How much does one week matter? What about two?
In the grand scheme of things, 60 minutes of football can be pretty random, but it's often what we make our waiver wire designations based on it. Last week I was slow to add a certain wide receiver that came out of nowhere (and based on the numbers so were you guys). Now he's done it twice in a row and I'm sure there's going to be a mad dash to add him. So, what about the other three guys on this list that looked rather useless before Week 6?
Well, I can give you reasons to add each of them.
Cameron Meredith, WR, Chicago Bears (50 percent owned)
I was highly skeptical of Meredith's Week 5 performance and really expected Alshon Jeffery to see a lot more work this week. Well, Jeffery was targeted heavily in the first half, but Meredith still turned in a monster game with 11 catches for 113 yards. Meredith has now seen double digit targets in the last two weeks and is clearly someone Brian Hoyer trusts. I don't think Hoyer is going anywhere, so I don't really see a reason to doubt Meredith's performance moving forward.
I still believe in Jeffery's talent and expect his touchdown regression to kick in any week now. The Bears passing game will face tougher matchups moving forward, but with what we've seen the past two weeks I'm not sure there's any reason to think that Hoyer can't support Jeffery as a No. 2 WR and Meredith as a No. 3. Meredith should be owned in any league that's 12 teams or deeper.
Jay Ajayi, RB, Miami Dolphins (56 percent owned)
All the credit goes to Adam Aizer here because I'm pretty sure he's the only one who hadn't given up on Ajayi's talent. I am slightly skeptical of the way his production came about and it absolutely seems like the Steelers came in and laid an egg. That being said, this is now multiple weeks that Ajayi has looked good, running with violent effort.
One thing you have to consider is that the Dolphins finally had a healthy offensive line and this was the best run blocking we've seen from them all year. If this is the new norm, Ajayi continues to see this volume and stays healthy---well, I think you have to consider him a borderline No. 2 RB. He's a must-add this week just on the possibility alone.
Torrey Smith, WR, San Francisco 49ers (36 percent owned)
Smith had lost almost all of his value with Blaine Gabbert under center but there was some hope that would change with Colin Kaepernick taking over. It did for one week at least. Kaepernick did look deep more often and even connected with Smith for a 53 yard touchdown. Of course, Smith only had two measly catches other than the touchdown but that's what he is, a boom-or-bust WR.
There are plenty of questions over how sustainable this is or whether Kaepernick will even hold onto the starting job. If he does, I see Smith as a flex option against the right type of matchup with the caveat that he could bust any given week.
Kendall Wright, WR Tennessee Titans (4 percent owned)
Just to make sure we cater to the deep leagues, Wright may just be a thing again. I spent the preseason talking about how Wright was being overlooked and calling him the most talented wide receiver in Tennessee. Hamstring injuries slowed his arrival, but now in Week 6 it looks like he's back where he belongs -- atop the Titans wide receiver depth chart.
Wright is worth an add for now in deep leagues and possibly 12 team leagues if you're really desperate for a wide receiver. Just remember who this performance came against. The Browns have made many mediocre wide receivers look like more than they are this season.
