EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 13: Quincy Enunwa #81 of the New York Jets celebrates after a tackle in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 13, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
NFLBy Chase Ruttig on

Week 3 of the NFL season presents another chance for fantasy owners to raid the waiver wire. The talent pool has shifted after a long list of injuries and a second week to evaluate the board. Several sleepers are emerging from the mix, giving owners plenty of opportunities to secure a potential steal from the scrap heap before Sunday afternoon.

Following are five must-add players or cheap DFS options for Week 3 of the fantasy football season.

Tajae Sharpe, Tennessee Titans

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Tajae Sharpe appeared in the Week 2 sleepers list, but the Tennessee Titans wideout still has value this week as a sleeper wideout. A matchup with the struggling Oakland Raiders defense gives Sharpe even more potential value than last week, as the Titans’ top target should have big-game potential.

Sharpe has had 18 targets in the Titans’ first two games, numbers that speak to his fantasy value as Marcus Mariota’s primary target. Up against a Raiders pass defense that has been sliced and diced in the first two games of the season, Sharpe has clear value this week as a target-heavy wideout with a generous matchup.

Jared Cook, Green Bay Packers

A nice matchup start, Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook could be a value tight end for fantasy owners in search of a waiver wire pickup to start at the position this week. The same could be said for DFS, as Cook is currently a low-priced option who has a very generous matchup against a Lions defense that has allowed plenty of points to opposing tight ends thus far in 2016.

After two weeks, the Lions have allowed 43.9 fantasy points to tight ends in standard leagues. That is an average of 21.95 points in two games, numbers that most fantasy owners would be more than satisfied with from the tight end position before most matchups.

Cook has been below par so far this season, so it is a slight risk to start a tight end who has just five catches for 38 yards. However, the Packers are likely due for an uptick in offense and the Lions have been poor at defending tight ends to start the season. Those two reasons alone make Cook a very tempting sleeper pickup this week if you can find him on the waiver wire.

Dwayne Washington, Detroit Lions

Last week, it was Theo Riddick who was the sleeper running back in the Detroit offense. But a season-ending injury to Ameer Abdullah has changed the running back landscape for the Lions. Riddick is now moved to the feature back role, while Dwayne Washington fills in as the secondary option for the Detroit rushing attack.

Washington should pick up a handful of the touches that will be up for grabs with Abdullah out for the season, an increase that should clearly increase his fantasy value. Most important are the goal-line touches that Washington will be receiving as the likely power back out of the Lions’ new running back tandem. For owners in need of a third running back or a cheap injury replacement, Washington will be a nice sleeper for the rest of the season as a potential touchdown vulture who will get his share of carries as a second option.

Dexter McCluster, San Diego Chargers

Another running back who now has fantasy value due to an injury, Dexter McCluster has been signed as the man tasked to replace the injured Danny Woodhead in San Diego after Woodhead’s ACL tear. That injury gives McCluster some sleeper fantasy value, as the Chargers should be set to give the back plenty of touches in Woodhead’s absence.

Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt loved McCluster during their time in Tennessee, so it isn’t crazy to expect McCluster to be the next man up for the Chargers. He’s a prospect who should excite PPR owners and those in need of a waiver wire add. McCluster should be on the rise with more targets in the San Diego offense. Don’t expect Woodhead-level production, but McCluster will be involved enough to have fantasy value as the second option in San Diego.

Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets

After two games with a high target rate from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quincy Enunwa is officially a viable fantasy wideout. A high-profile role in the New York Jets’ passing attack for Enunwa is the key factor for deserved fantasy hype.

Enunwa has 14 targets after two games for the Jets this season, numbers that could increase as Brandon Marshall hasn’t practiced this week after his knee injury on last week’s Thursday Night Football. Marshall’s absence would further boost Enunwa’s value, though it’s already high enough to warrant sleeper status after back-to-back double-digit fantasy performances to start the season.

Enunwa has a 31 percent ownership rate in Yahoo! leagues as of Thursday, but that number has already jumped by over 20 percent this week, so those who want to add Enunwa will have to act fast. This should be the last week where Enunwa is considered a sleeper as he is a must-add for those who are in leagues where he is still avaiable on the wire.

About Chase Ruttig

Chase Ruttig is a Canadian sportswriter who covers North American sports for various outlets.

View all posts by Chase Ruttig

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