The NFL regular season may only be five weeks old, but the fantasy football season is fast approaching its midpoint. The regular-season schedule is about to hit the time when teams start having their bye weeks, meaning that changes will be needed to keep winning fantasy teams afloat.
With this in mind, here’s a breakdown of some of the best free agents available in a majority of fantasy leagues who could certainly help your roster out for the rest of the season.
Ownership refers to the number of ESPN PPR leagues in which the player is currently available
QB Jacoby Brissett
Quarterback is a position at which you can get by with a weekly streaming option. However, if you don’t like the thought of chopping and changing every week, then you could do a lot worse than Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brisset. Brissett (available in 40.1% of ESPN leagues) is the QB13 after five weeks of the season, having thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his first four games. In the one game in which he didn’t throw a score, he ran for one. Brissett is on a bye in Week 6 but has a pleasant end of season run when he returns. The Colts have the fifth-easiest strength of schedule in fantasy football for quarterbacks for the rest of the 2019 season.
QB Gardner Minshew
Another possibility is one of the surprise stars of the season, Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Gardner Minshew. Minshew (81.3% owned) is one of only three quarterbacks to have scored at least 16 fantasy points in every game he has played in 2019. Indeed, Minshew hasn’t posted less than 18.8 fantasy points in a single game. Only eight quarterbacks have more fantasy points than Minshew after five weeks, thanks in no small part to his underrated rushing appeal. Minshew has two games with more than 40 rushing yards. Jacksonville has the Saints, Bengals, Jets and the Texans in their next four weeks. Minshew could be in for a huge fantasy month.
RB Ito Smith
People may think running back has been a devalued position over the last few years in the NFL. But it’s hard to get by in fantasy football without some production from the tailback spot.
Given their value in the fantasy realm, it is very hard to find a productive option just sitting on the waiver wire. There are two who you could foresee some kind of role in the next few weeks, but they are not likely to be game-changers.
Ito Smith of the Atlanta Falcons (91.2%) has commanded a 20% share of the teams running back rush attempts in 2019, as well as seeing 7% of the teams’ targets. He is the overall RB42 in PPR scoring at the moment, but he may have chances to improve his standings if the Falcons recent games are anything to go by, Smith drew six targets against the Texans last week, catching all of them for 45 yards. The Falcons defense has collapsed, meaning they have had to keep taking to the air to keep games close. Smith’s passing game chops could lead to him seizing a greater opportunity share between now and the end of the season.
RB Nyheim Hines
Marlon Mack is the clear lead back on the Colts at present. But their upcoming games look like tough ones for Mack and the Colts on the ground. That could mean a greater opportunity share for Nyheim Hines. Hines (59.7%) is 49th among all running backs in terms of opportunities (rushing attempts and targets), but only 15 backs have more receiving yards than him. If the Colts are unable to lean on Mack and the ground game, they could certainly utilize Hines through the air to supplement their receiving game.
WR Geronimo Allison
The Green Bay Packers have had something of a tough run in terms of pass defenses they’ve faced so far in 2019. But they are heading into a softer part of their schedule now, especially with upcoming games against the Lions, Raiders, and Chiefs. This is good news for the Packers pass-catchers, especially Geronimo Allison. Allison (58.1%) hasn’t exactly caught fire so far this season, catching ten passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. But if Davante Adams has to miss more time due to his toe injury, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers will look to Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to pick up the slack.
WR Mohamed Sanu
Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu has been a pleasantly surprising contributor in fantasy circles, as the Falcons defense crumbles on the other side of the ball. He has seen 17% of the team targets so far this season. Sanu has back to back weeks in which he has finished as a top 20 PPR wide receiver, and has just a single game with less than 10.7 PPR points this season. He can be had in 56.7% of ESPN leagues.
WR Cole Beasley
As WR3/Flex options with a low floor and a low ceiling go, you could certainly do worse than Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley. The former Cowboy Beasley (68.6%) has the 14th most targets among all wide receivers in 2019, as well as the 16th most receptions. These looks have not exactly led to rich fantasy outings, of course. But Beasley has had two top 24 weeks this season. His relatively high target share (he has 23% of the Bills targets after five weeks) makes him something of a consistent option. Just not consistently exciting.
WR DeVante Parker
It would seem something of folly to actively pursue players from the Miami Dolphins, especially players as inconsistent as DeVante Parker. But there is some logic in the choice. Parker is outside the top 50 wide receivers in terms of targets and is 75th in receptions. But he is No.13 in air yards, which is the exact same spot that was held by Will Fuller this time last week. It’s no guarantee that a player is “due”, but it does show that he is being targeted downfield. He may be able to chip in with a few fantasy-relevant outings between now and the end of the season. But truth be told, there is a reason why he is available in 95.4% of fantasy leagues.
TE Gerald Everett
Many of us have been waiting patiently for the Gerald Everett breakout for quite some time. There are signs that our wait has not been in vain. Everett (96.6%) has been something of a revelation in the last two weeks, despite the Rams losing both games. He’s seen an average of 9.5 targets in these games, good for a 16% share of the Rams total targets. He’s scored 36 PPR points in these games. The tight end is something of a toxic wasteland in fantasy football, so anyone contributing is worth rostering.
TE Christopher Herndon
People have been waiting for Everett for a breakout, while people have just been waiting for Chris Herndon. He missed the first four games of the season due to suspension but is back and ready to roll from Week 6. The Jets have been an absolute dumpster fire on offense so far this season, and Herndon’s gives Sam Darnold (spleen depending) a genuine playmaker. Herndon was a top ten performer last season yards per target and yards per reception. He had six top 12 fantasy outings a year ago.
