ADD/DROPS

Week 5 working the waiver wire: Mr. Jones and me

Photo via: Buccaneers.com

What a strange week that was. If you came away with a victory, consider yourself lucky. If you took an L, don't worry, we'll try to find some upgrades on the waiver wire. Also, don't be afraid to send out some trade offers. This is the time of year when fantasy owners tend to get desperate. Alright, let's see which free agents are still available. Keep in mind the owner % mentioned is for 10-team standard ESPN leagues.

Some of these players below are good for the short-term, while others have more long-term value. You have to make the call on what your team needs. Immediate help to start this week, or a player to stash on your bench and hope he breaks out. Let's get started.

QB

Jameis Winston: I'm surprised he's available in over 55% of ESPN standard 10-team leagues. This is probably your last chance to pick him up if you need a QB. Winston looks like he's getting comfortable in Bruce Arians' system, and he has tons of good options to throw to. Nothing scare about his matchup with the Saints.

Jimmy Garoppolo: Jimmy G is coming off his bye week, so there's a good chance he's out there on the waiver wire. This week he gets the Browns at home for Monday Night Football, and the Browns have several players banged out in the secondary including their 2 starting corners, Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. Both were inactive against the Ravens. He's available in 66% of ESPN standard leagues.

Jacoby Brissett: I don't love him if T.Y. Hilton is out again this week, but either way he should be chasing points against the Chiefs this week. Plus, he did just have 3 TDs against the Raiders. He's only rostered in 32% of ESPN standard leagues.

Gardner Minshew: A tough matchup this week for Minshew, but he's been getting it done with multiple TD passes in 3 of his 4 games. He's only rostered in 14% of ESPN leagues.

RB

Darrel Williams: If he's still out there, pick him up immediately. He's going to continue to get touches in this high-powered offense until Damien Williams comes back.

Ronald Jones: This offense is starting to come to life and Jones is beginning to figure things out. Jones had more carries than Peyton Barber for 2 straight weeks, so he's worth adding for sure. He's out there in about 60% of 10-team leagues, but this is probably your last chance to add him. He gets the Saints this week.

Frank Gore: If you missed your chance to get him last week, he may still be available. He plays the Titans this week, and we'll see if Devin Singletary is ready to return to action later in the week. But if you need help at RB, Franky Gore's been solid for 3 straight weeks. He's rostered in 57% of leagues.

Jordan Wilkins: Wilkins is a great short-term option if Marlon Mack misses time with his ankle injury. You'll have to keep an eye on the practice reports, but Wilkins should get the goal line work with Mack sidelined. I slightly value him over Nyheim Hines, but in a PPR you could do worse than Hines. All of this depends on Mack's status though. After the Colts play the Chiefs this week, they have a bye before facing Houston. The Colts may very well sit Mack this week, and give him extra time to recover before playing the Texans.

Jaylen Samuels: He does have some independent value for owners that don't have James Conner. If the Steelers continue to limit Mason Rudolph, Samuels will be a nice flex option going forward. He's available in about 80% of ESPN leagues. He faces the Ravens this week, but Nick Chubb shredded them in week 4 with 3 TDs.

WR

Courtland Sutton: Flacco was surprisingly good this week and Sutton certainly has the physical traits teams look for in a WR. He's owned 70% of leagues, so grab him if he's still available.

Golden Tate: He returns from suspension this week, and he's available in 50% of ESPN standard leagues.

Geronimo Allison: Allison should get an uptick in targets with the injury to Devante Adams. Adams hasn't been ruled out yet, but I'm guessing he'll miss a week or two recovering from turf toe. He has a tough matchup against the Cowboys, but he's available in about 70% of leagues if you need him.

Keke Coutee: Kenny Stills looks like he will miss some time with a hamstring injury, so Coutee should step right in and get targets. Coutee gets an incredible matchup against the Falcons' pathetic defense, so start him if you need him. He could be a nice affordable daily option in PPR as well.

Mohamed Sanu: There's nothing exciting about Sanu, but he gets a good matchup against Houston this week. He's not a bad option in PPR if you're desperate.

Deebo Samuel: It's hard to know which 49ers WR to start each week, but I think Samuel has the best chance to breakout. Stash him now and hope he starts producing.

TE

Chris Herndon: You can't use him until week 6, so pick him up now if you need TE help. Adam Gase has a long history of getting his TEs involved in the passing game, so you could do worse. He's widely available.

Jimmy Graham: He's no longer a great player, but he'll be targeted a lot in the red zone especially with Devante Adams set to miss a game or two. He's pretty much TD or bust, but most TEs are this year.

Tyler Eifert: He gets the Cardinals this week who have been dreadful at defending TEs. He's worth a shot this week only because of the matchup.

DEFENSE

With the Dolphins on a bye, you can't start their opponent this week. The Eagles and the Titans have good matchups, so grab them if you need them.

If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter or listen to my radio show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo Sundays from 10-noon on ESPN 97.5 FM. We talk all things fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.

@JoshJordan975 @Moneyline975

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Nick Caserio's history of drafting injury prone players has become a problem. Composite Getty Image.

Nick Caserio was hired to serve as the general manager (GM) of the Texans on January 7, 2021. Some saw it as another nod to the organization's obsession with the Patriots. Others saw it as the team finally getting their guy after pursuing him previously. They were even hit with a tampering charge while trying to talk to him about the job. Since he's been on the job, there have been highs and lows.

Recently, the news about Kenyon Green and Derek Stingley Jr put a stain on his tenure. Green was placed on season-ending injured reserve (IR) and Stingley Jr is expected to be placed on IR, likely missing six to eight weeks, per Aaron Wilson. Both guys were Caserio's 2022 first rounders. Both guys are starting to look like busts and have fans a little more than just upset.

Green's case was curious because he was said to have needed surgery before he tore his labrum during the Saints preseason game. He had knee surgery this past offseason. There were knee injury concerns when he was coming out of A&M. Adding to his injuries, Green has played poorly. To make matters worse, the Chargers drafted fellow guard Zion Johnson two picks later. Johnson played all 17 games last season as a rookie at right guard and has moved to left guard this season. The pick used to draft Green was part of a trade back with the Eagles. They used the 13th overall pick to take Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, a guy at a position this team could desperately use.

Stingley Jr was a highly touted recruit coming into LSU as a freshman. He played as well as any corner in the country that year. Oh, and they won a national title with arguably one of the best teams in college football history. His net two years in Baton Rouge were marred with injuries. Some believed his junior year was more him holding back to stay healthy for the draft. It worked because he was taken third overall, one spot ahead of Sauce Gardner. Gardner went on to be an All Pro as a rookie. While he's surrounded by more talent on the Jets' defense, people will forever link them because Stingley Jr hasn't lived up to expectations. He missed six games last season and is set to miss at least that many this season. When he has played, he's looked okay. “Okay” isn't what you want from a guy drafted third overall ahead of the other guy who was widely considered better than him.

For the 2021 draft, Caserio was handcuffed. He had no first or second rounders, and made a few trades that lessened his draft pool from eight to five picks. Of the five guys drafted that year, only Nico Collins seems to be a player. The 2022 draft was more productive. Although Green and Stingley Jr were the headliners and haven't played up to the hype, the others are carrying the load. Jalen Pitre and Dameon PIerce alone make that draft class dope. This past draft was seen as the one to save the franchise so to speak. Getting C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr got the team a franchise quarterback and edge rusher with picks two and three overall. The price paid to move back up to three was hefty and puts more scrutiny on Anderson Jr. They appear, so far, to have also found a couple other nice players. Tank Dell being the hidden gem of this class.

While people can't, and shouldn't, base Caserio's performance strictly off of the guys he's drafted, one must call it into question. The '21 draft was a wash. The '22 draft looks suspect, but has some redeeming qualities. The '23 draft will most likely be his saving grace. But should it? Former Texans GM Rick Smith nailed almost every first rounder he drafted. Even he was almost run out of town because folks didn't like what he did. Why should Caserio be any different? So what if he cleaned up the mess by the previous regime! That's what he was hired to do!

“Keep that same energy!” That phrase is used when people try to hold others to different standards. Where's that energy everyone had for Bill O'Brien, Jack Easterby, Rick Smith, Gary Kubiak, David Culley, and Lovie Smith? When others weren't performing well, their heads were called for. I see some people holding Caserio accountable. For the most part, it appears as if he's getting a bit of a pass. I'll be interested to see if this continues should the team has another subpar season. If that pick they traded to the Cardinals is another top 10 pick and the Browns pick the Texans own isn't...if Green can't come back and/or Stingley Jr doesn't show any signs of being a lockdown corner...then what? Let's hope none of this comes to fruition. If it does, we'll have to revisit this conversation.

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