Waiver Wire: Week 3
Week two is behind us minus tonight’s Green Bay vs. Detroit game, which is off to a speedy start(keep your eye on Quintez Cephus, will update tomorrow if we decide to add him to the recommendations).
For the purpose of this article, I used ESPN’s rostered player pool, and kept players around 50% rostered out (I will make two exceptions this week). A lot of injuries occurred this weekend, and questions of playing time for top-notch waiver wire week one players were addressed. Elijah Mitchell was the gem last week and he put up a 17 carry 42-yard performance. This week we see Justin Fields beginning to emerge as the starter in Chicago and could act as a high priority, as well as a Stack Attack Favorite, Rondale Moore!
Running Backs
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team, 42% rostered
J.D. McKissic had a huge Thursday night football game against the New York Giants. He had four carries for 10 yards and a touchdown but made his presence felt in the receiving game where he had five catches for 83 yards. Last season he saw 110 targets. If he is somehow available, he’s worth a top waiver claim.
Michael Carter, New York Jets, 55% rostered
This is my one exception to the 50% rule, but only because he was widely dropped last week. The Jets looked awful against the Patriots, but Michael Carter showed flashes all day. He took eleven carries and turned it into 59 yards, and two catches for 29 yards. The Jets blocked well for him, and he was clearly the best running back on the field for the Jets.
James White, New England Patriots, 55% rostered
I’ll make yet another expectation to my 50% rule. James White had a great game as the Patriots pass-catching back. Rhamondre Stevenson was inactive. While he does not effect White's role, it did give him a rushing touchdown. He had five carries for 20 yards and the touchdown, and six receptions for 45 yards. We have seen White in this role finish as a top 12 running back in PPR formats, so consider him at the very least a flex starter at this point.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons, 8% rostered
Cordarelle Patterson had himself one great fantasy day. Battling Mike Davis for starting reps, Patterson had seven carries for eleven yards and a touchdown, but he also brought in five catches for 58 yards and another touchdown. He seemed to be all over and is beginning to pick up steam as a top waiver target. He is big-play dependent and will be hard to predict from week to week, but there is a lot of upside.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers, 12% rostered
This is a pure speculative add, but just to keep in mind who the top backup in Carolina is. Christian McCaffrey was injured briefly today, and Hubbard stepped in with eight carries for ten yards. Nothing flashy, but if McCaffrey were to miss time or injure himself, Hubbard would be the top add all over.
Ty Johnson, New York Jets, 5% rostered
I don’t expect much out of Ty Johnson for fantasy, but for those in deeper leagues, he’s worth a look. I expect Michael Carter to start, but Johnson was the clear 1B today as he took 12 carries for 50 yards. Again, not a standard redraft target, but a deep league player to keep an eye on.
Wide Receivers
Sterling Sheppard, New York Giants, 55% rostered
Sterling Sheppard has become the Giants wide receiver to roster. Against Washington he brought in nine catches for 94 yards on ten targets. Kenny Golladay is supposed to be the WR1 in New York, but Sheppard is becoming a must roster.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals, 19% rostered
I have been shouting for Rondale Moore to be rostered all summer. If you go back to all my sleeper articles, he’s all over them. Today he broke out. Granted, the touchdown was more of a defensive mishap, Moore showed why he has explosive talent. He brought in seven catches for 114 yards on eight targets, and a touchdown. The Cardinals use four-receiver sets more than anyone in the league, so expect Moore to be on the field a lot.
KJ Osborn, Minnesota Vikings, 1% rostered
KJ Osborn yet again had another big week for the Vikings. He brought in five catches for 91 yards on six targets and a touchdown. Osborn followed up his big week one performance with another week two, and should be on the radar in twelve-team leagues.
Quez Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles, 1% rostered
Two catches for 117 yards on two targets. Watkins came out of nowhere, but shouldn’t be targeted unless you’re in a league such as the Scott Fish Bowl. If Watkins can keep up this explosiveness, the Eagles will have no choice but to get him involved more. He almost took a 91-yard reception to the house.
Darius Slayton, New York Giants, 3% rostered
A terrible drop kept Slayton from having a monster game on Thursday night. Outside of that, he saw six targets and brought in three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. If he caught that touchdown, he would be a lot higher on this list. Daniel Jones showed he isn’t as bad as people make him out to be, but just needs protection on his line.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos, 13% rostered
Tim Patrick steps in for the injured Jerry Jeudy and caught three of his four targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. It is the second straight week Patrick has scored, and with Jeudy injured, Patrick will have an everyday role going home to face the New York Jets.
Braxton Berrios, New York Jets, 0% rostered
Another deep-league flier only, Braxton Berrios is making do with Jamison Crowder being absent. Berrios is filling the slot role, and returning kick-offs and punts. The Jets really like Berrios, and that was clear Sunday. He was targeted 11!! times. He brought in seven catches for 73 yards. In a full point PPR league, he’s put up double-digit points in back-to-back weeks.
Elijah Moore, New York Jets, 33% rostered
Another Jet?! After the performance Sunday, how can I put another Jet on here? Elijah Moore could have had a bigger Sunday than the stat line leads. Moore broke loose on two plays that should have been wide-open touchdowns. Wilson missed him on one, and the other led him to the sidelines instead. Keep an eye on Moore as the season goes along. He could heat up soon, and breakout.
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, 49% rostered
Is it time? Andy Dalton left Sunday with a knee injury. Justin Fields stepped in and completed 6/13 for 60 yards and an interception. He made his impact on the ground by running ten times for 31 yards. Fields' fantasy value seems to be in his rushing ability, but he has a great arm and could make an immediate fantasy impact.
Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers, 6% rostered
Sam Darnold landed in a great situation in Carolina. He has the best running back in football, and a great wide receiver corps. Against the Saints, Darnold was 26/38 for 305 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Darnold has put respectable fantasy numbers up and is a great QB2 option in Superflex leagues, or a bye week replacement in redraft leagues.
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders, 17% rostered
Derek Carr is one of the more underrated fantasy quarterbacks in the league. He put up 435 yards in week one, and 382 yards in week two. He added two touchdowns this week against a very good Pittsburgh Steeler defense. Shall I say it? The Raiders look good and might be a playoff team right now. Carr is the perfect starter in leagues such as the Scott Fish Bowl, but he’s beginning to knock on the door in 12 team leagues.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 11% rostered
Daniel Jones lost a heartbreaker on Thursday night. He played great by having nine rushes for 95 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He added 22/32 for 249 and another touchdown. Daniel Jones is becoming fantasy-relevant and is a safe play in two-quarterback leagues. He would have had another score if Darius Slayton didn’t drop a wide-open touchdown pass.
Tyler Heinicke, Washington Football Team, 11% rostered
The back-and-forth game we did not expect. Daniel Jones vs Tyler Heinicke. Heinicke held his own in the win on Thursday by going 34/46 for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. With Terry McLaurin catching passes, J.D. McKissic, and Antonio Gibson on offense, Heinicke has a lot of options he can turn to.
Tight Ends
Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals, 0% rostered
Maxx Williams came out of nowhere this week, and brought in all seven of his targets for 94 yards. Kyler Murray is playing like the best quarterback in football right now, and he found Williams often on Sunday. It is to be seen if this can be kept up, but Williams had a massive improvement over his one target week one.
Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts, 1% rostered
It was not a great day for under-the-radar tight ends, but Jack Doyle had a decent stat line. He brought in five catches on eight targets for 64 yards. In leagues where you’re looking for a deep tight end target, Doyle can be it, but just be warned he is hit or miss, and the status of Carson Wentz is also very important here.
Check us out live Tuesday night on the Stack Attack Fantasy Podcast live on our YouTube Channel at 9pm. We will break down the waiver wire even deeper and preview week 3!!!