Fight Fire with Fliers is a weekly fantasy football series that discusses emergency free agent adds or stash candidates for deep rostered or 14-plus team leagues. The post publishes on Saturdays following typical weekly waiver runs, allowing forward thinking managers a last minute opportunity to roster players ahead of their breakouts.
The biggest chance for a promotion from Week 2 fell by the wayside with injury, as the ever-in-flux San Francisco backfield giveth and taketh away. The TEs held mixed results, yet mostly underwhelming, and the final recommendations haven’t moved the needle as of yet. Week 3 adds the first QB in the publication’s brief history, while jumping on an obvious TE choice with situational and dynasty upside. Fringe darts have also been included at the WR and RB position, with a mix of floor-based and breakout-based opportunities.
Week 2 Recap
Promoted
None.
Still Live
Adam Trautman TE New Orleans (10 percent Week 2; currently nine percent on Yahoo!)
Zero targets isn’t exactly promising. However, it is irrational to think he has been cancelled from the Saints offense when pretty much the entire offense was cancelled in Carolina this passed week. It would still be prudent to keep him on the radar moving forward.
Dawson Knox TE Buffalo (Six percent Week 2; currently nine percent on Yahoo!)
A standard TE production line of two receptions for 17 yards and a TD made Knox a useful plug-in for Week 2. I do not envision much better than a 40 to 50 yard cap on his output given his production is more focused close to goal. His max upside appears to be that of 2020 Robert Tonyan.
JaMycal Hasty RB San Francisco (Six percent Week 2; currently four percent on Yahoo!)
It is frustrating to see how efficient he is with limited touches and yet akin to the rest of the San Francisco RBs, he succumbed to injury in Week 2. He is worth your IR spot if not preoccupied by the likes of Diontae Johnson, Josh Jacobs, or any other top-end starters that have been ruled out.
Salvon Ahmed RB Miami (Two percent Week 2; unchanged on Yahoo!)
Ahmed’s situation remains the same, although issues concerning the viability of the Miami offense with or without Tua Tagovailoa still threaten the likelihood of a breakout if given the opportunity.
Dyami Brown WR Washington (Two percent Week 2; unchanged on Yahoo!)
Brown was listed after the Thursday Night Football game in Week 2, so there was no expectation that his rostership would change. However, some WRs have been downgraded recently (Diontae Johnson, Jarvis Landry, and likely Tee Higgins) so there could be an added influx of WR demand that may stress the market.
No Longer Recommended
None.
Week 3
Stash (Six to 10 percent Rostership)
Pat Freiermuth TE Pittsburgh (Seven percent, Yahoo!)
Despite his rookie status, Freiermuth appears to be ascending the pass catching ranks as he outpaced Eric Ebron in targets last week (4-2). The stars are aligning for Freiermuth in Week 3, as not only does he face the Bengals at home but there is less competition for targets with Diontae Johnson ruled out. Sure Juju Smith-Schuster and Najee Harris are the main safety-nets for Ben Roethlisberger, but Pittsburgh has always incorporated the TE into passing schemes.
Taylor Heinicke QB Washington (Six percent, Yahoo!)
While he is not recommended against Buffalo this week, or realistically in most single QB leagues, Heinicke will play at Atlanta in Week 4 and should have viable streaming appeal. He has a cast of playmakers surrounding him and has exhibited some rushing ability to boost his floor. He has produced well in obvious spots and should be considered a must-roster in all superflex leagues with the possibility that he never relinquishes the job.
Deep Stash (Less than six percent Rostership)
Rashard Higgins WR Cleveland (One percent, Yahoo!)
Higgins is a veteran arbitrage play, usurping targets in the absence of Jarvis Landry and an assumption that Odell Beckham, Jr., will be limited upon his return. The biggest threat to a modest reception floor for Higgins is the plethora of pass-catching TEs in the offense. Consider Higgins more viable as a deep flex option if Landry misses extended time through the bye weeks.
Jeremy McNichols RB Tennessee (One percent, Yahoo!)
So much for Darrynton Evans, right? Derrick Henry still appears to be the total package but McNichols has displayed skill in receiving that makes for some appeal. There also seems to be a shortfall of defense in Nashville, so the need for the Titans to generate up-tempo gameflow may dictate more looks and opportunity. I would consider him the sole back to roster behind the indomitable Henry.
Joshua Palmer WR Los Angeles Chargers (One percent, Yahoo!)
Palmer has little production through two NFL games. He does have a perfect reception to target ratio (3-3) and garnered two of those targets as Jalen Guyton’s volume decreased in Week 2. The rookie has a breakout opportunity ahead against Kansas City, and while expectations should be tempered, you wonder if he would be the one WR that is dismissed by defensive schemes. Have I mentioned that he hasn’t dropped a pass yet? Right, right, only three targets.
Jason Astarita (@AstaritaJason) is a professional in the sports gambling industry. He has an MS in Psychology (Industrial and Organizational) from Southern New Hampshire University and completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of San Diego. His passion for fantasy sports is over a decade old, but has recently been theorizing on the novel format of Superflex Best Ball in the Dynasty Fantasy Football arena and deeper league stash options weekly in Fight Fire with Fliers.
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