Fantasy football has been a favorite hobby of mine for years now. I’ve played in multiple leagues, with different formats. Not only is it fun to compete on a weekly basis with friends and family, but fantasy football has been a great way to make new friends and keep in touch with people I don’t see on a regular basis. My intent, as in last year’s articles, is to provide the fantasy football-playing students at Oratory Prep with waiver wire and free agent player pickup ideas and identify deep sleeper players, that can help you win your leagues in the following weeks.
This article assumes the following:
- Full Point Per Reception (PPR) Scoring.
- Rankings via the ESPN Fantasy App.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire / Free Agent, and Sleeper Pickups for NFL Weeks 3-5:
Running Back (Position Rank 2nd) Kyren Williams: Replacing struggling running back Cam Akers, Williams is an elusive back who has been averaging 22.7 points per game with 3 rushing touchdowns already in the new season. He also will likely be the starter for the Rams since Cam Akers was inactive in week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers while healthy and is reportedly on the trade block now as well. Williams is also a great receiving back, grabbing 6 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks in week 1. Williams also is facing weak running defenses in the coming weeks – teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals (31st against the run) and Arizona Cardinals (18th against the run) with some of the lowest against-the-run ratings in the NFL so far this season. Be prepared for a major show from Kyren Williams in the next few weeks as you’ll likely see him in the end zone with 13+ points a game. Honorable Mention: Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) (who has become the lead option for the Browns after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury in week 2 against the Steelers).
Wide Receiver (Position Rank 24th) Tutu Atwell: Another Rams player, Tutu Atwell, has been quietly dominating the league at wide receiver, while being overshadowed by his teammate, rookie Puka Nacua (because of his 15 reception, 147 receiving yard game against the San Francisco 49ers). Atwell has been averaging 16.5 points per game and 98 yards per game so far this season. The difference between Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua is that Atwell will likely stay consistent when Cooper Kupp returns, while Puka may face a dramatic decrease in receptions and yards, due to the positions and roles that these wide receivers play in the Rams offense. Atwell also is playing some of the worst defenses in the league in upcoming matchups – such as the Cardinals, Bengals, and Colts – that will not be able to stop Atwell and his consistent game. Expect Atwell to continue dominating even when Cooper Kupp returns in what seems to be one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses early on this season. Honorable Mention: Romeo Doubs (Green Bay Packers)
Tight End (Position Rank 13th): Hayden Hurst: Hurst is an extremely underrated player. Having bounced around from team to team over the past few years, Hurst is a consistent fantasy football asset – typically earning 6+ points a game – and always seems to be available as a waiver wire add early in the season. Hurst now has made a major impact for the Panthers, averaging 10.1 points per game and surprisingly becoming rookie quarterback Bryce Young’s favorite target, averaging 5+ targets a game. Hurst also has a schedule filled with weak defenses against tight ends, such as the Vikings, Seahawks, Miami, and Houston. Teams will struggle to cover and stop Hayden Hurst who should continue to be a target of Bryce Young in the passing game moving forward. Honorable Mention: Luke Musgrave (Green Bay Packers)
Quarterback (Position Rank 2nd): Jordan Love: The Green Bay Packers have put their trust into Jordan Love, trading 39-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets this offseason. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into his first game of the new season while Jordan Love has been surprisingly tearing up defenses, including a dominating performance over the Chicago Bears in week 1. Love has been averaging 21.7 points per game while only being 39.8% rostered in ESPN Fantasy leagues. Love also has six touchdowns in two games with no interceptions against the Chicago Bears defense and the Atlanta Falcons defense. Jordan Love has been playing great even without his rising star wide receiver Christian Watson who has been dealing with injuries since the offseason. Now that he is set to return soon, expect Jordan Love to play even better and make Packers fans believe that Love can have the same success that Aaron Rodgers historically had with this team. Honorable Mention: Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
