Pivot Plays and Post-Waiver Pickups: Week 3

Craig Rondinone analyzes the best pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for fantasy football managers heading into Week 3 of NFL action.

There are more “questionable” players on the NFL injury report than questionable “healthy” options on a fast food menu.

As the games pile up, so do the injuries. This makes the life of a fantasy football general manager more difficult than a mask salesman at an anti-vaccine convention. Because the players on their rosters will endure many injuries and missed games, fantasy footballers need to have backups and backup plans ready to go if they are going to survive the season. 2021 looks to be no different than any other season, that’s for sure.

Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 3 – and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace at the last-minute in your fantasy lineup:

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Potential Pivot Plays for Fantasy Lineups

If Los Angeles’ Darrell Henderson (ribs) is hurting too much to go on Sunday, you could pick up and play…

J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team (TE) at BUF

Sony Michel is rostered in 60 percent of leagues, so unless you had him as a Henderson insurance policy on your fantasy roster, you probably will not be able to get your hands on him. The versatile McKissic was invisible and ignored on waiver wires during Week 1 but turned nine touches into 93 yards against the hapless New York Giants last Thursday night.

There is no question that Antonio Gibson is the top tailback in Washington. McKissic has carved out a role in the backfield though, and should be more comfortable with Taylor Heinicke as his quarterback now that they have a full game together under their belts and helmets. McKissic should see six-to-eight targets and get a handful of runs in a game where Washington has a decent chance of trailing in the second half. He should be a top waiver option in PPR leagues thanks to his pass-catching ability. The man had 80 receptions on 110 targets in 2020, after all.

If Pittsburgh’s Diontae Johnson (knee) is ruled out before Sunday afternoon, you could pick up and play….

James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers (WR) vs. CIN

Johnson twisted his knee in the untimeliest fashion possible – during the last play of Pittsburgh’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. You will have to monitor his practice progress throughout the week to see if he can give it a go. In the meantime, signing Washington to your fantasy roster is not the worst idea in the world if you are badly in need of a WR.

Washington is arguably the best No. 4 WR on any team in the NFL. That does not mean much in fantasy circles since that makes him about as valuable as a fullback, but he has proven that when given the opportunity he can make plays downfield (career 14.7 YPC). Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is iffy himself due to a pectoral injury, but before you think that is a deal breaker, just remember that Washington led the Steelers in receiving yards in 2019 and “Big Ben” only suited up for two games that year.

If Las Vegas’s Josh Jacobs (ankle/toe) cannot limp onto the field for Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….

Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders (RB) vs. MIA

I know what you are thinking. Barber is a veteran plodder with no explosive ability. Meanwhile, poor Kenyan Drake is being utilized as essentially a third-down back when the guy rushed for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and has two 160-yard rushing games over the past couple years. Yet before you go flushing Barber and his 2.5 YPC down the fantasy toilet, be advised that Drake is only averaging 1.5 yards on his own rushing attempts.

Barber is a steady, straightforward back who can find the end zone (17 touchdowns between 2018-2020) and received twice the carries Drake did last week when Jacobs missed Vegas’ win over Pittsburgh. He is also slated to face Miami’s 28^th-ranked run defense on Sunday. If Jacobs cannot go, Barber is a good pick and play in a pinch. The Raiders could take advantage of Miami trotting out Jacoby Brissett at QB, get an early lead and run Barber a decent amount in the second half.

If Tampa Bay’s Antonio Brown (COVID list) is not cleared for Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….

Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions (WR) vs. BAL

I love his name, and I loved his game Week 2 when he turned seven targets into four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Cephus has now scored in back-to-back weeks and appears to be the de facto No. 1 WR with injury-riddled Tyrell Williams sidelined with a concussion. With Detroit bound to trail in most of its games this season, Cephus could be targeted often if he keeps his status as one of the Lions top two wideouts. Fantasy managers have to know going in that tight end T.J. Hockenson is really the top target of quarterback Jared Goff, however.

Baltimore had the tough task of dealing with Patrick Mahomes and the hot-handed Derek Carr during the first two games of the season, but that is no excuse for the Ravens’ abysmal ranking as the worst pass defense in the NFL right now. With Baltimore’s secondary struggling, and the fact that the Lions and Goff will probably pass more than they run due to the game script, Cephus should be able to have his third consecutive fruitful fantasy week. Pick him up for this week and he may give you four-to-six good weeks over the entire season.

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