was an epic performance good enough for the win and enough to move Wilson into the No.4 fantasy QB slot.

Not-the-Usual-Suspects

QB-Andy Dalton; the Red Rifle returned to action on Sunday and played very well in the Bengals week 8 win over the Colts. Dalton completed 17 of 29 passes for 243 yards tossing two touchdowns.

RB-Jerick McKinnon; the Vikings running was big on Sunday with 20 touches leading to 50 rushing yards, 6 receptions for 72 yards receiving and a rushing touchdown. McKinnon showed off his versatility and likely earned himself more touches going forward.

RB-Lamar Miller; in a game that was highlighted with the pass (8 passing touchdowns total), Miller flew under the radar posting a solid line; 54 rushing yards, 3 receptions for 19 yards receiving and a receiving touchdown.

WR-Paul Richardson; the Seahawks receiver was golden on Sunday hauling in 6 passes for 105 yards and two scores. This probably came out of nowhere, but Richardson now has 5 receiving touchdowns on the season and should be on fantasy radars.

WR-Robbie Anderson; the Jets receiver was targeted just six times and turned in a line of 6/104/1. It was his best stat line across the board for the season. This was his third straight game scoring in double-digit fantasy points; he should be on fantasy radars throughout the bye weeks.

WR-Jamison Crowder; thus far this season Crowder has been a disappointment, but on Sunday he shined and showed fantasy owners what he can do. The Redskins receiver tallied 9 catches for 123 receiving yards. It was his first double-digit scoring performance (in PPR) and likely not his last.

WR-JuJu Smith-Schuster; the Steelers young receiver was given opportunity and he cashed it in a big way. JuJu caught 7 of 10 targets for 193 yards, including a blistering 97 yard touchdown. It was his first big game of the season and will definitely lead to more opportunities going forward.

TE-Jack Doyle; the Colts tight end worked his way into the Top-10 for fantasy TEs with his Sunday performance; 12 grabs for 121 receiving yards and a touchdown. Doyle’s workload had been trending in this direction, he’s a safe TE1 going forward.

That's My Take.

~David Ortega