Maybe Lamar Jackson was on to something when he said, “Not bad for a running back,” a shot to naysayers doubting his prowess as the Ravens quarterback.
Mind you, Jackson didn’t look like much of a quarterback or running back in the first half against the Chiefs on Sunday, but Arrowhead Stadium has humbled many a quarterback and Jackson did rally in the second half. But he makes a larger point about perception versus reality.
With the majority of Week 3’s games in the books, it’s time for some hard truths heading into Week 4 and beyond:
Tyreek Hill needs Patrick Mahomes much more than Mahomes needs him. Remember that when Hill’s working his way back.
Kirk Cousins apparently needs Adam Thielen, who scored a rushing touchdown Sunday, more than Thielen needs him.
The reported demise of Phillip Lindsay was premature.
The apparent demise of Davante Adams is both unexpected and worrisome.
Blake Bortles was holding back the Jaguars (but we probably knew that).
Some of these and others truths should be a factor in who to pick up on Week 4’s waiver wire top 10 list.
1. Wayne Gallman, RB, Giants
“I’m not out for the season.”
As optimistic as Saquon Barkley’s statement tried to be, those are never words fantasy managers want to hear from the consensus No. 1 pick. Barkley is due for MRI on what looks to be the dreaded high ankle sprain, so we could be looking at a four- to six-week layoff.
Wayne Gallman likely inherits the starting job. He’s nowhere near the talent Barkley is, and he’s probably less of an impact player than several free agents he precedes on this list.
But Gallman benefits from two things: There’s no doubt he’s the man. Elijhaa Penny, who was signed off Arizona’s practice squad last year, has had nine carries and eight catches dating back to last year. He’s also Barkley’s and Gallman’s lead blocker.
Gallman also benefits from the fact that quarterback Daniel Jones seemingly transformed the offense into a functional unit (for one game at least). Gallman split touches with Orleans Darkwa as a rookie in 2017, but he’ll get the rock this go around.
2. Mecole Hardman, WR, Chiefs
Mecole Hardman has made Sammy Watkins seem like an afterthought — and Watkins proved in Week 1 with three touchdowns that he’s no slouch. But if there’s anyone who has looked most like Tyreek Hill, it’s the speedy rookie Hardman, who turned two catches into 97 yards, including an 83-yard score that ranked him as the third fastest ball carrier (21.74 mph) this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
While we’re at it, Hardman didn’t do a bad Kareem Hunt impersonation on a 7-yard run for a first down.
Just by the nature of his role, Hardman usually will be a boom or bust candidate, but again then so was Hill. The payoff is the potential for big yardage off very few catches and scoring formats that award bonuses for long touchdowns.
If you can live with Hardman’s ups and downs, he still has 40% availability on CBS Sports. His claims leading up to Sunday went up 10 percent on ESPN but he’s still unclaimed in more of 55% of leagues. It’s 52% on Yahoo.
3. D.J. Chark, WR, Jaguars
Remember that matter about Blake Bortles? D.J. Chark didn’t have a touchdown or game over 68 yards in 10 games last season, but has scored every week this season – and not just on long bombs – and had his first 100-yard game in Week 1.
The Jaguars have made him a full participant in the offense — at least 70% of snaps, compared to WR1 Dede Westbrook’s minimum 80%. It doesn’t hurt Chark’s cause that Westbrook dropped three passes against the Titans, or that the passing game looks to be in good hands with Gardner Minshew.
4. Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs
Darrel Williams inadvertently faked out the media and fantasy fans during pregame warmups with the notion he’d be the lead back over LeSean McCoy, whose ankle made him a questionable start.
Fast forward and not only did McCoy start, but he scored twice before exacerbating his ankle injury. Damien Williams missed the game with a knee injury and hasn’t looked explosive anyway.
Darrel Williams may not be the fastest back (take out his 41-yard rumble), but he can run with power and catch the ball. In Kansas City, that’s plenty. He just needs the touches.
5. Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
Congratulations if you had the guts to not just pick up Daniel Jones as a free agent, but start him. Jones came through with 336 passing yards and four total touchdowns. Not a bad debut.
But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Two of those touchdowns were rushing touchdowns, the second of which occurred when Buccaneer defenders vacated the middle and left a run up the gut wide open. Which brings us to the second point: Few teams shoot themselves in the foot like Tampa Bay (the Eli Manning-led Giants beat these same Bucs 38-35 last year, after all).
The Redskins, Vikings and Patriots — up next on the Giants’ schedule — could pose stiffer challenges, especially now that those defenses have tape on him.
Also, Jones fell behind Sunday 28-10 at the half and lost two fumbles.
But let’s look at the positives. Jones directed five scoring drives, played a bulk of the time without Saquon Barkley and displayed a level of mobility Manning never has possessed. Plus, he showed resilience while outpunching the Bucs 22-3 in the second half.
The bottom line is this: With their defense still a liability and Barkley possibly shelved with a high ankle sprain, the Giants will ask Jones to throw a lot, and that’s just fine by fantasy owners.
6. Kyle Allen, QB, Panthers
OK, forget the previous advice. Go ahead and overreact a little.
Kyle Allen brought life to the Carolina offense, and in comparison, Cam Newton looks hurt, disinterested or both.
Who really knows what’s going on with Newton, who figures to sit out multiple weeks with a foot injury. The Panthers didn’t just put up points under Allen — they looked explosive.
The quarterback dissected the Cardinals for four touchdowns with surgical precision, and he’s got games against the Texans and Buccaneers over the next three weeks.
7. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Patriots
A week ago, Phillip Dorsett looked like someone who shouldn’t be rostered even in deep leagues. He was at best fourth in the Tom Brady’s pecking order behind Antonio Brown, Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon, and that’s if you don’t count the Patriots running backs.
But since Friday, the Patriots released Brown, Edelman left Sunday’s game with a chest injury and Gordon hurt his hand, though based on early reports it didn’t look to be serious. Dorsett saw his streak of consecutive targets caught end at 26, but that’s the only downer in his day when he went 6 of 7 for 53 yards and a touchdown reception from the slot.
Tom Brady targeted a slot receiver 9.8 times per game last season, according to NFL.com. Even if Edelman remains in the picture, former Patriots Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski — and now Dorsett — have shown that the slot isn’t Edelman’s exclusive domain.
8. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Packers
After four straight games of 10-plus fantasy points in 2018, Marquez Valdes-Scantling went the next 10 going into 2019 without a double-digit total. That is until Sunday, when he racked up 15.9 fantasy points against the Broncos.
It’s probably no coincidence that on a day Aaron Rodgers said his offensive line allowed only one hard hit all game, Rodgers had time to find MVS on a 28-yarder and a 40-yard touchdown. Maybe as new coach Matt LaFleur’s offense jells, we’ll see more days like this for Valdes-Scantling.
9. Royce Freeman, RB, Broncos
You don’t have to have a huge day to make this list.
Phillip Lindsay outshined Royce Freeman in the Week 3 loss (25 fantasy points), but it’s notable that Freeman had 19 touches. He’s had at least 10 carries each game — and averaged 5.2 yards — and at least five targets in the last two games.
He’s going to break through one of these games. And you’d want to consider backing up Lindsay anyway.
10. Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons
With all due respect, Austin Hooper doesn’t have the elite skills of a Travis Kelce or Evan Engram, but what he does have so far this season is volume. He’s had at least six targets and four catches in three games. On Sunday, he put up 66 yards and two red-zone touchdowns against the Colts, who rank fifth (10.03) in points per game allowed to tight ends, according to FantasyData.com.
Hooper isn’t an every-week starter, but his red-zone role makes him a pretty good matchup play, especially since the Falcons have yet to produce a rushing touchdown.
