2014 Fantasy Football: Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

Unlike many weeks we have ever seen, Week 2 was a bloodbath as high-profile fantasy stars left games with serious and minor injuries left and right.

In many cases, owners will need to find Week 3 (or longer) injury replacements.

If you have a glass-half-full outlook, the good news, I suppose, is that there are more players available on the waiver wire with increased and improved outlooks.

Without further ado, here are some players to consider adding to your fantasy roster(s) (Yahoo! ownership in parenthesis):

QB – Geno Smith, New York Jets (nine percent)

Well, Geno finished yesterday’s game with a 50-percent completion rate, 176 yards and one touchdown, but a called timeout negated a fourth-down 36-yard touchdown throw in the fourth quarter. Even so, Smith finished with 17.64 fantasy points (QB9 with the Monday Night matchup still to go).

In his most-recent six-game span going back to last season, Smith has a total of 48 rush attempts for 250 yards and four rushing scores. That production is equivalent to 49 fantasy points (or 8.17 fantasy points per game) from his rushing stats alone.

QB – Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (41 percent)

Through two games, Tannehill has finished as the QB23 and QB18 with modest production: total of 419 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. I do think better days/production are ahead for Tannehill and that could start in Week 3 when the Dolphins face the Chiefs, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (20.81) to opposing quarterbacks through Sunday’s games. While one of those games was against Peyton Manning, the other was against Jake Locker and both of those QBs finished as top-six weekly performers.

QB – Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins (nine percent)

While Griffin III may not need surgery and may be able to return later in the season, Cousins played well in relief yesterday by completing two thirds of his pass attempts for 250 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. In addition, it wouldn’t necessarily be a complete shock if he retains the job once/when RG3 is healthy assuming Cousins plays well in his place. That said, Cousins is going to be a QB2 in the majority of weeks.

QB – E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills (eight percent)

Manuel has led the Bills to a surprise 2-0 start and has played reasonably well although he has finished outside the top 12 in quarterback fantasy points both weeks. That said, Manuel finds himself with a favorable matchup this week (like Tannehill).

Along with Tannehill’s matchup (Chiefs), the Chargers are one of four teams that have allowed both opposing quarterbacks to finish as a QB1 for the week. (The Colts could be a fifth if they allow Nick Foles to finish as a QB1 tonight.) San Diego has allowed 19.47 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and Manuel could be a better option than usual for someone looking to fill the void of an injured RG3 (or Carson Palmer).

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RB – Knile Davis, Kansas City Chiefs (19 percent)

With Jamaal Charles suffering a high-ankle sprain early in yesterday’s loss to the Broncos, the Chiefs gave Davis 28 touches as he racked up 105 scrimmage yards and two scores. Over the team’s last four games counting the playoffs, Davis has 29, 25, two and 28 touches. Despite an average of only 3.38 yards per carry on this 68 rush attempts, Davis has 16 receptions over that span and should be in store for another heavy workload with Charles expected to miss this week’s game.

RB – Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (49 percent)

It’s unclear whether A.J. Green will play in Week 3 with his turf toe injury, but it appears more likely that he sits out considering the Bengals have a Week 4 bye (2014 NFL bye weeks grid). With numerous injuries to their group of pass catchers, the Bengals will likely lean heavily on their ground game this week as they did yesterday. With Green out for the majority of the game, the 1-2 punch of Giovani Bernard (27 carries) and Hill (15) ran the ball a combined 42 times and added seven receptions. The second running back selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Hill is a powerful downhill runner that I liked a lot in the preseason and his role will only continue to expand in Cincinnati’s run-heavy attack.

RB – Khiry Robinson, New Orleans Saints (18 percent)

With an average of 5.96 YPC, fifth-best in the NFL, and a league-high three rushing touchdowns, Mark Ingram had become the fantasy running back that many had expected when the Saints used a first-round pick on him four years ago. Unfortunately, Ingram will miss the next month with a broken hand, which opens up an expanded opportunity for Robinson. Once (famously) compared to Curtis Martin by Bill Parcells, Robinson has 14 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown through two weeks.

RB – Donald Brown, San Diego Chargers (nine percent)

With Ryan Mathews sidelined for a month or so with an MCL sprain, Brown will see his role expand significantly over the next month. The Chargers have had difficult matchups in back-to-back weeks with the Cardinals and Chargers and this week’s matchup against the Bills isn’t great. That said, Brown will then get a great matchup (Jaguars) followed by horrible matchup (Jets) and another great matchup (Raiders). In other words, Brown could be a viable RB2 in at least two of the next four weeks.

RB – Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts (40 percent)

Rightfully so, few have faith in Trent Richardson. Similar to the Mendoza Line in baseball (.200 batting average), there could be a T-Rich Line in football (3.0 YPC). His preseason struggles have carried over to the regular season even though he’s above, albeit barely, the T-Rich Line through Week 1 (3.33 YPC). That said, it was Bradshaw that was much more productive in Week 1 (85 YFS to T-Rich’s 51) and I expect Bradshaw to be more effective for as long as he’s healthy.

RB – Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers (49 percent)

While Brown benefits the most from Mathews’ absence, Woodhead had five more touches in Week 2 (12) than he had in Week 1 (seven). While Mathews is out, I think 12 touches or so will be his floor and he is a solid flex option in PPR formats. With 12 touches this week, Woodhead is currently the RB29 in PPR formats for the week.

RB – Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns (21 percent)

While he didn’t find the end zone this week after two scores in Week 1, Crowell had another productive outing with 54 yards on 11 carries and a reception for three yards. Through two games, Crowell is averaging 5.38 YPC and Ben Tate (knee) should miss another week as well. Perhaps Tate returns after Cleveland’s Week 4 bye, as is expected, but Tate has always struggled with durability. Although he went undrafted in May due to character concerns, Crowell is a former five-star recruit with tons of talent that will be worth stashing even when Tate and Terrance West are both healthy.

RB – Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22 percent)

With Doug Martin out on Sunday, Rainey (144) finished second to only DeMarco Murray (167) for most rushing yards this week. Rainey won’t have those type of games when The Muscle Hamster returns (or when he’s out for that matter as well). But he could have some productive outings in games with Martin sidelined.

The Bucs play on Thursday Night Football, which means that Martin may not be ready although it appears he will return. If Martin does not play this week, however, Rainey will at least be a viable RB2 option as the Bucs face a Falcons defense that has allowed 154.5 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns through two weeks.

WR – Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams (16 percent)

A former 33rd overall pick out of Appalachian State, Quick has taken a huge step (or multiple steps) forward in his third season. Quick has seven receptions for 74-plus yards in each of the team’s first two games and actually has four more receptions than the rest of the team’s wide receivers combined (10). Excluding Monday’s game, Quick has been a WR2 in both standard and PPR formats in both Weeks 1 and 2.

WR – Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals (nine percent)

Assuming Green doesn’t play in Week 3, which seems to be a real possibility, Sanu will be the team’s top option aside from their running backs. While Sanu has been generating positive reviews since the offseason, he entered the offseason as the fourth-best option (outside of their running backs). With Green out for most of yesterday’s game, Sanu is currently Week 2′s WR5 (16.4 fantasy points).

That said, the Bengals don’t have a great matchup next week against the Titans, who have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers this season through yesterday’s games. And then they have their bye in Week 4.

WR – Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns (32 percent)

Better in PPR formats, Hawkins has a total of 14 receptions for 157 yards on 22 targets through two weeks. Coincidentally, he has finished as the WR24 in PPR leagues for both Week 1 and Week 2 (although some Colts and Eagles receivers will likely bump him down this week). Part of those targets are due to Jordan Cameron leaving Week 1 early and missing Week 2′s game, but no other Browns wide receiver has more than 13 targets this season.

WR – Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (zero percent)

Injuries and deficits could mean big things for Robinson. Or at least more weeks like Week 2 where ARob had four receptions for a team-high 75 yards. A talented receiver out of Penn State, Robinson was one of two receivers selected in the second round by the Jags along with Marqise Lee.

While Cecil Shorts has missed the team’s first two games with a hamstring injury and is expected to return this week, he has struggled with durability and UDFA Allen Hurns left yesterday’s game on crutches. In addition, Marcedes Lewis will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a high-ankle sprain. The team’s top pass catchers have struggled with health and the Jags have been outscored 75-10 in the final six quarters.

WR – Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (one percent)

At some point this season, it’s possible that Adams moves ahead of Jarrett Boykin in the wide receiver pecking order and he did so for at least part of Sunday’s game. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that “Adams started to take off in the final weeks” of training camp. On Sunday, Adams saw more looks than Boykin as he finished with a 5/50 line on seven targets.

TE – Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (37 percent)

One week after his solid (yet underutilized) regular-season debut with a 3/49 line on five targets, Kelce had four catches for 81 yards on six targets against the Broncos yesterday. Although he only played on 37.2 percent of the snaps (compared to 32.8 percent in Week 1), his snap totals increased from 19 to 32. As the season progresses, his usage should continue to increase as the Chiefs lack play makers outside of their backfield (and Kelce).

TE – Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts (38 percent)

Allen had a productive Week 1 (4/64/1) and the Colts offense will look to feature both of their tight ends in Pep Hamilton’s offense. Although the Colts play later tonight, Allen has a great matchup for those looking ahead to Week 3 against the Jags, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends so far this season.

TE – Larry Donnell, New York Giants (21 percent)

Although he was listed as NYG’s first-team tight end since they first had to create a depth chart, Donnell has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise ineffective and lackluster offense. Donnell has finished as a top-10 fantasy tight end in back-to-back weeks and ranks seventh among tight ends in both receptions (17) and yards (137) with a touchdown.

TE – Niles Paul, Washington Redskins (five percent)

The Jordan Reed injury has allowed Paul to flourish as only Jimmy Graham (200 yards) has more yards than Paul (185) among tight ends so far this season. Paul’s role will likely diminish, at least some, when Reed returns, but it’s unclear if he’ll return this week and Reed’s durability is by far his biggest knock.

Later tonight, I will update my Rest-of-Season (ROS) fantasy football rankings. Additionally, I will post my Week 3 fantasy football rankings at some point on Tuesday.

My Playbook by FantasyPros: An easy way to gain an edge on your opponents is to use the My Playbook tool from FantasyPros to give you tailored advice for waiver-wire and start/sit decisions based on your specific teams as it syncs up with your existing ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, NFL.com, etc. leagues.

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