Sometimes there are monumental weekends that change the whole tenor of the fantasy football season. This was one of those weekends where you will tell your grandchildren during week two of the 2020 NFL season. Did you come out of it untouched? Or were you scrambling for early waiver wire pickups before Sunday had even finished?
Injuries were the story of this weekend and you either came out unscathed or were absolutely decimated. So here you are again, frantically scrambling to figure out just who the hell to pick up off waivers. Hoping desperately that you can save your season with a desperation play. The good news is, there is definitely some value still available on waivers. The SGPN early waiver wire column is here with players who are rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues.
Early Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
Jerrick McKinnon (RB) – 18.9%
It was just another week in the convoluted 49ers backfield. Mostert and Coleman dominated the touches as usual. However, Coleman was ineffective with 2.5 yards per touch. Mostert left with an injury and was still limited against a stingy Jets defense.
With a soft Giants defense coming to town next week, Jerrick McKinnon looks like the most explosive back in San Francisco. San Francisco gave McKinnon a huge contract two off-seasons ago. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from seeing significant usage. He seems to be back and ready to roll in 2020. Target him on waivers this week. McKinnon should have flex value over the rest of the season so long as he stays healthy.
Joshua Kelley (RB) – 26.4%
Clearly some of y’all ignant and did not read what was said here last week. PICK UP JOSHUA KELLEY ASAP.
Kelley had 25 touches against the underrated Chiefs’ run defense. So, don’t be discouraged by Kelley’s “slower game.” Next week the Chargers host Carolina and Kelley should be locked into your flex slot.
If you have not picked him up yet, use this early waiver wire column to remind you to GO GET HIM. Kelley has RB2 upside and should be rostered in all formats and leagues.
Mike Davis (RB) – 0.8%
That loud noise you heard earlier today was every Panthers fan and Christian McCaffrey manager screaming in agony when he left with an ankle injury. The most dominant player in fantasy football over the past two years has an ankle injury. It remains to be seen if he will miss time.
Good news if you have CMC on your roster though, you can run to waivers and scoop up Mike Davis right now. Mike Davis is barely rostered in any leagues and the Carolina offense looked productive with him in the game. Davis managed 8 receptions for 74 yards after CMC left the game. Knowing he can be trusted in the passing game is huge and makes him a valuable target. If CMC cannot play next week, Davis is a plug and play RB2 as Carolina takes on the Chargers.
Dion Lewis (RB) – 0.8%
All indications are that Saquon Barkley’s 2020 season is done. The Giants fear an ACL tear. Barkley has not looked great so far, but he has an undeniable talent and was highly-drafted in leagues everywhere.
The Giants rushing offense is absolutely putrid right now, but luckily they have Dion Lewis in reserve. Lewis is not the game-breaking talent that Barkley is, but he is a capable replacement. Barkley managers and all teams can benefit from Lewis in the short-term but monitor the situation. Unless they bring in another back, Lewis seems like the guy and will be a good upside flex play each week.
Myles Gaskin (RB) – 12.4%
After two weeks, it is very clear who is getting the lion’s share of the running back touches in the Dolphins’ backfield. Myles Gaskin has been dominating the running back touches in Miami and has been the most efficient with them. Through two games, Gaskin has 26 touches for 148 yards, the best efficiency out of any Miami back so far. He did all of this against two of the stingiest defenses in the NFL and appears to have the favor of Brian Flores and Chan Gailey. Based on his low roster percentages, he is available in a lot of leagues and you can capitalize. Head to the waiver wire and scoop him up early. He will be a hot commodity this week and is a high-end flex/low-end RB2 play moving forward.
Keelan Cole (WR) – 1.8%
Again, some of y’all ignant. You are sitting here reading this column a week after I told y’all to go get Keelan Cole. We talked about it over a month ago on the podcast with Sean & Kramer. Yet somehow, the target and reception leader for an NFL team is rostered in 1.8% of leagues.
Antonio Brown, who is not on a team, is rostered in 5.5% of leagues. Keelan Cole has established himself as the guy who is always open when Minshew needs him. He may not be taking the top off of defenses, he can and will, but he is consistently getting targets. Add in his two touchdowns already and his uncanny ability to always be open, Cole is a WR2 if he stays at this level of production. Trust the Owensboro Flash moving forward and pick him up before you lose to him in the weeks ahead.
Braxton Berrios (WR) – 0.1%
The New Jersey Jets are a dumpster fire. Adam Gase is destroying this team slowly but surely.
In spite of all those factors, Sam Darnold is still making plays and looking like he might be a decent NFL quarterback. Unfortunately for him, none of his receivers seem to be able to stay on the field for very long. By the end of the game, Braxton Berrios was his go-to receiver. With Perriman nursing an ankle injury and Crowder still banged up, Berrios may be the sneaky pick-up in Jersey. Berrios had 6 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown on 8 targets. He has flashed potential before and if Crowder and Perriman continue to miss time, he will fluctuate between flex and WR3 territory.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR) – 16.8%
The best quarterback/wide receiver combo in the NFL has been Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. Adams left Sunday’s game early with a hamstring injury and A-aron barely missed a beat against the Lions.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling seems like he might be the second option in Green Bay behind Aaron Jones. MVS was targeted 7 times and caught 3 passes for 64 yards. Last week he caught 4 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. It seems like Valdez-Scantling will have value in all formats moving forward as a WR3 each week.
Dalton Schultz (TE) – 0.9%
The Dallas Cowboys needed every second of their game against the Falcons to pull out a win. Dak Prescott threw the ball 47 times on Sunday and 10 of those targets went to Dalton Schultz. The young tight end had a career day with 9 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Last week, Dak targeted his tight ends five times. Last year he targeted them 124 times as well. Schultz is the undisputed replacement for Blake Jarwin. The Cowboys will be slinging it every game. If Schultz can be that reliable each week, he will be a top-tier tight end option each week. Go get him off the waiver wire now and plug him in as your tight end or flex each week.