John Ross (WR, CIN) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: I’m afraid we won’t see Week 1 John Ross any time son, but if Ross is able to put together another performance as that of last weekend I’d be very comfortable playing him next week. Ross came back (at least to a certain extent) to his early-season ways against Miami this past Sunday catching six of his 13 (!) targets for 84 yards while rushing for six extra yards on two attempts. He didn’t find the end zone but all of that allowed him to break the 15-point barrier.

As I said, it is going to be hard to have Ross putting up gaudy numbers resembling those of the first (158 yards and two touchdowns in seven receptions) and second (112 yards, four receptions, one TD) games of the year. Other than that, Ross was a little disappointing. He’s missed eight games due to injury and in the other four he played he never scored more than 6.6 FP, reached more than 36 yards receiving, or caught more than three passes. Now, with Dalton back at the starting position for Cincinnati and the QB playing for his life and an opportunity come 2020, Ross was revitalized and might have another booming game in the season finale.

The Browns will visit Cincinnati in Week 17. They have the eight-best defense against WRs on the year, but they’re already out of the playoffs. Ross will try and keep up his game, and only because of the targets he saw in Week 16 alone (13, season-high) things look nice for him entering this weekend’s game. I’d advise picking up Ross both because of the volume and opportunities he’ll get and due to him being the most explosive weapon on Cincinnati’s offense. He carries the boom/bust label and can finish with a measly 5.0 FP, but the Bengals will probably air it out and go all-in so it’s hard to think he won’t benefit from that. Get Ross in any deeper league you’re part of and make him your boom/bust play at the flex spot.