Fantasy: Waiver Wire – Week 3 – theScore

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Every Monday during the season, theScore’s Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Rostered percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 60% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill, Titans

After taking over as the Titans’ starter last season, Tannehill was one of the best quarterback plays available in fantasy. From Week 7 on, the former first-round pick averaged the fourth most fantasy points at the position and helped lead Tennessee to the playoffs. He’s picked up right where he left off with incredible efficiency through two outings (six touchdowns, no interceptions) and is once again a QB1 in the fantasy world. With defenses focused on stopping Derrick Henry and the rushing attack, Tannehill should continue to have success, including against a subpar Vikings pass defense next Sunday. He’s a great streamer and might end up being your starter the rest of the way.

Gardner Minshew, Jaguars

Speaking of six touchdown passes through two games … how about Minshew‘s performance in Jay Gruden’s system so far? Yes, the sophomore QB turned the ball over a few times this week, but he’s emerging as a legit franchise quarterback and nearly helped his team earn a second straight upset victory. Minshew ranks 10th in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks through two contests and should keep that up at home on Thursday night against a Dolphins defense that just allowed over 400 passing yards and four touchdowns to Josh Allen.

Streamer options: Baker Mayfield vs. WAS (47% rostered), Philip Rivers vs. NYJ (27% rostered), Justin Herbert vs. CAR (3% rostered), Mitch Trubisky at ATL (7% rostered)

Running backs

Jerick McKinnon, 49ers

With Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman both dealing with knee injuries, McKinnon vaults to the top of the 49ers’ running back depth chart. As we know from nearly every NFL season that involved a Shanahan-coached offense, this scheme generates rushing production regardless of who’s in the backfield. McKinnon, who was once handpicked to be Kyle Shanahan’s lead ball carrier two years ago, is finally healthy and poised to capitalize on his opportunity. The 28-year-old posted 44 yards and a receiving score on just eight touches in the opener before making his mark with 77 yards on three carries in Week 2 – capped off by a 55-yard run to improbably convert a third-and-31. With Mostert and Coleman at risk of missing multiple weeks, McKinnon is about to remind you he can be an RB2 with RB1 upside in fantasy.

Mike Davis, Panthers

Fantasy first overall pick Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain, leaving a void in the Panthers’ backfield that no one running back can fill. Davis gave his best effort in relief duties on Sunday, catching eight passes for 74 yards with the team in comeback mode late in the game. While he wasn’t given many touches last year, Davis has popped more than a few times for fantasy managers in the past. As a member of the Seahawks in 2018, Davis was given at least 15 touches in three games and posted yards from scrimmage totals of 124, 107, and 80 with three touchdowns combined in those appearances. None of the veteran free agents on the market offer an upgrade to Davis who already knows the system. He’ll be an intriguing RB3/flex option who could produce RB2 fantasy value over the next month.

Darrell Henderson, Rams

As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported prior to kickoff Sunday, the Rams had planned to get Henderson more involved this week. The goal was a three-way timeshare between Henderson, Cam Akers, and Malcolm Brown. However, when Akers left the game early due to a rib injury, the hot-hand competition was down to just two backs. Henderson was far more effective with his touches, amassing 81 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, and a touchdown to Brown’s 47 total yards. So for the second straight week we’ll take a shot on this productive backfield. You should be trying to roster any of the Rams’ runners in hopes that one of them rises to the top of the depth chart and stays there at some point this season.

Joshua Kelley, Chargers

We’re getting there. Kelley‘s almost being rostered in half of fantasy leagues, so hopefully his third straight appearance in this article will put him over the top. Kelley followed up the 60 yards and a score in his debut with 64 rushing yards and two receptions for another 49 yards. He’s settled into the Melvin Gordon role quite nicely and is the perfect complement to starter Austin Ekeler. Expect the Chargers to continue to call his number, making him a weekly flex option with the potential to go nuclear if Ekeler gets hurt.

High-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (45% rostered), Tony Pollard (31% rostered), Chase Edmonds (45% rostered), and Darrel Williams (18% rostered) should be rostered in almost all leagues.

Flex options: Myles Gaskin at JAX (15% rostered)

Risky flex options: Dion Lewis vs. SF (5% rostered), Wayne Gallman vs. SF (1% rostered), Frank Gore at IND (14% rostered)

Sneaky stash: Devonta Freeman – Free agent working out for the Giants this week (13% rostered)

Deeper upside backups: Brian Hill vs. CHI (3% rostered), Carlos Hyde vs. DAL (18% rostered), Boston Scott vs. CIN (35% rostered), Giovani Bernard at PHI (4% rostered), Darrynton Evans at MIN (3% rostered), Jordan Wilkins vs. NYJ (0% rostered)

PPR possibilites: Chris Thompson vs. MIA (22% rostered), J.D. McKissic at CLE (1% rostered), Jalen Richard at NE (1% rostered)

Long shot bench stashes: Kerryon Johnson at ARI (38% rostered), La’Mical Perine at IND (3% rostered), Gus Edwards vs. KC (1% rostered), Jamaal Williams at NO (8% rostered), Rex Burkhead vs. LV (2% rostered), Bryce Love at CLE (3% rostered)

Wide receivers

Corey Davis, Titans

Even with A.J. Brown out of the lineup, Davis wasn’t able to replicate his 101-yard performance in the opener. That’s alright, they aren’t all going to be gems. The fact Davis still had a solid fantasy day with 36 yards and a touchdown is a positive sign for his value moving forward. He’s set up for another big outing against the Vikings’ work-in-progress cornerbacks in Week 3. Continue to consider Davis a WR3 for as long as Brown remains sidelined and potentially beyond that.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Allen Lazard, Packers

It turns out Davante Adams‘ hamstring injury isn’t serious, so we’re likely to see the Packers’ No. 1 receiver back on the field this week. That might be good news for Valdes-Scantling and Lazard, who struggled when asked to be the top targets when Adams missed time last year. Instead, the young duo can continue to operate as secondary pieces – something they’ve done very well in 2020. MVS has 160 yards and a touchdown through two games, while Lazard isn’t far behind with 108 and a score. With Aaron Rodgers looking sharp early in the season, both wideouts are upside flex options. If forced to pick between them, I’d take Valdes-Scantling for his big-play upside.

N’Keal Harry, Patriots

Harry‘s path to fantasy relevance has been a long, winding road with several speed bumps and not the clear highway many first-rounders seem to be on. Even so, we’re finally starting to see signs of life from the 6-foot-4, 225-pound wideout, who’s coming off his best game as a pro with eight receptions and 72 yards against the Seahawks. It’s nice to see the 22-year-old’s confidence growing as Cam Newton takes him under his wing. If we continue on this road, Harry will be a regular in fantasy lineups as a flex play and maybe more later in the year.

Preston Williams, Dolphins

How can we be recommending a receiver who caught one pass in Week 2 and has just three grabs on the year? Well, if you read this column last Monday, you’d understand Williams was never intended to be a fantasy option in the first two games after coming off a torn ACL and facing the Patriots and Bills – two tough matchups. Don’t let those performances sway your outlook on him. The wideout’s best outings are yet to come in 2020 as he gets his legs under him and the schedule eases up.

Jerry Jeudy, Robby Anderson, Mike Williams, and Brandin Cooks are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.

Upside flex options: Russell Gage vs. CHI (22% rostered), Golden Tate vs. SF (36% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. MIA (17% rostered), DeSean Jackson vs. CIN (48% rostered), Jalen Reagor vs. CIN (35% rostered), Tre’Quan Smith vs. GB (13% rostered), MeCole Hardman at BAL (36% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at BAL (1% rostered)

Risky flex options: Christian Kirk vs DET (53% rostered), Keelan Cole vs. MIA (3% rostered), Randall Cobb at PIT (6% rostered)

Promising rookies: Brandon Aiyuk at NYG (36% rostered), Michael Pittman Jr. vs. NYJ (15% rostered), Van Jefferson Jr. at BUF (4% rostered), Chase Claypool vs. HOU (5% rostered), Darnell Mooney at ATL (0% rostered), Tee Higgins at PHI (3% rostered), Bryan Edwards at NE (13% rostered)

Deep bench stashes: Curtis Samuel at LAC (27% rostered), Miles Boykin vs. KC (4% rostered), Mohamed Sanu at NYG (4% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at NYG (7% rostered), David Moore vs. DAL (0% rostered), Deonte Harris vs GB (3% rostered), Isaiah Ford at JAX (0% rostered), Tim Patrick vs. TB (0% rostered), Hunter Renfrow at NE (12% rostered), Damiere Byrd vs. LV (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Logan Thomas, Washington

Thomas returns this section, not due to his stat line (4-26-0) which was a bit of a letdown in Week 2, but rather for his nine targets. That pushes him to 17 targets on the year and into a tie for second in the league in that category among tight ends – only Travis Kelce has seen more passes thrown his way. Opportunity like that is rare at his position, so don’t let yourself be dissuaded. Thomas remains an intriguing TE2 with a chance to still finish as a low-end TE1 on the season.

Mo Alie-Cox, Colts

With Jack Doyle on the shelf, Alie-Cox broke out with five catches and 111 yards versus the Vikings. His run-after-catch ability is fear-inducing and you can’t put that kind of weapon back in the box. We don’t know whether Doyle will be able to return in Week 3, but even when he does suit up, the Colts would be foolish not to find ways to get the ball in Alie-Cox’s hands. There aren’t that many tight ends with 100-yard upside. He’ll be a streaming option against the Jets and then we’ll reassess his value.

Jonnu Smith and Mike Gesicki are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.

If George Kittle is ruled out in Week 3, Jordan Reed (7% rostered) would become the top add under the 60% rostered mark this week.

Other options: Dalton Schultz at SEA (2% rostered), Chris Herndon (46% rostered), Drew Sample at PHI (1% rostered), Eric Ebron vs. HOU (33% rostered), O.J. Howard at DEN (30% rostered), Tyler Eifert vs. MIA (10% rostered), Jimmy Graham at ATL (10% rostered), Jordan Akins at PIT (2% rostered)

Defenses

Week 3 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Cardinals DEF (47% rostered), Colts DEF (41% rostered), Jaguars (1% rostered)

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