Waiver Wire Weekly: Keenum to regain momentum

If you are worried that your fantasy season is about to get away from you, don’t worry — our Waiver Wire Weekly is here for you. Last week, some of the players featured included Matt Breida, Giovani Bernard and Mike Williams, who all outscored their projections and could have earned you a win in your fantasy matchups. We’re on a roll (knock on wood) — so here are our picks for Week 4 of the fantasy season.

*The “%OWN” statistic — which denotes what percentage of fantasy leagues the player is owned in — is based on ESPN standard leagues from Sept. 24.

Quarterbacks

Case Keenum, Denver Broncos, *%OWN: 17.1%

A familiar face on waiver wire weekly, Case Keenum is still available in more than 80 percent of standard fantasy leagues! There is no doubt that Keenum struggled in Week 3. He faced a stout Baltimore Ravens defense and was held to less than 200 passing yards and only 5.7 fantasy points. However, Keenum will look to regain momentum this week as he faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has been absolutely carved up by opposing teams so far this year. The Broncos’ offense is loaded with talent in veteran pass catchers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, in addition to young guns Courtland Sutton, Jake Butt and Phillip Lindsay. With so many weapons to utilize and an extremely inviting matchup, Keenum is a great play in Week 4.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, %OWN: 28.6%

Andy Dalton has quietly been putting together a successful 2018-19 campaign so far, earning more than 240 yards passing in every game this year, with his passing yardage increasing every week. This past week Dalton threw for 352 yards and scored two touchdowns against a formidable Carolina Panthers defense. Dalton now faces the Atlanta Falcons, who have been pretty good to opposing quarterbacks so far. In Week 2, Cam Newton scored 27.6 fantasy points, while Drew Brees scored over 40 fantasy points against the Falcons in Week 3. Dalton also has a nice cast of players around him with one of the best receivers in the game, A.J. Green, and a emerging former Pitt standout, Tyler Boyd.

Running Backs

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, %OWN: 51.3%

In his first game back from suspension, Aaron Jones had a pretty mediocre day. He carried six times for only 42 yards — but he actually has some pretty big upsides. The starter in place of Jones during his suspension, Jamaal Williams, had been disappointing for the most part. Even though Jones struggled to get started in his first game of the year, he still earned more carries than Williams, suggesting his role may already be feature back. Considering it is not easy to come off of a two-game suspension and play well, trust that with Jones’ flashes of greatness last year, he will become the Packers’ main option on the ground.

Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions, %OWN: 69.8%

While this is a high %OWN statistic, Kerryon Johnson still made our list as his %OWN may just be above 90 percent in the next two weeks. Johnson was last year’s SEC player of the year as he had an incredible junior season at Auburn. The Lions had very high hopes for Johnson as they made him a second round draft choice, and until this past week, it had seemed that Johnson may be a flop. In Week 3 against the New England Patriots, however, Johnson showed off what made him such a dominant force at Auburn. The Lions have seemingly searched for a franchise running back since the great Barry Sanders, and they may have just found their guy.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons, %OWN: 40.8%

Surprisingly enough, the Falcons wide receiver from the University of Alabama who had seven catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday was not named Julio Jones. Instead, it was rookie Calvin Ridley who exploded against the New Orleans Saints and instantly inserted himself into relevant fantasy value. Ridley is a dynamic pass catcher who is quick and runs crisp routes. Another benefit for Ridley is that he is not the number-one option on the Falcons offense. With each team’s premier defensive backs keeping their eyes on Jones, Ridley is able to draw better matchups that he can exploit.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals, %OWN: 23.7%

Tyler Boyd was one of the best wide receivers in the nation during his junior season at Pitt. He was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and has flashed his potential up to this point in his career but hasn’t made a real impact — until this season, in which he has posted back-to-back career games. Last Sunday, Boyd caught six passes for more than 130 yards and a touchdown. Becoming a true number-two receiver behind A.J. Green, Boyd is finally fulfilling the role the Bengals’ front office had in their plans.

Tight Ends

Ricky Seals-Jones, Arizona Cardinals, %OWN: 9.6%

Coming onto the fantasy scene only for a bit last season was Ricky Seals-Jones, who is back once again this week. Though he only logged one reception on Sunday, it went for a 35-yard touchdown. It is true that Seals-Jones hasn’t made a real fantasy impact yet, but the opportunities are there. Seals-Jones leads the Cardinals in total routes run so far this season, so if you’re a fantasy owner, you just have to trust the production will eventually come. Also remember the Cardinals are making a quarterback shift to Josh Rosen, which will definitely help Seals-Jones since rookie quarterbacks often get eased into an offense by making shorter throws to tight ends and running backs.

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles, %OWN: 1.9%

While regular starting quarterback Carson Wentz was nursing his injured knee from last season, Nick Foles preferred Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. While Ertz was also a favorite target of Wentz last season, Dallas Goedert was drafted by the Eagles in the first round and is new to the offense. He’s not owned in many leagues because Philadelphia already has a star tight end in Ertz, but in Wentz’ first game of the season he linked up with Goedert seven times for 73 yards and a touchdown. It is possible that Wentz has found a new go-to tight end in Goedert.