Week 6 - Bye Replacement/Insurance for J. Graham

[jwlincy]

I have J. Graham on a bye this week so I'm looking for my best option to fill his bye in Week 6. I also want to add the best insurance for him going forward just in case he missed any addition time after the Saints bye week. Not sure if the answer to both questions is the same. Here are my TE options in my 14 team 0.5PPR league:

Clay Harbor (at TEN) - Currently on my roster. Picked him up after his Week 4 performance (8 receptions & 70 yards). Wasn't involved as much in Week 5 (3 receptions & 22 yards). His stats for the season (only played 2 games) are 12 targets, 11 receptions & 92 yards).

Here are the free agents
Jared Cook (vs SF) - 31 targets. 19 receptions, 221 yards
Eric Ebron (at MIN) - 16 targets, 8 receptions, 80 yards & 1 TD
Tim Wright (at BUF) - 10 targets, 9 receptions, 120 yards & 1 TD
Jermaine Gresham (vs CAR) - 13 targets, 8 receptions, 61 yards
Garrett Graham (vs IND) - 13 targets, 10 receptions & 98 yards
Charles Clay (vs GB) - 22 targets, 14 receptions, 111 yards
Scott Chandler (vs NE) - 19 targets, 13 receptions, 137 yards
Jace Amaro (vs DEN) - 17 targets, 14 receptions, 144 yards

I have the last waiver in our league because the waivers reset every week based on reverse standings and I'm in 1st place. Here are the guys that I'm considering. Am I missing someone?

Cook is the obvious choice as an insurance guy since he's the most involved in his offense but he has a bad match-up in Week 6 for TEs (vs SF which is 7th best against opposing TE by allowing only 8pts per week).

Tim Wright is a risk/reward flyer after his big week in Week 6 (5 receptions, 85 yards & 1 TD) but will New England continue to use him in the old Aaron Hernandez role or will they ignore him again.

With Calvin Johnson's injury, does it open up more targets for Eric Ebron? So far, with only 8 targets over the past 2 weeks, it seems unlikely that he's ready to contribute at a high level although he has great size as a red zone target.

Charles Clay had a nice season last year (69 receptions, 759 yards & 6 TDs) but he really hasn't done much in 2014. It seems like the new OC isn't using him the same way as he was being used last year.

Which of these guys would you drop Harbor for?

Thanks in advance.

[Pauly]

I like Ebron with the limited other receiving options in Detroit. Isnt Tate hurt also?

[Erik]

Cook is a doofus. I'd go with Ebron or Clay. I'd love to have those choices in the league where I have J. Graham. My backup is G. Graham and there's no one better on the wire.

[Vecmizer]

I like Ebron with the limited other receiving options in Detroit. Isnt Tate hurt also?

Ebron played in less than half the offensive snaps last week and Calvin missed time in that game. Ebron only had two targets for the game. They do like him for a red zone target though. He may be a feast or famine type guy. Tate may be nicked up but there is no sense that he will miss time. Calvin could be out 2 weeks.

[jwlincy]

Basically it's going to come down to Cook, Ebron, T. Wright, Clay & Harbor for me. The other guys just don't have the production/potential that these other 5 guys have.

Keep those opinions coming. Thanks.

[griswold]

Actually from what I saw in the NE game the other night....Tim Wright could be the next Aaron Hernandez (not as a murderer, but as a great #2 TE in that system).

I'm trying to pick him up as a backup TE in my other leagues.

[Trautdiggity]

In a spot like this I think it's important to consider your matchup and your other players. With that in mind I'd choose between Cook and Ebron. If it's a steady plodder you need go with Cook. If you are looking for a spark I'd take the chance on a the riskier but higher upside Ebron.

[DMT]

Where does Ertz fit into this group? I've stuck with him all season but he's not getting the looks and has a horrible matchup this week (NYG). Jordan Reed was dropped and I'm thinking of picking him up because he should be back this week and Niles Paul isn't very good.

[swampdragon]

I only have TE (Kelce) and he is on bye this week-

I have claims
on
Reed
Wright
Ebron
in that order

[Trautdiggity]

Where does Ertz fit into this group? I've stuck with him all season but he's not getting the looks and has a horrible matchup this week (NYG). Jordan Reed was dropped and I'm thinking of picking him up because he should be back this week and Niles Paul isn't very good.

The thing with Reed is you better have a strong stomach. He is by far the best option of any mentioned here including Ertz. But I would hold no misconception that he's playing 11 games from here out. That said he's the best talent so while he's playing, I'd go with him.

[jwlincy]

Another option would be to trade for a back-up TE. There are a couple of teams that currently have 2 TEs on their roster:

D. Allen & N. Paul: Needs RB help (P. Manning, Flacco, R. Jennings, R. Bush, Edelman, A. Johnson, Hilton, D. Jackson, Fitzgerald)
Cameron & Donnell: Weak at RB (Luck, Ivory, D. Martin, Jones-Drew, A. Blue, Jeffery, Cruz, James Jones, Hurns, Boykin)
Gates & Witten: A little weak at WR (Newton, Manziel, Bernard, Sproles, J. Bell, K. Davis, Calvin, T. Williams, Bowe, Cooper)

My roster is:

QB: Ryan
RB: Murray
WR: D. Thomas
WR: A. Brown
TE: J. Graham
RB/WR: McCoy
K: Gostkowski
DEF: Titans

B: Wilson
B: Spiller
B: Hyde
B: Garcon
B: Harbor
B: Chiefs

[jwlincy]

Any additional opinions on Cook, Ebron & T. Wright? Those are the guys that I'm going to put claims in for, just struggling to decide on my ordering.

Thanks in advance.

[DMT]

Any additional opinions on Cook, Ebron & T. Wright? Those are the guys that I'm going to put claims in for, just struggling to decide on my ordering.

Thanks in advance.

I think the order you have them listed is how I'd rank them.

[jwlincy]

In a spot like this I think it's important to consider your matchup and your other players. With that in mind I'd choose between Cook and Ebron. If it's a steady plodder you need go with Cook. If you are looking for a spark I'd take the chance on a the riskier but higher upside Ebron.

Big match-up this week with the other undefeated team. My lineup is pretty stacked (due to extra draft picks that I acquired last year in dump trades).

QB: Ryan (vs CHI) or Wilson (vs DAL)
RB: Murray (at SEA)
WR: D. Thomas (at NYJ)
WR: A. Brown (at CLE)
RB/WR: McCoy (vs NYG)
TE: ????
K: Gostkowski (at BUF)
DEF: TEN (vs JAC)

[Trautdiggity]

Big match-up this week with the other undefeated team. My lineup is pretty stacked (due to extra draft picks that I acquired last year in dump trades).

QB: Ryan (vs CHI) or Wilson (vs DAL)
RB: Murray (at SEA)
WR: D. Thomas (at NYJ)
WR: A. Brown (at CLE)
RB/WR: McCoy (vs NYG)
TE: ????
K: Gostkowski (at BUF)
DEF: TEN (vs JAC)

Then I'd go with Cook. Ebron is equally as likely for a goose egg as a 10 point showing. Cook won't win this for you but he'll give you stats.

Also some unsolicited advice... I HATE Tennessee as a streamer this week. Everyone loves them because they're playing Jax, but Pittsburgh barely put up a decent defensive game against them last week (late pick six saved it) and Jax has been playing better. Tennessee is not a good defense AND they lost Bernard Pollard. I think a lot of streamers are gonna get burned on them this week.