The Wire - Week 3
By Levi Ellis
Much like how real NFL games are won in the trenches, fantasy leagues are won from the waiver wire. The players who work the waivers every week typically are the same players to win championships. The season is long and injuries will happen. Depth is the key to success in fantasy and there’s no better way to find depth than the waiver wire. Take a look at the best guys to target this week.
Sam Darnold - 26/38 305 yards, 2TDs, 1INT, 1 carry, 7 yards - Darnold has played really well both weeks this year and he has the Texans on tap Thursday night. This is also the first time in his career he has had good coaching and lots of weapons. 5% of your remaining faab.
Daniel Jones - 22/32, 249 yards, 1TD, 9 carries, 95 yards, 1TD - Jones played well against Washington last week and he has the Falcons this week. Can’t ask for a much better matchup and the rushing upside he offers is the icing on the cake. 2% of your remaining faab.
Teddy Bridgewater - 26/34 328 yards, 2TDs, 4 carries, 1 yard - Bridgewater has played great the last two weeks and has really opened up the Broncos offense. He also has a favorable matchup against the Jets this week. 2% of your remaining faab.
Taylor Heinicke - 34/46, 336 yards, 2TDs, 1INT, 4 carries, 6 yards - Heinicke was very impressive in last Thursday night’s game and we may be witnessing the beginning of something special but he does have a tough matchup this week against Buffalo. 2% of your remaining faab.
Jacoby Brissett - 24/40 169 yards, 1INT, 4 carries, 8 yards - If Tua misses some time and if you’re in a deep league then you may want to take a look at Brissett. 1% of your remaining faab.
Davis Mills - 8/18, 102 yards, 1TD, 1INT, 2 carries, -1 yards - This is only a desperation play for the deepest of leagues. Mills should not be rostered in one quarterback redraft leagues. 1% of your remaining faab.
Jacob Eason - 2/5, 15 yards, 1INT - At this point you can smell the desperation. If Wentz misses time and if you are in a deep, deep, did you hear me say deep league; then and only then is Eason worth a look. 0% of your remaining faab.
##Tony Pollard## Priority Pickup - 13 carries, 109 yards, 1TD, 3 targets, 3 catches, 31 yards - Pollard is likely already owned in your league but if not take this as a gift from the fantasy Gods and go get this guy. It appears the Cowboys are using a committee backfield and Pollard hasn’t disappointed. Even if Zeke stays healthy all year Pollard has been great and he is an absolute must own in all formats. 25% of your remaining faab.
Cordarrelle Patterson - 7 carries, 11 yards, 1TD, 6 targets, 5 catches, 58 yards, 1TD - Patterson finally has a role on offense after all of the years in the league and he has produced. The question is, will his role continue to grow as the season drags on and I don’t want to look back and regret not going after this guy. 20% of your remaining faab.
Sony Michel - 10 carries, 46 yards - After last week's performance some teams may have dropped Michel and if he’s available in your league this is a gift. This week Michel was involved more and Henderson is now dealing with an injury. Michel is poised to be an important piece for the Rams moving forward. 20% of your remaining faab.
Zack Moss - 8 carries, 26 yards, 2 tds, 2 targets, 2 catches, 8 yards - Moss is back from the dead after being a healthy scratch last week and he did what he does best and that’s scores touchdowns. If the Bills ever commit to Moss he will be a force. 10% of your remaining faab.
Mark Ingram - 14 carries, 41 yards, 2 targets, 1 catch, -1 yards - At this point in his career Ingram isn’t a sexy name but he’s the starter and fantasy football is all about opportunities. 5% of your remaining faab.
JaMycal Hasty - 5 carries, 38 yards, 5 targets, 4 catches, 21 yards - Check his injury status before placing your bid as he was banged up in last week's game. If he’s healthy he’s worth rostering especially with all the other running backs on the 49ers also banged up. 2% of your remaining faab.
Ty Johnson - 12 carries, 50 yards - The Jets running game finally got going last week and Johnson sure looks better than Tevin Coleman. This backfield is between Johnson and Michael Carter. Running backs are valuable in fantasy which is why Johnson makes this list. 2% of your remaining faab.
##Sterling Shepard## Priority Pickup - 10 targets, 9 catches, 94 yards, 1 carry, -9 yards - Shepard is the WR1 on this offense and if he keeps this up he’s a high end WR2 in fantasy. Play him while he’s healthy. 25% of your remaining faab.
Tim Patrick - 4 targets, 3 catches, 37 yards, 1TD - If your league mates had read this article last week then Patrick wouldn’t be available. Go get this guy! 15% of your remaining faab.
Rondale Moore - 8 targets, 7 catches, 114 yards, 1TD - The Cardinals love Rondale and his involvement is all the proof you need. I expect him to have big games but also some goose eggs throughout the year so buyer beware if you want his ups you will have to take the downs too. 15% of your remaining faab.
Zach Pascal - 6 targets, 5 catches, 38 yards, 1 TD - Pascal is not going to be a WR1 but he’s going to be a WR2/3 this year which means he’s a starter and he’s an absolute must own in every league. 15% of your remaining faab.
KJ Osborn - 6 targets, 5 catches, 91 yards, 1TD - For a second week in a row Osborn was heavily involved and he didn’t disappoint. At this point he deserves to be on a roster. 10% of your remaining faab.
Hunter Renfrow - 7 targets, 5 catches, 57 yards - Renfrow has been heavily involved in his first two weeks and he is a chain mover. 10% of your remaining faab.
Sammy Watkins - 7 targets, 4 catches, 44 yards - Many people wrote off Sammy Watkins years ago but he’s playing great and involved in the Raven’s offense and he’s always one big play away from having a monster week. 10% of your remaining faab.
Christian Kirk - 4 targets, 3 catches, 65 yards - Kirk was a little more quiet this week but overall he was still productive. 10% of your remaining faab.
Adam Humphries - 8 targets, 7 catches, 44 yards - Humphries is a ppr machine and Heinicke looked his way a lot in his first start this year. As long as Samuel is out Humphries should continue to be involved. 10% of your remaining faab.
AJ Green - 6 targets, 3 catches, 44 yards, 1TD - Back from the dead Green had a decent week. I would rather take a wait and see approach with him but if you need wide receiver help and have the roster space then he may be worth a stash. 10% of your remaining faab.
Braxton Berrios - 11 targets, 7 catches, 73 yards - Two weeks in a row Jamison Crowder has been out and two weeks in a row Berrios has produced. If Crowder continues to miss Berrios may have value. 5% of your remaining faab.
Darius Slayton - 6 targets, 3 catches, 54 yards, 1TD - Slayton is more of a deep league or best ball player but he is talented and if you need a flier you could do worse. 5% of your remaining faab.
Mecole Hardman - 8 targets, 5 catches, 55 yards - Hadman is another guy that is back from the dead after a dud last week. I don’t believe he will have consistent production as long as Tyreek Hill is healthy but playing with the best quarterback in the league on a great offense sure doesn’t hurt. 5% of your remaining faab.
Pat Friermuth - 4 targets, 4 catches, 36 yards - I love this kid long term but he’s already producing so it may happen sooner than I expected. They don’t call him baby Gronk for nothing. 5% of your remaining faab.
Maxx Williams - 7 targets, 7 catches, 94 yards - Arizona doesn’t typically involve the tight end but last week they did and Maxx Williams rose to the occasion. I assume this is a one week thing but if you need a tight end he may be worth a look. 5% of your remaining faab.
Dan Arnold - 4 targets, 3 catches, 55 yards - Darnold likes to throw to the tight ends and Arnold is more talented than most realize. 1% of your remaining faab.
Blake Jarwin - 4 targets, 3 catches, 37 yards - Jarwin had a larger target volume than his teammate Dalton Schultz this week. Is the tide turning and Jarwin taking back over at tight end? 1% of your remaining faab.
Albert Okwuegbunam - 4 targets, 4 catches, 24 yards - He’s a beast of an athlete and Denver continues to sprinkle in some targets for him. If something happens to Fant this guy could be a league winner. 1% of your remaining faab.
Harrison Bryant - 4 targets, 4 catches, 49 yards - Cleveland’s tight end position is a mess for fantasy purposes as they have Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. All three are very talented but also cannibalizing one another for fantasy purposes. If Landry and Odell miss time then all three guys could have value in the short term. Keep an eye on this one. 1% of your remaining faab.
Dawson Knox - 3 targets, 2 catches, 17 yards, 1TD - He’s the best tight end on the Buffalo roster but that’s not saying much. He’s the starter but low upside with this one. 1% of your remaining faab.
Jack Doyle - 8 targets, 5 catches, 64 yards - Doyle is back from the dead. I’m not ready to believe in him just yet but he’s worth monitoring and the most reliable pass catching tight end on the roster. 1% of your remaining faab.
Dead to Me (redraft leagues only)
Tua Tagovailoa - Injury or not the performance is not there right now
Tevin Coleman - Still dead
Eric Ebron - Still dead
Tyler Kroft - He may be the starter but that doesn’t seem to mean much in this offense
Adam Trautman - He didn’t even get a single target last week, his role is non existent
On Life Support
Trevor Lawrence - In one quarterback leagues there are just better options out there
Myles Gaskins - Offense doesn’t look good right now
Ronald Jones/Leonard Fournette - Until one gets hurt this is a terrible situation
Trey Sermon - First he lost the coaches trust and now he has a concussion, not looking good
Marquez Callaway - He’s had back to back tough matchups but we still need to see something
Brandon Aiyuk - I think he bounces back at some point but question is when
Zach Ertz - Only one football to go around
Dallas Goedert - Only one football to go around
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