Jeremy Hill, Keenan Allen and Andrew Luck combined for 11.1 fantasy points (standard scoring) in Week 2, while Matt Jones, Travis Benjamin and Derek Carr combined for 81.44 points.
What!?
At times fantasy football is more baffling than the conclusion of Interstellar.
If Frank Gore’s output is giving you heartburn, if you’re fed up with Sam Bradford, if you’ve got to replace an injured Tony Romo, Jay Cutler (why were you starting Jay Cutler!?) or Austin Seferian-Jenkins, fear not. There are always options on the waiver wire.
Here are some players to consider picking up ahead of Week 3 action.
QB
Andy Dalton (owned in 29 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
One thing you want as a fantasy owner is consistency and so far this season that’s what you get with Dalton. In Week 3 he’s playing a Ravens team that was just lit up by Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders. With A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Marvin Jones, Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, he has plenty of weapons around him. The Bengals are one of the few teams that have looked good in both games so far this season and Dalton has been mistake free. In fact, he and Aaron Rodgers are the only two starters yet to turn the ball over.
Tyrod Taylor (owned in 15 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
I told you to pick him up last week, but the Bills quarterback is still available in the vast majority of leagues and he just put up the fourth most total points in fantasy in Week 2. Ben Roethlisberger was the only QB to outscore him. Pick him up.
Sleeper: Blake Bortles (owned in 9 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
He had a solid game against the Dolphins thanks to Allen Robinson returning to form. Bortles is coming into his own and will be good for a spot start here and there this season.
Who to drop? NOT Tony Romo. The Cowboys leader will miss at least seven games with his fractured clavicle. You might be tempted to drop him but if you have the roster space, hang onto him. If he can return by Week 11 (Dez Bryant could be back by then too) he could help lead your team through the fantasy playoffs.
RB
James Starks (owned in 9 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
If you’re an Eddie Lacy owner or you’re in desperate need for help at running back, make a claim for Starks. Lacy sprained his ankle and his status versus the Chiefs Monday night is murky. Starks ran well in Lacy’s absence against the Seahawks and would be a solid start if the Packers starter is forced to miss any time.
Matt Jones (owned in 22 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
Remember that song “Dr. Jones” from Aqua? (It’s probably a good thing if you don’t.) Well, Matt Jones could prescribe the remedy for your team if you’re suffering from fantasy doldrums at the running back position. The Redskins haven’t named him the starter over Alfred Morris yet even though he out-touched him against the Rams. A quick eye test shows he’s the better running back and could get anywhere from 15-20 touches when he faces a suspect Giants defence in Week 3.
Sleeper: Lorenzo Taliaferro (owned in 2 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
Taliaferro had 10 touches, 46 total yards and a score in his season debut. He’s always a threat to be a touchdown vulture and if Justin Forsett ever got hurt he’d be a quality start—just like Knile Davis is in Kansas City when Jamaal Charles is banged up.
Who to drop? Benny Cunningham. Despite a strong Week 1, Cunningham will slowly be phased out of the Rams’ offensive game plan seeing as Tre Mason is back and Todd Gurley will eventually make his NFL debut.
WR
Travis Benjamin (owned in 16 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
Last week I said pump the brakes on Benjamin. Ya, sorry about that. The 25-year-old had three catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and also took a 78-yard punt return to the house. While he really isn’t more than a boom-or-bust type fantasy player, he is clearly booming at the moment and has a solid rapport with Johnny Manziel. Keep in mind that Josh McCown could supplant Manziel as the starter when he comes back from a concussion. If you’re a Dez Bryant owner or have banged up receivers, Benjamin will give you some depth at the position.
Michael Crabtree (owned in 22 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
The guy can still ball out. Crabtree has been targeted by Carr a whopping 24 times in the first two weeks and he made the most in Week 2 with 111 yards and a touchdown. With rookie standout Amari Cooper garnering most of the attention, Crabtree will rarely go up against the top corners in the league which bodes well for his chances to produce.
Sleeper Alert: Doug Baldwin (owned in 29 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
He had 92 yards and a touchdown against the Packers and has literally the best possible matchup in Week 3 as his team hosts the Bears in Seattle’s home opener. Baldwin could be a sneaky play in Week 3.
Who to drop? Michael Floyd. He’s the odd man out in Arizona. It appears Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown are going to rotate as Carson Palmer’s favourite target from week to week. Floyd has two targets and one catch this season. You can drop him.
TE
Crockett Gillmore (owned in 2 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
The young Ravens tight end was quiet in Week 1 but out-scored all other tight ends in Week 2 as he put up nearly 21 points against the Raiders. Austin Seferian-Jenkins is going to be out 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury so if you’re in the market for a player with TE1 potential take a run at Gillmore. Joe Flacco has always liked using his tight ends and this year is no different.
Sleeper Alert: Jacob Tamme (owned in 1 per cent of Yahoo! leagues)
Matt Ryan threw the ball at Tamme six times against the Giants. With no Tevin Coleman, who’s out with cracked ribs, look for Ryan to turn to his tight ends more frequently as a safety net.
Who to drop? Both Saints tight ends. The Saints haven’t been turning to their tight ends this year. Couple that with the fact Drew Brees is dealing with a shoulder injury and Josh Hill and Benjamin Watson aren’t viable fantasy options.
Other solid waiver options… Derek Carr, Devonta Freeman, David Johnson, Karlos Williams, Josh Robinson, Leonard Hankerson, Ted Ginn Jr., Rishard Matthews, Richard Rodgers
Don’t jump the gun on… Brandon Weeden, Jameis Winston, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Anthony Fasano, Dexter McCluster, Kamar Aiken