Week 3 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays
This article is contributed by Brad Kruse
This column is NOT intended to provide Week 3 waiver claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunities could be emerging and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try to not focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight.
My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give some ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster.
Young Running Backs and Their Opportunity Status
Braelon Allen: The big story of week 2 concerning these young RBs was Allen’s surprise opportunity. He carried the ball seven times for 33 yards and a TD and added two receptions for 23 yards and another TD. He’s graduated from premium handcuff to a flex or RB2 candidate. He’s officially emerged.
Bucky Irving: Through two games, Irving has 16 rush attempts for 84 yards (5.3 yards/carry) and has caught two of his three targets for 14 yards. He will be worked in as White continues to disappoint on the ground (25 carries for 49 yards or 1.96 yards/carry). But Rachaad White continues to excel in the passing game with 7 receptions for 80 yards and a 14% target share). Irving could give you a non-zero number at RB2 right now if you went with a Zero RB strategy, but time will tell if he can eat into White’s passing game usage.
Jaylen Wright: There was some hope to see what Wright could do with Mostert OUT in week 2 and Wright active. But it was mostly the Achane show. Wright’s potential emergence will be on HOLD for now.
Blake Corum: Corum got some mop-up action this week, but the Rams’ offensive line has been decimated with injuries along with their two-star wide receivers. Barring an injury to Kyren Williams, Corum will be in a holding pattern as well.
Tank Bigsby: Bigsby has looked better this year. He did suffer a shoulder injury although he officially returned to the game but didn’t see any action as D’Ernest Johnson took over the RB2 role. We’ll see if Bigsby is healthy enough for week 3.
Marshawn Lloyd: Lloyd got on the field, but then injured his ankle and is now on IR. This will keep the door open for Emanuel Wilson who has 9 carries for 55 yards through two games. With the Packers playing run-heavy game scripts with Jordan Love on the mend, Wilson is a name that could be a stopgap for some lineups.
Carson Steele: Pacheco is now on IR and talk is he may miss up to six weeks. Samaje Perine could be the better fantasy play as he has been used in passing downs by the Chiefs so far. The Chiefs also signed Kareem Hunt. It’s unclear how much he has in the tank. For now, consider Steele a short yardage back that will get some early down action. He’ll have the highest ceiling of the players that are in the RB room right now, just due to the fact it’s unknown, but it’s also hard to believe they fully trust him in pass protection and two-minute drill situations.
Breakout Wide Receivers
Jalen McMillan: McMillan was relatively quiet again, but the skillset is there. He’s behind solid veterans in Evans and Godwin and White is used a lot in the passing game so it may take some time for him to emerge, but the talent is there.
Adonai Mitchell: Mitchell has a similar problem with McMillan. His offense isn’t generating enough targets for his role. He’ll likely have some boom games but will be tough to trust until Richardson becomes more efficient passing the ball.
Malik Washington: Two of Tua’s interceptions seemed to be caused by miscues with WRs not named Hill or Waddle. This would seem to indicate that Washington will have an opportunity when healthy; however, Tua is on IR with a concussion so it’s uncertain when he will return. That will shrink the offense.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: JSN delivered in week 2 catching 12 of 16 targets for 117 yards. He should be a foundational piece of that offense.
Alec Pierce: Pierce has been the beneficiary of Anthony Richardson’s tendency for the long passes and inaccuracy in the short range. Pierce as the field stretcher has caught 8 balls in two games resulting in 2 TDs. This trend could stick. Be careful with Josh Downs nearing a return to see how this wide receiver rotation evolves.
Ja’Lynn Polk: Polk had a much better week 2 and seems firmly in the receiver rotation. It will probably take a Drake Maye entrance to unlock him as right now the Patriots are trying to win games with their defense and rushing attack.
Jordan Whittington: Whittington started seeing more opportunities as Cooper Kupp exited the game injured. Week 3 could give us a sign of life from Whittington, but this Rams unit is banged up. He’s a decent stash to see if something is there.
Dontayvion Wicks: He flashed great efficiency as a rookie, then put in a dud in week 1. He did catch a TD in week 2, but the offense is too run-heavy to trust. However, when Love returns Wicks will end up on rosters in every league.
Young Tight Ends
Brock Bowers: Bowers turned in a 9 rec 98-yard effort and is officially on overall TE1 watch. It is an uphill battle for him to get there. But he’s in everybody’s top-6 TEs right now and has been the most consistent TE scorer so far.
Tucker Kraft: Like most Green Bay receiving weapons, Kraft will have to wait until Love returns before he is unlocked. However, he seems to have locked down the TE1 role in Green Bay
