We’re two games in and we’re already seeing some players excel on the waiver wire. Bye weeks will be coming, so now’s the time to start building better depth with options that have played well this season.
Here’s my favorite week 3 fantasy football waiver wire adds.
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
He should be heavily owned (and started) by this time next week. Philadelphia’s running game is atrocious. In week 2, they only ran 10 designed runs. The rest of the time was all on Wentz’s shoulders. Philadelphia invested heavily in Wentz’s added targets in the offseason and they’re going to get their money’s worth.
Wentz has back-to-back 300 yard passing efforts and has plenty of volume in those two outings. Regardless of which team lines up against the Eagles, they’re going to throw often. Wentz is owned in less than 70 percent of leagues on Yahoo, but he’s finished in the top-five for the first two weeks of the season among fantasy quarterbacks in points.
The volume is something you can’t pass up. It’s time to make sure he’s not on the waiver wire going forward, and instead of languishing on your bench, he should start seeing some starts.
Chris Thompson, RB, Washington Redskins
We’ve seen Thompson not handle the majority of the rushing duties before with Washington. And this isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to his top-five finish among running backs in week 2.
Thompson is the main third-down running back for a Redskins team that is poised to pass. Thompson has garnered plenty of those looks and been a solid running back in the passing game so far this season. What elevates Thompson’s stock is that starter Rob Kelley left week 2 with an injury.
This is a speculative add, since with Kelley in the lineup, he’s nothing more than a long-shot RB3. But with the added work, he may have some value as a Flex and possibly a low-end consistent RB2.
Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Maybe you jumped on the Allen hype train in week 1. If you did, good for you.
But he’s still owned in a little more than 50 percent of leagues on Yahoo. That won’t stay that way heading into week 3.
Allen was poised to see more action as the pass-catching running back when Danny Woodhead went out with injury. What’s been most impressive, though, is Allen’s production in the running game, with 35 carries in the first two games. Allen has looked good so far, too, which helps his stock.
Terrance West is still going to get some action, but the Ravens seem more committed to running the football this year. If they can keep that up, there’s room for two running backs in that backfield, with Allen as likely the player with the most fantasy potential.
Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints
The tight end position was decimated on Sunday, with injuries to Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham and Jordan Reed. Graham and Reed returned to their games, while Gronk and Olsen didn’t. The Patriots were likely being cautious with a major lead, but it appears that Olsen will be out for awhile.
So you may be in line for some tight end depth and Fleener is likely the best bet.
He has touchdowns in each game this season and if the first two games are any indication, the Saints will once again be a high volume passing team. Fleener has attracted a decent amount of targets, too, and is their best option inside the red zone.
He’s owned in about 60 percent of leagues on Yahoo, so if he’s on the waiver wire, pick him up.
Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks
I had Carson as a waiver wire add in week 1 already this season,
If you didn’t hop on that hype train, then you better start now. The preseason talk centered on how Carson was eventually going to be the main back in Seattle. They believed it would take some time, but after week 2, it appears that timetable has sped up.
He’s owned in less than 40 percent of leagues, but he shouldn’t be on the waiver after this week. He carried the ball 20 times in week 2 and appears to be the featured back in a Seattle offense committed to running the football. Carson is the best add this week because he’s going to get starter’s reps in a position that doesn’t offer much depth in fantasy football.
Dwayne Allen, TE, New England Patriots
Allen hasn’t done a thing yet for the Patriots this season, but that may change.
As mentioned earlier, Gronkowski went out with injury, making Allen’s value a bit more intriguing. If Gronk can’t come back, then Allen is a must-add. The Patriots utilize tight ends better than anybody, so if Allen garners attention as the top tight end, he can likely contribute a lot better than he’s done in the first two weeks.
Chris Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona running back situation is cloudy, but Johnson appears to be the top option in week 2.
With David Johnson out with injury, somebody has to take the load and be the main running back for the Cardinals. Johnson is a trusted commodity in that backfield and he was relied upon in week 2 to carry the football. Despite just signing back with the team this week, he carried the ball 11 times, rushing for 44 yards.
He’s not going to be a consistent RB2, but with bye weeks coming up, you could likely use some more running back depth. Johnson has the ability to put up some big production for a Cardinals team that needs a spark out of that position.
Pick up Johnson and build your depth.
