Thankfully, this past week of NFL football was much, much healthier around the league (even though there were a few unfortunate injuries, like Tarik Cohen’s ACL tear). And while Week 3 produced some supreme games and outcomes (Bears and Falcons, Cowboys and Seahawks, Packers and Saints, and the Chiefs against the Ravens), there were plenty of fantasy football implications tied in as well.
*Additionally, here are ClutchPoints’ top waiver wire pickups at running back and wide receiver*
Specifically for quarterbacks, there was plenty of superior play (Josh Allen, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers) that helped dominate the Sunday slate, while some questionable play (Bears in general, Gardner Minshew, Carson Wentz) helped muddy up the position in fantasy football terms.
If you are looking for a replacement addition to your fantasy football roster, look no further. Here are five options that are on less than 50 percent of rosters, according to ESPN league metrics.
5. Daniel Jones – Giants
35.8% rostered
A terrible start to the year for Daniel Jones and the New York Giants has earned them no footing to begin the year — for the franchise and for fantasy football. Going against the Steelers, Bears, 49ers, and Rams to begin the year is tough for that offense, especially with running back Saquon Barkley having torn his ACL.
For Jones, he has been respectable to start the year, but two touchdowns to five interceptions just is not going to cut it in fantasy football or anything else. While Jones did hang 279 passing yards on the Steelers defense to open the year in a pretty surprising performance, the Giants have had it tough to start the year.
But after Jones and the Giants face the Rams in California, their schedule does improve – at Dallas, vs Washington, at Philadelphia, vs Tampa Bay, at Washington, and vs Philadelphia – before their Week 11 bye.
Jones seems to be falling out of favor for fantasy football team owners, making this a perfect time to pick him up – his schedule eases up after Week 4, so if you have a chance to stash him for a week, he could produce for you, especially in dynasty or super-flex leagues.
4. Justin Herbert – Chargers
15.5% rostered
Forced into the starting lineup with the medical mishap that incumbent starter Tyrod Taylor is dealing with, Oregon rookie Justin Herbert has been a bright spot in a very trying season for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Their victory over the equally-hapless Carolina Panthers was pretty solid, albeit his two turnovers, and it marked the second consecutive week that he threw for over 300 yards and one touchdown through the air. While it did take 49 pass attempts to get to 330 passing yards, Herbert seems to be in control of the Chargers’ offense.
Now, head coach Anthony Lynn has been very up front in how Taylor is the starter once he is medically cleared to be, something that does not necessarily bode well for Herbert’s fantasy football opportunities. However, the fact that Herbert is this team’s future and that he has shown an early mastery of the offense lends itself to be that it is his job to lose.
Lynn may have just been giving the media typical lip service with his comments about Taylor being the starter regardless of how well Herbert performs, but you at least have the Week 4 contest against an above-average Tampa Bay defense for Herbert to show why he should remain the starter.
While you should may this move with caution, Herbert could easily be got off the fantasy football waiver wire for a low priority, and he has immense dynasty value moving forward.
3. Ryan Tannehill – Titans
46.7% rostered
Ryan Tannehill barely made this fantasy football list due to his 46.7% ownership rate, and for good reason – the Titans have looked like a completely different team since he took the reigns full time, and it paved the way for his massive offseason extension.
The Tennessee Titans are fooling absolutely no one in their offensive approach, as they are a run-first team on the back of King Derrick Henry. But the weapons around Henry, specifically wide receiver AJ Brown, tight end Jonnu Smith, and Tannehill, thrive as well in fantasy football, especially with the defense focused on trying to stop Henry.
Boasting a 6:1 TD/INT ratio is quite impressive for Tannehill, against the Denver, Jacksonville, and Minnesota defensive units. And while those three teams boast middling D/ST units, Tannehill has been able to showcase how he fits well into the TEN scheme.
Facing the Steelers and Bills (both at home) for their next two games is for sure an easy way to scare off fantasy team owners, but that could end up driving down the interest as well. Tannehill could be a cheap savior for a bye week coming up, so invest some time in the waiver wire to see if he is available for your fantasy football roster.
2. Nick Foles – Bears
0.9% rostered
Nick Foles has a great reputation developed so far in his NFL career, one that frequently includes him producing in clutch moments after coming off of the bench or in in relief. And that just so happened again on Sunday for the Chicago Bears, after head coach Matt Nagy seemed to see enough of Mitchell Trubisky against a below-average Atlanta Falcons defense.
All Foles did was lead the Bears back from being down 16 points with over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, adding to the absolute pain that the Falcons have endured this year so far. Once Foles stepped into the game, he absolutely became the guy who was made famous during his days with the Philadelphia Eagles, taking big chances and make big plays. It's an interesting fantasy football topic to contemplate.
The Chicago offense takes on a little less volatility with Foles behind center, and he gives Allen Robinson and others a bit more value. See if you can pick him up if you are in a two-QB fantasy football league or just needing a bench option moving forward – it looks like Foles is the guy for the foreseeable future.
1. Jared Goff – Rams
37.4% rostered
The Los Angeles Rams struggled last year, there is no way around that. But with the offensive mastermind that head coach Sean McVay is, there was no way that that was going to continue into 2020. And so far, Jared Goff has been at the forefront of that push, with fantasy football owners taking notice.
863 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a 70.0 completion percentage is all that Goff has put up this year, throwing to Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Tyler Higbee, and he has been able to do so against some formidable defenses (Dallas and Philly no, but Buffalo fits).
Goff is going to be one of the hot waiver commodities if he is still available in your league, so put in a claim and bring him aboard if you want a low-risk addition capable of giving you 18+ fantasy points on a weekly basis.
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