By Chris Dell / Ben Martinez
Welcome to our Betting Predators Waiver Wire column, which will be more of a catch-all space and a serve as a supplement to our weekly waiver wire rankings on the website. Please note, all players listed below are owned in less than 33.3% of ESPN leagues. Thank you for reading, as always, and don't hesitate to reach out with your fantasy questions - @MaddJournalist on Twitter. BOL on your FAB bids/ waiver claims!
Quarterbacks
(EXCEPTION TO THE 33% OWNERSHIP RULE) Justin Fields 48.4% - For those looking to stream QB's this season, Justin Fields might just become your forever quarterback starting in Week 3. If Andy Dalton misses time, then it's highly likely Fields will not relinquish the QB1 job back to him. With a week to prepare for Cleveland, Fields should put on a show on the ground. Houston QB Tyrod Taylor was 10 of11 for 125 yards and a TD pass (and a TD run) before exiting the Browns/Texans game due to injury in Week 2, and when you add on Fields' 10 rushes for 31 yards in the second half vs Cincinnati (compared to 13 pass attempts in a positive game script), then we have a weekly starting QB with upside for both the short term and long term. Fields could legit challenge Lamar for the NFL's QB rush lead. Recommended FAB Bid: 25-30%
Teddy Bridgwater 14.6% - Teddy Two Gloves (TF does that mean anyways?) has absolutely shredded secondaries this season, and he's shredding his own label as a conservative/game-managing quarterback with it. The Broncos' new (franchise?) QB is a ridiculous 54-for 70 with 592 passing yards, 4 TD's and 0 INT's through two games to go along with a 77% completion rate and solid 8.5 YPA. He's been ultra efficient in positive game scripts as well when Denver hasn't "needed" to throw, so just imagine what he can do if the Broncos need to push the ball down field? The floor of 20+ is there, and we all know Teddy is mobile enough to scramble and get you some yards here and there with his legs. Teddy doesn't have the ceiling that Fields possesses, but the consistency is there, in addition to him still having weapons galore (sans Jeudy) in Noah Fant, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, KJ Hamler & Co. Recommended FAB Bid: <5%
Derek Carr 16.6% - Carr has been borderline magnificent throwing the ball through two weeks against two of the toughest defenses in the league (Baltimore/Pittsburgh). Like Teddy above, Carr has now posted top 10 fantasy QB numbers in back to back weeks with 817 yards, 4 TD's and 1 INT to go along with a 67% completion rate and 8.8 YPA clip. The Raiders' inefficiencies on the ground due to their OL and lackluster rushers have put Carr in a position to utilize his talented pass-catcher core to the fullest, whether it's Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards or even Kenyan Drake. The schedule gets anything but tougher, so take advantage of his low ownership now. Recommended FAB Bid: <5%
Honorable Mention: Taylor Heinicke 1.9%, Daniel Jones 10.7%, Kirk Cousins 24.5%, Trey Lance 26.5% (STASH)
Running Backs
(EXCEPTION TO THE 33% OWNERSHIP RULE) Tony Pollard 38.6% - It's now been two weeks in a row where Tony Pollard is your highest scoring fantasy running back on the Dallas Cowboys. Elliott led the way with 18 total touches in Week 2, but Pollard was right behind him with 16 while out-gaining Elliott 140 to 97 total yards in the process. This Cowboys backfield is now more of a two-man committee then a one-man show, and Tony Pollard needs to be the number one add this week in all fantasy football leagues where he's available because of it. He's now stand alone flex-worthy for Dallas' Week 3 primetime tilt vs. Philadelphia, where he'll look to build off his potential breakout campaign. Don't forget also that if Zeke every got banged up or went down, Pollard could flirt with top 5 RB numbers. It's possible some owners dropped him on waivers after Week 1. Be aggressive in your FAB bids. Recommended FAB Bid: 35-40%
Alexander Mattison 28.5% - We're slotting in Mattison over Patterson here despite Mattison's true value still being as strictly a handcuff to Dalvin Cook in fantasy football. But Cook's injury history should not be ignored, and we saw that unfortunate history pop up again in Week 2 as Dalvin trotted off the field multiple times with different injuries. It seems like Cook will be fine moving forward, but we still can't ignore the fact he's receiving a ton of touches right now in this offense (50 total touches in 2 games, 42 total carries). Mattison saw more snaps, routes and touches in Week 2, although in a very limited role (3-11 rushing and 1-1-17 receiving), but don't forget the workhorse potential he flashed last season in Cook's absence when he put up rushing lines of 20-112 and Week 17 where he went 21-95-1 and 3-3-50-1. He needs to be rostered in all leagues 12 teams or larger. Recommended FAB Bid: 10-15%
Cordarrelle Patterson 8.0% - Is he a wide receiver or running back? It simply doesn't matter. Cordarrelle Patterson is a must add in fantasy after a Week 2 in which he finished tied in rushing attempts with Mike Davis (7) and tied for 3rd in targets for the Falcons with 6. Patterson's snap count was the same as Week 1 with 24, but he actually out-snapped Mike Davis in the red zone this week. With the Falcons possibility playing from behind every other week or more, Patterson could become a weapon Matt Ryan will depend on to move the ball and find creative ways to get schemed open in Arthur Smith's offense. Patterson's 12 touches for 69 yards and 2 TD's were once again more efficient (and more explosive/elusive) than Davis' 16 touches for 63 yards. Patterson can provide floor-level RB2 in deeper leagues and flex upside in standard sized leagues. Don't expect multiple scores each week though. Recommended FAB Bid: 10-15%
Honorable Mention: Chubba Hubbard 11.8%, Kenneth Gainwell 29.0%, Ty Johnson 5.2%, Jeff Wilson 2.7% (STASH)
Wide Receivers
Rondale Moore 19.2% - With a massive increase in his role from Week 1 to 2, Rondale Moore's stock skyrockets, just as we've said it would all offseason AND even after his modest NFL regular-season opener. The rookie out of Purdue capped off his breakout performance on Sunday with 7 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, including a 77-yard highlight reel reception. He's our unanimous top WR add for Week, as his workload should continue to increase week to week in arguably the league's most explosive offense. While 28 snaps (increase from 20 Week 1) 24 routes run tied for just 4th on the team with tight end Maxx Williams, the targets are being EARNED and the playing time will continue to rise. If you're in a league where you start three WR's, don't be afraid to bolster your FAB bids. Recommended FAB Bid: 20-25%
K.J. Osborn 1.1% - K.J. Who? The second-year receiver from Miami has burst onto the fantasy scenes with back-to-back weeks of top 20 PPR performances. Through two weeks Osborn leads the Vikings in catches (12), receiving yards (167), yards per reception (13.7) and has posted 5+ catches, 6+ targets and 76+ yards in back to back games to open the year. Call it a fluke if you want, but it's too difficult to ignore the Vikings' porous defense leading to negative game scripts and high-volume passing attacks more often than not this season, evidenced by Cousins' 595 passing yards and 5 passing TD's through just two games. Osborn will continue to benefit from added attention to Jefferson/Thielen and at 1.1% ownership it's possible he continues to get ignored by the mainstream for the time being. He possesses true WR3 upside and could stand to massively benefit if injuries happen to the guys in front of him. Recommended FAB Bid: 10-15%
Tim Patrick 12.8% - Tim Patrick is the clear number two WR in Denver, and although his Week 2 stat line was modest at best, keep in mind that Patrick had 2 less snaps then Sutton and ran the same amount of routes (31), which was tied for the team high. Patrick's four targets can only go up from here as Denver will be forced to pass much more after Week 3 with opponents like the Ravens, Steelers, Raiders, Browns, Football Team and Cowboys on the horizon. Buy low and stash for now. Recommended FAB Bid: 5-10%
Honorable Mention: Elijah Moore 33.1%, Sammy Watkins 29.0%, AJ Green 25.6%, Christian Kirk 25.4%, Emmanuel Sanders 20.9%, Terrace Marshall Jr. 18.2%, Bryan Edwards 16.9%, Zach Pascal 14.8%, Van Jefferson 7.4%, Hunter Renfrow 6.5%, Marquez Valdes-Scantling 4.5%, KJ Hamler 3.8%, Darius Slayton 3.4%, Demarcus Robinson 1.6%, Quez Watkins 1.3%, Byron Pringle 1.1%, Quintez Cephus 0.7%, Adam Humphries 0.3%, Freddie Swain 0.1%, Braxton Berrios 0.1%
Tight Ends
Evan Engram 32.4%/Jack Doyle 0.7% - The free agent market for tight ends remains dearth, which is why we're throwing two guys at the top of this list who offer iffy situations at best. Engram still hasn't played a single snap this season, while Doyle turned a snoozing 4-3-21 receiving line in Week 2 into 8-5-64 semi woke stat line in Week 2 (we're trying our best to entertain here when talking TE's folks). The fact remains that Engram and Doyle represent a baseline floor heading into Week 3. Both have showed stable floors throughout their respective NFL careers, although Engram's ceiling is much higher due to his youth and athleticism and the fact Doyle's quarterback situation right now looks shaky with Wentz dealing with injuries to both of his ankles (and a potential shoulder issue as well). Engram saw 100+ targets last season with Daniel Jones but ran unlucky in the TD department. This week he apparently saw limited practice time for the first time this season and could provide a much-needed boost underneath in lieu of the pedestrian and seemingly flat-footed Kyle Rudolph. Either way, keep your bids in check. Recommended FAB Bid: <5%
Maxx Williams 0.1% - Complete dart throw here, but the starting tight end in the league's most prolific offense could indeed be worth a speculative stash heading into Week 3. Williams finished second for Arizona in targets (7) in a shootout with Minnesota on Sunday, catching all of his targets for 7-94 and a long grab of 34 yards. The 6-foot-4, 252-pounder out of Minnesota possesses good size/hands and doesn't have much competition in the way of snaps or routes (45 and 24) at his position either, although temper your expectations (and your bids) with Arizona quite possibly leading the league in four WR sets this season. Either way, if you can stash him without sacrificing much, do it. Any person named Maxx with two X's spelled in their first name is worth an add on that fact alone. Recommended FAB Bid: <2.5%
Pat Freiermoth 4.5% - Freiermoth (pronounced "Fryer Meuth," we think) out-snapped Eric Ebron 33-24 in Week 2, ran 5 more routes, and out-targeted him 4-1 as the veteran Ebron was banged up and could be questionable moving forward. Although Freiermoth likely isn't worth start in Week 3 in a regular 12 team league, it's worth monitoring Diontae Johnson's health also here, as Freiermoth could become quite valuable TE premium leagues if either one or both of Ebron/Johnson were to miss time. Check back here next week on the correct pronunciation of his name, too. Recommended FAB Bid: <2.5%
Honorable Mention: Jack Doyle 0.7%, Blake Jarwin 7.2%, Cole Kmet 28.3%, Dawson Knox 3.2%
D/ST
Carolina Panthers 13.1% (at HOU)
Arizona Cardinals 30.3% (at JAX)
Las Vegas Raiders 1.0% (vs MIA)
Tennessee Titans 3.0% (vs IND)
New York Giants 9.0% (vs ATL)