NFL Waiver Wire Workout: Week 3

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Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA (owned in 27% of Yahoo leagues). Ajayi is a second-year player who apparently threw a hissy fit when Arian Foster beat him out for the Dolphins starting job, and as a result wasn't allowed to get on the plane to Seattle for Week 1. But Ajayi mended fences and came to New England for Week 2, whereupon Foster injured his groin three carries in and Ajayi became a feature back. He wasn't great, but it was also a weird game in which Miami was getting killed and had to throw to catch up. Ajayi lost a second-half fumble, but he was dynamic in pass protection. Assuming Foster will miss Week 3, Ajayi appears to have a strong matchup against the Browns.

Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata, RB, MIN (24% and 2% owned, respectively). As of this writing, Adrian Peterson's knee injury is considered a torn meniscus, but it's unknown whether it will require a knee scope. My assumption is that AP will be out at least several weeks, and in his absence the Vikings backfield will revert to the platoon it employed in 2014. McKinnon is smaller, quicker, and more talented—think Giovani Bernard—while Asiata is a one-directional bruiser who won't yield many yards but could score short touchdowns. Forced to choose, I'd probably pick Asiata in standard leagues and McKinnon in PPR.

Dennis Pitta, TE, BAL (11% owned). Pitta missed parts of the past three seasons with hip woes and broke a hand in a training camp fight this summer, but he's one of Joe Flacco's best friends and that earns you second chances. Third chances. Whatever. Anyway, in Week 2, Pitta was everywhere all afternoon and was sure-handed and open. He hasn't done enough to place himself among the elites at his position, but he's as good as the second tier, and will certainly be in my top ten tight ends for Week 3 against the Jaguars.

Dwayne Washington, RB, DET (1% owned). Washington won the "big back" job coming out of Lions camp, and played behind smaller Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick in Weeks 1 and 2. But Abdullah suffered a foot injury Sunday against the Titans (at the end of an extremely sweet run), and figures to miss multiple weeks. Washington still ran behind Riddick, but that tandem would figure to form a more common platoon, with Washington potentially a short-TD maker. Also, he's not just a plodder: he had a snapping 28-yard run Sunday in which he zipped through a hole and got downfield in a hurry.

Quincy Enunwa, WR, NYJ (10% owned). Enunwa graduates from "speculative" to "all leagues" this week, after going wild in the first half of last Thursday's game in Buffalo. He now has 13 grabs and 146 yards in two contests, which is pretty decent for a third wideout. However, he's also dealing with a rib injury and was hurt most of last year, too. It's difficult to recommend starting Enunwa because while the Jets do play three-wide as their base offensive set, the week-by-week assumption is that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker will get fed first. But my guess is that there's at least one fantasy depth chart in every league that could add Enunwa and considering using him as a flex when the byes begin.

Fozzy Whittaker, RB, CAR (5% owned). Jonathan Stewart also suffered an injury Sunday—a hamstring ailment to go with a bad ankle—and figures to miss multiple games. Whittaker got the most work when Stew Beef left the contest, but he isn't a traditional leading man; he's more of a receiving back. That's why I want to be circumspect about telling you to definitely add him. In a PPR league, I think he'll get enough work to be interesting. But the Panthers also have Mike Tolbert, plus Cameron Artis-Payne has been a healthy scratch in back-to-back weeks but now could suit up.

Jacob Tamme, TE, ATL (6% owned). Through just two games, Tamme already has been the beneficiary of a whole lot of Julio Jones clear-outs. He's got 11 grabs and 126 yards on mostly short stuff, and the Raiders couldn't manage him in Week 2. If you're in streaming mode, Tamme makes for a good solution this week against the Saints, but realize: he has disappointed fantasy owners with up-and-down fantasy production for years.

Dolphins Defense (7% owned). Miami's secondary was exposed in the first half against New England, before Jimmy Garoppolo got injured. But Week 3 they'll face a Cleveland Browns offense that has already lost Robert Griffin III and now seems to have lost Josh McCown. If it's really third-round rookie Cody Kessler under center, I predict the Dolphins D will look like world-beaters.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still adds: Brock Osweiler, QB, HOU (28%); Terrance West, RB, BAL (26%); Eli Rogers, WR, PIT (25%).

Cole Beasley, WR, DAL (10% owned). With Dak Prescott under center, three pass-catching targets will be in play every week. Dez Bryant will catch stuff all over the field, and the short targets will mostly be handled by Jason Witten and Beasley. A PPR factor with decent after-grab quickness, Beasley probably won't be a touchdown maker but is worth a look as long as Tony Romo is out.

Josh Doctson, WR, WAS (6% owned). I'm calling my shot, based on the Week 2 game tape: I think Doctson will start scoring fantasy points in bunches relatively soon. His yardage Sunday was entirely the result of being totally uncovered on a sideline throw that went for 57 yards. But Doctson had end-zone targets on two separate drives, which bodes well for him as a touchdown maker.

Kenyan Drake, RB, MIA (1% owned). I already mentioned that Jay Ajayi was first man up after Arian Foster's injury, but Drake vulture a short score and has talent. The rookie is often injured and got yelled at by both Ryan Tannehill and Adam Gase Sunday for appearing not to know where to line up, but Ajayi is no sure thing. I don't mind using a momentary roster spot on The Drake. ("Love The Drake.")

Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ (32% owned). Here's your weekly handcuff reminder: if you own Matt Forte, it makes sense to use a roster spot on Powell. He may be a ham-and-egger, and in fact probably would require help should Forte go down, because he's best cast as a receiving back. But Forte now has 59 touches through three games, a workload that will get him injured if it continues.

Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN (30% owned). Here's another tight end to think about if you're streaming. Sam Bradford isn't a great quarterback, but he's got a bigger arm and takes more risks than Shaun Hill (and Teddy Bridgewater), so more work could be ahead for Rudolph.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR (1% owned). I mentioned that Fozzy Whittaker got first reps after Jonathan Stewart's injury in Week 2, but it's possible that only happened because Artis-Payne has been a healthy scratch, since he doesn't play special teams. I don't want to recommend a high waiver claim on C.A.P., because he could wind up inactive again. But he also could wind up Carolina's starting back.

Kenneth Farrow and Andre Williams, RB, SD (0% owned). Danny Woodhead is out for the season, so Melvin Gordon has a firm hold on the Chargers backfield. But he won't play every snap. Farrow was Melly's backup after Woody's injury Sunday, but, as with C.A.P., that might be because Farrow plays special teams and Giants castoff Williams (also a healthy scratch for consecutive weeks) does not. Once we know which guy is Gordon's backup, he could be interesting.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL (8%); Alfred Morris, RB, DAL (22%); Shane Vereen, RB, NYG (19%); Devontae Booker, RB, DEN (12%); Davante Adams, WR, GB (12%); Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS (21%); Anquan Boldin, WR, DET (17%); Robert Woods, WR, BUF (2%); Jesse James, TE, PIT (25%); Clive Walford, TE, OAK (17%).

Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (5% owned). Matt Jones held off the wolves by scoring a touchdown Sunday, but he played 37 snaps to Thompson's 28. When Washington gets down, Thompson is on the field. Plus, shockingly (because he's a really good receiver), Jones has only been targeted once per game while Thompson has six targets, including four on Sunday.

Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK (10% and 15% owned). If there were only one rookie Raiders rusher backing up Latavius Murray, that guy would be on the "speculative" list. But right now Oakland appears to be employing a pure rotation: Murray got the first carry Sunday and took it eight yards, and the very next snap Richard was in. Plus Washington busted a tackle and had a long rush in Week 2, too.

Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS (6% owned). If I'm wrong about Josh Doctson, then slot man Crowder might keep up some low-level PPR production. He found the end zone against the Cowboys in Week 2.

Alex Collins, RB, SEA (0% owned). The assumption as of this writing was that Thomas Rawls would be fine for Week 3, and that it was only a bruise that knocked him out of Sunday's game. But just in case: Collins was the next man up behind Christine Michael, perhaps because fellow rookie C.J. Prosise has a broken hand.

Zach Zenner, RB, DET (0% owned). Zenner has been a healthy scratch in back-to-back weeks, but with Ameer Abdullah injured, it's possible he's in uniform Sunday against the Packers, and perhaps he takes over the burly back role if Dwayne Washington is ticketed for a more varied usage.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Shaun Draughn, RB, SF (4%); Travaris Cadet, RB, NO (2%); Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (9%); Brandon LaFell, WR, CIN (9%); Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (13%); Jeremy Kerley, WR, SF (9%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (1%); Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, TB (12%).