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Chip Bayless FEATURED Football Latest 

Top Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

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By Chip Bayless (click Howie for more Chip)

 

 

 

1) Taysom Hill

Well its that time of the year everyone, Taysom Hill has put together enough double-digit fantasy weeks to be one of the hottest waiver wire pickups.

Will it be like seasons past and this is just a trap for him to return to the less than four points he’s produced in half his weeks this season? Probably, but with the other options in terms of available tight ends, TE-needy managers out there (especially in 12-team or deeper leagues) likely have no choice but to at least consider picking up and starting Taysom Hill this week.

Hill has now put together three-straight double-digit fantasy weeks, which can’t be said for virtually any TEs with exception of some of the top-6 in PRK.

Over the past three weeks, Hill has has compiled:

  • 12 receptions
  • 14 targets
  • 113 receiving yards
  • 15 carries
  • 83 rushing yards
  • 3 TDs
  • 51 fantasy points

He’s averaging 4.7 targets, 38 receiving yards, 5 carries, 28 rushing yards, 1 TD, and 17 fantasy points per game over that span.

Today, Hill’s fantasy PPG outranks Kyle Pitts, Jake Furguson, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Higbee, Otton, Musgrave, Conklin, and Okonkwo.



For what it’s worth, Hill also leads all TEs in carries with 38 for 203 and 3 TDs – no other TE even has four carries or more than six rushing yards on the season – so his athleticism is certainly unique for the tight-end position.

Among all 2023 TEs, here’s how Hill’s numbers stack up:

This past weekend, Hill hit season highs in passing yards and total yards in addition to totaling 10 touches for the second time in the last three weeks. Hill also finished with a team high in rushing yards, ahead of Alvin Kamara.

He’s averaging a 43% snap share on the season and has played at least 39% of snaps in four weeks straight (per FantasyPros).

Hill has been effectively acting as the Saints’ second-best runner behind Kamara, and the Saints have proven they’re committed to giving Hill at least a handful of high-value touches per game, which again can’t be said for virtually any of the TEs left on the waiver wire.

As long as Hill’s workload continues at its current pace, he’ll be a worthwhile season-long stash and starter.

Owned in less than 20% of all ESPN leagues, there’s still time to grab Taysom Hill before he’s swiped like he’s oil in the Middle East and you’re George Bush.

 

 

2) Rashid Shaheed

Rashid Shaheed put the NFL and the fantasy universe on notice this weekend with an absolutely absurd stat line that included averaging 50+ yards on three catches.

Although, 12-team and deeper leagues have likely been keeping tabs on Shaheed for a while as he’s flashed his insane speed and playmaking ability multiple times throughout this season.

If he can improve his route running and show he’s a sure-handed receiver, the Saints will have no choice but to give old-ass Michael Thomas’ targets to the younger and more explosive Shaheed instead.

In addition to his blazing speed, Shaheed has also snared some spectacular 50/50 balls by ripping them right out of defenders’ hands.

After all, the Saints have shown lately that their playbook struggles when it comes to pass plays that don’t involve giving up because nobody is open and dumping the ball off to Kamara.

Over the past three weeks, Shaheed has seen at least three targets, had at least 30 total yards, and scored at least seven fantasy points, including going for 85+ yards and scoring 18+ fantasy points in 2/3 of those weeks.

Over that span, Shaheed is averaging 5.7 targets, 89 receiving yards, and 16.6 fantasy points.

Among all WRs, Shaheed currently ranks:

Additionally, Shaheed has been clocked as the NFL’s 12th-fastest ball carrier this season, according to Next Gen Stats. He’s also accounted for a quarter of all of the Saints 2023 air yards (per Next Gen Stats).



Shaheed is at the very least the Saints undisputed top deep-threat, and he has accounted for the Saints’ three longest plays from scrimmage in 2023.

For now he’s a bit of a boom-bust player, but he actually hasn’t scored less than seven fantasy points in three straight weeks and does have at least 18 fantasy points in two of his last three weeks, so maybe his early-season inconsistency could be coming to an end.

Finally, Shaheed has played at least 49% of snaps in every game – a stat that’s trending upwards as evidenced by his season-average of a 63% snap share (per FantasyPros).

Plus Shaheed has a phenomenal name, dreads, a visor, and an arm sleeve. Doesn’t the argument end there?

 

3) Jayden Reed

Jayden Reed barely cracks the list as he is already owned in almost 20% of ESPN leagues, but if he’s available in your league he’s likely better than at least one of your bench options as far as your receivers are concerned if you play in a league with 12 teams or more.

Reed is an explosive playmaker who has a knack for making spectacular catches, and he is steadily earning the trust of Jordan Love and maybe developing into the second, and at the bare minimum the third, receiver on the Packers, an offense which looks like it will have to throw the ball a ton out of necessity, as they will likely be playing from behind in the majority of contests.



For what it’s worth, so far Reed’s fantasy PPG beats out Diontae Johnson, Tyler Boyd, Jerry Jeudy, Tee Higgins, Jahan Dotson, and Christian Watson.

Reed’s consistency is also better than it might seem on the surface as the youngster has scored at least 10 fantasy points in the majority of his games (4/7), he’s received four targets in every game except for Week 5 against the Raiders, and Reed has gone for 45+ receiving yards in 4/7 of his games as well.

Over the past two weeks, Reed is averaging 52 receiving yards, five targets, 3.5 receptions, and 11.7 fantasy points per game, scoring double-digit fantasy points in both weeks.

Among Packers WRs so far this season, Reed ranks:

  • 1st in receiving yards (per ESPN)
  • 1st in catches for 20+ yards
  • 1st in YAC (per ESPN)
  • 2nd in receptions & targets
  • 2nd in yards per reception
  • 2nd in receiving TDs
  • 2nd in catches resulting in first downs

Additionally, Reed currently ranks (among 2023 WRs):

Jayden Reed has also seen at least 48% of snaps in every game this season, is averaging a 60% snap share on the year, and saw his highest snap share of the season with 78% this past weekend (per FantasyPros).

Furthermore, Reed has accounted for 22% of all the Packers’ 2023 air yards (per Next Gen Stats) and 20% of all the Packers’ red zone targets (per Pro Football Reference), has the 8th-best yards per catch average among all NFL WRs (per ESPN), and is averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game.

 

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