Fantasy Football 2021 Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice
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 roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Raiders (26% Rostered): Carr showed up in a big way for the second straight week, going on the road to Pittsburgh and lighting up the Steelers to the tune of 382 yards and two touchdowns. Carr has spent years in the fantasy QB wilderness, but through two games in 2021 against two stout defenses, the Ravens and Steelers, Carr is averaging 408.5 yards per game. Obviously, that isn’t sustainable, but the formula of hypertargeting TE Darren Waller, mixed with the massive big play ability of Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards, make him look like a genuinely consistent fantasy option. None of his upcoming matchups – vs. Miami, at Chargers, vs. Chicago – are very juicy, but so far that hasn’t mattered. Any fantasy owner that’s struggling with the position should kick the tires on Carr.
Daniel Jones, Giants (19% Rostered): It might be happening! This preseason I speculated here that Jones might possibly be a major value for fantasy owners because of his underrated rushing prowess. His rushing dipped in the second half of 2020 due to injury, but prior to getting hurt he was running the ball about as much as any QB in football, with breakaway yardage capability. So far this season, Jones has rushed 15 times, scoring in each of his first two games on the ground, and carved up Washington for 95 yards on the ground on nine carries. He also had a second long touchdown run called back on a bogus penalty. As far as his passing goes, he’s not going to make Giants fans forget about Eli Manning. He has, however, looked more poised than ever and been efficient. He’s thrown for 267 and 249 yards in the first two games, with one passing touchdown in each game, while avoiding any interceptions. His passing ceiling remains low, but if what we have seen so far is his rushing baseline there’s a strong possibility he’s a low-end QB1 for fantasy.
Running Backs
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (36% Rostered): Gainwell was involved again, and in an underwhelming week for RB pickups, he looks like the best bet. He rushed six times for 14 yards against the 49ers, an admittedly tough matchuyp, and caught two of his three targets for 18 yards. He doesn’t have standalone value yet, but his early usage indicates the coaches like him and want him in the mix. The Eagles also have upcoming matchups with the Cowboys, Chiefs and Panthers, all of which could mean pass-heavy game scripts and a higher snap % for Gainwell. At the very least, he is the obvious handcuff for Miles Sanders, so he provides valuable depth at a minimum.
James White, Patriots (42% Rostered): White feels like a safe, low-ceiling add. He’s not going to change your team dramatically, but he will serve as a plug and play if you have a bunch of banged up players and just need someone to not score zero points. White has drawn 13 targets in the first two games, and caught all but one. The days of Cam Newton holding onto the ball forever and eating a sack or throwing a bomb are over; Mac Jones can get through his reads and dump off when necessary, so White will always chip in. The problem is he will rarely explode, and so he’s never going to be trustworthy on the RB2 radar.
Phillip Lindsay, Texans (39% Rostered): Last week was a mad dash to pick up Mark Ingram, and Lindsay ended up being the back you wanted in Week 2. Ingram is still going to lead the team in rushing attempts, and David Johnson is the receiving back, leaving Lindsay in the unenviable position of second fiddle early down guy on a bad offense, but he’s much more explosive than Ingram and should eventually get more work. Last week he managed just two yards on five carries, but took his only receiving target 22 yards to the house. He’ll be free this week, so just throw him on your bench and wait if you can.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons (14% Rostered): Patterson is likely going to cost on waivers this week, because he scored twice, but I’m not fooled. We’ve seen Patterson make plays before, and while his usage is heavier than anyone expected, he’s still being out-touched by Mike Davis, and this still is a passing offense that runs through Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts. Patterson could become a weekly starter in the event of an injury to Davis, but for now I think he’s a bit of a landmine on waivers because desperate fantasy managers are chasing TDs.
Wide Receivers
Tim Patrick, Broncos (22% Rostered): It’s unclear what the fantasy community’s vendetta is against Patrick, but they’re constantly just staring at a useful player and refusing to buy in. Patrick has scored in back-to-back weeks, and is coming off a six-touchdown season in 2020. Jerry Jeudy is out for a good while with a sprained ankle, leaving Patrick as a clear WR2 on this team. For all KJ Hamler’s flash and draft capital, he drew one target on Sunday. Hamler’s skill set is such that he’s going to be used as a deep shot option, and Teddy Bridgewater flat out doesn’t play that way. If Bridgewater is going deep, it’s going to be to Courtland Sutton, leaving Patrick and TE Noah Fant to do the work in the intermediate realm. He is easily my favorite WR add of the week with the Jets up next on the schedule before things get tougher with matchups against Baltimore, and at Pittsburgh.
Henry Ruggs, Raiders (34% Rostered): Outside of Darren Waller, Raiders pass-catchers look like a crapshoot. Ruggs is the most promising to me, however, because he’s easily the fastest of them, and Carr is trying to find him. Ruggs drew five targets in Week 1 and seven on Sunday, lighting up Pittsburgh for 113 yards and a score. Ruggs is a threat to completely bomb your team in any given game, but he has DeSean Jackson-esque upside on every route he runs. Last year his target share stunk, but if he’s going to see around five to seven opportunities a week, his efficiency becomes appealing.
Sammy Watkins, Ravens (22% Rostered): We’ve been here before with Watkins, so I’m wary of course. But through two games he has drawn 15 targets from Lamar Jackson, and caught four passes in each game. Hollywood Brown is without a doubt Jackson’s favorite receiver at this point, but Watkins is the best possession receiver on the team at least until rookie Rashod Bateman comes back, and this week’s matchup with the Lions might be a fantasy bonanza. Maybe now is the time to buy low on TE Mark Andrews, whom we all anticipated would be hyper targeted by Jackson, but Watkins has been looked to much more often so far.
Zach Pascal, Colts (15% Rostered): Pascal, like Patrick, is just boring and consistent. His yardage has been weak – 43 and 38 yards, respectively, in Weeks 1 and 2 – but he’s found the end zone three times so he and Carson Wentz have chemistry. His stock will be hurt if Wentz is going to miss real time, but he’s still, at worst, the No. 2 receiving option behind Michael Pittman and is worth an add in deeper formats. He’s absolutely useful, but he lacks the sizzle that gets people to buy in.
Tight Ends
Jared Cook, Chargers (43% Rostered): Speaking of guys who lack sizzle, Cook casually drew five targets vs. the Cowboys on Sunday, bringing his total to 13 on the season. At the TE position consistent targets are gold, and nobody’s paying attention because the TDs haven’t come yet. They will, possibly in bunches, so you’ll want to get in on this while he’s cheap. Scoop him up, even if you’re set at the position, and you may be able to make an upgrade elsewhere on your team by trading him to a TE-needy manager.
Austin Hooper, Browns (48% Rostered): Hooper isn’t exciting or exceptional, but he’s probably in line for a lot of targets in the near future with Odell Beckham Jr.’s return uncertain, and Jarvis Landry getting hurt. This team is devoid of reliable WRs, and while they want to lean on the running game, they do have to pass the ball sometimes. Mayfield has a plethora of TEs on this roster, but Hooper is the highest paid, and most established. I think he is about to be the No. 1 pass-catcher on this team until Beckham is at full speed.