Waiver Wired: Week 3
Not all injuries are created equal. When Ray Rice goes down, we have a gold mine on our hands because Bernard Pierce is a talented player that will hog the running back snaps. But when Maurice Jones-Drew misses time, we’re stuck with a timeshare between a couple of journeymen.
Surprisingly, the injury carnage we saw in Week 2 is not going to yield a lot of fruit for most of us on the waiver wire. Think about the backup situations for the following players who went down Sunday: Rice, Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush, Eddie Lacy, Malcom Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Andre Johnson, Steven Jackson and Vernon Davis. How many of their backups are both unowned in your league and capable of production?
In fact, the players on the Week 2 waiver wire were far more worthy of burning FAAB dollars or priority on. Julian Edelman, Marlon Brown, Julius Thomas and Joique Bell all paid immediate dividends and will continue to do so. I can’t make the same promises with most of the Week 3 options.
On to the assets. Here is how I would rank the top players available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues at each position. Notes and recommendations on each player will follow below.
Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week, $250,000 Fantasy Football league for Week 3. It's $25 to join and first prize is $25,000. Starts Sunday at 1pm ET. Here's the link.
Quarterbacks
1. Sam Bradford
2. Terrelle Pryor
3. Ryan Tannehill
4. Philip Rivers
5. Alex Smith
Running Backs
1. Bernard Pierce
2. James Starks
3. Jacquizz Rodgers
4. Bilal Powell
5. Isaiah Pead
6. Pierre Thomas
7. Brandon Jacobs
8. Danny Woodhead
9. Jordan Todman
10. Andre Ellington
* Knowshon Moreno is owned in 53 percent of Yahoo leagues. He’d be my No. 2 add if he’s available.
Wide Receivers
1. Marlon Brown
2. DeAndre Hopkins
3. Andre Roberts
4. Eddie Royal
5. Nate Burleson
6. Rod Streater
7. Kendall Wright
8. Cordarrelle Patterson
* Josh Gordon is owned in 63 percent of Yahoo leagues. He's be my No. 1 add if he's available.
Tight Ends
1. Coby Fleener
2. Tyler Eifert
3. Charles Clay
4. Heath Miller
5. Brent Celek
Defense/Special Teams
1. Jets
2. Titans
3. Vikings
Kickers
1. Garrett Hartley
2. Caleb Sturgis
3. Alex Henery
QUARTERBACKS
1. Sam Bradford, Rams – Owned in 47 percent of Yahoo leagues
Sam Bradford’s Week 2 stats that included 352 yards and three touchdowns were inflated because the Rams fell behind 21-0 in Atlanta. But that doesn’t take away from the schematic shift we’re seeing in St. Louis. Rams running backs have rushed 34 times for just 103 yards (3.02 YPC) and have scored zero touchdowns this season. The keys to the offense are in Bradford’s hands and he’s proving capable with a 63.4 completion percentage and 5:2 TD-to-INT ratio. Bradford will be a fine bye-week fill-in most weeks – and especially in Week 5 (home vs. Jax) when Robert Griffin III is on a bye.
Recommendation: Should be owned as a backup in 10-team leagues
2. Terrelle Pryor, Raiders – Owned in 24 percent of Yahoo leagues
Some owners will drop Terrelle Pryor following his zero-touchdowns and 126 passing yards in Week 2. Don’t do it. The key here is that the Raiders were actually winning from wire-to-wire, turning Pryor into a game manager instead of a playmaker. He still salvaged some fantasy points by picking up 50 yards on the ground. Most weeks, Pryor will be dropping back a ton more which will lead to more pass attempts, more rush attempts, more scrambles, more broken plays and more points. Pryor is now averaging 70.3 rushing yards per NFL start.
Recommendation: Should be owned as a backup in 10-team leagues
3. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins – Owned in 15 percent of Yahoo leagues
As noted in last week’s Waiver Wired, Ryan Tannehill had a reasonably productive Week 1 even though he didn’t use Mike Wallace. That changed in Week 2 as the Dolphins fed their big purchase to the tune of 9/115/1. Tannehill has also found a weapon in tight end Charles Clay, who is flashing more speed than we thought he had. Upcoming tasty matchups vs. Atlanta (Week 3) and at New Orleans (Week 4) will have Tannehill on the front side of the QB2 radar.
Recommendation: Should be owned as a backup in 12-team leagues
4. Philip Rivers, Chargers – Owned in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues
Philip Rivers has taken to new coach Mike McCoy’s offense well. By getting the ball out quickly, he’s hiding both his offensive line and his declining arm. Rivers is fantasy’s No. 4 QB through two weeks and has matchups with the Raiders, Colts, Jags and Redskins between Weeks 5-9. Still, only owners in deeper formats should take the bait. Rivers lit up the Eagles Sunday by exploiting overpaid Cary Williams and a safety duo (Nate Allen, Patrick Chung) that couldn’t cover a pot. Philly was also playing without starting corner Bradley Fletcher (concussion). Without Danario Alexander (injured reserve, knee) and possibly Malcom Floyd (week to week, neck), Rivers is lacking weapons.
Recommendation: Should be owned as a backup in deeper 12-team leagues
5. Alex Smith, Chiefs – Owned in 38 percent of Yahoo leagues
We can’t ignore Alex Smith’s production under pass-happy head coach Andy Reid. He’s attempted 60 passes through two games, completing 60.0 percent of them with a 5:0 TD-to-INT ratio. The problem is that Smith continues to play conservatively to a fault, living up to his Captain Checkdown reputation while averaging just 9.4 yards per completion. His 396 yards rank just 27th in the league. Despite plus matchups with the Eagles, Giants and Raiders over the next month, Smith won’t be anything more than a desperation play.
Recommendation: Should be owned in two-quarterback leagues
Watch list: Josh Freeman, Geno Smith, Jake Locker, Jason Campbell -- Freeman is regressing on the field and losing the trust of the coaching staff off it. … Smith has plenty of moxie but his “weapons” are brutal. … Locker would be more exciting if he were using his athletic ability more. Just seven carries for 13 yards and no TDs through two games. … Campbell could draw the start in place of Brandon Weeden (questionable, thumb).
RUNNING BACKS
1. Bernard Pierce, Ravens – Owned in 46 percent of Yahoo leagues
This ownership percentage here is nothing short of shocking. But sometimes we get caught in our Rotoworld bubble and forget that there are actually people out there not reading the site (gasp). Anyway, Bernard Pierce should be 100 percent owned because he has standalone value even when Ray Rice is healthy. Since Week 16 of last season, Pierce has averaged 12.8 carries for 61.6 yards a day (including playoffs). And if Rice misses time with this hip issue, Pierce will be a top-12 running back play weekly. He has a wicked stiff arm that Chris Wesseling has compared to Corey Dillon’s and elite burst through the hole. The Ravens are ready to ride him.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues
2. James Starks, Packers – Owned in 10 percent of Yahoo leagues
There was a time not too long ago when James Starks was thought of as the Packers’ savior at running back. But constant injuries coupled with the emergence of DuJuan Harris and the selection of Eddie Lacy shattered that dream. Now Starks is 100 percent healthy, fresh off the best training camp of his career and the clear No. 2 back in Green Bay. When Lacy went down with a concussion on his first carry against the Redskins Sunday, Starks responded with 20 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown to go with four catches for 36 yards. He handles himself well on third downs (John Kuhn is nursing a hamstring injury) and can get a little more than what’s blocked. The bad news for Starks is that the Packers have a tough matchup at Cincy in Week 3 and then have a bye in Week 4. It’s likely Lacy will be back and starting by Week 5, leaving Starks with mostly handcuff appeal. He’s not worth reaching too far for.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
3. Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons – Owned in 21 percent of Yahoo leagues
Steven Jackson (thigh) is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Note that Jackson – now 30 years old – has a history of early-season soft-tissue injuries. In 2011 he pulled a quad in Week 1 and in 2012 he pulled a groin Week 2. In theory, that opens up a nice opportunity for Jacquizz Rodgers. The problem is that three NFL seasons, he’s averaging a pathetic 3.55 YPC. That includes an 11-carry, 17-yard performance in relief of S-Jax Sunday. Rodgers will start, but he'll be a desperation flex option in PPR leagues. The Falcons will go even more pass-heavy and Jason Snelling could get any goal-line looks.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team PPR leagues
4. Bilal Powell, Jets – Owned in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues
Through two weeks, Powell has played 95 snaps and gotten 31 touches. Chris Ivory has played 49 snaps and gotten 22 touches. Powell has a chance to sustain that split because he excels in blitz pickup, plays on all third downs and can be a safety valve for Geno Smith. Deeper PPR owners could do worse for a bye-week fill-in.
Recommendation: Should be owned in deeper 12-team leagues
5. Isaiah Pead, Rams – Owned in 14 percent of Yahoo leagues
Pead came off suspension in Week 2 and immediately turned Zac Stacy into a healthy scratch. Pead got just three touches against the Falcons, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He played on 30-of-77 snaps while starter Daryl Richardson played 39 snaps. Furthermore, Richardson is averaging just 3.26 YPC on his 30 carries so far this season. Pead is a good bet to turn this backfield into some kind of timeshare eventually.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
6. Pierre Thomas, Saints – Owned in 43 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Saints are currently running their usual three-headed monster between Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram. Despite that mess, Thomas is worth hanging into because Ingram is useless to New Orleans. He’s an alleged power back that runs with no power and is easy to scheme against because he can’t play in the passing game. Eventually, the Saints should give up the ghost of Ingram and give Thomas all the base carries. He’s averaging 5.14 YPC this season and has eight catches in two games.
Recommendation: Should be owned in deeper 12-team leagues
7. Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Owned in 11 percent of Yahoo leagues
Brandon Jacobs came off the street and immediately assumed all short-yardage and goal-line duties for the Giants. The result in Week 2 was seven carries for four yards with one touchdown on 14 snaps. He did get a little work between the 20s, but the Giants have to see that this 31-year-old is not the answer. If they want to spark their running game, giving David Wilson more snaps than the 24 he saw against the Broncos is the answer. Also, Andre Brown (leg) will be back in Week 10 to take back the goal-line job.
Recommendation: Should be owned in touchdown-heavy 14-team leagues
8. Danny Woodhead, Chargers – Owned in 31 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Chargers made a wise switch in Week 2, moving Danny Woodhead (41 snaps) ahead of Ronnie Brown (15 snaps). Woodhead is tremendous in pass protection, has soft hands and has more wiggle after the catch. He proved it against the Eagles, recording eight receptions for 37 yards to go with nine rushes for 27 yards. Woodhead did this even though the Chargers were in a close game. When San Diego is in comeback mode – as I think they’ll be often this season – Woodhead will certainly be getting the snaps. Ryan Mathews doesn’t play on any third downs or four-minute situations.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team PPR leagues
9. Jordan Todman, Jaguars – Owned in 0 percent of Yahoo leagues
Maurice Jones-Drew’s ankle injury is certainly concerning – especially because it’s on the same side as his 2012 Lisfranc. He’s questionable for a hands-off Week 3 game at Seattle. And considering the Jags’ season is already circling the toilet and MJD won’t be back in Jacksonville next year, there’s at least a chance he’ll hang it up early this season. Jordan Todman rushed five times for just seven yards against the Raiders in Week 2, but he has far more talent than that. The 2011 sixth-rounder was one of the preseason’s stars, rushing 29 times for 223 yards (7.68 YPC) with two touchdowns. Todman would initially start in a committee with Justin Forsett if/when MJD sits, but he’d be a good bet to eventually get the lion’s share of the work.
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues
10. Andre Ellington, Cardinals – Owned in 1 percent of Yahoo leagues
A favorite of our own draft guru Josh Norris, Andre Ellington has surged ahead of both Stepfan Taylor and Alfonso Smith. The rookie was second in snaps behind Rashard Mendenhall in Week 2 and helped his team earn a win with a handful of impact plays – including a 36-yeard touchdown catch on a wheel route. Ellington is currently an explosive third-down back that Bruce Arians says can be an every-down player.
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team PPR leagues
Watch List: Justin Forsett, Jason Snelling, Da’Rel Scott, Donald Brown – Forsett is going to be the lesser half of a committee if Maurice Jones-Drew (ankle) sits. … Snelling will be the lesser half of a committee if Steven Jackson (thigh) sits. … Da’Rel Scott is just the passing-down back for an 0-2 team that projects to get more leads going forward. … “Dammit” Donald Brown is an Ahmad Bradshaw injury away from a feature back job.
Cut Bait: Vick Ballard, Ronnie Hillman, Stepfan Taylor, Mark Ingram, Zac Stacy, Leon Washington, Shonn Greene – Ballard is done for the year after blowing out his knee in practice. … Hillman played two snaps in Week 2. … Taylor has fallen behind both Andre Ellington and Alfonso Smith. … See the Pierre Thomas segment for thoughts on Ingram. … Stacy was a healthy scratch with Isaiah Pead off suspension. ... Even with Shane Vereen out, Washington played just 14 snaps Week 2. … Greene is out a few weeks after a knee scope.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Marlon Brown, Ravens – Owned in 25 percent of Yahoo leagues
Here’s another guy that I would hope is owned by 100 percent of Rotoworld readers. Marlon Brown was my No. 2 WR add behind Julian Edelman last week and Evan Silva featured him in his Week 2 Matchups column. Brown rewarded us with a 4/45/1 line, playing on 59-of-72 snaps (81.9 percent). Detractors of Brown are missing the big picture – he’s a better player than Jacoby Jones and has a good shot at Wally Pipping second wideout duties all year on a team desperate for pass-catchers.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans – Owned in 48 percent of Yahoo leagues
Billed as an NFL-ready Z receiver coming out of Clemson, DeAndre Hopkins has lived up to the hype. In Sunday’s overtime win over the Titans, Hopkins put the Texans on his back. “We survived today because of some great heroics and plays by him,” coach Gary Kubiak said of his first-round rookie. Andre Johnson (concussion) is expected to be ready for Week 3, but Hopkins has plenty of standalone value even in the Texans’ run-first offense. Matt Schaub can’t ignore the talent.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues
3. Andre Roberts, Cardinals – Owned in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues
There’s no reason Andre Roberts’ ownership numbers should be so low. As discussed in last week’s Waiver Wired, the No. 3 wideout in a Bruce Arians offense almost always has value. And now that Larry Fitzgerald is nursing a hamstring injury, Roberts is getting even more looks. He led the Cardinals in targets with eight in Week 2 and gets another plus matchup at New Orleans in Week 3.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 10-team leagues
4. Eddie Royal, Chargers – Owned in 20 percent of Yahoo leagues
There’s no need to establish that Eddie Royal will regress. He has five touchdowns on ten 2013 receptions after scoring five touchdowns across his previous 38 games. The question is how sharply Royal will regress. On the surface, the situation is not bad. Royal is a quick little (5’10/185) slot receiver playing for a team trying to get the ball out quickly. Danario Alexander (knee) is done for the year and Malcom Floyd (neck) is out indefinitely. But if Eagles slot CB Brandon Boykin hadn’t been forced outside due to Bradley Fletcher’s concussion, Royal would have had a much quieter game and the fantasy buzz would be much quieter. Simply put, he’s not capable of winning when the defense is keying on him. In standard formats, I would not use a high waiver priority or blow a lot of FAAB money on Royal.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
5. Nate Burleson, Lions – Owned in 10 percent of Yahoo leagues
Ryan Broyles (knee) still isn’t ready and Patrick Edwards’ status is uncertain due to an ankle injury. So Matthew Stafford just keeps chucking to reliable team leader Nate Burleson. Through two games, Burleson has 13 catches on 14 targets while playing 76.2 percent of the snaps in the league’s most pass-happy scheme. He has no touchdown or big-play upside because he’s 32 years old, but he’ll get owners 5-7 catches a week.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team PPR leagues
6. Rod Streater, Raiders – Owned in 10 percent of Yahoo leagues
If it wasn’t crystal clear before who the Raiders No. 1 wideout was, it is now. Denarius Moore’s play has fallen off sharply, culminating with an ugly zero-catch outing in Week 2. Meanwhile, Rod Streater leads the Raiders in catches (8), targets (12) and receiving yards (112). Oakland will be trailing big in a Week 3 game at Denver, leading to plenty of chances for garbage-time points. Then they get the Redskins’ Swiss cheese secondary in Week 4.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues
7. Kendall Wright, Titans – Owned in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Titans have surprisingly hung tough in two straight games (at Pittsburgh, at Houston) with a run-heavy attack. That won’t last all year, making Wright a reasonable stash. Although he’s playing fewer snaps than Kenny Britt and Nate Washington, Wright is actually running almost as many pass routes as the starters. When he’s on the field, the Titans are throwing and looking to get him the ball. Wright will be worth a look in deep formats when we can project Tennessee to be losing. That will certainly be the case in Week 6 and 7 when they are at Seattle and home vs. San Francisco.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues
8. Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings – Owned in 23 percent of Yahoo leagues
Patterson has played just 11 snaps through two games. But the Vikings didn’t give up a boatload of draft picks to let their freakish first-round rookie barely see the field. Coach Leslie Frazier said Patterson’s snap count will get rectified, something that will be easy to do after Jerome Simpson came crashing back to earth in Week 2. The Vikings can help Christian Ponder’s woes by manufacturing Patterson touches in the screen and short-pass game a la Percy Harvin.
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues
Watch List: Percy Harvin, Leonard Hankerson, Robert Woods, Jerome Simpson, Kenny Stills, Santonio Holmes, Brice Butler, Stephen Hill, Markus Wheaton – There’s no new news on Harvin, see last week’s Waiver Wired for more. … Hankerson has my attention because he started Week 2. … Woods is the clear No. 2 receiver in a no-huddle scheme. … Simpson is going to start losing playing time to Cordarrelle Patterson soon. … Stills saw a ton of Darrelle Revis in Week 2. He’s still a good bet to have some big games. … Santonio Holmes certainly appears healthy. He played on 69-of-74 snaps Week 2. … Butler had a big preseason and is worth monitoring with Denarius Moore struggling so badly. … Hill has all the physical tools. He just hasn’t been able to sustain any consistency with his hands or mental mistakes. ... Perhaps the Steelers will see Wheaton as a solution to their lack of big-play ability.
Cut Bait: Denarius Moore, Riley Cooper, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Patrick Edwards – Moore is a secondary option in a poor passing attack. … Cooper is a blocker. … Heyward-Bey has a shoulder injury and is predictably getting lapped by the expanding role of T.Y. Hilton. … Edwards is nursing an ankle injury.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Coby Fleener, Colts – Owned in 11 percent of Yahoo leagues
I highlighted Coby Fleener in Favorite Fliers back in August and again in Week 1 Waiver Wired. At this point, everyone should know that he was the tight end for Andrew Luck/Pep Hamilton at Stanford and plays the flex tight end spot in the Colts base “12” formation. What’s different now is that with Dwayne Allen (hip) sidelined and Darrius Heyward-Bey (shoulder) in doubt, Fleener is getting a bigger chance. He responded with four catches for 69 yards with a touchdown against the Dolphins and had another TD called back by a penalty away from the play. Fleener played on 61-of-73 Week 2 snaps (83.5 percent) and 42-of-57 (73.6 percent) in Week 1. He’s going to be a featured player for Luck.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues
2. Tyler Eifert, Bengals – Owned in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Bengals usage of Tyler Eifert continues to intrigue. Jon Gruden even highlighted it during Monday night’s broadcast, showing how his brother (Bengals OC Jay Gruden) is using Eifert and Jermaine Gresham together. The first-round rookie moves all over the formation, lining up in the slot, in a bunch set and in-line. Eifert had a 3/66/0 line against the Steelers, but was close to a couple more solid chunks over the middle. He’s only going to get better as the year moves along.
Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues
3. Charles Clay, Dolphins – Owned in 2 percent of Yahoo leagues
When Dustin Keller (knee) was lost for the year, most assumed the Dolphins would get no statistical production out of the tight end spot. Charles Clay had other ideas. Drafted as a smallish move tight end and H-back in 2011, Clay is finally getting a chance to show his athletic ability. Through two games, he’s racked up 13 targets while playing on 117 of 136 possible snaps (86.0 percent). He’s turned that opportunity into 10 catches for 163 yards, flashing more long speed up the seam than we knew he had. Clay also got a 1-yard touchdown run in Week 2 on his first career NFL carry. Don’t expect any more rushing production, but Ryan Tannehill is clearly comfortable with his new tight end.
Recommendation: Should be owned in deeper 12-team leagues
4. Heath Miller, Steelers – Owned in 22 percent of Yahoo leagues
During the Monday Night Football broadcast, ESPN’s Mike Tirico said Mike Tomlin told him they hope to get Heath Miller (knee) back as soon as Week 3. That could be overly optimistic, but it’s at least a sign that Miller is close. And Ben Roethlisberger is certainly desperate for the return of his Pro Bowl tight end as the Steelers have mustered just 19 points through two games. Miller had 71 catches a year ago. Miller is expected to practice in full this week.
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues
5. Brent Celek, Eagles – Owned in 37 percent of Yahoo leagues
Michael Vick completed 23 passes for 428 yards in Week 2 and Brent Celek posted no receptions on one target. That’s a little fluky, especially considering Celek played on 55-of-60 snaps (91.6 percent). With that kind of playing time, he’s going to have some productive days this season in the Eagles fastbreak offense.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues
Watch List: Vance McDonald, Kellen Winslow, Jordan Reed, Clay Harbor – Vernon Davis is day to day ahead of Week 3. If his hamstring strain unexpectedly proves serious, the capable rookie McDonald will be worth a look. … Winslow can’t do much after the catch anymore, but he does have 14 targets in two weeks. … Reed played 29 snaps against the Packers. Starter Fred Davis played just 16. … Harbor is an athletic pass-catcher that has filled in reasonably well for Marcedes Lewis (calf). But Lewis is due back shortly.
Cut Bait: Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Ed Dickson – Walker has six targets in two games. … Fasano can’t run anyway and is now nursing an ankle injury. … Ed Dickson is not an NFL-caliber pass-catcher.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
1. Jets – Owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues
We have some evidence that this Jets front seven might be really good. They held Doug Martin to 65 yards on 24 carries in Week 1 and then limited Stevan Ridley to 40 yards on 16 carries in Week 2. Now they get to face a Buffalo team at home that has turned the ball over four times already this season.
2. Titans – Owned in 22 percent of Yahoo leagues
The Chargers have to be exhausted. They took the Texans to the wire on Monday night in Week 1, then went across the country and beat the Eagles in a 10am PT kickoff in Week 2. Now they have to travel yet again, this time to Tennessee where they’ll face a Titans defense that has surrendered just 39 points through two games. The Chargers won’t have top wideout Malcom Floyd (neck).
3. Vikings -- Owned in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues
Minnesota is 0-2 and playing their home opener against the Browns. Desperation often leads to success in the NFL, and the Vikings will certainly be just that. Additionally, the Browns might be forced to roll with Jason Campbell if Brandon Weeden (thumb) can’t play. Campbell has thrown 52 interceptions and lost 14 fumbles in his 71 NFL starts.
KICKERS
1. Garrett Hartley, Saints – Owned in 26 percent of Yahoo leagues
This marks the third straight week I’ve highlighted Garrett Hartley in this space. He plays in an explosive offense that also calls a dome their home. Hartley is tied for the NFL lead in field goals made with six and is also tied for the NFL lead in attempts with seven. Add him and ride him through upcoming home games against the Cardinals and Dolphins.
2. Caleb Sturgis, Dolphins – Owned in 5 percent of Yahoo leagues
When an NFL team uses a fifth-round pick on a kicker, we know he’s talented. Sturgis has not disappointed, going 4-for-4 on the young season with two makes from 40+ and one from 54 yards out. The Dolphins have a very friendly schedule from a conditions perspective as they’ll play seven of their next nine games either at home or in a dome.
3. Alex Henery, Eagles – Owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues
We want to add as many Eagles to our roster as possible because they are going to score heaps of points and run tons of plays. Henery is no exception. He made three field goals against the Chargers in Week 2 and already has seven extra points. The only reason Henery is third on this list is because each of his next three games (home vs. Chiefs, at Denver and at Giants) will be played in less than ideal kicking conditions.
