Would you drop Tom Brady for Kirk Cousins?
I actually uttered these words out loud / aloud / ‘OL today. I’m not sure if my reasoning behind the question was attraction to the “shiny new toy out of the box” or Brady’s back-to-back weeks of sub-13-point performances, which now rank 29th in fantasy points scored among quarterbacks. Awesome.
While a brief conversation about that topic with Mr. Beall resulted in embracing that discretion is the better part of valor, there was pause for consideration and concern. Regardless, Cousins is a solid QB2 fantasy football add if you are into the masochistic fantasy football habit of carrying two stud triggers. He’s available in 97 percent of leagues proving deep-league fantasy owners did truly buy that it was RG3’s team for the season regardless of August assessments.
The rest of my favorite fantasy football waiver wire options are:
Ahmad Bradshaw – available in 64 percent of leagues
Trent Richardson’s 21 carries were the most in a game for the former third-overall pick since around Thanksgiving 2012. His 3.8 yards per rush was his best YPR in a game where he rushed more than 20 times since early November 2012. Yes, I still think Bradshaw should be added because despite T-Rich’s production, the odds he sees 20+ touches again are lower than the odds Bradshaw sees an increased role within the offense – both rushing and receiving (he’s third in targets through two games). The hybrid running back is one of the most cherished weapons on offense and although Bradski’s neck injury does pose some risk, he’s a running back I wouldn’t mind having as a low-end RB3, high-end RB4 this season.
Knile Davis – available in 93 percent of leagues
If I had to rank the most important fantasy football handcuff running backs heading into the season, Davis would, without question, be top two and not because of the top-two draft pick investment of Jamaal Charles, but more due to the fact Charles was such a major cog of the Chiefs’ offense, his odds of injury this season were uber-high.
Davis’ 28.5-fantasy point performance (PPR) against the Broncos marks the second time the second-year running back has produced after Charles was knocked out of game due to injury. Last January, Davis racked up 100 total yards with two touchdowns against the Colts in an AFC Wild Card game. Charles high-ankle sprain provided Davis another opportunity to chew up clock against the Broncos via 22 carries for 79 yards with two scores and chipping in six receptions for the PPR crowd. The Chiefs aren’t winning games by throwing the ball – Davis is a top rental.
Donald Brown – available in 94 percent of leagues
Look back at Brown’s last four games with the Colts last season:
- 10 carries for 70 yards with two total TDs
- 12 carries for 31 yards with a touchdown
- 11 carries for 55 yards, four recpetions for 47 yards with two total TDs
- 17 carries for 63 yards
Ryan Mathews is out for 4-6 weeks and Danny Woodhead is already locked into his niche of the offense. Give DB a look as a RB3/4 if available.
Lamar Miller – available in 24 percent of leagues
Really?! Miller is owned in 76 percent of leagues? This is surprising after Moreno’s monster Week 1 game against the Patriots, but perhaps they saw the writing on the wall. Moreno’s elbow injury places him on the shelf for the foreseeable future and Miller retains the starting gig he enjoyed during training camp.
This waiver wire suggestion is weighted heavily on touches and targets, not about my fantasy football belief in Miller. Still believe he’s a RB4, but better than most bench running backs.
Bobby Rainey – available in 93 percent of leagues
Signs point to Doug Martin (knee) returning to the starting lineup this week for the Buccaneers Thursday night against the Falcons. So, Rainey’s Week 3 fantasy value/waiver stock is stunted after he posted 144 rush yards on 22 carries and chipped in 30 more yards on three receptions against the Rams. While Martin will continue to get work when he’s healthy, Rainey is going to turn the Bucs’ backfield into a RBBC moving forward without question. He was a threat this summer, and he reemerged as a threat after his Week 2. You may have forgot, Rainey rushed for 127 yards and 163 with three touchdowns combined in two fantasy football stud performances last season.
Notable Nomination: Khiry Robinson - Saints
