There is one game remaining before Week 6 comes to a close, but for most fantasy football owners, it is time to start looking ahead to Week 7. That means waiver wire claims. We all place our waiver claims Monday and Tuesday, and they are then processed Wednesday morning. I thought I would take a look at some waiver options on the 49ers and around the league. Ownership percentage in parenthesis is based on Yahoo! numbers.
Quarterbacks
Colin Kaepernick (8 percent): Is it possible Colin Kaepernick is becoming fantasy relevant? Kaepernick made his 2016 starting debut, and while he showed a lot of inconsistency, he also made some notable plays from a fantasy perspective. Kaepernick threw for 187 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 66 yards. Late in the game he almost threw an interception a couple times, although that was due to trying to force things from a huge deficit. Whatever the case, he’s an intriguing option
Other QBs to consider: Cody Kessler (2 percent), Dak prescott (still only 57 percent), Trevor Siemian (13 percent), Alex Smith (27 percent owned), Brian Hoyer (20 percent owned)
Running backs
Nothing there for the 49ers, so let’s look elsewhere
Jay Ajayi (30 percent): Where id this come from? Arian Foster returned to action, but Ajayi maintained the starting role and dominated. He rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Wow!
Devontae Booker (27 percent): He is slowly increasing his workload behind C.J. Anderson. I don’t think Booker supplants Anderson as the starter this season, but he has great keeper value, and could take over if Anderson were to get hurt.
Zach Zenner (one percent): The Lions running back situation is a mess following injuries to Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. In Week 6, Zenner rushed 14 times for 58 yards, and added two receptions for 19 yards. He has more short term value until the rest of the Lions running backs are healthy.
Wide receivers
Torrey Smith (25 percent owned): He had three receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Colin Kaepernick looked his way seven times, matching Quinton Patton for the team high. Kaepernick overthrew Smith on one potential touchdown, and underthrew him on another. They did connect on a 53-yard catch and run touchdown. Smith suddenly might be interesting.
Quinton Patton (zero percent owned): He had four receptions for 52 yards in Week 6. The 49ers wide receiver is not going to be a fantasy option yet (maybe some PPR bye week value). And he may never turn into one. However, his chemistry with Colin Kaepernick (they’re very good friends off the field) makes me think maybe he could get some value at some point.
Other WRs to consider: Cole Beasley (44 percent), Mohamed Sanu (29 percent), Anquan Boldin (20 percent), Kenny Britt (nine percent)
Tight ends
Vance McDonald did not show anything to make me think he’ll develop into something, so let’s look elsewhere.
Hunter Henry (34 percent): Antonio Gates returned to the Chargers lineup, but Henry was still solid, catching six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Even with Gates back, Henry looks like he could be productive.
Charles Clay (24 percent): Three straight weeks with five receptions for Clay. He is not finding the end zone, but with 47, 73, and 52 yards each of those three weeks, he has some bye week and injury replacement potential.
Jack Doyle (11 percent): The Colts tight end got off to a solid start this season, with two touchdowns in Week 1. He was quiet after that, but bounced back with a touchdown in Week 6. There is some bye week and injury replacement potential there.