Many a fantasy football championship has been won with the waiver wire. Following Week 2 action, these are the names that should be on owners' radars going forward.
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
Bridgewater entered Sunday's game when Matt Cassel left the field on a cart after hurting his foot. Bridgewater, the last pick of the first round in the 2014 NFL draft, was considered for most of the 2013 college season to be the top NFL prospect at his position. He rarely faltered, yet his stock tumbled after a bad pro day.
In his first action Bridgewater showed his classic pocket poise, and completed 12-of-20 passes for 150 yards. He didn't throw any touchdowns, but wasn't intercepted either. He also showed good mobility, scrambling six times for 27 yards. Bridgewater has Cordarrelle Patterson at his disposal, and should be looked at as an excellent bye week fill in.
DEEP OPTION: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bortles had a very nice preseason for the Jaguars, and after three putrid weeks of offense, they've accelerated his debut. Bortles relieved a punchless Chad Henne once the Jags fell behind the Colts 30-0, and went 12-of-22 for 223 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks.
Bortles was drafted higher than Bridgewater, but isn't in as good a position to succeed immediately. There are no weapons in Jacksonville's offense the caliber of Patterson, and even without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings' Matt Asiata-led running game is better than what Toby Gerhart's given the Jags.
Running Backs
Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
Crowell received one less carry than Terrance West last week vs. the Ravens, and averaged five yards per carry to West's three. Both players scored, but West has looked more ordinary than Crowell, and is likely to lose touches going forward. Ben Tate's injury isn't season-ending, so when he returns this backfield will become a mess, but for now both West and Crowell are ownable, with the latter being more desirable.
Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens
Bernard Pierce was inactive for Week 3, and while owners likely rushed to insert Justin Forsett into their lineups, Taliaferro stole the show. Forsett wasn't bad-he rushed 11 times for 63 yards and caught four passes-but Taliaferro ran for 91 yards and a touchdown while averaging five yards per carry.
Baltimore now has three backs capable of making an impact, and when healthy Pierce will probably get more carries than the other two. One more week like this from Taliaferro though will probably earn him the lion's share.
DEEP OPTION: Alfred Blue, Houston Texans
Blue was impressive in the Texans' 30-17 loss vs. the New York Giants, toting the rock 13 times for 78 yards. He remains a deep add because of opportunity problems; when Arian Foster is active, he will get the touches. Blue is merely a handcuff, but when Foster is ruled out, he becomes an RB2.
Wide Receivers
John Brown, Arizona Cardinals
It's time to take Brown seriously. Yes, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd are ahead of him in the pecking order, but Brown's getting five targets a game on average, and with his game-breaking speed it appears to be all he needs. This man has scored three touchdowns in two games, and while some weeks he may not be very helpful, he will be a top FLEX in others. It's. For. Real.
Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams
Quick makes it for the second straight week, because many folks didn't listen after Week 2. Quick's targets dropped from nine in each of the first two games to four, but that didn't matter. He racked up 62 yards and caught a touchdown pass, making it three straight productive weeks despite a shaky QB situation. Quick's an easy FLEX start in any given week, and has the look of a WR2. Expect his targets to shoot back up.
DEEP OPTION: Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings
Jennings saw seven targets in Week 3 and finished his afternoon with five catches and 70 yards. With Bridgewater under center, Jennings will be on the receiving end of more accurate passes that will let him do some work in space.
Tight Ends
Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens
Dennis Pitta is likely out for a long time, and Daniels has already looked good after being reunited with Gary Kubiak, his head coach in Houston. Daniels isn't the athlete Pitta is, nor does he have the same rapport with Joe Flacco, but ultimately Daniels is a quality TE who will get a ton of work.
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