Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 3

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen, Bills

Allen played a much more sound game from start to finish in Week 2, leading the Bills to their second straight win over a New York team. Though he's thrown just two touchdowns, he's also rushed for a pair of scores, and it's the rushing production that makes him a borderline starting option in fantasy. Allen is the QB12 on the season and should keep that up at home against a Bengals team that's given up five passing touchdowns already.

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

Three of those five passing scores the Bengals have allowed came this past week from the arm of Garoppolo, as Kyle Shanahan did an excellent job of scheming his receivers open. Jimmy G will have a shot to post another three-touchdown day at home versus a Steelers defense that's permitted at least 300 yards and three TDs to both quarterbacks it's faced in 2019.

Other options: Matthew Stafford at PHI (35% owned), Mitch Trubisky at WAS (53% owned), Jacoby Brissett vs. ATL (12% owned), Teddy Bridgewater at SEA (1% owned)

Running backs

Raheem Mostert, 49ers

As we wait to see the extent of the injuries in the Steelers' and Chiefs' backfields, Mostert headlines the list of running backs available on most waiver wires. In his first game with Tevin Coleman sidelined, Mostert went off for 83 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and a touchdown while sharing time with Matt Breida (132 yards from scrimmage) and Jeff Wilson (34 yards, two TDs). It's another testament to Shanahan's offense that the team generates yards no matter who's lined up at running back. With Coleman not expected back for at least a month, Mostert will continue to operate as an explosive change-of-pace weapon in tandem with Breida and can slide into your lineup as a flex play. Wilson (0% owned) warrants consideration as a deep-league stash.

Jaylen Samuels, Steelers

Early reports indicate that James Conner likely avoided anything serious with the knee injury that forced him from Sunday's contest. Whether that means he'll be available for Week 3 remains to be seen, so Samuels should be owned everywhere in case he's thrust into the starting lineup. Samuels was given at least 15 touches in each outing from Week 14 to Week 16 last season and averaged 16.9 PPR fantasy points per game during that stretch. Even with Mason Rudolph under center, Samuels would offer RB2 upside if Conner can't suit up.

Darwin Thompson, Chiefs

Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy exited early Sunday with knee and ankle injuries, respectively. Neither ailment is believed to be major but McCoy will get an MRI to be sure. Consider this your warning shot to make sure Thompson is on your roster. Williams has never handled more than 73 touches in a season and the 31-year-old McCoy is at the opposite end of the spectrum as he approaches 3,000 career touches. Thompson's time is coming.

Carlos Hyde, Texans

Hyde hasn't found the end zone since arriving in Houston, which might be the only reason fantasy managers aren't getting excited about his usage. The veteran has run the ball 30 times over the Texans' first two games, posting 83 yards in Week 1 and 90 yards during a 20-carry afternoon in Week 2. This is awful news for Duke Johnson's fantasy value and makes Hyde worth consideration as an RB3/flex in one of the league's most dangerous offenses.

Peyton Barber, Buccaneers

Barber continues to split with touches with Ronald Jones and Dare Ogunbowale, but he re-established himself as the back to own in Tampa in Week 2 when he played on 65% of the Bucs' snaps. He turned that into 89 yards from scrimmage and a score. However, that isn't something to get used to with Barber, but rather should be viewed more as an example of his fantasy ceiling. In a favorable matchup with the Giants, Barber is decent one-week play.

Other options: Frank Gore vs. CIN (8% owned), Alexander Mattison vs. OAK (22% owned), Chris Thompson vs. CHI (48% owned), Justin Jackson vs. HOU (33% owned), Ito Smith at IND (19% owned), Rex Burkhead vs. NYJ (14% owned), Justice Hill at KC (23% owned), Tony Pollard vs. MIA (22% owned), Jalen Richard at MIN (14% owned), Chase Edmonds vs. CAR (3% owned), Ryquell Armstead vs. TEN (1% owned)

Wide receivers

Terry McLaurin, Redskins

McLaurin followed up his five-catch, 125-yard, one-touchdown breakout debut with five catches, 62 yards, and a score against the Cowboys. What we're witnessing is a star arriving in the NFL and, somehow, he's still being undervalued. Seeing the field on over 90% of Washington's plays, the rookie is poised to be a fantasy difference-maker all season as a top-36 wideout. When the Redskins eventually turn to Dwayne Haskins - McLaurin's college teammate - it will only benefit the young receiver.

DK Metcalf, Seahawks

Both McLaurin and Metcalf were part of the Week 2 waiver wire column and yet they are still up for grabs in around half of fantasy leagues. Metcalf is a big-play machine and the Seahawks have put him to work early with lines of 4-89-0 and 3-61-1 in his first two contests. Down weeks will happen in Seattle's ground-heavy attack, but Metcalf deserves to be in fantasy lineups as an upside WR4/flex option.

MeCole Hardman/Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs

On the latest episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, I simplified my approach with Chiefs players to this: you want to own really anyone who plays alongside Patrick Mahomes. After Sammy Watkins dominated in the opener, it was Robinson and Hardman doing the bulk of the damage in Week 2. Robinson tallied 172 yards and two touchdowns, while Hardman had the best day of his young career with 61 yards and a score. In fact, Hardman's numbers would have been much bigger if his 72-yard catch wasn't nullified by a penalty. Both players carry massive upside and should be in your lineup as long as Tyreek Hill remains sidelined.

Nelson Agholor, Eagles

Alshon Jeffery is dealing with a calf strain and DeSean Jackson underwent an MRI on Monday. Neither injury is believed to result in a long-term absence but it could cost them each a game or two. Agholor stepped up Sunday with eight receptions, 107 yards, and a touchdown. Rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside (1% owned) is also worth picking up until we know more about Jeffery's and Jackson's respective recovery timelines.

DJ Chark, Jaguars

Chark has hauled in 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns so far in 2019. Meanwhile, teammate Chris Conley (4% owned) has 10 grabs for 170 yards and a score for a Jaguars passing attack that's been far busier than most expected entering the season. Both players are worth dart throws to see if this production is here to stay, but the sophomore Chark is the better bet as he leads the team in almost every receiving category, including air yards.

Deebo Samuel/Marquise Goodwin, 49ers

With Dante Pettis completely squandering his opportunity to be the 49ers' No. 1 receiver, Samuel and Goodwin have emerged as the most productive wideouts on the depth chart. For a fairly cheap investment, you could end up owning the top wideout in San Francisco's offense.

James Washington, Steelers

Washington hasn't done much to warrant his own section on this list, but a few signs are pointing to a potential rise in production for the Steelers' sophomore wideout. The first is Donte Moncrief's ongoing struggles as the team's No. 2 receiver, a role that likely won't be his for much longer. The second is Rudolph taking over as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback in the wake of Ben Roethlisberger's season-ending injury. Not only are Rudolph and Washington college teammates, but the duo also showed excellent chemistry in the preseason, resulting in some monster performances for the receiver, who's a speculative add this week.

Other options: Randall Cobb vs. MIA (24% owned), Golden Tate returns from suspension Week 5 (35% owned), AJ Brown at JAX (23% owned), Cole Beasley vs. CIN (6% owned), Keke Coutee at LAC (29% owned), Geronimo Allison vs. DEN (32% owned), Preston Williams at DAL (2% owned), Parris Campbell vs. ATL (5% owned),

Tight ends

Will Dissly, Seahawks

Tight end is ugly outside of the top options, so let's hope you've already found your weekly starter. If you've chosen to stream, Dissly should be on your radar after his 50-yard, two-touchdown outing against the Steelers. Trusting him to deliver consistent stats in the Seahawks' low-volume passing scheme is risky, so pick your spots. This week against the Saints isn't nearly as enticing as his Week 4 matchup with the Cardinals is.

Chris Herndon, Jets

With the situation at tight end pretty dire, it's time to start thinking about a preemptive bid on Herndon, a breakout candidate serving a four-game suspension. As a rookie, he was a top-seven fantasy tight end over a 10-game stretch from Week 6 to Week 16. The Jets' new coaching staff gushed about him in the offseason and he should produce another strong fantasy finish once he returns from suspension.

Other options: Noah Fant at GB (11% owned), Gerald Everett at CLE (4% owned), Vernon Davis vs. CHI (29% owned), Jason Witten vs. MIA (13% owned), Blake Jarwin vs. MIA (3% owned)