Each week I'll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define "widely available" as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on Twitter @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here are my best bets off the waiver wire for Week 3:
ADD
— QB Justin Fields, Bears (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 51%): I advised you in this space last week, if Fields was available in your league, to add him. Consider this last call. Andy Dalton didn't suffer a torn ACL against Cincinnati, but it appears likely the rookie will start this week at Cleveland and it will be hard for Matt Nagy to turn back once Fields sees extended playing time. The first-round draft pick will have a high floor once he gets on the field full-time thanks to his rushing ability.
— WR Rondale Moore, Cardinals (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 34%): I wrote last week: "The rookie has the highest upside of any Cardinals wide receiver not named DeAndre Hopkins." Through two weeks, Moore is WR19 in standard formats and WR17 in PPR. Invest now.
— RB Tony Pollard, Cowboys (ESPN: 39%; Yahoo: 54%): Pollard has been a top-12 option at running back through two games. His talent and versatility has earned him significant touches and he will be a priority flex option most weeks, but pump your breaks if you think he's replacing a healthy Ezekiel Elliott.
— TE Jared Cook, Chargers (ESPN: 52%; Yahoo: 43%): Cook's usage was identical to Week 1 even if the production fell short against the Cowboys. His 13 targets are tied for sixth (with Rob Gronkowski) among all tight ends, so that in itself is a strong enough reason to roster Cook.
— WR Darnell Mooney, Bears (ESPN: 49%; Yahoo: 45%): Mooney leads the team in target share and is currently on pace for 88 receptions. He has already earned flex consideration in PPR, but his fantasy stock will skyrocket with Fields under center.
— BONUS: QB Daniel Jones, Giants (ESPN: 11%; Yahoo: 20%): Jones is currently QB5 in fantasy on the strength of his legs — he's produced 122 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. That's an enticing floor to consider and I expect many to invest with a matchup against Falcons at home this week.
— BONUS: QB Derek Carr, Raiders (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 27%): The impressive thing isn't that Carr leads the NFL in passing yards after two games — he has 2,274 passing yards dating back to Week 12 of last season — it's that he's produced at this level against two of the top defenses (Baltimore and Pittsburgh) in the league.
— BONUS: TE Gerald Everett, Seahawks (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 65%): Yahoo leagues must know something ESPN leagues don't. Also, Russell Wilson's primary target at tight end historically has streaming value. Everett dominated Will Dissly in routes ran and snap rate against Tennessee after scoring a touchdown in the opener.
— BONUS: WR Henry Ruggs III, Raiders (ESPN: 72%; Yahoo: 35%): Another odd discrepancy between ESPN and Yahoo. Ruggs' big-play credentials have been chronicled and it appears the Vegas offense is ready to stop using him as a decoy. It'll take a while for him to shed the boom-or-bust label he wears like a scarlet letter most weeks, but few have a bigger upside.
— BONUS: QB Sam Darnold, Panthers (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 15%): Darnold has been really good so far. His Per 16 Game average after two games: 4,672 yards and 24 touchdowns against only eight interceptions. He has Houston this week and two games against Atlanta, so there's value here.
— BONUS: WR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 15%): Patterson will deserve flex consideration as long as he's receiving double-digit touches each week — he's averaging 10.5 touches per game. A quick aside: it doesn't say much for Atlanta's roster-building last offseason that Patterson is currently such an integral part of its running back committee.
— BONUS: WR Elijah Moore, Jets (ESPN: 33%; Yahoo: 31%): The game scripts will be there all season. The role is secure — Moore actually played more snaps than Corey Davis. Be patient and consider the rookie a high-upside stash.
— BONUS: RB Alexander Mattison, Vikings (ESPN: 29%; Yahoo: 33%): I've soured on the idea of handcuffing, at least in the draft, but investing in Dalvin Cook without adding his primary backup is like living in California without fire insurance.
— BONUS: D/ST Panthers (ESPN: 13%; Yahoo: 20%): Tyrod Taylor could miss four weeks with a hamstring injury, which means this talented unit gets to feast on rookie Davis Mills on Thursday night.
— BONUS: D/ST Raiders (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 2%): Las Vegas' defensive pressure rate ranks sixth in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Miami's offensive line has failed to protect its quarterback so far. Just ask Tua Tagovailoa's ribs.
DROP
— RB Trey Sermon, 49ers: You likely spent a decent draft pick on Sermon, so I understand the reluctance, but you should pull the trigger if you can land Pollard (or Sony Michel even). Even Kerryon Johnson (currently on San Francisco's practice squad) might warrant a roster spot over the former Buckeye. The rookie has a single snap in two games that gained eight yards, but landed him in the NFL's concussion protocol. There's enough upside to keep stashing him, but if you can make your team better now, do it.
— QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: It appears Miami's offense isn't ready to make the leap many expected and look at how many quarterbacks with significant upside are still available in most leagues — I count at least four above.
— RB AJ Dillon, Packers: Dillon doesn't have the same role Jamaal Williams did in Green Bay. He only has two receptions (on three targets) in two games. Keeping him only makes sense if he's handcuffed to Aaron Jones.
— WR Jamison Crowder, Jets: Crowder was inactive Week 1 with COVID-19 after battling a nagging groin injury since training camp. He was a surprise scratch (I guess) against the Patriots. You can throw a dart at the waiver wire and find more upside.
— RB James Conner, Cardinals: Conner is essentially a touchdown-dependent flex option in deeper standard leagues and has no value in PPR formats with zero targets in two games.
