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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 3: Who To Grab To Dominate The Wire

by Scott Engel | 4:05 pm, September 18th, 2012

We’ve enlisted the help of a man who knows his fantasy, RotoExperts.com’s managing director Scott Engel, an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame, to identify the players you should add — and the ones you should drop — each week. Follow his advice, and you should be golden.

No matter what you record is after two weeks, there is always room for improvement for your fake football team. Even if you are 2-0, you can quickly be 2-2 if you stand pat and just bask in the glow of your Fantasy genius. If you’re 0-2, then, well, you’re probably just desperate to improve your team. If you are 1-1, then you may be level-headed about all of this and just need to make some maintenance moves. (It’s all about perspectives, even in Fantasy Football.)

Here are 11 Add/Drops to consider now that Week 2 is over and Week 3 is approaching.

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1.Add Mikel Leshoure, RB, Lions

Running backs are very hard to come by nowadays, with so many going down due to injuries or not playing up to expectations. (Or maybe you simply own Shonn Greene, which is never a good thing.) Leshoure is about to finally get his shot in Detroit as he returns from a suspension and a lost rookie season because of an Achilles injury. The Lions are starved for a quality runner that can add much-needed balance to their offense. There is already talk that Leshoure may get a chance to start, and he is available in some leagues. If he is not, then try to swing a lower-level trade to get him.

2.Add Ryan Williams, RB, Cardinals

This is a bold one for after your initial waivers or free agent bids run. Many Fantasy owners are short-sighted and will think the Williams era is already over in Arizona after two games. They will cut him and you should add him. Williams is off to an awful start and nearly blew the game at New England with a costly fumble. Yet he just needs more time to get into the flow of the offense and he still has a ton of upside. Once he starts getting more comfortable and the Cardinals also find ways to get him the ball in space, those who cut Williams will regret it, and you will be happy to have planned ahead. Call me crazy now, thank me later.

3.Don’t Cut Fred Jackson, RB, Bills

We have to interject here with a “non move” because too many Fantasy owners are overreacting to the C.J. Spiller breakout and are assuming he's now earned a full-time job. That’s a woefully incorrect read on the situation, and you also do not cut a player just because he is injured and out for a few weeks, which some Fantasy owners do. Sure, Spiller has been spectacular recently, and may continue to dazzle, but not with a significantly increased workload. When Jackson returns, the two will likely split carries again, because doing so gives the Bills two fine RBs to challenge defenses with. Both have different styles as well. The Bills don’t want to overwork Spiller and wear him down, either. So while he will continue to shine, he’ll do so with a carefully monitored eye on how he is used. But Spiller makes the most of every touch, like Jamaal Charles did in 2010. So stay high on Spiller and scoop up Jackson if someone else drops him. Both will be very productive when available.

4.Add Donnie Avery, WR, Colts

Avery has a checkered history of injuries and inconsistent play. He once looked like a very dangerous downfield target, and he came to the Colts this year simply trying to salvage his career. Avery had a good preseason and has carried quality play early into the regular season, emerging as a favored option for impressive rookie Andrew Luck. Austin Collie has not been able to shake off the effects of a concussion and T.Y. Hilton is not quite ready to make an impact. Avery may have to battle to maintain his role in the passing game, but he’s winning right now, so add him and rate his value on a week to week basis.

5.Add Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins

We’ve all made jokes that the local dive bar’s flag football team has better pass-catchers than the Dolphins. But Miami now actually has a decent quarterback in rookie Ryan Tannehill, who asserted himself well against Oakland after facing the AFC’s best defense (Houston) in the opener. Tannehill will keep the offense moving and needs a go-to guy, and it looks to be Hartline, who enjoyed a breakout day against the woeful Raiders in Week 2. Of course, defenses will now also pay more attention to Hartline. So add him, but don’t start him over more established guys just yet.

6.Add Andrew Hawkins, WR, Bengals

As we told some of you last week, we won’t just recommend outright adds and drops in this space. We’ll also examine whether the guys everyone thinks they should add or drop are really worth your effort. Hawkins is all the rage after two promising weeks, and Fantasy players have been waiting for another WR option to emerge in Cincinnati. Slow your roll, though: Hawkins is listed at 5-7, 180, and is a role-playing slot WR who is smaller than just about any other consistently successful guy with the same job description in the past. He won’t be targeted frequently enough, and may have a lot of trouble getting open regularly now that opponents know who he is. Add Hawkins if you are desperate for WR help, but put him low on your priority list.

7.Add Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks

Tate is better known now for his vicious hit on Cowboys LB Sean Lee more than anything else. While some may say it was illegal, it was also a statement. This is a make-or-break season for Tate, who has been put on notice by the Seahawks that he better produce this year or he could be working at a donut shop rather than getting caught for sneaking into one. The Seahawks need a playmaker to step up in the passing game, and Tate can make some pretty grabs. He’ll rise as Russell Wilson continues to settle in.

8.Add Alex Smith, QB 49ers

We are seeing lots of Fantasy owners who are unhappy with their quarterback situations. Specifically, those who own Jay Cutler or Peyton Manning. If you want stability and not up and down play, you can now actually turn to Smith, who was once the butt of many a Fantasy joke. Smith has become a stable decision-maker and now has a diverse crew of pass-catchers to spread the ball around to. He’s not sexy, but Smith won’t hurt your team.

9.Drop Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers

We heard all throughout his Chicago tenure that Olsen was going to bust out as a prime pass-catcher. Now we started hearing it in Carolina, too, in the preseason. The reality is, that Cam Newton looks at his tight end about as often as that rich guy sitting in the first row on the 50-yard line looks at the face value price of his tickets. Olsen caught one pass against the Saints this past week. Goodbye.

10.Drop Jake Locker, QB Titans

Because he sparkled in relief appearances last year, Locker had many Fantasy players excited about his potential. But it’s much different to be a regular starter when defenses game plan for a QB every week. Opponents now focus on stifling Chris Johnson and dare Locker to beat them. He can’t, especially when he's facing adverse passing situations and is always playing from behind. The Titans desperately need to go back to Matt Hasselbeck, who can at least make defenses respect the passing game again. Locker needs to be off your team as well. The Titans have indicated they will stick with Locker for now, but you should not. When the Titans come to their senses and make a QB change, Chris Johnson may actually see more open running room as well.

11.Drop Titus Young, WR, Lions

He has a ton of potential, but it’s already apparent this is not the year for Young, who has already been in the news for the wrong reasons, as he tangled with a defensive back in extracurricular activities in the opener. He was invisible in Week 2. Young is known as a head case now, and at best, he’ll fill a niche in the Detroit offense as an occasional deep threat. Nate Burleson is not exciting, but the Lions trust him more to keep his cool and execute the fundamentals as a veteran. Young may be the fourth option in the Lions passing game at best, and you can revisit his upside in 2013.

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