Weekly Hail Mary: Week 2
Each week, HMF will provide you with at least one “Hail Mary” at RB, WR, and TE - a guy who is not generally regarded as a starter for the week, but who has the potential to pay off big. These are lottery tickets that are not likely to hit, but if they do, you’ll be thrilled.
In other words, if you’re desperate, we’re giving you a prayer. The Hail Marys for Week 2:
Running Backs
Buck Allen, Ravens. Allen handled 38% of the team’s snaps on Sunday. While that may not seem like a lot, it led the team. Take this one with a grain of salt, though, as the Ravens got up big and rested many of their starters.
Chase Edmonds, Cardinals. Edmonds handled approximately one-third of the snaps for the Cardinals on Sunday, turning it into 48 yards from scrimmage. He’s available on most waiver wires.
Phillip Lindsay, Broncos. Sure to be one of the hottest waiver pickups of the week after splitting touches almost evenly with hyped rookie Royce Freeman, Lindsay was on the field for more than a third of the Broncos’ offensive plays.
T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars. Yeldon handled more than 60% of the snaps following Leonard Fournette’s injury. More importantly, his more hyped counterpart, Corey Grant, got only one carry. Yeldon is the back to own due to Fournette’s injury, and could give decent spot-start production if Fournette’s hamstring causes him to miss time.
Wide Receivers
Tyler Boyd, Bengals. John Ross is getting the hype, but Boyd is getting the snaps. He was on the field for 87% of the Bengals’ plays against the Colts, whereas Ross only saw 65%.
Phillip Dorsett, Patriots. A repeat name from last week, because he delivered. He’s locked in as a starting wide receiver in a Tom Brady offense and is playing more than three-fourths of the offensive plays.
Bruce Ellington, Texans. This is a name being thrown out there only if Will Fuller continues to miss time. The groupthink was that the Texans offense would be elite this year. If that is indeed the case, don’t sleep on Ellington, who was on the field for nearly 9 out of every 10 snaps on Sunday.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks. Lockett was on the field for an insane 98% of the Seahawks snaps on Sunday. With that kind of snap rate, he’s going to (a) produce, (b) break, or (c) both. Get him if you still can.
Brandon Marshall, Seahawks. Marshall was useful in his first game with the Seahawks, hauling in a Russell Wilson touchdown. His days of being a WR1 are probably over, but Doug Baldwin’s injury opens the door for him to see meaningful snaps in an offense run by the man who led the league in touchdown passes last year. At worst, he should serve as Seattle’s red zone threat.
Dante Pettis, 49ers. Much like the Bruce Ellington/Will Fuller situation, you’re only relying on Pettis if Marquise Goodwin misses time. Pettis handled nearly 75% of the snaps in a game where Goodwin exited early due to injury, putting up a score and another long gain. Not too shabby for a rookie - one that, lest we forget, the Niners traded up to get.
Torrey Smith, Panthers. Smith is seeing the field for more than 75% of the team’s plays. We’ve seen Cam Newton chuck it deep in the past. Smith’s primary skill is going deep. Sometimes it’s that easy.
Mike Wallace, Eagles. Wallace was on the field for a whopping 92% of the Eagles’ snaps on Thursday night. We’ve seen him provide WR2/3 production in the past, and in a number of different environments. Given his track record, it’s astounding that this guy is available in so many leagues — especially with the Eagles projected to have one of the top offenses in the NFL. He’s the deep threat on a high-scoring team. What’s not to like?
Tyrell Williams, Chargers. Shockingly, Williams is still available in many leagues. He’s the clear #2 wideout in this offense, handling more than 75% of the snaps against the Chiefs. Next on the list? Nope, it’s not Mike Williams. It’s Travis Benjamin. Mike Williams is a distant fourth in the pecking order, playing barely more than 50% of the snaps.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, Titans. With Delanie Walker’s season-ending injury, Smith could be thrust into a starring role for a quarterback who has been reliant on his tight end throughout his career.
Geoff Swaim, Cowboys. Swaim handled an astounding 91% of the snaps for the Cowboys on Sunday. This is a team desperate for pass-catchers after losing Dez Bryant and Jason Witten in the offseason. Although Swaim does not have the look of an elite athlete, Bill Parcells once said that your best ability is your availability, and Swaim is making himself available and seeing the field quite a bit. It would not be surprising to see him attain at least modest production this season.
Ian Thomas, Panthers. The rookie tight end from Indiana will need to grow up fast to replace Greg Olsen. This is an offense starving for someone, anyone, to catch the ball.
Deeper names to monitor based on snap shares: Austin Carr (67% as the slot receiver in a Drew Brees-led offense); Keelan Cole (75%, which leads the Jaguars, but Jacksonville has yet to show that its offense can sustain a relevant fantasy receiver); Adam Humphries (69% of targets as a slot receiver, but he’s more of a weekly floor play); Justin Hunter (61% of snaps compared to 13% for rookie James Washington); Mo Sanu (80%, but we kind of know what he is at this point); Tajae Sharpe, WR, Titans (playing 84% of the snaps compared to Rishard Matthews’ 52% and Taywan Taylor’s 13%); and Chad Williams, WR, Cardinals (94%, but no catches).