Waiver Wire Pickups Week 3

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. That was the storyline of Week 2 of the NFL Season with longtime signal-callers Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees among many others going down. I will touch on their replacements and how you should attack the waiver wire at the other positions but first, let’s do a quick review of Week 2 waiver wire, guys, that you should still be targeting.

Week Two Waiver Wire Recap

At running back, Carlos Hyde further separated himself from backfield mate Duke Johnson, handling a healthy 20 carries for 90 yards as opposed to Johnson’s six carries. Hyde should be owned everywhere as a volume-driven, low-end RB2. I said to grab Raheem Mostert in your leagues last week while he was still being over-looked and hopefully, you did. That is not the case anymore after he exploded onto the scene with 151 total yards and a touchdown. Expect to be paying a decent portion of your FAAB this week if you want his services as an RB3 with upside for as long as Coleman is on the shelf. Chris Thompson and Malcolm Brown played well but are the clear third and fourth options behind Hyde and Mostert. Ronald Jones is the one who disappointed this week after reports came out that he was going to see an increase in carries but only went on to touch the ball four times for nine yards. I would still hang on to him, but leave him on the bench in all but the deepest of leagues for next week’s matchup until we see some continuity in his playing time.

At Wide Receiver and Tight End, Demarcus Robinson, Marquise Brown, Terry McLaurin, John Brown, Mecole Hardman, John Ross, DJ Chark had great follow up games and are all must adds if still available. There wasn’t much to like about the Indianapolis Colts passing game, but it looks like Parris Campbell is the one to own over Deon Cain following the injury to Devin Funchess. Campbell had one catch for a twelve-yard touchdown whereas Cain came up empty in the box score. Danny Amendola and TJ Hockenson combined for zero catches. Look at Amendola as a WR4 for PPR purposes and stick with Hockenson as a high upside TE2 moving forward. Mark Andrews and Darren Waller should be rostered everywhere as TE1’s.

Now let’s get down to your Week 3 targets. Remember, these players are only owned in less than 60% of leagues.

Mason Rudolph

Quarterback 0.2% owned

Ben Roethlisberger was declared out for the season early Monday afternoon with an elbow injury that removed him from the game Sunday. Second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph, who beat out Joshua Dobbs in the pre-season, stepped in and completed 12 of 19 attempts for 112 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Rudolph will have weapons to work within JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vance McDonald, James Conner (if cleared) and college teammate James Washington. He has the arm talent to succeed and was one of my favorite sleeper quarterbacks in last year’s draft. He is a must-add in all Superflex leagues, deserving of 100% of your FAAB if you lost Brees or Roethlisberger this past week. Re-drafters can give him a look as a QB2 as well.

Teddy Bridgewater

Quarterback 0.2 % owned

Drew Brees is looking at a minimum six-week absence with a thumb injury, putting the highest-paid backup in the league, Teddy Bridgewater, in the driver’s seat for the high powered New Orleans Saints. Just like Rudolph, Bridgewater has weapons at his disposal, but they are slightly better ones. The only drawback for Bridgewater is that unlike Roethlisberger, Brees is not expected to miss the season, making Bridgewater’s services exactly that….a bridge. Throw in the handful of Taysom Hill plays, which I think will go up by the way and Rudolph looks like the better season-long add. Bridgewater is also a must-add in all Superflex leagues and will surely cost you up to 100% of your FAAB to secure his services.

Jaylen Samuels

Running Back 25.5% owned

James Conner suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s game and early indications are that it is considered “not serious’, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. When Conner went down last year, Samuels showed every-down ability as both a rusher and passer and would be a mid RB2 if Conner were forced to miss time, even with Rudolph at the helm. These kinds of injuries can linger, especially for running backs, so I would look to adding Samuels now in the case that Conner has to miss time at any point in the season.

Darwin Thompson

Running Back 18.7% owned

Just as everyone came to terms with popular pre-season darling Darwin Thompson, subsequently dropping him after the signing of LeSean McCoy and lack of use in Week 1, both Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy go down with injuries. There is not much news out there regarding their injuries just yet, but if one or both were to miss any time, Thompson would immediately enter the flex conversation in leagues of 12 plus teams. If nothing new breaks regarding the injuries, I would still look to dump and end of bench player for the upside of Thompson to get ahead of the ball if later in the week we find out that the injuries are serious.

Deebo Samuel

Wide Receiver 12.8% owned

Another week and another Dante Pettis dud. I don’t see any reason to hang onto him in leagues of 12 teams and less. The Niners receiver to own is the explosive rookie out of South Carolina, Deebo Samuel. Samuel led the Niners in targets with seven, catching five for 87 yards and a touchdown, while also getting a pair of carries. The carries were good to see because we have always thought of Deebo as a playmaker and it is good to see Shanahan getting him involved in any way he can. This should be the norm for Samuel moving forward and his volume and efficiency should only increase with time. Any time a team’s number one receiver is available you should jump at the chance to get him on your team, regardless if he is a rookie or not (See Terry McLaurin and Marquise Brown). View Samuel as an immediate flex option with potential for more further down the season as he gets more acclimated with the offense.

Nelson Agholor

Wide receiver 4.3 % owned

J.J Arcega-Whiteside

Wide Receiver 1.4 % owned

It looked like World War 3 out there Sunday Night with all the injuries that the Eagles were dealing with. Of the numerous injuries they sustained as a team, both starting receivers, Alshon Jeffery and Desean Jackson were among the casualties. Agholor was the clear favorite for Carson Wentz once those two exited the game, finishing with eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. His day could have been even bigger if he was able to bring down a dime from Wentz down the sideline in the final seconds of the game that would have been an easy six points. While Arcega-Whiteside didn’t enjoy as productive of a game, he is the direct replacement outside if Jeffery or Jackson misses time. Jackson has long battled with lower-body injuries his entire career, making him a risk to miss games down the line, even if he is cleared for this week, which makes Whiteside a nice stash at the end of your bench for those of you in deeper leagues.

Randall Cobb

Wide receiver 18.3% owned

Devin Smith

Wide Receiver 0% owned

Second-year receiver, Michael Gallup, had been enjoying a breakout season thus far before leaving Sundays game with a meniscus injury that is going to cost him anywhere between 2-4 games. Randall Cobb much like Nelson Agholor saw an increase in targets but his role will not necessarily change being that he will remain the team’s slot receiver. Gallup’s direct replacement on the outside was speedster Devin Smith, who broke a long touchdown for 51 yards and hauled in all three of his targets for a total of 74 yards and a touchdown. Cobb is the clear preferred option here, but those of you in deeper leagues mind as well take a shot on Smith to see if he can make the most of this opportunity in Gallup’s absence.

Quick Hits

Quarterback Josh Allen is somehow owned in only 30% of leagues. As a longtime Allen truther, if you are in that 70% of leagues where he is available, he should be your #1 target at the Quarterback position.

is somehow owned in only 30% of leagues. As a longtime Allen truther, if you are in that 70% of leagues where he is available, he should be your #1 target at the Quarterback position. There is speculation that the Giants could finally use their brains and sit Eli Manning for Daniel Jones . If you are in Superflex leagues where Jones is available, make sure that is not the case anymore because it is entirely possible we could see Daniel Jones enter the starting lineup as soon as next week.

. If you are in Superflex leagues where Jones is available, make sure that is not the case anymore because it is entirely possible we could see Daniel Jones enter the starting lineup as soon as next week. Keep an eye on Frank Gore as an impressive rookie Devin Singletary was forced from the game with a hamstring injury. If Singletary were to miss time, Gore would see the lions share of touches with TJ Yeldon mixing in as a change of pace back.

as an impressive rookie Devin Singletary was forced from the game with a hamstring injury. If Singletary were to miss time, Gore would see the lions share of touches with TJ Yeldon mixing in as a change of pace back. Jeff Wilson Jr. joined the running back party for the Niners, taking ten carries for 34 yards an two touchdowns. While there is no way the Niners can support three backs on a consistent basis, Wilson is at least worthy of a bench spot in deeper leagues while Coleman is out.

joined the running back party for the Niners, taking ten carries for 34 yards an two touchdowns. While there is no way the Niners can support three backs on a consistent basis, Wilson is at least worthy of a bench spot in deeper leagues while Coleman is out. James Washington is owned in just over 60% of leagues. With his old college quarterback Mason Rudolph suddenly the starter for the Steelers, if he is available, give Washington a look. That chemistry will come in handy and Moncrief hasn’t exactly impressed so far. Washington could start to steal those snaps sooner rather than later.

is owned in just over 60% of leagues. With his old college quarterback Mason Rudolph suddenly the starter for the Steelers, if he is available, give Washington a look. That chemistry will come in handy and Moncrief hasn’t exactly impressed so far. Washington could start to steal those snaps sooner rather than later. We’ve seen this one before. Will Dissly goes and makes a splash game and everyone loses their minds. I get it, Tight End is the shallowest position in fantasy, but don’t blow a large portion of your FAAB or waste a high waiver claim for Dissly. I would be ok with a 5%-8% bid for his services and that’s about it.

goes and makes a splash game and everyone loses their minds. I get it, Tight End is the shallowest position in fantasy, but don’t blow a large portion of your FAAB or waste a high waiver claim for Dissly. I would be ok with a 5%-8% bid for his services and that’s about it. Put some respect on the old man’s name. That’s now two weeks in a row with a touchdown for Cowboys tight end Jason Witten . He looks to be providing at least a solid floor for his fantasy owners. I prefer him over Dissly.

. He looks to be providing at least a solid floor for his fantasy owners. I prefer him over Dissly. A wide receiver deep leaguers will want to consider is Arizona’s Damiere Byrd . Byrd has caught 10 balls already and the Cardinals are averaging over 45 pass attempts a game. That’s a ton of potential volume for a guy that you can get for free as your WR5, not to mention his game-breaking speed makes him a threat to bust one long every once in a while. Byrd could be last years Willie Snead as a guy who can quietly get you 8-10 points a week in PPR on a consistent basis.

. Byrd has caught 10 balls already and the Cardinals are averaging over 45 pass attempts a game. That’s a ton of potential volume for a guy that you can get for free as your WR5, not to mention his game-breaking speed makes him a threat to bust one long every once in a while. Byrd could be last years Willie Snead as a guy who can quietly get you 8-10 points a week in PPR on a consistent basis. Kickers are people too. Carolina Panthers kicker Joey Slye has made 7 field goals in just two weeks. With Cam seemingly unable to capitalize on scoring chances, that high number of attempts could continue.

QB rankings Josh Allen Mason Rudolph Teddy Bridgewater Daniel Jones Gardner Minshew QB Short Term Allen Bridgewater Rudolph Minshew Jones QB Long Term Allen Rudolph Jones Bridgewater Minshew

RB Rankings Carlos Hyde Raheem Mostert Chris Thompson Malcolm Brown Ronald Jones Jaylen Samuels Darwin Thompson Frank Gore Jeff Wilson Jr. RB Short Term Hyde Mostert Thompson Samuels Jones Gore Darwin Brown Wilson RB Investment Hyde Brown Jones Thompson Darwin Samuels Mostert Gore Wilson

Wide Receiver Rankings Marquise Brown Terry McLaurin Demarcus Robinson John Brown John Ross DJ Chark Mecole Hardman Nelson Agholor Randall Cobb Chris Conley JJ Arcega-Whiteside AJ Brown Danny Amendola Parris Campbell Damiere Byrd Devin Smith Wide Receiver Short Term Marquise Brown Demarcus Robinson Terry McLaurin John Ross Mecole Hardman John Brown DJ Chark Nelson Agholor Randall Cobb Chris Conley AJ Brown JJ Arcega Whiteside Devin Smith Damiere Byrd Parris Campbell Danny Amendola Wide Receiver Investment Marquise Brown Terry Mclaurin John Brown DJ Chark John Ross AJ Brown Demarcus Robinson Mecole Hardman Nelson Agholor Chris Conley JJAW Campbell Randall Cobb Byrd Amendola Smith

Tight End Rankings

Darren Waller TJ Hockenson Jason Witten Will Dissly

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Thanks for reading & Good Luck!