With week three just around the corner and today being the day for waiver claims we are excited to bring your our third installment of hot pickups for the 2018 fantasy football season. While some names such as Desean Jackson (50%) and Keelan Cole (49% ownership) dont meet our 45% owned or under cutoff we still mentioned them here as they should in fact be owned in all competitive leagues. One other name that needs to be owned in each and every fantasy league is Aaron Jones who is still available in 39 percent of yahoo leagues, he will take over as the Packers starting running back in short order and should already be universally owned.
John Brown – John Brown has emerged as the Ravens number one receiver with Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead playing more of possession roles. While Snead’s emergence as a Flacco favorite has put a damper on Crabtree’s fantasy ceiling, the presence of two rock solid underneath receivers has allowed Brown to do his damage on the outside. The 74 percent available Brown leads the Ravens in yards and touchdowns and could very well lead in these two categories when the year is set in stone. More impressive than those numbers however are his 14 targets that rank second on the team and his 19.4 yards per reception which currently place him at a sustainable tenth in the league. Brown looks like a solid WR3 the rest of the way, especially when Flacco targets him as much as he has thus far in the young NFL season. Make the add where possible.
Antonio Callaway – With Josh Gordon traded to the Patriots on Monday Antonio Callaway is now set as the Browns number two receiver. Callaway responded with 81 yards and a touchdown this weekend versus the Saints with Josh Gordon inactive and should continue to impress as the fantasy season progresses. Callaway is arguably the most talented receiver of the 2018 wide receiver class and only dropped to the fourth round due to multiple off field issues. With Gordon out of town the Browns have ensured Callaway has a steady, productive mentor in Jarvis Landry. Callaway should be added as flex2 option in all of the 93 percent of yahoo leagues he is still available in.
Donte Moncrief – Moncrief, despite his inefficient lines thus far in the season has amassed a team leading 14 targets and needs to be owned in all competitive formats. Always long on talent Moncrief is now boasting the target share to finally deliver on his potential. While Bortles had a pre-existing rapport with Keelan Cole and Westbrook, he has been building the same with Moncrief week to week. Available in 92 percent of yahoo leagues Moncrief is a deep league flex2 with the talent, opportunity and ability to morph into an upside WR3 in short order. Make the add where possible.
Giovani Bernard – Available in 71 percent of yahoo leagues Giovani Bernard is expected to take over the lead back job for the bengals with Joe Mixon on the shelf for at least two weeks. Gio has RB2 upside for as long as Mixon is sidelined but expectations should be tempered versus what he did last year with Mixon injured as the Bengals now have another competent back in solid rookie Mark Walton. It is not recommended to blow too much of your FAAB budget on him as he could be back to a bit role behind workhorse Joe Mixon in short order. However if you are in a deep league and are a Mixon owner, making this add may help keep you afloat in the interim. Make the add only after careful calculation.
DeDe Westbrook – If Blake Bortles keeps playing at the pace he is at right now (12th in NFL in passing yards) then he will be able to support three fantasy relevant receivers. While Westbrook is for all purposes the third receiver in Jacksonville he is still amassing plenty of opportunity and should be owned in deeper leagues. Available in 83 percent of yahoo leagues Westbrook should be looked at as a solid bye week filler with flex2 upside. Add the exciting sophomore where needed.
Calvin Ridley – It is only a matter of time until Ridley becomes a target monster across from Julio Jones but until then he should post some strong weeks as he did in week two to the tune of four receptions off of five targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Available in 78 percent of yahoo leagues Ridley needs to be owned in all competitive formats even if nothing more as a high upside bench stash or bye week filler. Make the add where available.
Chris Godwin – The 65 percent available Godwin continues to impress with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Godwin managed a 5-56-1 line off of six targets and is a strong flex2 play for as long as the Bucs keep rolling with Fitzpatrick, which in all likelihood will continue even after Jameis is off of suspension, especially when one considers how soft most of the Bucs schedule is this year. The Bucs turning back to Jameis presents legitimate concern or we would be ranking Godwin much higher on this list. Add Godwin wherever needed.
Javorius Allen – With Alex Collins looking like just a guy behind what was supposed to be an improved Ravens offensive line receiving back Javorius Allen has been able to generate some fantasy value for those in shallower leagues. Allen has always been a deeper league PPR play but is now forcing himself into the mainstream conversation as he currently only has one fewer touch than ‘starter’ Alex Collins. While both have been misses in the run game, Allen has quietly racked up 13 targets which places him only behind the wide receiver trio of Crabtree, Brown and Snead. Available in 92 percent of yahoo leagues Allen could be a solid add for those already feeling the running back crunch (for example I have both Bell and Mixon in one 14 team league) and should be taken a hard look at as a bye week filler/injury replacement who could continue to see 50 percent of the running back touches in Baltimore.
Tyler Boyd – John Ross has continued to struggle for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tyler Boyd has exploited that opportunity to a strong week two performance that saw him haul in six of his nine targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. While his week to week production will likely be inconsistent, Boyd has some value as a bye week filler who could be deployed as a flex option during that time. Add the 98 percent available Boyd where needed.
Mark Walton – Walton will be a popular waiver wire add this week with Joe Mixon due to be out for at least two weeks. As cautioned with Gio above we do not suggest going too crazy here outside of the deepest of leagues as Mixon, who is second in the NFL in rushing despite missing snaps due to injuries, will return as a workhorse once healthy. Available in 99 percent of yahoo leagues Walton was inactive for the first two weeks of the season but could surprise many when he hits the field. Most of his hype died down following his being drafted by the Bengals but we should all remember that he was touted by many as one of the top backs in a very strong class of rookie running backs. Walton would likely be a starter, albeit a low upside one, on multiple NFL teams this year and that should be taken into account if you already find yourself RB needy heading into week three. Walton looks like more of an injury replacement/bye week filler type outside of the deepest of league so please take that into account when preparing your FAAB bids.
Deep league specials: Austin Ekeler, Corey Clement, Austin Hooper, Will Dissly, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tavon Austin, Jarius Wright, D.J Moore, Geronimo Allison, Torrey Smith, Albert Wilson, Ito Smith, Chris Ivory, Corey Grant, Dante Pettis, James Washington, Rashard Higgins, Ian Thomas, Jonnu Smith
