News moves fast and heavy in early September. A few of the names on the watchlist became even stronger preseason waiver wire adds, and a few new names have been added. In less than a week, week one will be in the books and we will know even more. This article will aim to identify a few more players that can help you get a leg up on your league mates.
Updates on previous Watch List Players
Sony Michel
He is regularly going in the seventh and eighth round of high stakes drafts like FFPC and NFFC. Should have an immediate Week 1 role. Worth a 10-percent-plus FAAB bid if you need immediate RB help.
Marquez Callaway
This is a very strong add. Callaway is going in the seventh round of nearly every high stakes draft. In one NFFC high stakes draft I participated in, he went with the 6.12 (start 3 WR format) to a highly successful player.
Tony Jones
Wheels up. Like we predicted, Latavius Murray was in fact cut. Jones is the handcuff to Alvin Kamara.
Ty’Son Williams
Justice Hill is done for the season. Williams has a clear path to immediate touches in the Ravens highly productive rushing attack. He should be added everywhere. In deep leagues he should receive flex consideration against Las Vegas week one. (NOTE: Le’Veon Bell was signed to the practice squad. This does NOT scare me off of Williams.)
Other watchlist players are still unchanged: Tyler Conklin, Juwan Johnson, Damien Williams, K.J. Hamler, Donald Parham, Dyami Brown
<editors note: keep tabs on Dyami Brown with Curtis Samuel still appearing to have trouble with his lingering groin injury>
New Names:
Nico Collins (WR, Texans)
Collins is a big-bodied WR with athleticism. The Texans offense could be a trainwreck, but Collins has a shot at receiving a decent target share. He could be one of the preferred red zone targets and has a chance at making an early impact. He has been a late round draft pick (somewhere in Rounds 14-17) in every FFPC and NFFC league.
Can Nico Collins overcome a dysfunctional Texans franchise to produce in Year 1?💥 pic.twitter.com/Pb9XnuGjgC
— RotoUnderworld (@rotounderworld) August 17, 2021
Jaret Patterson (RB, Football Team)
When Peyton Barber was cut, Patersons role was solidified. He is a deep league bench spot type player with upside. The UDFA put up gaudy numbers at Buffalo and now is the No. 3 RB to Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. At 5-6 inches tall, Patterson is one of the shorter RBs in the NFL, but he showed rushing and receiving ability in the preseason. Ron Rivera compared him to Darren Sproles, and the Washington media has compared his abilities to Maurice Jones-Drew.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR, Packers)
We have been down this long and winding road before with MVS and this name has a “this time it’s different” vibe, but he clearly has a role locked down opposite Davante Adams. Expect some frustrating moments, but there is a shot to being viable.
Will you roster Marquez Valdes-Scantling in seasonal leagues?🧀 pic.twitter.com/N01Zez2SRF
— RotoUnderworld (@rotounderworld) September 3, 2021
Wayne Gallman (RB, Falcons)
Mike Davis is clearly the RB1 in Atlanta, but Gallman should be treated as a high end handcuff with upside. Gallman flashed last season in New York, then signed into a crowded situation in San Francisco. When he was cut, he landed in an ideal spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbno4Sre43k
Is Davis really that much better than Gallman? I am not sure. If Davis goes down, Gallman would step into a high volume role with receiving work as well.
