Week 3 of the NFL season is in the books and fortunately, there weren’t nearly as many injuries as there were in Week 2. However, bye weeks begin this week and this is the time of season where it starts to become more difficult to set your lineup. Hopefully we can make it a little easier for you as I bring you some of the top guys at each position who are available in more than 50% of leagues. Good luck!
You can email us fantasy questions at steve@fightingchancefantasy.com and ryan@fightingchancefantasy.com. You can also follow us on Twitter, Steve @fantasygeek37 and Ryan @fightingchance. Also please like Fighting Chance Fantasy on Facebook right here.
If you like this content and want to be notified of future posts, you can click on “Notify Me of New Posts by Email” below.
Quarterback
Carson Wentz has looked nothing like a rookie in his first three games in the NFL.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles rookie, quarterback Carson Wentz started the season off with two gravy match ups as he helped the Eagles past the Browns and the Bears and looked very impressive in both games. However, many thought the true test for him would be his Week 3 game against the Steelers. Well, he passed the test with flying colors as he was 23 for 31 for 301 yards and chipped in two touchdowns as the Eagles won the battle of Pennsylvania, 34-3. He is now averaging 256 yards over his first three games and has five touchdowns versus zero interceptions. He hasn’t shown it yet, but he also has very good feet, so there may be some games where he can get you some rushing yards as well. He’s on a bye this week, but he has two good match ups with the Lions and Redskins after the bye and if you want him, you will likely have to add him now before someone else in your league scoops him up.
Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos. Even though the fantasy stats weren’t quite there over the first two weeks of the season, Trevor Siemian has looked every bit the part of an NFL quarterback in Weeks 1 and 2. He became the starter for the defending Super Bowl champions this offseason, and has looked very poised considering the amount of pressure he’s facing. In Week 3, Siemian showed why the Broncos chose him as their starter over Mark Sanchez and rookie, Paxton Lynch because he threw for over 300 yards with four touchdowns against a very good Cincinnati defense. He has improved each week and with two good match ups against the Buccaneers and Falcons in the next two weeks, I expect him to keep things rolling for the foreseeable future.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider: Brian Hoyer, Chicago Bears. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dophins. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys.
Running Back
Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears. In Week 2, there was a preposterous amount of injuries, particularly at the running back position, and guys like Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin, Ameer Abdullah, Arian Foster and others all succumbed to injuries. Week 3 was a little quieter for injuries, but that didn’t’ mean everyone escaped, and Jeremy Langford exited the game on Sunday and has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle. We are still waiting an official diagnosis, but it looks like it’s going to be a high ankle sprain, meaning he is likely to miss the next month or more. Ka’Deem Carey is also nursing a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss Week 3 and that leaves rookie, running back Jordan Howard in line to see quite a bit of work. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but where he excels is making people miss and breaking tackles. He led last years’ draft class with 3.7 yards after contact and was fifth in the nation in missed tackles his senior year. Considering Jeremy Langford didn’t’ break one tackle through the first two weeks of the season, I think Howard has the stuff to outperform Langford and steal his role. He should be added in all ten and twelve team leagues.
Kenneth Dixon could be the perfect fit in a Marc Trestman offense.
Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens. I want to start out by saying…if you need a running back to plug into your lineup this week, I would recommend adding another back before you claim Ravens’ rookie, Kenneth Dixon. However, if you want to add a running back with high upside to fill a spot at the end of your roster, I would put Kenneth Dixon right behind Jordan Howard on my waiver priority list this week. The Ravens’ running back situation has been a mess this year and both Justin Forsett and Terrance West have been horrible to start the season. That leaves an opportunity for talented, rookie Dixon to come in and earn serious playing time. The question is, when will he be able to play. He suffered a torn MCL late in August and the injury was expected to sideline him approximately four weeks, so he may be another week or two away from returning. Like Carson Wentz however, if you wait too long, you may miss out on the upside Dixon possess to someone else in your league. He earned Pro Football Focus’ second highest grade for receiving among running backs in last year’s draft class and considering Ravens’ offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman loves to the throw the ball to running backs, Dixon could have huge value in PPR leagues. Don’t wait too long if you want to add Kenneth Dixon to your roster.
Other Running Backs to Consider: Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins. Dwayne Washington, Detroit Lions. Cameron Artis-Payne, Carolina Panthers. Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants.
Wide Receiver
No, Terrelle Pryor is not Pedro from Napoleon dynamite. I’m also not sure Pryor could throw a ball further than Uncle Rico.
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns. So far, Terrelle Pryor has been a very nice suprise for the Cleveland Browns. With Josh Gordon still serving his four game suspension, Pryor has been a big part of the offense to date, as he received seven targets in Week 1, ten targets in Week 2, and then a whopping 14 targets in Week 3. He was able to turn those 14 targets into eight receptions for 144 yards and the world now knows who Terrelle Pryor is. Not only did he have a big game receiving, but he also chipped in four rushing attempts for 21 yards with a rushing touchdown and had 35 yards passing as well. Even though Gordon will be back in Week 5, with Corey Coleman out a month or more with a broken hand, Pryor should still see a lot of action all around the field. His production may be a little more volatile than some as he should see some up and down weeks, but as he showed, his “up” weeks could be very good and he’s my number one receiver waiver target based on his upside.
Jamison Crowder, Washington Redskins. If you’re looking for an underrated wide receiver to add, take a peek at Jamison Crowder of the Redskins. Through the first three weeks of the season, he has averaged eight targets per game and turned those into 16 catches for 175 yards with two touchdowns. After three games, Crowder has even out scored DeSean Jackson in fantasy scoring and being a nice possession receiver, is setting himself up with a relatively high floor for fantasy production. He’s not the bright and flashy new toy, but if you want a solid guy you can plug into your flex spot due to an injury or bye weeks, Crowder is a decent option to add to your roster.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider: Victor Cruz, New York Giants. Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys. Anquan Boldin, Detroit Lions. Adam Humphries, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tight End
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I heard a nickname for Bucs’ tight end Cameron Brate today that I have to pass along…the Master Brater. I am such a kid. Anyways, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins no longer on Tampa’s roster and Vincent Jackson having a lack of involvement in the offense, Brate may be in for a decent amount of work. In his first game without ASJ, Brate turned in a very impressive line of five catches for 46 yards with two touchdowns. With the tight end position being weak this year, Brate is a nice guy to add if you’re struggling at the position.
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings. I am waiting for this dude to get hurt, but until he does, Kyle Rudolph is looking like he’s a borderline tight end one on a weekly basis. Offensive coordinator, Norv Turner loves to involve the tight end in the passing game and that has showed so far as Rudolph has scored double digit fantasy points in each of his first three games this year. He also had his best game of the season this week as he chipped in seven receptions for 70 yards and a score against the Panthers. He’s bound to get hurt, but until he does, I would seriously consider adding him as a nice backup as bye weeks begin this week.
Other Tight Ends to Consider: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts. Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers. Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers.
The post Working the Waiver Wire – Week 4 appeared first on Fighting Chance Fantasy.