10 players to put on your radar the rest of the season

2 weeks ago 4
  • Matt BowenOct 16, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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      Matt Bowen is simply a phantasy shot and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN successful 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent aggregate years connected "NFL Matchup." After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played information successful the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo implicit 7 seasons.

We spot a batch of flashes during the fantasy football season, right? It could beryllium a seldom-used wide receiver making an interaction play oregon a No. 2 choky extremity uncovering the extremity zone. Low-volume guys, lacking defined roles, but getting into the container score. Without the accordant usage and opportunity, however, it's hard for phantasy managers to buy-in oregon to springiness up a invaluable roster spot. I get it.

But what if we looked a small spot closer, examined the crippled portion and enactment unneurotic a database of players to enactment connected your phantasy radar?

Sure, galore of these targets aren't acceptable to leap into your Week 7 lineup, and astir are a amended acceptable for deeper leagues. The constituent present is to beryllium connected alert, particularly erstwhile injuries commencement to heap up, due to the fact that that's erstwhile you request an borderline connected the waiver wire.

Below are 10 names to support an oculus connected arsenic the play progresses.

1. Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants

Johnson has the large framework (6-foot-6, 266 pounds) to powerfulness done contact, positive helium has overmuch much alignment versatility than I expected successful Brian Daboll's offense. Over his past 3 games, with Jaxson Dart starting astatine quarterback, Johnson is averaging 12.2 PPG, catching 11 of 17 targets, including 3 touchdowns.

I deliberation we each tin hold Dart's beingness gives the Giants much foodstuff connected offense. It's there. And with Johnson playing successful line, bumping to the slot oregon adjacent aligning arsenic a backside "X" receiver, helium tin play a relation arsenic a matchup portion successful the walk game. Johnson's caller numbers and usage (5.3 targets per game) should enactment him successful the premix arsenic a imaginable waiver pickup successful deeper formats. But for managers successful shallow leagues, Johnson is simply a sanction to enactment connected the radar.


2. Isaiah Bond, WR, Cleveland Browns

I don't emotion the existent Browns walk crippled with Dillon Gabriel astatine quarterback. A batch of quicks and unders. Get the shot out. And that's reflected successful Gabriel's numbers (4.8 YPA, 5.8 AYPA). However, Bond does springiness the Browns a vertical element, positive helium is simply a abrupt mover -- with 4.39 velocity -- who tin get escaped aft the catch. And helium is getting much tally with Cedric Tillman connected IR.

Bond has seen 14 targets successful Gabriel's 2 starts, catching lone four. That needs to improve. But I'll instrumentality the usage and measurement here, positive Bond has 3 extremity portion targets implicit those 2 games. If we spot much improvement and maturation from Gabriel, with a much assertive play script, Bond has the traits to nutrient phantasy numbers arsenic a WR3 successful a Browns discourtesy that is devoid of explosive playmakers.


3. Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears

Burden saw an uptick successful measurement during the Monday nighttime triumph implicit the Commanders, catching 4 of 5 targets (both play highs) for 51 yards, which led each Bears wide receivers. Yes, Burden ran lone 12 routes, but helium was a portion of the crippled publication contempt seeing constricted reps.

Burden does person contention for targets successful Chicago's wide receiver country with Rome Odunze, DJ Moore and

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