Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

How are you owners feeling after your first week on the waiver wire? Better get ready because we have another week to hit these waivers hard. We saw a ton of points scored in Week 2 and Ryan Fitzpatrick just continues to impress. Week 2 is in the books, so it’s time to look forward to Week 3.

Key Tips: 

• Players that flash for a week, and then disappear are fool’s gold. Players that flash then flash again…well they are just gold. Grab them!
• Try to stay a step ahead of your competition. Even if you don’t need anyone on the waiver wire that week, still submit claims. Look for defenses with good matchups for the next week or block opponents from improving their rosters.

Without further ado, here are your waiver wire targets for Week 3!

Week 3 Waiver Wire QB Pickups

Ryan Fitzpatrick
ESPN: Less than 31% owned


8 touchdowns and 819 passing yards over the past two weeks. Ryan Fitzpatrick is on absolute fire and you need to ride him till he sizzles out. With the way Fitzpatrick is playing and the Buccaneers winning, Jameis Winston will be the back up in Tampa Bay. Add him and start him in Week 3. The Buccaneers are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers who just gave up six passing touchdowns to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Blake Bortles
ESPN: Less than 11% owned


In his past four home games, Bortles has thrown for at least two passing touchdowns. Coming off an impressive fantasy outing against the Patriots, I like Bortles to be productive against the Tennesse Titans at home. Just keep in mind that Bortles was given more of an opportunity with Fournette out in the Patriots game, so expectations can be tempered slightly if Fournette returns in Week 3.


*Priority Order* Ryan Fitzpatrick, Blake Bortles  FAAB Spend: 6%-7% of the total budget


 


 

Week 3 Waiver Wire RB Pickups

Giovani Bernard
ESPN: Less than 40% owned


Joe Mixon, why? Mixon has had a surgical procedure down on his knee, leaving Bernard as the lead back in the Bengals backfield. Bernard thrived in the role last year during Mixon’s injuries but has looked less than stellar so far this season. Still starting running back snaps are hard to come by and Bernard offers dual-threat ability in the passing game.


FAAB Spend: 25%

Aaron Jones
ESPN: Less than 46% owned


Aaron Jones is finally free from his suspension. What have the Packers running backs done in the first two weeks without him? Jamaal Williams has rushed for less than 60 yards in the first two games. Montgomery has totaled less than 9 fantasy points in total over the past two weeks. Not exactly an amazing stats.


Who’s to say we don’t see Jones taking over that running back role in Week 3? When scanning the waiver wire, you always want to think what the best-case scenario with the players you add. A player with the potential to be the starting running back on the Green Bay Packers is worth the add.


FAAB Spend: 25%

Corey Clement
ESPN: Less than 22% owned


Clement truly made the most out of his workload in Week 2. With injuries to Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi, Clement was able to amass 30 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on just 6 rushing attempts. Additionally, he saw work in the passing game compiling 5 receptions for 55 yards. With Ajayi continuing to be injury prone, Clement has upside value, to go along with his own standalone value.


FAAB Spend: 10%


 


 

Austin Ekeler
ESPN: Less than 43% owned


I’ll say again: Austin Ekeler will not go away. Melvin Gordon continues to produce, but somehow so does Ekeler. He always seems to make the most of his touches. Eleven carries for 77 yards and three receptions for 21 yards. In PPR leagues Ekeler finished as the RB2 for the second straight week. We have seen this before with certain “space” backs, having an efficient production with limited opportunities. Add Ekeler if nobody added him last week. The Chargers have the Rams in Week 3, so they will need all the offense they can get.


FAAB Spend: 5%

Javorius Allen
ESPN: Less than 20% owned


Still owned in less than 20% of ESPN fantasy leagues, Allen is a must add for anybody struggling at the running back position. He continues to eat into Alex Collins’ touches and has scored more fantasy points than Collins has through the first two weeks of the season. Allen has played the highest percentage of snaps (43.64%) of any running back on the Ravens so far in 2018.


FAAB Spend: 5%

Marcus Murphy
ESPN: Less than 1% owned


Owned in less than 1% of ESPN fantasy leagues, Murphy is my best bet on receiving the majority of work with LeSean McCoy sidelined. He received the majority of snaps after McCoy’s departure in Week 2. He is a more dynamic runner than Chris Ivory and is the better pass-catcher. Murphy has more big-play upside whereas Ivory is 100% touchdown dependent. The is a very desperate play to start Murphy though in Week 3. The Bills will take on the Minnesota defense this week.


FAAB Spend: 1%


*RB Priority* Giovani Bernard, Aaron Jones, Clement, Ekeler, Allen, Murphy

Week 3 Waiver Wire WR Pickups

Keelan Cole
ESPN: Less than 49% owned


Did you see that catch Keelan Cole made!? I have been a huge Cole advocate this offseason, so you better believe I was excited to see him produce in Week 2 against the Patriots. Seven receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown, Cole absolutely dominated. I strongly believe Cole from what we saw last year and so far this year can be no worse than a top 24 receiver on a weekly basis. Even though Moncrief leads the team in targets with 14, Cole has the most receiving yards (170) and offensive snaps at the WR position. His schedule the next four weeks is extremely favorable with Tennesse, New York Jets, Kansas City, and Dallas upcoming.


FAAB Spend: 15%

Chris Godwin
ESPN: Less than 35% owned


Godwin just continues to produce even in limited work. If you did not pick him up last week as I cited in last week’s article: shame on you! Godwin has ten targets over the first two weeks ranking second only behind Mike Evans’ target share. Godwin continues to find the end zone though from Ryan Fitzpatrick, which is keeping his fantasy relevant. As long as Fitzpatrick continues to produce, then you want to have all the Tampa Bay offensive skill players rostered. I am sure that there will be weeks that DeSean Jackson will not be scoring 75-yard touchdowns, so that may open up additional opportunities for Godwin.


FAAB Spend: 15%

John Brown
ESPN: Less than 10% owned


Two weeks in, Brown has shown that he is the best wide receiver to own in Baltimore for fantasy football, Though target share slightly favors with Michael Crabtree (14 vs 16), Brown has done so much more with his targets. Brown has averaged 1.84 fantasy points/target versus Crabtree’s 0.96 fantasy points/target.  Brown’s talent is finally able to be on full display with his health in check. Fire him up as a Top 24 option versus Denver where I anticipate him avoiding the tough cornerback matchups.


 


 


FAAB Spend: 15%

D.J. Moore
ESPN: Less than 23% owned


1 catch, 1 51 yard touchdown for D.J. Moore. Coach Ron Rivera has already come out and said that they need to get the ball to Moore…more. It makes sense that the Panthers coaching staff would like to get Moore involved just based on the type of talent he brings to the offense. Again, he is low on the pecking order in terms of target share but is worth an add to see if the Panthers decide to feature him more. It,s worth noting that the Panthers have a bye week in Week 4, so there’s a good chance if he’s not available this week, he will get dropped in Week 4.


FAAB Spend: 1%

Antonio Callaway
ESPN: Less than 4% owned


Callaway stepped up in the absence of Josh Gordon, with three receptions for 81 yards and touchdown late in Week 2. Now keep in mind that Callaway is more of a long-term buy off the waiver wire. Even with no Gordon in Week 2, Callaway still ranked fourth in overall targets behind Jarvis Landry, David Njoku, and Rashard Higgins. The touchdown made Callaways’ fantasy day, but temper expectations in Week 3 versus the Jets. His upside though makes him an intriguing add in deeper fantasy leagues.


FAAB Spend: 1%


*WR Priority* Cole, Godwin, Brown, Moore, Callaway

Week 3 Waiver Wire TE Pickups

O.J. Howard
ESPN: Less than 22% owned


Two straight games with at least 54 yards receiving, Howard has confirmed after two weeks he is the main tight end in fantasy football. Howard has played in over 65% of the snaps versus Cameron Brate’s 36%. Brate has zero catches through the first two games. With the tight end so difficult to produce outside the top guys, Howard’s upside makes him a player to add. Especially in Week 3 versus Pittsburgh, who allowed over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns to Travis Kelce in Week 2.


FAAB Spend: 15%

Eric Ebron
ESPN: Less than 36% owned


Two weeks in a row, two weeks with two scoring touchdowns. Even with Doyle leading the Colts in targets, (4th overall out of TEs in the NFL), Ebron continues to be a force with touchdowns. The tight end position is touchdown-dependent by nature, so rolling the dice with Ebron is not a bad strategy. Ebron takes on the Eagles in Week 3.


FAAB Spend: 5%

Jesse James
ESPN: Less than 4% owned


As much as I wanted Vance McDonald to be a thing it does not look like it is going to happen anytime soon. James has ten targets in 2 games and actually has more receiving yards than Antonio Brown so far in 2018. James is averaging 19.80 yards per target. With a shootout looming against Tampa Bay in Week 3, you want any piece of the Steelers offense. The Buccaneers got ripped up last week by tight end Zach Ertz for 94 yards on 11 receptions.


FAAB Spend: 3%

Will Dissly
ESPN: Less than 25% owned


He does it again. Dissly caught another touchdown on the last drive on Monday Night Football. But, hey, they all count the same in fantasy. He’s now turned 10 targets into six receptions for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns. Currently ranked as a top-five tight end, if you need help at the position, Dissly is a great consideration this week.


FAAB Spend: 1%


*TE Priority* Howard, Ebron, James, Dissly 

Defense/Special Teams Waiver Wire Pickups

Jets DST
ESPN: Less than 26% owned


The Jets DST has played very well over the past two weeks scoring double-digit fantasy points in back to back weeks. They play on Thursday night against the Browns (less than 5% owned). Both defenses should have value on a projected lower scoring Thursday night affair in Cleveland.

Kicker Waiver Wire Pickups

Dan Bailey
ESPN: Less than 2% owned


With kickers causing headaches for the Vikings, they have moved on from Daniel Carlson and signed Dan Bailey. He is the second most accurate kicker in NFL history. If you got kicker problems…Bailey is your solution! Should see plenty of opportunities playing for the Vikings offense.


– Andrew Erickson is a fantasy writer for Gridiron Experts. Follow me and vote in my twitter poll!


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Andrew Erickson | Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3 - Gridiron Experts



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