🏈 Must-adds for Week 4
Jake Funk, the 49ers backfield, and Antonio Brown catches covid.
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Good morning. It was a news-filled day yesterday, so we will jump right in:
Deep Dives
The idea is you pick up a player before everyone wants to grab them off the waiver wire. Last week, the perfect deep dives were Cordarelle Patterson and K.J. Osborn. This week’s players no one is talking about (ownership in brackets):
Jacques Patrick (0.1%) - Signed off the Bengals practice squad by the RB-desperate 49ers, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound, 24-year old provides a healthy body in the backfield. But RBs can surprise - remember Elijah Mitchell in Week 1? With Mostert, Mitchell, and Sermon likely to miss the game, Patrick’s only competition is washed Trenton Cannon. It’s always a good idea to take a flier on an RB with opportunity.
Braxton Berrios (0.2%). - Berrios played the role of slot WR and saw 11 targets on Sunday, tops among Jets WRs. He also led the team in catches (7) and receiving yards. Sure, Jamison Crowder might return in Week 3 (unlikely) - but Berrios becomes a solid WR3/4 in PPR if not. 11 targets is no joke, and the Jets have plenty of garbage time.
Jake Funk (0.6%) - The Rams backup backup backup RB (behind Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Sony Michel) suddenly finds himself one injury away from a starting role in one of the NFL’s best offensive attacks.
Don’t forget, Adam Schefter called Jake Funk the “White Christian McCaffrey.”
White 
Also white
Visiting the Hospital
Want to know how great the German language is? Their name for an ambulance is KRANKENWAGEN. Pronounced CrankenVagan. Epic.
Speaking of Krankenwagen’s, here are some updates from the injury/covid reports.
Antonio Brown tested positive for COVID-19, per Adam Schefter. With just four days until kickoff, it's unlikely that he'll be able to play in the Bucs' Week 3 game against the Rams. From a fantasy standpoint, Tyler Johnson is interesting but doesn’t warrant a pickup yet (because he’s likely to split snaps with Scotty Miller).
Dalvin Cook (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, which should be expected from veteran star RBs.
Laviska Shenault is practicing in full for Week 3 against the Cardinals. After leaving Week 2 with a shoulder injury, Shenault clearly avoided anything serious. The biggest issue is Urban Meyer’s offense…
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Odell Beckham will be a "full go" in practice Wednesday, a great sign for Odell’s 2021 debut. Remember his hype video? How far he’s fallen.
Diontae Johnson (knee) is not practicing Wednesday.
Johnson went down late in the Week 2 loss to the Raiders but avoided a serious injury. Johnson still has a few days to get ready for the Bengals - If he can't go, James Washington would take his place in the lineup and Chase Claypool could have a breakout game.
Rookie Watch - Ja’Marr Chase, Elijah Moore & Najee Harris
Eric Drzewiecki put together this fantastic rookie chart - which he updates weekly on Reddit:
In these dynasty rankings, week we're trying to see a bit beyond the points. Some players have risen that didn't score, some guys had good weeks but stayed in the same slot. (Standard, 1QB)
Risers
Rondale Moore
Michael Carter - The reality is, Carter looks like the best back on the NYJ. An efficient performance like we saw on Sunday should lead to more opportunities going forward.
Davis Mills - Opportunity, opportunity, opportunity. While I'm not fully sold on the talent for Mills, he does have some of those upside traits you're hoping for with a 3rd round QB.
Najee Harris
Fallers
Zach Wilson
Nico Collins - This is more because of injuries. Nico got hurt, yes, and so did Tyrod. When Collins comes back, it's possible there will be a new QB under center, and I don't like that for his prospects for production this year.
Rhamondre Stevenson - Making him a scratch after the fumble is exactly the concern I had. Opportunities are hard to win and easy to lose in the Bill Belichick system. Rhamondre is now going to have to shake the albatross now in order to regain some positive momentum.
Kadarius Toney - Self-explanatory.
Eric can be found on Twitter and is also part of The Dynasty Movement on Discord.
More rookie news:
Quick Hits
Why Tee Higgins is a WR1 in all Dynasty and Keeper leagues.
Why you should buy D’Andre Swift wherever possible
Click here to see our updated RB & QB rankings as of Sept 23, 2021.
Someone check on this guy!!!
The Lion’s loss cost him $726,000. Or what Patrick Mahomes makes in a week.
Thank you all. Miss you already.
- Jake
The Morning Huddle: an (almost) daily newsletter full of fantasy football news, memes, and stats - giving you the edge to win titles and the laughs to enjoy every minute of it.
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