FANTASY PLAYS: Ivory, Clement potential pickups for Week 3

If you’re searching for a difference-making player to boost your outlook after two weeks, you’re unlikely to find that on the waiver wire this early in the season.

If you feel the need to shift after an 0-2 start, trading is likely the best route to improving your team. And that may be a challenge, because any disappointing players you own aren’t going to bring you the return you may want. But you should always be looking to improve your team, even if you are 2-0 and your roster seems set for now.

Building depth is important, especially with byes starting next week.

RUNNING BACKS

GIOVANI BERNARD, Cincinnati (39.5 percent owned): With Joe Mixon out two weeks or more after a knee procedure, Bernard will be the most popular pickup of the week. He has starting experience and versatility and can easily be plugged in if you lost Mixon. He is especially appealing in point-per-reception formats. Rookie Mark Walton should not cut into his playing time enough to be added in anything more than very deep leagues.

COREY CLEMENT, Philadelphia (22.6 percent): Darren Sproles s dealing with a hamstring injury and the Eagles receiving crew is looking very thin. Plus, with Jay Ajayi’s knees always a possible issue, Philadelphia cannot overwork him. Clement totaled 85 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 15-yard run in Week 2. He is an explosive dual threat who can receive flex consideration whenever he is pressed into more service.

CHRIS IVORY, Buffalo (3.2 percent): LeSean McCoy is dealing with rib issues, and you should certainly be rostering Ivory as insurance if you are a McCoy owner. Yes, the Bills offense is a complete mess, but if you have the room, you should always roster any potential starting RB available from the waiver wire, and Ivory could fit that description in the near future.

RONALD JONES, Tampa Bay (30 percent): You should grab him now while you easily can. Peyton Barber has averaged just 2.6 yards per carry in his first two games and Jacquizz Rodgers is too small to consistently handle a significant workload. Jones has been inactive during the first two games, but at some point soon, the Buccaneers will have to make their opponents respect their running game, and the rookie second-round pick remains their best option.

WIDE RECEIVERS

JOHN BROWN, Baltimore (24.1 percent): He started earning the favor of a seemingly rejuvenated Joe Flacco in the preseason and the new connection has produced touchdowns in each of Baltimore’s first two games. Brown also totaled 92 receiving yards in Week 2. Brown is looking healthy and Flacco has suddenly rediscovered his downfield touch.

TERRELLE PRYOR, New York Jets (2.7 percent): If nothing else, you should simply add Pryor for the “revenge game” against the Browns this Thursday. Pryor actually wanted to stay in Cleveland but was traded before last season. Pryor is also coming off an 84-yard outing in Week 2, and now that he is seemingly healthy again there is a chance he becomes a more integral part of the Jets passing game on a regular basis.

CALVIN RIDLEY, Atlanta (37 percent): A lot of fantasy owners dropped him after a quiet Week 1, but Ridley quickly reminded us all of his potential with a 64-yard performance with a TD in Week 2. Many rookies will not make an immediate impact this year, but Ridley may be the best WR of all the first-year pass catchers. He is a very promising big-play complement to Julio Jones and you should not leave him on the waiver list with a wait-and-see approach.

TYLER BOYD, Cincinnati (1.2 percent): He caught six balls for 91 yards and a TD in Week 2, and that performance may have indicated he is ahead of John Ross as Cincinnati’s second receiver. Boyd still has to prove he can produce consistently before you start him, but with Andy Dalton getting better protection this year Boyd does have the chance to become a more dependable Fantasy receiver.

TIGHT ENDS

WILL DISSLY, Seattle (24.4 percent): His 105-yard outing in the season opener at Denver seemed like it could have been a mirage, but Dissly received another five targets on Monday night at Chicago and scored again. His TD catch came in garbage time but it is apparent Russell Wilson will look for the rookie on key downs.

AUSTIN HOOPER, Atlanta (17.5 percent): Many tight ends take some time to get into the full flow of the pro game, and this could be the season when the third-year Falcon makes his true mark. Hooper caught five passes for 59 yards and a TD in Week 2 and he knows how to find soft spots in defenses and shield himself from defenders when making the important catch.

QUARTERBACKS

RYAN FITZPATRICK, Tampa Bay (31.7 percent): Many fantasy players did not believe what they saw from him in Week 1, then he dropped four more TD passes vs. the defending champion Eagles in Week 2. This up-and-down journeyman will come down from the sky at some point soon, but it’s not going to be in Week 3 against Pittsburgh. Fitzpatrick is ticketed for another shootout. You should start him for at least one week before you relegate him to QB2 status, dodging an impending collapse soon after his next game.

BLAKE BORTLES, Jacksonville (10.0 percent): His 377-yard, four TD outing against the Patriots could be a sign that Bortles has turned an important corner in his career. Or it could simply be a case of overachieving. Bortles still has to deliver more consistently to earn the trust of fantasy owners, but after his Week 2, you should at least roster him in case this is the beginning of a new chapter in a career filled with erratic play.

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For more in-depth fantasy advice and insights, including rankings and matchup breakdowns, visit RotoExperts: https://rotoexperts.com

Week 6 Fantasy Disappointments

There were many unfortunate fantasy letdowns in Week 6 but here are the top three under-achievers of the week. Some of us might look at our lineup and say, “What, only three?” Anyway, these are the players we hope will turn it around in Week 7.
Matt Forte
Matt Forte posted 2.20 fantasy points in the Jets debacle with the Cardinals.  The Jets’ defensive line desperately needed to perform at the highest level in order to give the Jets an opportunity to compete, which they did not.  With the game quickly out of hand, Forte rushed nine times but gained only 19 yards and also caught only one of three passes that came his way. He was even targeted one less time than Bilal Powell. How the glory has departed! Forte has rushed for less than 30 yards in the last 3 games. In Week 5, he collected 6.0 fantasy points, and in Week 4 it was 4.30, so this has been going on for a while.
It’s not that Matt has lost a step because in Week 2 he blew up for 28.90 points against Buffalo. It’s that Jets coach Todd Bowles simply needs to use him more. The Jets are 1-5, so what are they thinking? If they have a better option, Forte owners might want to bench him until the Jets make this obvious decision. Otherwise, owners can simply wait it out.
Travis Benjamin
Travis Benjamin ended up with -0.30 points against Denver. Ok, it’s Denver, but negative points, really? He caught three of five passes, but for only 17 yards and, as a punt returner, muffed a punt on the 11-yard line. Fortunately, he’s been replaced there by Dexter McCluster.
Many see Benjamin as a “boom or bust” player. But he can be more boom than bust. In Week 5, he brought in a respectable 11.70 points and, in Week 2, 23.40 points. Benjamin was a productive staple in a poor Cleveland offense, and he’s filled in admirably for the injury-stricken Chargers. Through Week 5, he scored the 15th-most fantasy points of any wide receiver. It is a safe bet to start Benjamin in Week 7 against the Falcons.
Jordy Nelson
Jordy’s 4.80 points against the Cowboys was just part of the general Packers meltdown, following Aaron Rodgers’ QB struggles. Week 6 presented Nelson with a season low in targets while gaining plenty of attention from the tough Cowboys defense. Aaron Rogers spreads the ball around and has a completion rate of 60.2%, which also makes it tougher for Jordy. What’s more, in the first quarter, the Cowboys defense forced Nelson to fumble on the Packers 36 yard line.
But all is not lost. In Week 7, the Packers play the Bears, who are struggling more than they are. The Bears defense ranks 21st in total tackles, with only 2 interceptions. The Bears offense also spends little time on the field, wearing their defense out, so the Packers will be able to pick it apart. Nelson gets the most targets on the team, so he’s a sure start for Week 7.
So here’s hoping your fantasy world is looking up. Last week frustrated, this week elated!