Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/HarrisFootball) for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.Addable In All LeaguesCharcandrick West, RB, KC (owned in 11% of Yahoo leagues). Jamaal Charles is out for the season with a torn ACL, and the Chiefs need a new starting rusher. West, a second-year player out of Abilene Christian, bypassed Knile Davis on the depth chart before Charles got hurt, and on Sunday he got all but one series in Charles's absence. So my first instinct is that West is the guy you want to grab. Of course, Davis is a more experienced player, and also outweighs West by 20 pounds, so I'm not entirely sold that West will last as the starter; in fact, we may be looking at a platoon as soon as next week in Minnesota. The Chiefs may ride the hot hand. If I could only pick one, I'd pick West—but I'd rather acquire both guys.
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Knile Davis, RB, KC (14% owned). And here's Davis, who was widely presumed to be Charles's handcuff throughout the summer, but who has been relegated to special teams play the past couple weeks. Davis is a freak who runs a 4.37 40 at 227 pounds and is hella strong; the knock on him has been that he doesn't avoid tacklers so much as barrel into them. Also, his big NFL games—he has five career games with at least 16 standard-league fantasy points—have usually come as a result of high volume. We won't really know who will get the most carries, West or Davis, until we see them play in Week 6; all the "knowledgeable" talk you'll hear about the situation between now and then will either be pure speculation or the result of the team leaking information—but what incentive does an NFL team have to tip off their opponents? Based on the fact that West came on first to replace Charles, he should be considered the favorite. But I'd acquire Davis, too.Matt Jones, RB, WAS (47% owned). Good luck with that Washington backfield. A week ago, my Twitter feed was stocked with people asking me if it was OK to drop Matt Jones after he played only 15 snaps in Week 4. This week, it's filled with people asking if it's OK to drop Alfred Morris, who played only 12 snaps in Week 5. What's weird is that you'd have thought Sunday's game against the Falcons would've been a good spot to use Morris, since Washington was nursing a lead for much of the contest. Bottom line: nobody in this backfield is particularly startable right now because the workload is so variable. I think both Morris and Jones should be owned, in case the timeshare breaks in either direction.
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Bengals Defense (36% owned). The Bengals travel to Buffalo to face the struggling Bills offense. Yes, Tyrod Taylor made enough plays to get a win on Sunday, but he was subpar throwing the ball, and he's without many of his best skill-position players. Cincy deserves respect: they've got 15 sacks and eight turnovers so far this year. By the way, before you add the Bengals, make sure the Jets (52% owned) weren't dropped in your league. They'd be a better option, facing Washington at home. If you're in a deeper league, I don't mind taking a look at the Vikings (10% owned) versus the Charles-less Chiefs.Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in all leagues: Duke Johnson, RB, CLE (49%); Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA (48%).
Brandon LaFell may soon be back on the field. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Speculative AddsBrandon LaFell, WR, NE (29% owned). LaFell reportedly worked out on the field prior to the Patriots' Week 5 game in Dallas—the first indication that his recovery from an unknown foot injury is progressing well. He's eligible to come off the team's PUP list in Week 7, and would likely render players like Aaron Dobson and Keshawn Martin irrelevant for fantasy. LaFell could wind up on the "all leagues" list as soon a couple weeks from now if he picks up where he left off in 2015.Joique Bell (24% owned), Theo Riddick (4% owned), and Zach Zenner (0% owned), RBs, DET. Ameer Abdullah fumbled twice Sunday and got himself benched. Now the Lions backfield is up for grabs. Bell reportedly is dealing with Achilles' issues, which is bad considering he had surgery on his Achilles' this offseason. He could return in Week 6 against the Bears. Of course, Riddick is around and worth a look in PPR leagues. Also, Zenner could continue getting early-down looks. Plus we don't know for sure that Abdullah will remain benched. Did I mention this is the "speculative" section? Your guess is as good as mine.
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Buck Allen, RB, BAL (1% owned). It sounds like Justin Forsett avoided a serious ankle injury at the end of Sunday's loss, though it didn't look great and he wasn't able to play in overtime. Just in case the injury reports grow gloomy for Forsett later in the week, you could add Allen, who had a long run against the Browns and was active over a perpetually injured Lorenzo Taliaferro in Week 5.Darren McFadden, RB, DAL (35% owned). The Cowboys are on bye in Week 6, so DMC won't help you at all next week. Plus, he's Darren McFadden, so I'm skeptical he's going to help you ever. But with Lance Dunber shelved with a torn ACL and Dallas seemingly unwilling to let Christine Michael get more than one touch per game, McFadden was the receiving back versus the Patriots Sunday, and grabbed nine of 10 targets. It would be better for the Cowboys if Matt Cassel takes over the starting QB job from Brandon Weeden, but it would be better for McFadden's fantasy stock if check-down artist Weeden keeps the job.Anthony Dixon, RB, BUF (22% owned) and Boom Herron, RB, BUF (4% owned). I'm not a LeGarrette Blount fan, and to me, Dixon is Blount North: a large player who's indecisive as a runner and tries to act like Warrick Dunn out there. Rather than just plunge away, the ultra-sluggish Dixon dithers. Herron was better in limited action Sunday, but he fumbled (the Bills recovered) and only got a couple looks afterward. You're probably best off if you don't have to use either of these guys, but there's no guarantee Karlos Williams will return from his concussion in Week 6.
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Marquess Wilson, WR, CHI (7% owned). If Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal miss another game, Wilson becomes a fantasy option. His TD catch Sunday against the Chiefs came on a lovely throw by Jay Cutler that dropped in the bucket against a double-team. Don't mistake Wilson for a bruiser; he's a finesse guy with OK speed for his size but not a lot of raw athletic gifts. He's pretty meh.Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Jay Cutler, QB, CHI (32%); Christine Michael, RB, DAL (9%); Antonio Andrews, RB, TEN (11%); Ty Montgomery, WR, GB (10%); Ted Ginn, WR, CAR (32%); Willie Snead, WR, NO (43%); Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL (24%); Tavon Austin, WR, STL (48%); Marvin Jones, WR, CIN (36%); Richard Rodgers, TE, GB (46%); Crockett Gillmore, TE, BAL (10%).
Blake Bortles is a possible deep-league add, meaning only add him if you're totally desperate. Photo by Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Deep-League AddsBlake Bortles, QB, JAC (25% owned). Bortles threw four TDs for the first time in his NFL career on Sunday (he'd never even thrown three), and he gets to host a poor Texans team in Week 6. Be careful of taking the cheese. Bortles made mistakes that cost his team versus Tampa, and he rarely follows up a good statistical game with another one. Still, the weapons around him (T.J. Yeldon, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Julius Thomas) are continuing to develop.Josh McCown, QB, CLE (6% owned). If I'm skeptical about Bortles, imagine how I feel about McCown, a journeyman who's never gone beyond the "fantasy tease" phase in his 14 NFL seasons. McCown does have at least 41 attempts and 341 pass yards in each of his past three games, so maybe there'll be enough volume for him to rescue your needy squad. Beware, though, as the Browns face a good Broncos defense in Week 6.
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Dwayne Harris, WR, NYG (2% owned). Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle each left Sunday night's game with injured hamstrings. Beckham was able to return; Randle was not. In their absence, Harris became the Giants' go-to man out of the slot, and he played a big role in Eli Manning's game-winning drive. He's nothing special, but if both Giants starters sit out again, he could be in line for a big Monday night workload Week 6 versus the Eagles.Keith Mumphery, WR, HOU (5% owned). If I'm taking a look at any Texans rookie receiver, it's probably not Jaelen Strong (1% owned), who scored two touchdowns on two catches last Thursday night. Instead, it's Mumphery, who has 15 targets in the past two games combined. The only way either of these guys is even a deep-league option in Week 6 against the Jags is if both Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington sit out again.Derek Carrier, TE, WAS (3% owned). Jordan Reed is still reportedly suffering from post-concussion symptoms, and his long history of head injuries doesn't bode well for a speedy return. Carrier was only targeted three times Sunday, but he caught one of those for a touchdown. Don't chase a huge role in the offense—Carrier apparently doesn't have Kirk Cousins's trust the way Reed does—but if you're scuffling for a Reed replacement in a deep league, trying Carrier is acceptable.Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Michael Vick, QB, PIT (18%); Khiry Robinson, RB, NO (3%); Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (5%); Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, BAL (2%); Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI (1%); Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS (5%); Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, TEN (18%); DeVante Parker, WR, MIA (17%); Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN (1%).Christopher Harris (@HarrisFootball) is a six-time Fantasy Sports Writing Association award winner. He hosts the Harris Football Podcast every weekday. Find it on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most other podcast apps, as well as atwww.HarrisFootball.com.
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