Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 3
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Another week and a bevy of bad news for fantasy football players.
Guys like Drew Brees, Matt Stafford, Jay Cutler and Tony Romo are either missing large portions of the season or rumored to miss some time. The impact to the tight ends, receivers and running backs remains to be seen. Then, we have other issues to worry about like, Eddie Lacy being carted off Sunday night with an ankle injury, Tevin Coleman's rib injury, Jeremy Hill possibly fumbling away his starting job (I don't believe that to be the case) and the likes of C.J. Anderson and Jimmy Graham underperforming.
What in the world are we to do? Don't sweat it -- I have you covered with waiver additions. We will grow quality bench depth in preparation to overcome the worst situations.
Here are my top 10 waiver adds for Week 3 for 10- and 12-team leagues.
1. Donte Moncrief (WR, Indianapolis Colts) -- Andre Johnson has looked old and slow in the first two weeks of the season, and T.Y. Hilton is banged up already with a knee ailment. The Colts haven't looked anything like the high-powered offense we've come to expect with Andrew Luck at the helm, but Moncrief hasn't suffered. He dominated Monday night, catching seven of eight targets for 122 yards and the lone Indy score. This kid is a scary combination of raw talent, athleticism, size and speed. Add him now if he's still available, because big production is in store as he runs right by Johnson on the depth chart.
2. Matt Jones (RB, Washington Redskins) -- The love for this guy in Washington started when he was selected in the third round of the draft back in April. General manager Scot McCloughan compared him to Marshawn Lynch back then, and we saw some of that malicious running style Sunday. Jones runs to inflict pain, and that type of bashing wears a defense out. He finished Week 2 with two more touches (22) than Alfred Morris (20) but compiled 74 more yards and also scored twice. Jones is much more of a dual threat than Morris, and that type of performance is going to warrant more playing time moving forward. There should be enough touches to go around for Jones to be fantasy relevant, and if anything happens to Morris, look out.
3. Dion Lewis (RB, New England Patriots) -- You're going to continue to hear the rumblings about LeGarrette Blount, Bill Belichick and the New England backfield, but the Patriots hadn't had a running back go for consecutive 100-total-yard games since November 2010 -- until now, as Lewis has accomplished it. Lewis is great in space and runs well between the tackles. He's shifty and elusive and plays on a premier offense that scores a ton of points.
Look, Tom Brady is angry after the Deflategate bologna, and he has this offense firing on all cylinders already. Remember the last time Brady and the Patriots were called out? Numerous offensive records fell en route to a 16-0 regular season. Are you betting against them? I wouldn't. I'll run to grab the only likely available key contributor for the Patriots.
4. David Johnson (RB, Arizona Cardinals) – David Johnson missed majority of camp and some of the preseason, yet in two NFL games, he has three touchdowns on limited touches. I mentioned in this column last week that he has a rare size/speed skill set that will prove impossible to keep off the field. An expanded role is coming, and Chris Johnson isn't going to hold him back. Andre Ellington's problem is he can't stay on the field. Even by the time he returns, it may be too late. At worst, I'd expect a time share. We've seen what David Johnson can do on seven offensive touches, totaling 100 yards and taking two trips to pay dirt. And Bears fans won't forget about that 108-yard kickoff return to open Sunday's game either.
5. Devonta Freeman (RB, Atlanta Falcons) -- Poor Tevin Coleman was off to a nice day (9-32-1) before a rib injury that caused him to be carted off the field. He was clearly the top option for Atlanta. So hold onto Coleman for the time being, but find a way to grab Freeman, who totaled 59 yards on 16 touches and found the end zone. He will be Atlanta's lead back while Coleman recovers. While Freeman didn't look electric by any mean, he's guaranteed touches in an offense that moves the ball.
6. James Starks (RB, Green Bay Packers) -- The most recent reports indicated that Eddie Lacy hopes to play next Monday night. That being said, it didn't look good as Lacy had his ankle fully retaped and then went to the locker room and never returned. Starks has no one to battle for touches, as you saw Sunday night, racking up 24 of them for 106 total yards. He is a high-end RB2 if Lacy is out for any amount of time.
7. Stevie Johnson (WR, San Diego Chargers) -- Johnson is quickly becoming a big part of the San Diego offense. Through two games he has caught 11 of 12 targets and scored two touchdowns. Philip Rivers will continue to gain confidence in his new slot guy, and that bodes well for Johnson's production. In a high-volume San Diego pass offense, Johnson's a WR3 for your squad.
8. Tyrod Taylor (QB, Buffalo Bills) -- With all the of the quarterback injuries, it's possible you're looking for a starter or an upgrade. Well, Taylor fits the profile. Yes, he turned the ball three times against the Patriots, but he ran for over 40 yards, scored on the ground and added 243 yards and three more scores through the air. He has a safe floor because of his legs and quality weapons all around him. I'm buying Taylor as a QB1.
9. Eric Ebron (TE, Detroit Lions) -- Two notes to know about Ebron: He has an elite athletic skill set, and he was a top-10 draft pick. While he suffered from mental lapses and dropped balls last year, this year he has 15 targets, nine receptions, 96 yards and two scores in the first two games. If you're hurting at tight end, Ebron's worth picking up. He's getting the targets, and he's a weapon in the middle of the field.
10. Michael Crabtree (WR, Oakland Raiders) -- He doesn't receive much love, but the as Oakland's No. 2 receiver, he's soaked up a whopping 24 targets the first two weeks. Crabtree has converted those opportunities into 14 receptions, 148 yards and a touchdown. While opposing teams use their top corner on stud rookie Amari Cooper, a healthy Crabtree has all the talent to take advantage of lesser cornerbacks.
Just missed: Andy Dalton, Derek Carr, Karlos Williams, Damien Williams, Travis Benjamin, Marvin Jones, Leonard Hankerson, Aaron Dobson, Crockett Gilmore and Richard Rodgers.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.