Troy Franklin’s breakout is coming, and our experts are ready for it. This week’s moves also include a sneaky RB flag plant, a sell-high TE candidate, and a deep-league stash with big upside.
Whether you’re playing redraft or dynasty, knowing what moves to make is crucial to success.
That’s why we’re having each of our fantasy football experts give you one move to take advantage of this week.
Start Troy Franklin
If you’re looking for a WR spot starter this week, consider Franklin. He’s available in 72% of Yahoo leagues.
While the production hasn’t been big the last few weeks, Franklin’s playing time has remained strong, with a route rate of 79+% in four straight games. He’s emerged as Denver’s clear No. 2.
Week 6 brings a dream matchup against the Jets. CB Sauce Gardner figures to spend most of Sunday’s game on WR Courtland Sutton. That’ll leave Franklin to feast on outside CB Brandon Stephens and backup slot CB Malachi Moore.
That duo helped Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy to an out-of-nowhere 114-yard game last week. New York has also allowed a 4-70-1 line to Steelers WR Calvin Austin and a 4-80-0 to Bucs WR Sterling Shepard through five weeks.
Now it’s Franklin’s turn to take advantage of this scuffling secondary.
Flag Plant on Hassan Haskins
Omarion Hampton was placed on IR with an ankle injury, opening the door for another Chargers RB to take hold. That comes just weeks after Najee Harris’ season ending injury. The RB room lacks an impressive third back, but just like a similar situation in Arizona, there could emerge a fantasy starter for the next few weeks.
I’m planting the flag on Hassan Haskins being the most valuable piece over Kimani Vidal.
Haskins and Vidal had a perfect 50/50 snap split last week with each playing 14 snaps. Vidal received four carries while Haskins had three. Each had one catch while Haskins ran 7 routes to Vidal’s 6.
Context matters. The Chargers were down two scores when Hampton got hurt leading to the offense playing catch up. Vidal, who profiles more as the receiving back, may have gotten a touch more work than would be typical. If the Chargers have the lead, they will turn to the battering ram between the tackles back in Haskins.
The Chargers next four games with Hampton out are against the Dolphins, Colts, Vikings, and Titans. Good draws where the team should be competitive and may even play with the lead. That means more Haskins.
Haskins was coached by Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, ending his senior season with 1,327 yards and 20 rushing TDs. Though Haskins was never known as a dynamic back, his reputation of a smart player with good vision makes him reliable for this situation.
Will Haskins be a top-20 fantasy RB through these four weeks? No, probably not. But can he do what Michael Carter did last week and be a solid flex player who can find the end zone? Absolutely.
Trade Away Juwan Johnson
Johnson still resides inside the top-10 for PPR points at his position, which is a huge selling point. However, he is unlikely to stay there for long.
After opening the season with a massive 99% snap share and 96% route rate in Week 1, Johnson has slowly declined to last week’s 85% snap rate and 81% route participation.
He averaged 9.3 targets and 14.2 PPR points in the Saints’ first three games, but has dipped to 3.5 targets and 4.75 PPR points in Weeks 4-5.
Now, the Saints have added Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau to the mix. Those two combined to play 32 snaps last week, while Johnson logged a season-low 56.
Johnson is a player who appears to be in decline but is still in TE1 range for the season. See if you can get a usable asset from a TE-needy league mate and acquire an ascending TE like Theo Johnson or Mason Taylor in his place.
Stash Christian Watson in Deep Leagues
Watson tore his ACL on January 5th, but he recently returned to practice. This prompted some glowing words from HC Matt LaFleur.
“Here’s a guy that’s so impactful,” LaFleur said of the 26-year-old, via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
“There’s very few that are as big and strong and as fast as Christian Watson, and then you combine the fact he’s got a brilliant mind. I mean, the things he can do in game, I don’t think anyone can truly appreciate in regards to, hey, you’re the Z on this play, and then you’re going to F on this play, and then you’re going to X on the next play. His ability to process and get out there and get aligned correctly and know what everybody is doing is pretty remarkable.”
There’s no word on when exactly Watson will suit up. But my sense is he’ll return by mid-season and have a chance to ramp up ahead of the most critical part of the fantasy schedule.
There’s room for Watson to enter the mix in three-WR sets, especially with Jayden Reed out for the foreseeable future. Jordan Love’s current form supplies another reason for optimism. Through four games, he’s recorded 8.3 yards per attempt and a 69.4% completion rate.
