Fantasy Football: Week 3 Waiver Wire Watch List
Week two of the NFL season has given us both injury and shock. Not many expected to see teams like Seattle and Philadelphia underperforming this early, leaving some fantasy owners struggling to find replacements. The Waiver Wire Watch is designed to help you find those diamonds in the rough, while also showing you not to grab.
All of these availability percentages are based on the ESPN standard fantasy league results.
Place a Claim
Blake Bortles: Jaguars QB
Percentage of ESPN Leagues Available on Waiver Wire: 94%
While he’s not the sexiest name to add, his match-up is. The Patriots defense is one of the worst in the league so far, namely their secondary. When Bradley Fletcher is one of your “best corners”, you’re going to have a problem.
Bortles threw two touchdowns and 273 yards against the Dolphins. He has a lot of decent, young offensive weapons around him with Robinson, Hurns and Yeldon. If Bortles can stretch the field with someone like Robinson matched up against Fletcher he could have a decent outing.
The Jaguars quarterback clearly shouldn’t be started over guys who are proven like Rodgers or Manning. If you lost Romo, Cutler, or (potentially) Stafford for a couple of weeks, Bortles is a nice insurance option.
Pass on the Wire
Dion Lewis: Patriots RB
Percentage of ESPN Leagues Available on Waiver Wire: 60%
Sep 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) attempts to tackle New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
Someone on the other sideline of this game. The Jaguars have actually built a decent run defense, currently ranked fourth in the league. Until we see signs of weakness, opposing running backs should be worried about gaining efficient yardage.
Guys like Dion Lewis come around in the Patriots offense, they usually have a couple good weeks, then another, usually, similar back comes in. LeGarrette Blount is back from suspension and will be getting more runs. Lewis will slowly disappear from the fantasy spectrum as Blount gets his chance to return.
Between the Jaguars defense and the return of Blount, I don’t trust Lewis heading into week three.