Predicting Fantasy Football's Hottest Waiver-Wire Names of NFL Week 7

The Dallas Cowboys' Christine Michael is available in over half of ESPN leagues. Even as we can't find any pictures of him in an accurate uniform, Michael should be universally owned, if only for the fact that his Mock Draftable athletic spider chart looks like a superhero attended the combine.

Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan tempered expectations for Michael a bit, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, but he should still be rostered in all competitive fantasy formats for the upside alone. 

If you listened to us last week, you likely beat your league to the wire for the Minnesota Vikings' breakout rookie receiver, Stefon Diggs, as he was one our top recommendations. The last rookie for the Vikings to top 80 receiving yards in consecutive games was this guy named Randy Moss. Diggs still has about 156 touchdowns to go to truly be Moss' peer, but the fantasy fun has already begun for the Maryland product and his early investors. 

We're here to continue on this theme of uncovering meaningful commodities the market isn't really recognizing. The idea is to value speculation and use the bottom rungs of fantasy rosters with some fluidity as we seek enduring assets. 

Proactive management can save a fantasy season. It's best to be a week early on an intriguing prospect than sit on some low-ceiling veterans at the end of your imaginary bench.

Please join us as we delve into some interesting skill players who might be earning FAAB (free-agent auction budget) cash or high waiver bids come next week. As always, please share any names and numbers in the comments section that interest you as under-the-radar assets heading into this weekend's NFL action.

Theo Riddick Is a PPR Maven Available in a Majority of Fantasy Leagues

Jose Juarez/Associated Press

The Detroit Lions' Theo Riddick led all running backs last season in fantasy points per route run in point per reception (PPR) leagues. Which is to say, he was the most efficiently effective receiving back on a per-route basis in 2014.

If you like fantasy points, and we're guessing you do, Riddick is among the best instant sources of such production in fantasy football. You don't even have to watch an awful Vin Diesel movie to enjoy Riddick, as you can add him for the cost of a few clicks in nearly 70 percent of ESPN leagues. 

This season, Riddick is 21st in fantasy points per game in PPR formats among tailbacks with 11.83 points per game, just ahead of the Indianapolis Colts' Frank Gore and the Arizona Cardinals' Chris Johnson in per-game production.

Riddick is tied with the Falcons' Devonta Freeman with 41 targets for the lead among NFL backs and is the lone back with more than 30 targets to not have a single drop on the campaign so far. 

The Lions are second in the league in passing attempts and tied with the New Orleans Saints with 68 targets to their tailbacks, the most in the NFL. Nearly a quarter (24.7 percent) of the Lions' passing attempts go to their backs, suggesting that Riddick, who is on pace for 88 receptions and over 700 yards, could be an enduring PPR weapon this season. 

For those who drafted hot-shot rookie Ameer Abdullah, adding and starting Riddick might just be the best arbitrage play possible. 

Take a Free Fantasy Flier on Browns Back Robert Turbin

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns' Robert Turbin recently told Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group that he intends to rush for 1,000 yards over the remainder of the season. You know, like 100 yards per game.

While the former Seahawks back is likely a bit bold in his intentions, it will be interesting to see if he can earn a meaningful role on the Browns backfield. 

Turbin provided efficient and effective production for the Seattle Seahawks as Marshawn Lynch's understudy over the past several seasons. This past Sunday versus the Broncos, Turbin produced just 27 yards on 10 totes, but such usage in his season debut suggests he'll have a chance to net more work if he can prove more effective than lead early-down option Isaiah Crowell, who is averaging just 3.73 yards per carry. 

Football Outsiders' snap data revealed that Turbin played on a mere 23 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Week 6. With noted receiving skills, Turbin was sixth in fantasy points per route run last season among backs, so it would likely only take one solid showing from Turbin to surpass Crowell on the team's depth chart for early-down work, while rookie Duke Johnson remains the team's top third-down option.

There really isn't much here beyond the potential of potential.

He's free (owned in fewer than two percent of ESPN leagues) and formerly productive, making Turbin and his quest for 1,000 yards a relevant stash in deeper (12 teams or more) fantasy formats. 

Can David Cobb Dominate Early-Down Work in Tennessee Once Healthy?

Scott Audette/Associated Press

The scouting report for Tennessee Titans rookie tailback David Cobb offers some hope for early investors, as the team surely isn't finding success with its lackluster committee approach.

After just a few lines of Bleacher Report's rousing scouting take on the Minnesota product, you might just end up adding him to the end of your fantasy bench: 

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A Senior Bowl standout, David Cobb was the best running back in attendance and one of the most impressive players overall. Cobb won’t impress with raw speed, and an injured quad while running at the combine is why he turned in a 4.81-second run there. His pro day time of 4.58 (per sources) is much better. He is a power runner coming out of a power running scheme who picks up big yardage after contact. He’ll bang through tacklers and has the leg drive to pick up hard yards in the A and B gaps. Cobb is a downhill runner with patience and vision, and his balance and body lean are ideal for the NFL. He is a smooth, gliding runner with starter potential.

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Finding backfield talent this late into the fantasy campaign requires a willingness to be wrong. But really, you need to be willing to swing for the fences on guys like Cobb, who could claim a strong share of backfield work upon his return from injured reserve from a lingering calf injury. John Glennon of the Tennessean reported that Cobb's evaluation window for return has begun, as he returned to practice recently.

While an actual on-field debut is still weeks off, it appears, it might be smart to stash Cobb for his potential to scale a weak depth chart quite quickly.

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt has been largely inscrutable when it comes to deciphering backfield deployment, which is to say he's a supervillain in the fantasy community, but Cobb, who flashed strong playmaking ability in the preseason, merits attention in leagues with at least 12 teams if for speculation alone.

We'd gladly release a weak handcuff option for Cobb's production potential. 

Cheap Shares of Rookie Receiver Devin Funchess Could Prove Profitable

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Carolina Panthers rookie receiver Devin Funchess was targeted a career-high six times this past Sunday in the team's dramatic comeback win in Seattle.

While he's hauling in just 29 percent of his targets on the season, the game tape shows signal-caller Cam Newton often looking for the big downfield target when he's running routes, as he's been targeted on a robust 30.4 percent of his routes this season, according to an ESPN database. 

Bleacher Report's scouting report on the Michigan product offered hope for some eventual fantasy fun: 

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A former tight end at Michigan, Devin Funchess made the move to wide receiver on the depth chart in 2014. He’s a big player who makes himself a threat with body positioning, catch radius and strength. He’s a strong player coming off the line of scrimmage and uses his length well to keep defenders from jamming him.

Funchess is NFL-ready and shows good awareness and recognition of what the defense is doing. He’s comfortable lining up in multiple positions and can be swapped around to find a mismatch. His feet are quick and light for his frame, and he’ll surprise defenders with his short-area burst if he gets a safety or linebacker matchup. He can overpower cornerbacks at the line and at the catch point and uses his upper body well to box out for tough catches.

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Targets are the coin of the realm, or at least currency that we often see converted into coveted fantasy production. Is there much here besides a big body and increased offensive usage? Not really, but considering Funchess is free in nearly 90 percent of ESPN leagues, he makes for a sound stash in deeper leagues that often see the waiver wire picked clean by this point of the campaign. 

Brandon LaFell's Impending Return to the Patriots Offers Upside for Investors

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The New England Patriots' Brandon LaFell caught 74 passes for 953 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games and 13 starts for last season, adding 13 receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns in three postseason games.

Why would we endorse shares of a player who hasn't suited up this season? LaFell was 22nd among NFL receivers in fantasy points last season in ESPN leagues, tied with the San Francisco 49ers' Anquan Boldin and with more standard fantasy points than teammate Julian Edelman.

Let's also consider the Patriots are the top offense in the league, leading the NFL with 3.1 offensive points per drive, with a touchdown on a league-best 35.6 percent of their drives, according to an ESPN database.  

The Patriots have 183 points through five games, one more than their total through the same number of games in 2007, when they set the all-time scoring mark and went undefeated. Still available in nearly 70 percent of ESPN leagues, LaFell is LaFree in most fantasy leagues and bears real upside on a historic offense that could use his outside presence. 

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that the clock for LaFell's return from the IR has started ticking, which should motivate managers to add him before the market wakes up to this widely available waiver value.