Welcome Back Football!
Football is back in full swing and boy was it an exciting weekend. Four different games were decided by less than 1 point with others lost in the last seconds by a missed field goal. Hopefully you all won your matches but no matter the case its time to begin looking toward week Two.
Dont Over React
It is easy to overreact after week one so I am going to preface this article with a quick warning. This early in the season the real fantasy gold isn’t who is on the Waiver wire. Its the players that get dropped after one bad week. Last year, before he was seen as a fantasy stud, Allen Robinson put up 2 points in week one. He was a likely drop candidate for owners who believed the Jaguars would be bad once again. The owners who picked him up were greeted with the years fourth best wide receiver. Im not saying to go grab every player dropped in your league but keep an eye on what turns up and give a second though about who you are dropping. Now for the pick of the week.
Waiver Pick of the Week: Tajae Sharpe
As I said there were plenty of surprises at WR this week. Texans rookie Will fuller was targeted more than Deandre Hopkins, Quincy Enunwa more than Brandon Marshall, and Davante Adams ended the night with more fantasy points than Jordy Nelson. Plenty of people are going to go out and take a shot on these guys but there is someone who should be higher on your radar.
Tajae Sharpe, WR, Tennessee Titans (46% Yahoo 9% NFL.com)
While Fuller, Enunwa, and other big week one performers may be tempting none of them has the season long out look of Sharpe. If you were reading fantasy articles in the off season then you have already probably heard his name. During the preseason he reeled in 9-of-12 targets for 163 yards, but until this week the fifth-round pick has been all hype. On Sunday he lead the team in targets, catching 7 of 11 for 76 yards and solidified his role as the #1 wide receiver in Tennessee.
Sharpe is 6’2” 194lbs of great route running. His ability to stutter, shift, and quickly accelerate allows him to create doubt in cornerbacks. He can work outside and from the slot and is quick to learn concepts and where he fits into them. Quarter Back Marcus Mariota talked up Sharpe saying “He is a very versatile athlete. He has done a lot for us already and he gets great separation on and out of his routes.” Its not just Mariota that likes him though. The Titans traded away the physical monster Dorial Green-Beckham for almost nothing, confirming the Coaches trust in Sharpe. His work ethic and willingness to learn has him already looking like a second or third year receiver.
Looking at the numbers
Tennessee isn’t know as a receiving powerhouse, in fact last year the Titan’s wide receivers ranked dead last in fantasy points. That shouldn’t scare you away from Sharpe though. The Titans total passing yards has historically been much higher since they focus their tight end as their lead receiver.
Last year Mariota’s yards per attempt averaged out to 7.6 and he averaged 33 attempts per game. That comes out to about 250 yards of passing per game. He should significantly improve upon those numbers this year. They came when he was a rookie in an offense with the terrible running backs and Kendall wright as the best receiver. Now between Henry and Murray the Titan’s have not one but two quality running backs to keep the defense honest. With two legitimate receiving threats in Walker and Sharpe, I think its safe to say that he will see far more 300 yard games.
You shouldn’t expect Sharpe to see 11 targets every game but he is going to be Mariota’s go to throughout the season and has a serious chance to eclipse 1000 yards. In a week where the Titans run game was on point Sharpe was still a focal point of the offense and that should hold true all season.
Get him while you can!
Next week Sharpe and the Titans face a Lions Defense that gave up over 450 passing yards to Andrew Luck. The Titans aren’t the passing juggernaut that the Colts are, but If you don’t jump on him now then you can be sure someone will after he goes off next week.