Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Week 3
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (41% Owned): On Thursday night Fitzpatrick did what he did all of last season—pile up stats. He will never look pretty out there, but Fitz is surrounded by top-shelf skill position talent. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are arguably the top receiving pair in the NFL. Quincy Enunwa is emerging as a serious threat, and Matt Forte is a threat out of the backfield. His schedule is tough, but Fitzy should be owned as a backup. So far he’s looked much better than players like Blake Bortles and Kirk Cousins who are owned in double the leagues.
Carson Wentz, Eagles (15% Owned): Is it early to be super excited? Sure. But Wentz passed the eye test with flying colors in Week 1, and did nothing to dissuade enthusiasm in a nice matchup vs. the Bears. This guy can run, he already makes smart decisions, and he’ll be forced to throw a lot playing on a mediocre team. In keeper leagues especially Wentz is a must-add.
Running Backs
Fozzy Whitaker, Panthers (5% Owned): It looks like Jonathan Stewart is going to miss some time with a hamstring injury, and Whitaker is next in line. He will get a ton of work because Cameron Artis-Payne sucks. It doesn’t hurt that Whitaker looks legit; he’s not a star, but putting up Stewart numbers is absolutely attainable.
Shane Vereen, Giants (19% Owned): Rashad Jennings is entrenched as the starter, but Vereen is an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield, and his role seems to have increased from last year. If Jennings gets hurt, Vereen will be an integral cog in an elite offense. Get him now before it’s too late, or you have to blow a lot more of your FAAB budget.
Matt Asiata, Vikings (2% Owned): Adrian Peterson is out indefinitely, and the rush will be on to grab Jerick McKinnon. Asiata isn’t the more talented of the Minnesota backups, but he’s the trusted third-down option, and the goal-line hammer. Give me that over the flashy player who will be taken off the field in money situations.
Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (24% Owned): Yes, I prefer Asiata, but McKinnon will out-touch Asiata, and he has much more big-play potential. It’s possible McKinnon emerges as a star, and that upside doesn’t exist for Asiata. But McKinnon will cost more FAAB, and may not be too productive.
James White, Patriots (42% Owned): I actually expect his ownership to dip after two subpar weeks, but it’s too early to give up on the pass-catching back in the Patriots’ offense. He may not take off until Tom Brady is back, butthat simply means now is the perfect time to pounce. A huge week is coming, especially with the box stacked against LeGarrette Blount with rookie Jacoby Brissett under center.
Kenyan Drake, Dolphins (1% Owned): Jay Ajayi is the obvious choice to replace Arian Foster for the duration of his injury, but Drake is the one who found the end zone last week. Drake will get his chances to outplay Ajayi, and I’m betting he will. He’ll cost next to nothing in FAAB budget and has high upside.
Wide Receivers
Victor Cruz, Giants (37% Owned): Cruz looks like he’s back, and even as a No. 3 option for Eli Manning he’ll have a ton of value. Cruz will score TDs, and have weeks where he leads the team in targets. Don’t be afraid to spend a pretty penny for him.
Chris Hogan, Patriots (35% Owned): Are you looking for steady, middle-of-the-road production? It sounds wack, but imagine you’re in a deep league and lost Keenan Allen. A guy like Hogan helps hold the fort. The QB change isn’t inspiring, but Hogan’s bread-and-butter is short yardage stuff that may even increase with Brissett running the show.
Quincy Enunwa, Jets (10% Owned):
Tight Ends
Dennis Pitta, Ravens (11% Owned): This week he’ll be tough to add. He gave a clue when he played more snaps than any other TE on Baltimore’s roster, but now that he exploded for nine catches and 102 yards, everyone’s going to want him. The good news is he’s worth it.
Jacob Tamme, Falcons (6% Owned): Tamme’s the guy to target if you think you won’t land Pitta. He’s been targeted eight times in each of Atlanta’s first two games, and that isn’t likely to change; besides Julio Jones, he’s the most bankable target in the Dirty Birds’ passing game. Tamme has a low ceiling, but one of the higher floors at the position right now.
Best Pickup For Week 3: Victor Cruz