Waiver Wire Stashes For Week 3

By Matt Barker

After Week 2 in 2020, Justin Jefferson had 5 catches for 70 yards and zero touchdowns.

In weeks 3-4, he exploded for 11 catches, 178 yards and one touchdown, then went on to post 88/1,400/7 on the season, breaking rookie receiving records.

History does have a tendency to repeat itself, and although were not expecting this sort of breakout from another rookie WR that’s on your waiver wire, we should recognise that there’s a diamond…somewhere, lying in the rough.

Who is the diamond? Well, so far it’s been Elijah Mitchell, and maybe that’s all we get in this early part of the season. And maybe he isn’t THE diamond. Maybe he’s just a decoy to distract you and everyone else from the REAL diamond.

To help you channel you’re inner Indiana Jones, I’ve given some potential real diamonds, so you can storm the wire and come away with a prized possession for your roster:

K.J. Osborn (WR – Minnesota Vikings), 15.7% owned on ESPN

Credit: RotoBaller.com

Every season there is always a player who no one in the industry would have even considered being worth a fantasy roster spot, and this year thru week 2 it’s K.J. Osborn. The 5th round sophomore didn’t run a single route in 2020, but after an injury to Irv Smith and an ACL tear for the promising Bisi Johnson, Osborn has been given the opportunity to shine and shine he has – 15 targets, 12 catches, 167 yards and 1 touchdown thru week 2. With Kirk Cousins on fire and the Vikings throwing the ball at the 8th highest rate (84 passes), even as the third receiving option on the team he’s worth a speculative add ahead of what looks to be a high scoring game vs Seattle Seahawks.

For deep leagues – Freddie Swain (WR – Seattle Seahawks) 0.3% owned

5/5/95/1 in week 2. Plays Minnesota Vikings in week 3.

Alexander Mattison (RB – Minnesota Vikings), 30.1% owned

Credit: Fansided

Another Viking makes the list. We got an injury scare twice from Dalvin Cook on Sunday (as amazing as he is, if you draft him you need to be prepared for the heart palpitations any given Sunday) which was a stark reminder to make sure Mattison is rostered. There is no standalone value to be had unlike with other backups like Jamaal Williams or Kareem Hunt, but he has zero competition for the backup spot, so you can be sure that if Cook does go down in week 3, he’s the next man up.

For deep leagues – Chubba Hubbard (RB – Carolina Panthers) 12% owned

Christian McCaffery left the game briefly in week 2. No injury to CMC but reminder to roster Hubbard, who appears to be the backup.

Quintez Cephus (WR – Detroit Lions), 4.2% owned

Credit: USA Today Sports

I talked about Cephus prior to week 1 as a waiver stash and since then he’s scored back-to-back touchdowns, on 14 targets in two games. The catches (7 – 50% catch rate) and yardage (75 receiving yards) leaves room for improvement, but the early signs are promising as he looks to be the favourite WR for Goff out of this depleted group that consists of Tyrell Williams and rookie Amon Ra St. Brown. What’s even more impressive is Cephus has done this in two very tough matchups vs 49ers and Packers. He gets a matchup with the Ravens this Sunday which on paper seems frightening, but the Ravens have been torn apart through the air thru week 2, allowing 376 passing yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game. Pick him up and even play him this week if you’re in a pinch.

For deep leagues – James Washington (WR – Pittsburgh Steelers) 0.5% owned

Diontae Johnson suffered knee injury on last play of week 2. DNP on Wednesday, if absent at all Washington steps in as 3rd receiver.

Matt Barker

MATT BARKER

FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Packers fan with a soft spot for Washngton, Matt will likely revert to WFT when Aaron Rodgers departs. Based in London, Matt has followed the NFL for 9 years and become an extremely keen fantasy player/data lover. Find him on Twitter @mattjbarks.

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