Monday, September 20, 2021

Fantasy Football Week 3 RB Waiver Wire

Every week, we examine players that may be available on your league's waiver wire that could help your team in the short and/or long term.

For a player to be listed, he must be rostered in 50 percent (or less) of Yahoo! leagues. The goal is to provide recommendations of players that have a greater chance of being available on your league's waiver wire. Of course, your league's size and settings could significantly impact whether these players (or better options) are available in your particular league(s).

So that means that players like Tony Pollard (53% rostered) will be excluded from our list due to our self-imposed restrictions, but he's clearly worth adding in your league whether you roster Ezekiel Elliott or not.

With that said, here are some running back waiver-wire options to consider heading into Week 3 (Yahoo! % rostered in parenthesis):

[Note: Players listed below are sorted by our preference to add.]

1. James White, New England Patriots (42%)

Once again, White appears on this list.

In his two final seasons playing with Tom Brady (2018-2019), White had a minimum of 95 targets, 72 receptions and 645 receiving yards each season. Through two games with Mac Jones, White is on pace to better those numbers.

White now has six receptions in back-to-back games and has a total of 32 rushing yards and a touchdown plus 12 receptions for 94 yards on 13 targets. Heading into Monday Night Football, White is fantasy's RB14 (half-PPR) and the RB9 in full PPR formats.

2. Michael Carter, New York Jets (50%)

The UNC rookie generated positive buzz early in camp despite beginning the season as part of an uninspiring three-headed RBBC. Based on talent, it wouldn't be surprising if Carter emerged as an RB3/flex option at some point during the season.

In a game where there were very few bright spots, Carter averaged more than five yards per carry as he gained 59 yards on 11 carries and added a couple of receptions for 29 yards. Through two games, here are the team's running back touches: Carter (18), Ty Johnson (17) and Tevin Coleman (14). Johnson had 12 carries for 50 yards on Sunday.

The Jets have a difficult matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 3, but they face softer matchups in Weeks 4 (Tennessee Titans) and 5 (Atlanta Falcons).

3. J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team (29%)

McKissic was a non-factor in Week 1 (one carry for eight yards), but the usage was much better in Week 2. Not only did he haul in five catches for 83 yards on six targets, but he added 10 rushing yards and a score as well.

Antonio Gibson had five targets in Week 1, but he only had two in Week 2. That's clearly frustrating for those that roster Gibson, but McKissic is one of the league's best receiving backs and only Alvin Kamara (83) had more receptions than McKissic (80) in 2020.

4. Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons (13%)

A RB/WR hybrid in fantasy, Patterson now has seven carries in back-to-back games. Even though he gained only 11 yards on his seven carries this week, he added five catches for 58 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns against the Buccaneers.

Mike Davis has had at least 16 touches in each of the team's first two games this season, but C-Patt has a total of 21 touches through two weeks. With Wayne Gallman a healthy scratch, the only other back to get touches this season has been Keith Smith (seven).

On his fifth team since entering the league in 2015, Davis has career averages of 3.7 YPC and 6.5 Y/R. Through his first two games as a Falcon, he's averaging just 3.63 YPC and 4.8 Y/R. Patterson may never be the team's RB1 as long as Davis is healthy, but if he continues to be much more efficient than Davis, it's not an impossibility either.

5. Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders (10%)

As uncomfortable as I'd be having to start Barber, the journeyman back handled the bulk of early-down opportunities in the absence of Josh Jacobs in Week 2. If Jacobs isn't available in Week 3, it's possible that Barber sees another 10-15 carries. Jon Gruden has called Jacobs "very questionable" for Week 3.

More Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Advice Heading Into Week 3:

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