Fantasy football waiver wire: Plenty of receivers to add for Week 3 and beyond

Another week down in the 2017 NFL season and your fantasy team isn’t all that much of a... dream.

[HYSTERICAL LAUGHING]
[FORCED LAUGHING]

We know why we’re all here: You need reinforcements. The draft picks just aren’t getting it done. Your Aunt Edna did her homework, showed up to the draft, knew about Spencer Ware’s unfortunate injury, and snagged Kareem Hunt two picks before it was your turn in the third round. I get it, I really do.

Sidebar: You should really be ashamed of yourself for letting Hunt pass you by in the second round. What you did was unbelievably dumb, and you know that, right?

Of course you do. That’s why you’re here. So let’s cut to the chase.

Top waiver wire adds of Week 3

Cooper Kupp - WR, Los Angeles Rams

What should be everyone’s favorite name in football is still available in over 67 percent of leagues on ESPN. He’s currently ranked 25th among wideouts, so he’s a fringe WR2, solid WR3 in most leagues. Through the first two weeks, Kupp leads the Rams in targets with 12, and seems to be the guy who will help get Jared Goff through his first full season as quarterback.

In Week 3, the Rams head to San Francisco on Thursday to take on the 49ers, a defense that’s given up the 14th-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, but this week they’ll be out their starting safety, Eric Reid. Flex him this week, especially in PPR leagues.

J.J. Nelson - WR, Arizona Cardinals

Nelson is a solid add this week if not for the matchup alone: Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. While John Brown struggles to stay healthy, something plenty of fantasy owners have had to deal with at some point over the past two seasons, Nelson is all set to fill in and receive both the targets and production fantasy experts so promised to you when they told you to trust Brown.

The Cowboys’ depth in the defensive backfield is hurting, and while they have an extra day’s rest this week, it’s going to take a huge turnaround from Dallas’ defensive personnel to limit an albeit neutered Arizona offense.

Move on this claim quick: Nelson is owned in just 20.7 percent of leagues after hauling in 10 passes on 13 targets for 163 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks.

Allen Hurns - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Garbage time is a place where all Jaguars receivers come alive and thrive like no other position players around the league. Blake Bortles can pick apart a soft, prevent defense like nobody else can in the league, and Hurns stands in line as the next Jags receiver to benefit the most now that Allen Robinson is out for the season.

If Week 2 is any indication of the type of production Hurns is now capable of sans Robinson—six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown—he’s a flex option each and every week at minimum, especially in PPR formats.

Javorius Allen - RB, Baltimore Ravens

For the Ravens, their running game was supposed to be a bit of this and a bit of that with the addition of Danny Woodhead in the offseason. An injury has put him on the shelf for the time being, and with Kenneth Dixon out for the season, the Ravens are back with the same band, playing the same tunes as a year ago.

Allen has received a steady diet of carries (35) so far through two weeks, alongside the fantasy enigma known as Terrance West. While West will more than likely vulture touchdowns when the Ravens are near the goal line, Allen looks to be the team’s primary third-down back, and he has the opportunity to receive all of those targets left on the table by Woodhead’s injury. He’s available in nearly 78 percent of all leagues, so let the Buck stop on your roster.

I’m worthless.

Zach Ertz - TE, Philadelphia Eagles

And once again, I find myself back at the blackjack table after pulling out enough at the ATM to keep myself busy for a weekend on Ertz. I told myself I wouldn’t be back, but here I am, at the same table, about to be staring at the same dumb cards and the same stupid luck.

Nonetheless, something brought me here, and that something is the New York Giants football team. Against tight ends, the Giants have struggled so far in 2017, surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends, and being one of only four teams to give up two touchdowns to opposing tight ends so far this season.

Not only does he have the matchup this week, Ertz seems to be a favorite of Carson Wentz in the passing game. Ertz is having a strong start to the season himself, earning 18 targets—the second most among tight ends—and catching 13 passes for 190 yards through the first two weeks.

“But Ryan, wait, Ertz is owned in 100 percent of ESPN leagues, how am I supposed to get him off of the waiver wire?” Man, I don’t know, trade for him? What am I supposed to answer all of your problems?