This past week in the NFL reminded us all why the waiver wire is such a crucial part of the Fantasy Football landscape. With three starting quarterbacks set to miss time, fantasy owners will need to replace them and get creative to maintain production. Plenty of waiver wire options could be solid additions to your fantasy lineup. Even after the first rush on Tuesday. Here are three last-minute waiver wire pickups to consider.
Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
Sure, the Dolphins are not the offense you think to target players from. They currently rank in the bottom five of the league in most offensive categories. However, while the offense has struggled this season, Malik Washington has put together a solid season. Through two games this season, he has been targeted 13 times, catching seven of them for 96 yards. While he has not found the end zone yet, he has averaged just over seven points per game. A number that could quickly jump if he starts scoring touchdowns.
While seven points per game isn’t what you want from a starting player, Washington has an easy, direct path to target volume. He is one of the only waiver wire players who is the number one receiver in his offense. It is clear he and Malik Willis have developed some chemistry, and he should be able to keep feeding him the ball. If Willis looks to push the ball downfield, Washington will be his target, with a 12.5 yards-per-target average. He has such a high ceiling; grabbing him off the waiver wire now could be a big boost for your roster.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Although Emmett Johnson hasn’t made a huge impact in fantasy, he’s looked good in the limited volume he’s had. Through two games, he has 10 touches for 39 yards. He has also been solid in the passing game, catching all four of his targets for 64 yards. He gets most of his fantasy production in the passing game. With him averaging over 16 yards per reception, Johnson clearly has big-play ability. He could break off a few big games and be a boom-or-bust candidate week to week.
However, Johnson could be in store for a promotion in the offense. The Chiefs coaching staff has talked about building a more balanced running attack and making sure they don’t burn out Kenneth Walker early. That positions Johnson to be getting more touches per game. For a team averaging around 30 rushing plays per game, that’s good news for Johnson. We could easily see him getting close to 10 touches per game. Couple that with his passing ability, and he could become a potential flex option.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
When the season started, nobody thought that Kirk Cousins would have any fantasy relevance. He was seen as someone whose days were numbered and could be benched at any moment for Fernando Mendoza. But after two games, it looks like Mendoza should get comfy on the bench. He has a 67.8% completion rate, throwing for 413 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s averaged nearly 17 points per game. Solid production for someone everyone thought would be a nobody this season.
Cousins still isn’t a long-term option. While he has played well, the Raiders drafted Mendoza with the first overall pick and will want to see him at some point this season. As soon as the Raiders are out of the race or go on a losing streak, we will probably see Mendoza come in. However, if you’re a fantasy player trying to replace Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels, you should rush to the waiver wire. Cousins is one of the best waiver options currently available and can keep your team afloat until your regular starter returns.
