Based on what advanced statistics, analytics, and metrics indicate, there are still good waiver wire pick ups remaining in the 2017 season. The Jaguars passing attack has picked up in recent weeks thanks to the play of Blake Bortles and Keelan Cole. In Pittsburgh, Martavis Bryant now finds himself as the potential No. 1 receiver for a team with a red hot offense.
Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
In one of the most improbable developments, Blake Bortles has become one of the hottest quarterbacks in all of football. Bortles entered the season as Jacksonville’s biggest liability as an inaccurate quarterback with poor decision making who was bound to hold back a strong defense and run game. Now, Bortles has emerged as one of the biggest reasons that Jacksonville keeps winning.
Blake Bortles has now finished as a top 10 fantasy quarterback in three of the last four weeks. In the last three games, he has averaged over 300 yards per game while posting a sparkling 7-0 TD-INT ratio. Against the Houston Texans last week, he was absolutely dominant without the help of Leonard Fournette or Marqise Lee. With two games left against less than stellar defenses in San Francisco and Tennessee, Bortles has a great chance to carry this momentum into the NFL playoffs. Bortles remains a very viable option for a team in a fantasy championship that finds themselves in sudden need of a quarterback.
James White, RB, New England Patriots
James White will see a much a larger piece of the pie over the closing weeks of the season thanks to Rex Burkhead’s knee injury. With Mike Gillislee functioning as a healthy inactive since mid season, the Patriots will be more inclined to give White a larger role, as he has been a consistent factor for the team all season long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPLcArPbQo
James White is a much more practical pick up in PPR leagues, as most of his work is done catching the football. In seven games this season, White has had two or fewer rushing attempts, including none in the last two. While White certainly has a limited role, he is one of the most efficient players at his position, noted by his +20.4 (No. 16) Production Premium. White has shown he can be a great player with the football in his hands. he has managed 6.1 (No. 5) yards per touch this season. When a talented player is given a larger opportunity, great things are bound to happen.
Peyton Barber, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After Peyton Barber had an amazing breakout game against the Packers in week 13, the Buccaneers foolishly went back to Doug Martin as the starter. Martin underperformed against Detroit, and found himself a healthy inactive in week 15 against Atlanta. While the Game Script fell out of Barbers favor against the Falcons, the talented back takes sole control of Tampa Bay’s backfield over the final two weeks, and has a chance to do some impressive things.
Peyton Barber Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Barber will face a Carolina Panthers team this week without starting linebacker Thomas Davis. With Barber’s 32.2-percent (No. 55) Opportunity Share bound to go up against a depleted Carolina front seven, Barber is a great sleeper pick for this week. Start the up and coming Barber if options are limited and you want to surprise your opponent.
Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Martavis Bryant has been disappointing in his return from suspension this year, but has a great chance to redeem himself in the final weeks of the season. With Antonio Brown out with a calf injury, Bryant becomes the teams most talented receiver. With the Steelers still fighting for a playoff bye over the next two weeks, they will still be implementing aggressive game plans that will see Bryant targeted a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MATrenYweY
While Martavis Bryant hasn’t been able to put it all together yet, he has the build of a No. 1 receiver. He posts above the 80th percentile in nearly every workout metric, topped off by his 115.1 (95th-percentile) Speed Score and his 10.31 (95th-percentile) Catch Radius. Pick up Bryant now as he will be a featured player on a team that can’t afford to lose over the next two weeks.
Keelan Cole, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the primary beneficiaries of Bortles breakout has been Keelan Cole. At the start of the season, Cole had virtually zero upside, he was the No.4/No.5 receiver in a run first offense. Injuries and opportunities have paved the way for Cole, who finished last week as the top wide receiver in all of fantasy football.
Keelan Cole Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Cole’s real breakout has been over the last three weeks, where he has had at least 3 receptions and a touchdown in each game while averaging 111 yards per contest. With Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee still suffering ankle injuries, Cole will likely remain the Jaguars top receiver for the rest of the season.
