What can I say about week 2 of the NFL season? I think the overwhelming sentiment is OUCH!
I cannot recall a week in which so many high-level players suffered major injuries. While the majority were on the offensive side of the ball (Saquon and CMC, just to name a few), the injury bug was biting players on both sides of the ball. While many will argue that a league is won or lost at the draft, I would disagree. Yes, you can position yourself nicely with a solid draft, but any great fantasy player will tell you that the waiver wire is where champions are born. I am going to do the digging for waiver wire gold and let you guys sport the bling. Below are 3 players who are criminally under-owned at the DL, LB, and DB positions and should be available on your waiver wire.
Here are your week 3 Waiver Wire adds:
Defensive Line
Kerry Hyder Jr.
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 1% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 7.5 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 9.0 |
Kerry Hyder Jr is most likely a “who” when it comes to D-lineman, but as we have instructed time and time again, opportunity breeds success. In this particular case, the opportunity comes at an unfortunate premium, the season-ending ACL tear to Nick Bosa. Hyder is definitely a wait and see type of addition, but in replacement for Bosa, he registered 8 tackles and 2 QB hits. His 80% snap share is a sign that he is the next man up on that line. Let’s also not forget that they also lost Solomon Thomas for the season. He might not be able to leave the field due to lack of bodies.
Jason Pierre-Paul
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 3.5% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 15.25 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 12.5 |
Another week, and another good game for JPP. Thru 2 games this season, JPP already has 2 sacks, 2.5 Tackles for loss, 7 tackles, and a Forced Fumble. Seeing over 90% of the defensive snaps and DL eligible, JPP is primed to deliver excellent value moving forward. The Bucs travel to Denver to face the Broncos in week3, who just gave up 7 sacks to the Steelers.
Chase Winovich
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 3.5% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 5 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 6.7 |
Chase Winovich is the waiver wire add that I would pay close attention to the snap share going forward. He has proven that he is an effective pass rusher, despite the heavy workload. He has increased his playing time over the past 2 weeks, and has contributed. He assisted on his first sack of the season and chipped in 2 QB hits as well.
Linebacker
Jon Bostic
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 3.9% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 15 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 15 |
For the second week in a row, Bostic remains criminally under rostered. For a linebacker who has played in 100% of the snaps, Bostic gets lost in the shuffle of linebacker. I, for one, will not let him stay hidden, seeing as he has recorded 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, and 15 fantasy points in each game. Facing the Browns and the Ravens the next 2 weeks should give him an opportunity at double digit tackles.
Myles Jack
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 20.8% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 14.25 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 17.25 |
It sure looks like the move to WLB has really motivated Myles Jack. With the addition of Joe Schobert, Myles looks a lot more comfortable on the outside. He has recorded 11 tackles in each game, and has played on 100% of the snaps in both games. Aside from Schobert and Jack, the Jags don’t exactly have the best defense in the league, which means plenty of time on the field!
Kenneth Murray
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 10.4% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 12 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 10.5 |
While the Chargers have been known to vary the playing time to their LB core over the years, I am liking what I have seen out of Murray so far this season. While he didn’t play in 100% of the snaps, he has been doing a great job with the play-calling as well as his production. The Chargers get Carolina next week, who allowed both Devin White and Lavonte David to see double digit tackles.
Defensive Backs
Jordan Fuller
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | .9% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 10.5 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 10.25 |
All along the pre-season, Taylor Rapp was getting all the hype and was poised to have a great season. Fast forward to today and all the talk is about Jordan Fuller. The rookie has absolutely earned the playing time (99% of the snaps in both games). Fuller has 17 combined tackles and as long as he is getting the work at safety in L.A, he should be on all of our radars.
Kenny Vaccaro
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 2.2% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 26.75 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 18.5 |
Vaccaro led the Titans in their week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars with 11 tackles and a sack. On the season, Vacarro has 17 total tackles (3 TFL), and 3 PD’s. If he can keep this pace up, it might be safe to say that he could eclipse the 100 tackle season, which he hasn’t done sine 2015.
Antoine Winfield
| % Rostered (FantasyPros Consensus) | 17.2% |
| Week 2 Fantasy Points | 22.25 |
| FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) | 15.25 |
The rookie season for Antoine Winfield has been a successful one through 2 weeks. Last week, Winfield was absolutely dominant in the victory over the Panthers. Totaling 17 tackles on the season with a 15% tackle rate, Winfield will go into week 3 against Denver looking to shut down MGIII and company.
That brings this week to a close. As always, if you have any questions, comments, etc, feel free to reach out to me at @natemarcum on twitter.