Waiver Adds You Should Start Week 3

Injuries ruled the day in Week 2 as several starter-level players ended up succumbing to injury. There was, no doubt, plenty of hot waiver action at the beginning of the week. If you missed the Tuesday flurry, don’t fret. There are still plenty of good plays floating around out there on most waiver wires. I’ll go through a few of my favorite adds for the week below.

Joe Flacco – Baltimore (-1) @ Jacksonville, +/- 47

The Jaguars are giving it up to opposing offenses through the first couple weeks of the season. Packers fans felt pretty good after it looked like Aaron Rodgers and company were knocking the dust off of an offense that struggled mightily last year. Green Bay then went to Minnesota and had a hard time getting anything going. The Jags matched up with the San Diego Chargers next. The Chargers thoroughly dominating that matchup despite injuries to Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead.

This is a long-winded way of saying the Jaguars defense is not good again this year. Flacco, on the other hand, is getting the Ravens O in gear, hooking up with Mike Wallace and Dennis Pitta on the reg. If your starting QB has a bad matchup (I’m talking to you, Russel Wilson owners), plug Flacco in this week with confidence.

Cole Beasley – Chicago @ Dallas (-7), +/-44.5

We don’t have a good total projection from Vegas here, and the wise guys are expecting the Cowboys to manhandle a bad Bears side. Early in Dak Prescott’s career, though, he and Cole Beasley have a nice rapport. Beasley gives the young quarterback a lot of easy throws as the tertiary receiver in the ‘Boys offense. I doubt we’ll see a whole lot of offensive fireworks in this one, but Beasley is a nice play if you’re looking for a very solid floor. Last point, you’d figure, eventually, Prescott will throw a touchdown pass… right?

Matt Asiata – Minnesota @ Carolina (-7), +/-46

Jerick McKinnon was the most coveted waiver claim this week, especially after the news of Adrian Peterson’s impending surgery broke. I was lucky enough to get McKinnon in a few leagues, but he is, no doubt, no longer available. The sneaky play, they guy who is still out there on most waiver wires is Matt Asiata. Asiata is a big, downhill pounder who should get most of the work around the goal line. And yeah, Carolina might put this one away early, but the Vikings looked pretty good in prime time against a Packers team that isn’t as bad as the comments on JSOnline make them out to be. We just need a couple of goal-line chances to make Asiata the play this week.

Vance McDonald – San Francisco @ Seattle (-9.5), +/-40

Scary things abound with this recommendation. McDonald has not been heavily targeted. We may see a double-digit favorite hosting a team that was completely written off before they managed a win in their opener and gave Carolina a pretty good run in Week 2. So if you have a good option, if you’ve been waiting on Kelce or feel better taking a shot on Jack Doyle I won’t argue against that too hard. However McDonald is a competent tight end in a Chip Kelly offense in a game where the Niners are expected to need to throw early and often. So far, McDonald’s pre-season hype has been validated with his td-per-game performance. For the Gates owner, the Fleener owner, maybe you’re ready to bail on Barnidge? Slide McDonald in that tight end slot and relax.

Giants – Washington @ New York Giants (-4.5), +/-46

The Giants spent big this offseason, bolstering their defensive line. While adding a bunch of high-price free agents doesn’t seem to work out very often, this Giants d-line is formidable. After holding the Saints to a fantasy-nightmare 13 points in week 2, they’ll host a struggling Washington team that has failed to get their ground game going. Kirk Cousins is usually good for a turnover or two, and it looks like the Redskins may be picking early in the draft in Philly. This is a contest between two franchises heading in different directions. Plug and play the G-men this week.

Josh Lambo – San Diego @ Indianapolis (-3), +/-51.5

Phillip Rivers just keeps on chugging, moving the ball and scoring points despite his comrades falling all around him. Against the Colts this weekend, the Chargers will put up plenty of points, and Lambo stands to benefit from this porous Indy D. We’ve got a nice over/under here.

These guys already taken? Have a tough start/sit call this week? Hit me up on Twitter @NFLClark. Thanks for reading!