It’s a mad rush on the waiver wire for rookie running back De’Von Achane this week after his 51.3-point fantasy performance in Week 3. While Achane highlights this week’s waiver wire group, he’s not the only player worth adding. Let’s navigate who should make the cut and who should be left on the wire for your leaguemates.
I’ll be adding something new in this week’s column called “Luxury Adds.” These players are for fantasy managers who find themselves with an extra bench slot. You likely won’t want to start these players right away, for a multitude of different reasons, but they have some sort of upside that makes them worth holding on your team before their value (potentially) skyrockets.
Wide Receivers
Quentin Johnston (51% Rostered), Joshua Palmer (5% Rostered)
While Mike Williams has been second fiddle to Keenan Allen, there has been plenty to go around in offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s Charger offense. Quentin Johnston is the preferred pickup, if only because Joshua Palmer is who Joshua Palmer is. The 60+ yards and a scare is Palmer’s ceiling, and Williams being out for the season doesn’t do much to his role.
Johnston profiles as the big bodied wide receiver to step into the Williams role. We haven’t seen the rookie do much with his limited opportunities, but rookie wide receivers, especially ones behind such established veterans as Allen and Williams, can require something external (like an injury) to present an opportunity.
Tank Dell (48% Rostered)
The Texans rookie is back in the column after his best fantasy outing coming off a week where rookie QB CJ Stroud was in an “arm management plan.” Even with the pass volume dropping significantly in Week 3 – from 47 attempts in Week 2 to 30 in Week 3 – Dell still had five receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.
This makes two games in a row where Dell has out-targeted all other Texan receivers. He’s establishing himself as the preferred target for a young quarterback in the midst of a breakout rookie campaign. Add Dell now or your league mates surely will.
Adam Thielen (58% Rostered)
After a dismal Week 1, Thielen has found himself a role in this Panthers’ offense. Thielen has seen 14 and nine9 targets in his last two games respectively and has turned it into fantasy production, finishing as the PPR WR3 in Week 3. While I don’t have much confidence in an aging Thielen, I also don’t have much confidence in Terrace Marshall, Jonathan Mingo, or Laviska Shenault.
If Thielen can threaten double-digit targets in a week, he’s worth picking up. Don’t expect what we saw from him in Week 3, but WR3 numbers aren’t out of the question.
Zay Jones (52% Rostered)
After missing Week 3 with an injury, Jones returns to the column. While Christian Kirk has looked great in his absence, let’s not forget what this depth chart looked like throughout preseason and Week 1. Jones looked like a focal point in preseason and out snapped Kirk in Week 1. While that is a limited sample size, it’s significant enough to warrant adding Jones before he’s back from injury.
Luxury Adds
- Marvin Mims (27% Rostered)
- Josh Downs (12% Rostered)
- Jayden Reed (33% Rostered)
Running Backs
De’Von Achane (46% Rostered)
We’re three weeks into the season and Achane is the RB7 after only scoring a combined 1.9 fantasy points in the first two weeks. There are rookie breakouts and then there’s what we watched happen this weekend.
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Achane turned 18 carries into 203 rushing yards and looked explosive. He also turned four targets into four receptions for 30 yards. That alone would have been a great breakout for Achane, but he also scored four touchdowns – two through the air and two on the ground.
It’s not often a player this explosive, with this much opportunity, on an offense this good is sitting on the waiver wire. Blow your FAAB and add Achane now. While we can’t call for 50-point performances every week (or anywhere close), the talent and opportunity line up perfectly for a great fantasy season.
Roschon Johnson (59% Rostered)
Roschon is back in the column and that’s because he’s good and the Bears have been such a dumpster fire that it’s gone unnoticed by quite a few. Roschon’s Week 3 was uninspiring, but he also faced a negative game script after going down big early to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bears are struggling, and Johnson has been one of the few bright spots. I don’t expect him to be handed the job from Khalil Herbert, but as the season progresses Johnson should take over as the primary back. He’s the better playmaker and the Bears desperately need playmakers.
Ezekiel Elliot (51% Rostered)
Zeke’s demise was greatly exaggerated. For all of the Tony Pollard truthers out there dancing on the grave of Zeke’s fantasy value after Week 2, it’s time to reevaluate. While Rhamondre will be the primary back for the Steelers, Zeke carried the ball 16 times against the Jets this weekend and was more efficient with his carries than Stevenson.
This will be a split backfield but Zeke still has some juice left and the Patriots look willing to give him the touches.
Luxury Adds
- Rico Dowdle
- Kendre Miller
- Elijah Mitchell
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson (34% Rostered)
Cowboys Nation is in shambles after their shocking loss to the “Tanking for Caleb” Cardinals. On the bright side, Cowboys fans should be excited about the emergence of second-year TE Jake Ferguson establishing rapport with Dak Prescott.
Ferguson has seen 7 targets in two of three games this season. At a position as volatile as tight end, that volume is enough to make Ferguson startable most weeks. But maybe not this week, however – he’s got a killer matchup against a Patriots team that has been shutting down TEs.
Luke Musgrave (24% Rostered)
After a promising start for a rookie tight end through the first two weeks, we saw it come together a bit more for Ferguson on Sunday. Musgrave hauled in 6 of his 8 targets for 49 yards, good for 10.90 PPR fantasy points.
After being the lead target in week 3 for Jordan Love, Musgrave appears to be establishing himself as a weekly starter at the position. It will likely take more time for Musgrave and Love to further develop that connection we’re seeing, but this much early production from a rookie tight end is a great sign.
Luxury Adds
- Donald Parham
- Quarterbacks
- C.J. Stroud (32% Rostered)
He did it again, even with a so-called “arm management plan,” and is looking like the best rookie QB thus far. With Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods all showing up as weapons for Stroud, expect the 20-plus point performances to continue.
High passing volume, expected negative game scripts, and all the talent in the world. What more do you want?
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson (52% Rostered)
While the Broncos may be even worse under Sean Payton than they were with Nathaniel Hackett, Wilson has quietly put together a solid first three weeks.
This offense will likely continue to struggle, but Wilson has put up back-to-back 300-yard performances. If you’re looking for a fill-in QB for Week 4, Wilson is currently a top 10 QB likely sitting on your waiver wire.
Luxury Adds
Jameis Winston (2% Rostered)
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