Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
After each week of the NFL season, the fantasy football waiver wire could make or break an owner’s quest for the title. Let’s take a look at a handful of players who have emerged as capable contributors—and who could be available—after Week 6.
Frank Gore (RB, Dolphins)
It’s 2018 and Frank Gore is still a viable fantasy football option. You can’t make this stuff up, folks. The 35-year-old was expected to be somewhat of an afterthought behind Kenyan Drake when he joined the Dolphins this past offseason following a three-year stint in Indianapolis, but to say he has remained relevant would be an understatement. Gore rushed 12 times for 63 yards in a Week 5 loss at Cincinnati before gaining 101 yards on a season-high 15 carries in last weekend’s thrilling win over Chicago. It marked the first time since 2014 that the former University of Miami standout had rushed for at least 100 yards on fewer than 20 attempts. Drake also fumbled at the goal line in overtime against the Bears, so the Dolphins may be lacking trust in him at the moment.
Ito Smith (RB, Falcons)
Whereas Gore could be a long-term solution for fantasy owners, Smith is a stop-gap kind of guy who can fill in during emergency situations. The 23-year-old’s value is directly tied to the health of starting running back Devonta Freeman, who missed last Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay with a groin injury and is expected to be sidelined at least through Week 7. Freeman was shelved for the first three games of this 2018 campaign and then got reinjured earlier in October during a blowout loss at Pittsburgh. Although No. 2 option Tevin Coleman gets more touches than Smith in Freeman’s absence, it is the latter who is scoring more touchdowns. In fact, the rookie out of Southern Mississippi has found the endzone in three consecutive contests. He also got a season-high 11 carries to go along with two receptions against the Buccaneers.
Taylor Gabriel (WR, Bears)
Gabriel found himself on this list last week and there is no reason to shy away from him now. The 5’8’’ receiver caught all five of his targets in this past Sunday’s overtime loss at Miami, turning them into 110 yards. It was Gabriel’s second consecutive 100-yard performance, having previously torched Tampa Bay for 104 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions during a 48-10 rout by the Bears. The former Abilene Christian standout has something nice going with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who is utilizing him to perfection as a viable No. 1 pass-catching option right alongside Allen Robinson. Gabriel leads Chicago in catches (27) and receiving yardage (303) while placing second in receiving TDs (two, tied with Robinson) and targets (34).
C.J. Uzomah (TE, Bengals)
Smith is making the most of his unexpected opportunity in Atlanta, and Uzomah is doing the same in Cincinnati. Star tight end Tyler Eifert suffered a season-ending broken ankle last month against the Falcons, paving the way for Uzomah to become the team’s top tight end. With Tyler Kroft (foot) also injured, the fourth-year player out of Auburn has a monopoly on the position right now. And that may not change, because Kroft is out for at least two more weeks and may require surgery—which would end his year. Uzomah was targeted a season-high seven times during a Week 6 setback against Pittsburgh and turned those into 54 yards on six receptions. His second touchdown of the season and first since Week 3 should come sooner rather than later—perhaps at the expense of porous Kansas City defense on Sunday night.
