Injuries have forced a mad scramble to the waiver wire in the first two weeks, and most of the roster and lineup shuffling doesn’t stop until early kickoffs on Sunday. Players who still may be available on free agency for lineup usage are spotlighted here, so you can still make a needed adjustment heading into the Sunday slate.
Even if you don’t start the guys mentioned in this rundown of potentially available skill position players, many of them can also be picked up to see if they come through for future lineup consideration. The analysis leans to PPR formats. I use CBSSports.com leagues for rostered percentages — focusing primarily on players under 60% rostered — as the platform is a destination for more highly competitive leagues
Prime Pickups: Add ‘Em and Start ‘Em
Cam Akers, RB, HOU (25% rostered)
By the time you read this, Akers’ roster percentage will have risen. He has a good chance to start for the Texans in Week 3, as Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) both might miss the game against Minnesota. It would be an admirable feat for him to perform well against the Vikings.
Akers has made his way back from two Achilles injuries in four NFL seasons and is now apparently on the verge of starting a game for the first time since the opener of the 2023 season when he was still with the Rams. Minnesota’s defense ranks eighth in rushing yards allowed after two weeks, but healthy projected volume and the chance to finish off scoring drives for the Houston offense positions Akers as a viable fill-in fantasy starter.
After providing glimpses of promise in the preseason, the 2020 second-round pick of the Rams averaged 4.6 yards per carry on seven attempts last week. If you can still bid on Akers in free agency on a nightly waiver run, keep in mind that he might only be a one-week starter for the Texans.
Jauan Jennings, WR, SF (18%)
Jennings has a larger role to play for a depleted 49ers offense this week. Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey are both out, and George Kittle is dealing with a hamstring issue. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder started seven games in his three previous seasons.
In last season’s playoffs, Jennings had six receptions for 51 yards in the NFC divisional round, and he caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl. The Rams have been even more wrecked by injuries than the Niners. Los Angeles gave up 41 points last week, and Jennings should be involved enough to warrant a WR3 spot in your lineup if needed, although he models more ideally as a flex option.
Samaje Perine, RB, KC (56%)
It is surprising to see Perine available in over 40 percent of leagues on CBSSports.com. So here’s a reminder to check your free agent list, as you never know who might be available. While many fantasy leaguers preferred to add Carson Steele (79% rostered) because of his inside running and goal-line promise, Perine might split work with him and should be the primary receiving back for Kansas City.
Last season, Perine totaled 95 scrimmage yards in a start for Denver, and in 2022, he rushed for 106 yards and added six receptions for 49 yards in the second of two starts for the Bengals. He is an experienced pro RB, while Steele is still an unproven undrafted rookie. Unless the first-year guy quickly emerges as the running back version of Brock Purdy (who was one pick away from going undrafted), Perine can be useful as a flex option in a proven and potent offense.
I’m not saying Steele won’t outproduce Perine, because it’s certainly possible when finishing drives with TD runs for the Chiefs. The eighth-year RB, however, should not be left on the waiver wire if he is available.
Potential Quality Contributors
Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR (17%)
Los Angeles has been overrun by injuries, and now while we wait to see if Demarcus Robinson can lead the way in filling the gaping void at WR, Atwell is getting overlooked. I was able to successfully land him in several waiver runs earlier this week, and he remains widely available.
Maybe he doesn’t get enough attention because he is listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds? Still, Atwell has made the most of more opportunities at times. The 24-year-old opened the 2023 season by posting 15-plus points in the first three games while Cooper Kupp was out with a hamstring injury. You should also keep a watch on Jordan Whittington and Tyler Johnson to see if they step forward and become viable Week 4 waiver wire pickups.
Greg Dortch, WR, ARI (19%)
While Marvin Harrison Jr. exploded in Week 2, Dortch went silent, catching both of only two targets for 11 yards. The Lions will be heavily focused on containing the dynamic Harrison in the passing game. Cardinals-Lions has the highest Over/Under of the week at 51.5 points, so Dortch can get more involved this week, benefitting from Harrison drawing much defensive attention. He did catch six of eight targets in Week 1, so a decent statistical day is possible.
Jonnu Smith, TE, MIA (16%)
What? Pick up a Dolphins player with Tua Tagovailoa out? The concept of adding and starting Smith, however, is not crazy at all. Seattle allowed Hunter Henry to bust loose for a career day (eight receptions, 106 yards). The new Miami TE caught six of seven targets in Week 2 and he definitely merits some starting consideration.
The Seahawks’ stout group of cornerbacks will be focused on battling the Dolphins’ dynamic WR duo. Replacement QB Skylar Thompson may be inclined to get Smith involved when he needs some catches on key downs.
D’Onta Foreman, RB, CLE (31%)
Last week, the journeyman RB led the Cleveland RBs with 15 touches, and he also was utilized on a pair of first quarter goal line carries. Pierre Strong is dealing with a hamstring injury and Foreman will be ready to operate as the primary complement to Jerome Ford against the lowly Giants.
The Browns should move the ball effectively enough while taking advantage of good field position set up by the defense. Foreman may get more TD chances, and one visit to the end zone with a decent amount of yardage could translate into an acceptable fantasy outing.
Dart Throws for Week 3
Jalen Nailor, WR, MIN (12%)
Jordan Addison is still coping with an ankle issue, and Nailor’s snap count number increased from 47 to 93 percent in Week 2, per FootballGuys. He caught three passes for 54 yards and has notched a TD reception in each of the first two weeks while logging a pair of 20-plus yard receptions. If Addison sits out again, Nailor can be used as a deeper streamer.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Rams (37%)
Last week, Parkinson was featured in this article, as the Rams needed him to contribute more because of their significant WR issues. He, apparently, didn’t get the message that some fantasy managers were giving him a shot, as he caught one pass for 12 yards. Take another chance if you dare, because he still has an opportunity to help compensate for their receiving losses. Hopefully, he can at least be a factor in catch-up mode this week.
Noah Brown. WR, WAS (2%)
After being listed as inactive in the season opener and playing on 28 percent of the snaps in Week 2, Brown does not even seem to be worthy of a deep league flier. But he signed with the Commanders in late August, and might take over the totally available No. 2 WR job in Washington.
Brown caught a 34-yard pass last week and could be worthy of consideration in larger leagues as he gets more comfortable in a new offense and Jayden Daniels progresses as a passer. Whoever seizes the WR2 role can benefit from functioning as an alternative to Terry McLaurin.
The Athletic’s Ben Standing has more on Brown. His in-depth feature on how the downfield threat has overcome injury issues to get another chance with Washington after flashing with Houston last year might motivate you more to pick him up.
(Top photo of Jauan Jennings: Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
