Waiver Wire Watch: Week 3
Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups for Week 3. To be eligible for discussion, the player must be owned in 40% or fewer ESPN leagues. I'll also include suggested bid prices (with a $100 budget) for those leagues that use Free Agent Acquisition Budgets. Of course, player value depends on league characteristics and team needs.
* Players with an asterisk next to their name were mentioned in last week's Waiver Wire Watch.
Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ($3)
The Bills bounced back after a dreadful performance in Week 1 against the Jets. Even in that loss, Fitzpatrick threw for three touchdowns and 195 yards in garbage time. Against the Chiefs in Week 2, he threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 34 yards. Fitzpatrick's short-term schedule is attractive with a matchup against a Joe Haden-less Browns secondary in Week 3 and the Patriots at home in Week 4.
Next up: Browns, Patriots, 49ers
Titans QB Jake Locker* ($1)
It's not a bad time to buy low on Locker, who had another mediocre fantasy outing against the Chargers in Week 2. He threw for 174 yards and one touchdown after throwing for 209 yards and a TD against the Patriots in Week 1. Kenny Britt wasn't much of a factor against the Chargers in his first game back from suspension, but his role should grow considerably over the coming weeks, and Locker has several nice matchups coming up including the Lions, Vikings, Bills and Colts.
Next up: Lions, Texans, Vikings
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel* ($1)
Cassel threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills in Week 2 after throwing for 258 yards and a TD (to go along with two interceptions) against the Falcons in Week 1. The Chiefs don't look very good, so is likely that they'll be playing from behind for much of the season. In Week 3, Cassel faces the Saints, who have struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball. I can tell you now that he'll be a Sneaky Start.
Next up: Saints, Chargers, Ravens
Vikings QB Christian Ponder* ($1)
Ponder performed well in a nice matchup, throwing for 245 yards and two touchdowns against the Colts in Week 2. He has a bad matchup in Week 3 against the 49ers, but after that he has a nice stretch of games against the Lions, Titans and Redskins. Starting in Week 4, Jerome Simpson will give Ponder another weapon in the passing game.
Next up: 49ers, Lions, Titans
Rams RBs Daryl Richardson ($10) & Isaiah Pead ($1)
Depending on who you believe, Steven Jackson either left the game in the second quarter with a groin injury or was benched after being flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed that it was a groin injury, so if he was intending to make a statement, it's unlikely that he would lie about it after the game. If Jackson is injured, Richardson would be the logical pickup after he carried ball 15 times for 83 yards while also contributing two catches for 19 yards. He did lose a fumble, so it's possible that the team works in Isaiah Pead if Jackson misses time.
Next up: Bears, Seahawks, Cardinals
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