5 to waiver wire add, 5 to drop, 5 to buy low, 5 to sell high

Estimated reading time: 27 minutes

This piece is a fantasy manager’s one-stop shop for managing their fantasy roster early in the week. For more players to add, check out the weekly waiver wire, and for more on this past week’s games in general, check out the fantasy football recap.

5 PLAYERS TO ADD

1. RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

Vidal gained over 100 rushing yards in his first NFL start.

The Chargers placed running back Omarion Hampton on injured reserve on Wednesday, and there was some fear that he will miss more than four games. This comes after the Chargers already lost Najee Harris for the season. In response, Vidal was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, while Nyheim Hines was signed to the practice squad and elevated to the 53-man roster for this game. There were also reports that the Chargers have been calling about a running back trade, although they seem less likely to make a deal after this game.

While Hassan Haskins appeared to be the top running back on the depth chart, including reports that Haskins would lead the way today, Vidal started. Regardless of who played the first snap, the Chargers seemed likely to go with the hot hand, considering neither Haskins nor Vidal has been able to establish themselves clearly ahead of the other over the past two seasons. Vidal had three carries on the first two drives compared to two by Haskins, and both players averaged 1.0 yards per carry. 

Vidal broke off a 38-yard run on the Chargers’ third drive, and from then on, the backfield was primarily his. Haskins was the two-minute drill back, which wasn’t surprising. Haskins happened to take the goal-line snap, but Vidal recorded three goal-line snaps last week, so this doesn’t necessarily mean Haskins will command those snaps going forward.

While Vidal was picked up off waivers in most 12-team leagues last week, he is still available in plenty of 10-team leagues and should be a top waiver-wire target in those leagues. However, there is still a chance the Chargers make a deal for a running back. There is also a shot that Vidal has a slow start, Haskins gets the hot hand, and the backfield shifts back to Haskins. However, as long as Vidal keeps playing well, the backfield should be his until Hampton is back.

2. RB Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals