If you read last week’s article (and acted on it), then you were probably pretty happy this week. Dede Westbrook put up 18.8 points on 134 receiving yards and a TD. Austin Ekeler had another efficient output, gaining 98 total yards, although he failed to find the end zone. Kenneth Dixon was inactive this week due to injury. I must apologize for Tyler Lockett though, who caught for 60 yards and a TD on Monday Night Football. Overall though, I’d say it was a pretty successful week on the waiver wire, but a good fantasy owner must stay hungry to find the next Alvin Kamara. Here are the top adds (or not) for week three.
By Matt Orecchio
Worth the Add- WR Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (15.1 Week 2 Points)
AJ Green stole the show on Thursday Night Football with 3 TDs in the first half. But Bengals’ WR2 Tyler Boyd had himself a night too, catching 6 balls for 91 yards and a touchdown. Boyd was on the field for 79% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps, and he saw 13 more snaps than John Ross. The Bengals play the Panthers in Week 3, and it will be a perfect opportunity for Boyd to have another solid game while taking advantage of the Panthers’ weak secondary. Boyd’s route chart from Week 2 also shows that the Bengals used him in all types of situations. His six catches were made up of two corner routes, two outs, a crosser, and a post. He seems to have a much more diverse skillset than John Ross, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he forms a dangerous WR tandem with AJ Green going forward.
Won’t Repeat- RB Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles (14.5 Week 2 Points)
Clement had a good fantasy week, accruing 85 total yards and finding the end zone. However, this was mainly due to the fact that Jay Ajayi was out for a good portion of the game against the Buccaneers. Ajayi was only on the field for 28% of offensive snaps, while Clement saw 42% of snaps. Clement had 11 touches in Week 2, and to turn that into 30 rush yards, 55 receiving yards, and a touchdown is pretty efficient. But 9 of those touches came while Ajayi was out, and in that same span he split carries evenly with Wendell Smallwood. I wouldn’t be too sure about Clement’s work going forward, and I think he’s only worth an add as a handcuff for Ajayi. His fantasy value would improve significantly if something were to happen to Ajayi.
Worth the Add- TE OJ Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15.6 Week 2 Points)
Most of Howard’s fantasy points came from a 75-yard TD grab. Besides that play, Howard only had two other catches for 21 yards. Usually I’d be hesitant to add a TE who had a big game due to a single big play or two. But in this scenario, I think Howard makes a lot of sense going forward. The Bucs have had one of the NFL’s best offenses over the first two weeks of the season, and even if Howard doesn’t score a 75-yard TD every week, he should get plenty more looks going forward, especially considering he was on the field for 79% of snaps. My favorite part about adding OJ Howard? The Bucs’ other TE threat, Cameron Brate, doesn’t have a single reception through the first two games. During the offseason, Howard’s stock was obviously limited due to the presence of Brate, but Brate has not been a big part of the offense at all. We like this for OJ.
Won’t Repeat- WR/RB Tavon Austin, Dallas Cowboys (15.4 Week 2 Points)
My face lit up when I saw that Tavon Austin accumulated 94 total yards and a TD on Sunday. I’ve been thinking about Austin since fantasy draft season, considering he’s an extremely talented athlete whose talent wasn’t utilized efficiently with the Rams (they’ve done this twice now with Austin and Sammy Watkins). I thought the Cowboys would find a way to unlock his potential, especially due to their lack of receivers. However, my issue here is that Austin didn’t get many looks at all. He caught two passes. One was a 15-yard comeback route. The other was a 64-yard TD when the Giants blew their coverage. He was also only on the field for 18 total snaps (34%). Throughout the first two weeks, Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Michael Gallup, and Deonte Thompson have had a firm grasp on the Cowboys’ offensive snaps. I don’t expect Austin to get more time than he’s been getting, so unless Austin can average 39.5 yards per catch every week, he’ll be an inconsistent waiver wire floater at best.
Also Worth a Look:
QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (32.58 points in Week 2)
WR Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers (6.4 points in Week 2)
WR Antonio Callaway, Cleveland Browns (14.8 points in Week 2)
Be Wary of:
QB Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (26.6 points in Week 2)
WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (12.0 points in Week 2)
TE Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers (19.8 points in Week 2)
Photo Credit: Erik Drost
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