With injuries beginning to pile up, the fantasy football waiver wire has warmed up in a hurry in Week 3.
Whether it is a guy like Jay Ajayi of the Miami Dolphins getting a shot because Arian Foster suffered an injury (according to the team) or a breakout stud like Tyrell Williams of the San Diego Chargers, there is no lack of talent available.
Those owners who need to replace injured stars have plenty of ways to go. Others looking to patch up holes in sinking ships caused by drafts have lots of options this early in the season.
Week 3 Waiver-Wire Pickup Targets
Blaine Gabbert, QB, San Francisco 49ers (2.5 percent owned)
For those somehow struggling at quarterback, Blaine Gabbert of the San Francisco 49ers provides a nice bench option and is widely available.
Sure, Gabbert has tossed only three touchdowns over two games so far, but he showed an incredible amount of poise in Week 2. He led the 49ers into a bout with the Carolina Panthers and totaled 20 points with a pair of touchdowns and interceptions and another score as a rusher.
While it doesn’t sound like the most impressive line in the world, it came against the Panthers, and Gabbert continues to show an ability to get it done through the air and sometimes on the ground in head coach Chip Kelly’s system.
Week 3 is an encounter with the Seattle Seahawks, but Gabbert looks like a worthy bench stash for those iffy weeks when he can exploit great matchups.
Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Carolina Panthers (0.8 percent owned)
Like Ajayi, Carolina’s Fozzy Whittaker is a back perhaps about to receive a major opportunity, carrying owners along for the ride.
Far from the biggest name in the world, Whittaker stepped in for the injured Jonathan Stewart over the weekend and ran for 100 yards on 16 carries, good for 11 points.
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer helped explain why Whittaker isn’t a bigger name:
With head coach Ron Rivera telling Max Henson of the team’s official website about the situation, it becomes clear Whittaker is a must-add player:
While he won’t handle the load on his own, Whittaker becomes the clear top option in a Carolina offense padded by the fact that opposing defenses have to worry about Cam Newton.
For Whittaker, Week 3 is an encounter with the Minnesota Vikings—not the easiest matchup but a productive one as long as he’s carrying the football.
Tyrell Williams, WR, San Diego Chargers (43.4 percent owned)
Williams was one of the most circulated names in fantasy waiver conversations last week, but he didn’t exactly get added in the majority of leagues.
Odds are he will now.
Williams helped create one of the best highlights of the week because he is so difficult to bring down, as the NFL captured:
Williams caught only two passes for 71 yards in Week 1, but savvy owners understood his role would grow after Keenan Allen went down with an injury.
Those who banked on such an occurrence hit a homer in Week 2, as Williams caught three passes for 61 yards and the above touchdown, giving him 12 points.
Through two weeks, it is clear Philip Rivers likes to go to his latest big wideout, Williams, who comes in at 6’4″ and 205 pounds. He is a perfect add for a team in need.
Vance McDonald, TE, San Francisco 49ers (5.7 percent owned)
At tight end, one week could be a flash in the pan.
Two weeks is when owners need to scramble.
Such is the case with Gabbert‘s apparent favorite target, tight end Vance McDonald. The Rice product scored seven points in Week 1 thanks to two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. He followed this past weekend with one grab for 75 yards and a score, giving him 13 points.
The epic connection was just what prospective owners wanted to see, as the team captured:
McDonald isn’t getting crazy volume, but it is becoming more and more apparent that he doesn’t need it to post a solid day at an unpredictable position.
A floor like McDonald’s doesn’t come around often, so don’t expect him to last on the wire for long.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
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