The Goal Post (Vol. 8)

As we are now approaching the end of the regular season, it’s even more important than ever to scour the waiver wire and free agency pool of players in your leagues to find bye-player replacements.  Here are some picks at each position that can help you during the next couple of weeks. 

This article assumes the following:

• Full Point Per Reception (PPR) Scoring.
• Rankings via the ESPN Fantasy App.

Running Back (Position Rank 44th) Rachaad White: Rachaad White had been used sparingly before week 9, averaging about 2.5 points per game. He’s begun to shine lately though – scoring 6.4 against the Rams and 15.5 against the Seahawks. Rachaad White may now be the starting running back for the Buccaneers as well, having 8 more carries than Leonard Fournette in the Bucs’ most recent game against the Seattle Seahawks, where Fournette left due to injury. White and the Buccaneers also match up well against the Browns and the Saints in weeks 12 and 13, who have weak run defenses (the Browns are ranked 23rd against the run and the Saints are ranked 22nd against the run). White has looked more explosive than Fournette in recent games and now with Fournette injured, White should see the majority of carries in this offense in the coming weeks. White may very well be sitting on your waiver wire as the Bucs are on a bye in week 11. This is a rising star in the making, and possibly a league-winning running back, so don’t pass up on this opportunity and pick him up before someone else in your league does. Honorable Mention: Jaylen Warren (Pittsburgh Steelers) 

Wide Receiver (Position Rank 46th) Marques Valdez-Scantling: “MVS” is one of the most unappreciated wide receivers in the NFL, being overshadowed by Juju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and even ex-Giant Kadarious Toney more recently in the Chiefs’ offense. With injuries to Juju (1-2 weeks) and Hardman (Injury Reserve), however, expect Scantling to be the WR1 in Kansas City for the next 2-3 matchups. Not only does he have a better chance at getting the ball, but he is playing against the Bengals and the Broncos, who are both beginning to struggle on defense as of late (the Bengals being 12th against the pass and The Broncos being 8th against the pass (down from 1st over the past few games). Expect MVS to feast on defenses for the next few weeks, starting with the Chargers in week 11.  Honorable Mention: Van Jefferson (Los Angeles Rams) 

Tight End (Position Rank 31st) Foster Moreau: Who? Foster Moreau is someone nobody has thought about or even considered to be someone they would pick up from the waiver wire this season thus far. But with starting tight end Darren Waller succumbing to injuries once again this year, Moreau has been getting more targets from quarterback Derek Carr and catches, snagging 4 receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown in his first game as the Raiders’ starting tight end. In weeks 12 and 13, Moreau faces the Seahawks and the Chargers. The Seahawks are ranked 32nd against tight ends and the Chargers are ranked 13th against tight ends. With recent injuries to a number of big-name tight ends beyond Waller (for example, Zack Ertz and Dallas Goedert) Moreau is a player to pick up off of the waiver wire at this point in the season.  Honorable Mention: Isaiah Likely (Baltimore Ravens), if Mark Andrews misses any more games.