Don’t count your chickens until they hatch. That’s what my mom always tells me, and she gives great advice.
While some of your players have been giving you “eggs” through the season’s first two weeks, don’t give up on them just yet. It’s easy as a fantasy owner to look at a player’s position rank and immediately assume you drafted a bust. Some players have probably disappointed you so far, such as LeSean McCoy, Devonta Freeman, Derrick Henry and Larry Fitzgerald. With big eggs like those, you’ll never be able to trade them for their draft price, so it’s probably just better to wait and see if they’ll hatch. An article from Modern Farmer states that chicken eggs almost always hatch after exactly 21 days, so Week 3 could be the week your team breaks out.
Not only does this apply to the players on your team, but your team as a whole. Is your team 0-2? Do you feel like throwing in the towel? I can guarantee you that if you give up, you will not win your league. Plenty of fantasy teams start 0-2 every year and still make the playoffs and eventually go on to win championships. Continue to search the waiver wire for chickens and your team will fall into place before you know it. Other teams might be giving up already, which is all the more reason to keep trying.
Quarterback – Ryan Fitzpatrick
“FitzMagic” has been the biggest quarterback surprise this year. After his 5 total touchdowns in Week 1 and 4 touchdowns in Week 2, it looks like the 35-year-old veteran’s career has been revitalized in a Kurt Warner like fashion. Fitzpatrick could very well be unowned in your league, and I just might jump on the bandwagon myself and ride it until the wheels fall off. Fitzpatrick plays against the Steelers this week at home, which is an awfully inviting matchup. Some other quality QB starts this week are San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo, who gets his shot at the putrid Chiefs defense this week, and Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky, who faces the Cardinals.
Running Back – Chris Thompson
If you drafted any wide receiver on the Redskins offense, you probably wish you could go back and draft somebody else. Alex Smith targeted Chris Thompson 14 times in Week 2, and Thompson is third in the league in targets and second in receptions among running backs. If you play in any PPR format, Thompson is a must-start given that his floor is so high. The Redskins play against the Packers this week, and I expect Chris Thompson to continue to do Chris Thompson things. If you’re looking for a quick start from the free agent list, target Giovani Bernard, who will start in place of Joe Mixon for the Bengals for a few weeks. The Bengals play against the Panthers, but given Bernard’s versatility as a rusher and pass catcher, he’s a safe play this week.
Wide Receiver – Nelson Agholor
Nelson Agholor has a recipe for success this week. First and foremost, Carson Wentz returns under center this week. Second of all, Mike Wallace is out this week, and Alshon Jeffery will likely be out too, leaving lots of targets up for grabs. And the final ingredient is the matchup. The Eagles play at home against the Colts, who came into this season with the worst ranked defense in the NFL, according to Bleacher Report. Agholor owners should start him this week without a second thought. Some useful wideouts you might find on the wire this week are Geronimo Allison of the Packers, who has value as long as Aaron Rodgers is healthy, and Brandon Marshall, who has value as long as Doug Baldwin is unhealthy.
Tight End – Trey Burton
On Monday night, Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky targeted Allen Robinson a team-high 14 times against the Seahawks. In Week 3, the Bears play against the Cardinals, and Robinson will go head-to-head against Patrick Peterson, who has made the Pro Bowl in every one of his seven NFL seasons. That being said, I expect Trey Burton to be much more involved than he has been the last two weeks. Some other quality TE starts this week are 49er George Kittle, who plays against the Chiefs, and Buccaneer O.J. Howard, who faces Pittsburgh.