After a 30-point Sunday, Ryan Fitzpatrick increased his 2018 output to 72.3 points in ESPN standard scoring and is likely to be a popular add headed into Week 3. The Tampa Bay quarterback -- who is rostered in just 31.3 percent of leagues -- had his second straight solid showing, and is sure to inspire many a waiver-wire claim for the upcoming week. This will likely be the case even as Jameis Winston is set to return from suspension in Week 4 to wrest the starting job back from the bearded veteran.
It's not unusual, especially in the early going of the season, to see undrafted players who emerge during their first few games get snatched up once they start showing up on highlight reels. Teams with RB needs are almost assuredly going to race to be the one to get Phillip Lindsay (61.6 percent rostered), Matt Breida (61.9 percent) and Austin Ekeler (42.9 percent) in leagues where those players are still available.
Similarly, wide receivers such as Kenny Golladay (69.0 percent), Quincy Enunwa (56.8 percent) and Chris Godwin (34.1 percent), or tight ends such as Eric Ebron (35.6 percent), O.J. Howard (21.5 percent) and Jesse James (3.2 percent), will get a lot of consideration from fantasy managers who are wallowing with an 0-2 record and a disappointing roster.
Those may well be good moves. They certainly make a lot of sense. However, going after the same players that everyone is pursuing could easily leave you holding an empty bag. No, the veteran move is to always try to be one step ahead of your leaguemates. In this case, your best move is to place waiver claims to cover holes in your lineup due to teams on a bye.
Now, before you start shouting at me that all 32 NFL teams are playing this coming week, so what the heck am I yammering about, I am quite aware of the upcoming schedule. I'm talking about Week 4, when both the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins are off. Most people, if they've even begun to look ahead to their next roster moves before tonight's Monday Night Football game, are probably focused on who has the tastiest Week 3 matchups.
Of course that's a good idea, but if you had the likes of Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey, Devin Funchess, Panthers D/ST, Jordan Reed, Adrian Peterson, Alex Smith or Jamison Crowder in your lineup for Week 2, you're going to need to explore other options for Week 4. By using your waiver claims this week on players you won't need to use until next week, your chances of getting the players you want greatly increase because the other owners aren't going to be focused on the same matchups you are.
So, if you know you're going to need to stream a D/ST in Week 4, this week is the time to grab either Seattle (6.9 percent rostered, at Arizona in Week 4), or Green Bay (9.8 percent rostered, versus Buffalo in Week 4), since they'll both be facing offenses that have shown few signs of life through two games.
For other positions, the NFL teams that have allowed the most points so far this season (prior to Monday night's game) are the Lions, Bills, Saints and Chiefs. In Week 4, they'll be playing against Dallas, Green Bay, the Giants and Denver, respectively. That should put the likes of QB Dak Prescott (40.3 percent rostered), WR Tavon Austin (1.9), RB Aaron Jones (45.6), WR Geronimo Allison (25.8), K Mason Crosby (28.1), QB Eli Manning (13.8), K Aldrick Rosas (1.2), WR Cody Latimer (0.1), QB Case Keenum (25.9), WR Courtland Sutton (16.0), and TE Jake Butt (2.6) -- depending on league size, of course -- at the top of your Week 3 "wish list," so that when Sept. 25 rolls around, you aren't left staring at a waiver wire with nothing to help you in your time of need.