God damn right.

We’re a quarter of the way through the season…the only way you’re going to weather the storm of injuries (Dez, Big Ben, Shady McCoy) and disappointing players (CJ Anderson, Demarco Murray) is to master the art of the waiver wire.  We’ve been called a lot of things…mostly derogatory ginger-shaming things…but one loyal Machine reader referred to us as the Fantasy Whisperer.  We’ll take that shit, and if you followed us last week and started Coby Fleener, you know why.

Note:  Running back is by far the toughest position to gauge.  If you’re without a stud like Jamaal Charles or Leveon Bell, you’re likely in a week by week search for a quality starter.  Here are few running backs that could help fill that void.

Antonio Andrews, RB Tennessee (11%)

Starter by default.

We don’t know what to make of Tennessee’s backfield, other than it’s a mess.  It’s the worst RBBC in the league, with disappointing running back (Bishop Sankey) after disappointing running back (Terrance West) after disappointing running back (Dexter McCluster).  The lone bright spot is Andrews, who by default moves to the top of the “depth chart.”  This is really a boom or bust pick.  Even if Andrews gets the bulk of the carries (which we think he will) he’ll still split lots of time.  Good news: He should take over goal line duties and has fresh legs coming off a bye week.

Charles Sims, RB Tampa Bay (18%)

On the rise.

Charles Sims makes sense for a lot of reasons.  First, he’s got a great match up this week against the Jags.  Second, he’s been getting more opportunities thanks to Doug Martin’s inconsistent play.  Third, he’s good for 3-5 catches, making him even more attractive in PPR leagues.

Thomas Rawls, RB Seattle (34%)

Beastmode’s pain is his gain.

Rawls is a must add this week.  Rawls will be the feature back this week against the Bengals.  Seattle loves to run the ball, and Rawls already has a 100 yard game under his belt.  Given that Marshawn Lynch has a bum hamstring (not a good sign) and Fred Jackson is 60, Rawls could be in line for more action going forward.  We like his chances to see the endzone this week.

Nelson Agholor, WE Philadelphia (47%)

Fly, Nelson, fly.

A highly touted rookie out of USC, Agholor hasn’t had much to success thus far.  Granted, no one on the Eagles has had much success thus far.  That could change this week against the Saints.  We like his chances this week against a very giving New Orleans secondary.

Gary Barnidge, TE Cleveland (48%)

Quickly catching up to LeBron as Cleveland’s most popular athlete.

We’re now believers in Gary.  His name screams accountant more than NFL player, but he’s averaged over 20 points over the past two weeks, with 12 catches and 2 tds over that span.  He has more points through four weeks than Jimmy Graham.  Those numbers don’t lie.  He’s a low end TE1 this week against Baltimore.

Are you ready?!?

First, let’s get the self-congratulatory stuff out of the way.  Again, The Machine nailed last week’s waiver wire picks.  Rishard Matthews (whom everyone is telling you to get now) was only owned in 28% of the leagues last week.  He get a shout out from The Machine and boom, he’s now owned in 67% of leagues.  That’s the type power we have here.  Ok, maybe it’s the fact that Rishard had a monster week, going 6/113/2.  He has more yards and tds than Jarvis Landry.  Continue to ride that waive.  Also, Blake Bortles turned in a serviceable start last week, throwing for 242 yards, 2 tds and 1 int.  Don’t let those ESPN fools fool you…we tell you who to pick up before it’s obvious.  So let’s get to this week’s picks.

Robert Woods, WR Buffalo (2% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

Beautiful feet.

Listen up, because you haven’t heard this sentence used much, if ever:  The Buffalo Bills have fantasy worth players.  It’s true.  Two weeks ago, we recommended Tyrod Taylor, when he was only owned in 13% of leagues.  Tyrod is now owned in 70% of leagues, and is a legitimate Top 10 fantasy qb.  And this brings us to Robert.

Woods has seen his targets increase each week, which is a good sign.  Sammy Watkins is dinged up again (can we call him oft-injured now?) which means more opportunities for Woods.

Plus, don’t forget:  Rex Ryan is crazy.  Like the Patriots, he wants to beat the Giants so bad, in his never-ending quest to prove he’s no one’s whipping boy (ironic he’s making that stand in Buffalo).  Anyway, we expect the Bills to air it out this week.  Woods is a touchdown dependent WR4/FLEX.

Coby Fleener, TE Colts (23%)

Coby should see his targets increase.

Fleener gets a bump this week thanks to Dwayne Allen and his bum ankle.  With Allen out last week, Coby had six targets, and ended up with 4 catches for 51 yards.  Not bad for a fill in TE.  The goal of waiver wire pickups is either (a) weekly band-aid for your team, or (b) picking up a player for the long haul before everyone else does.  Coby fits the former.  If you’re looking for a stop-gap TE this week, Fleener’s your guy.

Brian Quick, WR St. Louis (24%)

Welcome back.

Quick will make his season debut for the Rams this week.  He instantly becomes the Rams top option at receiver.  Although the match up isn’t great against the Cardinals, it’s not often you see a #1 WR sitting on waivers.  He’s definitely worth a spot on your bench, and if you’re desperate at receiver, plug him in but please temper expectations.

Bonus Pick

Antonio Gates, TE San Diego (52%)

Antonio will soon see the endzone again.

We normally only focus on people who are owned in fewer than 50% of leagues (it’s stupid for us to tell you to pick up Karlos Williams when he’s owned in 80% of leagues).  Anyone that mentions him as a waiver wire pickup should be quickly met with a “no shit” comment.

But we will break from tradition slightly to tell you to look at your waiver wire, and if Antonio Gates is still there, pick him up immediately.  Gates tied for the league lead in tds by a TE with 12 last year, and was a Top 4 TE overall.  He’s finishing up his four game suspension, and next week will resume his place as a TE1.  By next week, he will be owned in 80% of leagues.  Get him now.

Giddy up!

Happy football Sunday!  Not to toot our own horn, but last week The Machine crushed it with our Fantasy advice.  Tyrod Taylor threw for 3 tds (and rushed for 1), and both David Johnson and Larry Donnell scored.  You’re welcome, America.  Let’s look at who’s still out there that can help your team this week.

Dexter McCluster, RB Tennessee (5% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

Tennessee, like most of the league, has a running back by committee approach, with Dexter sharing time with Bishop Sankey and Terrance West.  But Dexter has carved out a nice little niche as the pass catching running back.  In a PPR league, he makes a lot of sense this week.  He’s got a great match up against the Colts.  Sankey and West aren’t exactly lighting it up, which equals more opportunities for the shifty McCluster.  If you’re one of those teams already plagued with RB injuries (Andre Ellington) or on a team whose coach doesn’t like black people (Demarco Murray) Dexter could fill in.

Blake Bortles, QB Jacksonville (11%)

For the reasons we like Tyrod last week, we like Blake.  It’s all about matchups, and there is much to like about Bortles this week.  First, he’s going to be throwing a lot.  The Pat are 13.5 point favorites and will probably cover.  This means the Jags will abandon the run early and throw the ball.  Second, New England’s secondary is weak, which will allow Blake to rack up yards.  Third, Bortles is coming into his own.  He played great last week against Miami – a team with a much better defense than New England – throwing for 273 yards, 2 tds and 0 ints.  A repeat of those numbers this week isn’t out of the question.  We like him better than guys like Alex Smith, Joe Flacco, and Carson Palmer this week.  Fourth, see below.

Rishard Matthews, WR Miami (28%)

Tannehill’s secret weapon.

Matthews has put together two solid weeks, and he’ll look to make it three today against Buffalo.  His problem is that he’s (at best) the #3 WR, behind Jarvis Landry and Devante Parker.  However, if he keeps balling like this, they’ll have to find room for him.  Devante Parker is still not 100%, which slides Matthews up to #2.  We like him as a 3WR/FLEX today against a Bills D that gave up 466 passing yards last week.

Crockett Gillmore, TE Baltimore (45%)

New kid on the block.

If you asked yourself, “who the fuck is Crockett Gillmore”, you’re not alone.  But he has established himself as a TE1 through two weeks.  Averaging 5 targets a week, Crockett has become a reliable passing option for Joe Flacco.  He grabbed 2 tds last week.  Jason Witten’s status is iffy this week, so you’re looking for another option at TE, Crockett’s a good play.

BONUS PICK:

Rueben Randle, WR Giants (28%)

Here’s a sneaky play.  Yes, the Giants already played this week, but if you got a spot on your bench, make room for Randle.  With Victor Cruz’s status still uncertain, and with Preston Parker cut (thank you), Reuben will see plenty of action as the #2 receiver behind Odell Beckham, Jr.  Rueben is streaky, but he pulled it together this week, catching all 7 of his targets for 116 yards and a touchdown.  He will quickly be added in leagues next week, but because you read The Machine, he’ll already be on your team.

Even when Blake loses, he wins.