

Geno is cooking in a Seahawks offense that is way more fun for fantasy purposes than it was during the Russell Wilson era. In any case, Pickett should be a priority for those in Superflex leagues in need of a QB2 option. Maybe Pickett can get there for fantasy purposes on volume alone against Buffalo. Pickett has something of a nightmare matchup in Week 5 against a Bills defense that does not blitz yet constantly pressures the quarterback. Fleeing the pocket, especially near the end zone, could be tremendous for Pickett's fantasy usefulness. Against the Jets, Pickett rushed six times for 15 yards and two touchdowns. Pickett's willingness to scramble and flee the pocket - perhaps a necessity for a rookie signal caller who isn't quite comfortable making all his reads from the pocket - adds a lot to his fantasy appeal. The rookie's 9.3 adjusted yards per attempt - dwarfing Trubisky's pathetic AY/A of 5.7 - demonstrates a willingness to make downfield throws that should benefit Chase Claypool and George Pickens (more on that later in this column). No quarterback had a higher completion rate over expected in Week 4, and only six QBs had a better EPA per play than Pickett. And really, the rookie was excellent against the Jets.
Waiver wire upgrade#
That Kenny Pickett ended his pro debut with no touchdowns and three interceptions shouldn't obscure his otherwise solid play, and the giant upgrade he represents for every fantasy-relevant player in the Pittsburgh offense.įirst, the picks: Both of Pickett's non-Hail Mary interceptions hit his receiver in the hands. Mike Tomlin's month-long run of owning the analytics nerds with Mitch Trubisky under center is finally, at long last, over. Those feeling decent about their running backs (if such people exist) likewise should not go in on the waiver wire's top RB options. If you're set at receiver, there's vanishingly little reason to use a waiver pick-up on a much sought-after wideout. I'm once again reminding you that the needs of your fantasy teams should determine how you prioritize the below players. The plans - the process - of knowledgeable, sober-minded fantasy players might always come to fruition in a world of endless simulations, where the rough edges of the unknown unknowns are trimmed away and we're left with what was always likely to happen.īelow are my Week 5 waiver wire priorities. In ten thousand or a hundred thousand simulations of an NFL Sunday, that player does cross the goal line on a long catch and the game script goes just as we planned and the first quarter injury doesn't sink the prospects of our fantasy squad.


Injuries happen, weather happens, big play-killing penalties happen, players are tackled at the one inch line, likely game scripts go sideways in a hurry: These are guarantees in our little game. What I'm saying - and yes, this is a pep talk to myself - is that one or two weeks in which you were miserably, catastrophically wrong about everything do not a season decide.
