Welcome to the Fix’s week three waiver wire. Injuries are still decimating teams and matchups are becoming easier for us to recognize and exploit. So let’s do just that.

Before we get to this week’s potential waiver wire pickups, it’s important to note that I indicate below each name what type of waiver priority I would use on said player as well as the amount of FAAB I’d be willing to use to acquire their services. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Knowshon Moreno | Broncos and Bernard Pierce | Ravens

Both of these fellows are likely owned in your deeper leagues, so this blurb may be a waste of your time, but I felt like they needed to be mentioned for those in shallower leagues — or for those who just forget to comb their waiver wire to see who’s available.

Moreno failed to reach the century mark on Sunday night against the New York Football Giants, but he managed to run for 95 yards on 13 carries while landing in the end zone twice. He added three receptions on three targets for 14 yards as well. Lack of productivity from both Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman make Moreno a must-add in all formats. But keep in mind that the Broncos could be losing their best offensive lineman, Ryan Clady, for the remainder of the season with a foot injury. This will be something to monitor closely as the absence of their left tackle will surely impact their offensive production.

In our draft kit and on our site again back in August, I touted Bernard Pierce as a “sleeper” based on his development as a runner and the potential of an increased workload. The Ravens’ “All-World” running back Ray Rice has seen a decrease in carries in each of the last three seasons. But this time, Pierce could be getting his chance based on an injury Rice sustained in week two against the Browns. The Ravens are ready-and-willing to move forward with Pierce as their starting tailback if Rice were to miss significant time. Knowing this, if you’re a Ray Rice owner or not, you should be targeting this man when waivers are processed this evening.

Consider in leagues: 10-12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 1-2
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 35-50%
Players I’d drop for him: Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, Isaac Redman

Eddie Royal | Chargers

Eddie Royal has as many touchdowns (5) as Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and A.J. Green combined. Okay, you can all stop laughing now. The touchdowns for Royal will likely regress, but we’re getting a glimpse as to how Phillip Rivers and the Chargers plan to use the shifty pass catcher.

At this point, Royal has ten receptions on 14 targets for 114 yards., an average of 11.4 yards/reception. He’s not only making grabs, but he’s also chewing up yardage at a decent clip afterwards — averaging 5.0 yards after the catch per reception. But each of the five scores from Rivers-to-Royal have come from inside the opponent’s 25-yard line, four of which coming from the 15-yard line and in. The usage is real; the new coaching staff has a plan for Fast Eddie in their offense. However, the scores seem to be dependent on the Chargers getting themselves into the red zone. They’ve been able to do so through two weeks, but we’ll see if/how that changes going forward.

Outside of points-per-reception leagues, I have a hard to time believing Royal will continue to carry this much value going forward even if he’s able to rack up touchdowns at half his current pace. If you’re adding Eddie Royal, do so for depth, don’t anticipate the same production going forward — we’ve likely seen his best game of the season already.

Consider in leagues: 10-12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 2 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 15%
Players I’d drop for him: Sidney Rice, Darius Heyward-Bey, Greg Little

James Starks | Packers

Just when fantasy footballers bought their tickets for the Eddie Lacy train — or at least this author did — the rookie out of Alabama caught the concussion bug. With Lacy expected to be out until at least week five of the twenty-thirteen season, James Starks will step in and become the bell-cow for the Green Bay Packers.

Against the Redskins in week two — yes, I know it was only the Redskins, but I have to go forward with this — Starks carried the ball 20 times for 132 yards and a score. That’s an impressive 6.6 yards/carry right there, folks. Right, but the Redskins… Anywho, Starks also added four catches for 36 yards out of the backfield.

This is the Packers offense. They will spread the ball around and score a lot of points. If by chance you need a runner, make the add.

Consider in leagues: 10-12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 2 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 20-30%
Players I’d drop for him: Mark Ingram, Chris Ivory, Isaac Redman

Tyler Eifert | Bengals

The rookie out of Notre Dame received five looks from quarterback Andy Dalton in each of the first two weeks. He’s hauled in eight of those ten targets for 113 yards, an average of 14.1 yards/reception. Eifert is a big, sure-handed pass catcher with decent speed and a bit of elusiveness to cause havoc in defensive backfields once he breaks free. Knowing that the Bengals ground attack with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard is starting to take shape, look for Eifert’s role to increase. Upside, upside, upside. Can you smell it?

Consider in leagues: 12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Fred Davis, Brandon Pettigrew, Zach Sudfield

Jacquizz Rodgers | Falcons and Jason Snelling | Falcons

Today we learned that old-man Steven Jackson could be out 2-to-4 weeks with a thigh bruise, leaving Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling to carry the rock in his stead. At this point in the season, neither stick out as someone who could step into the lead back roll and be a viable number two or three fantasy back, so you could consider passing on this duo altogether, unless you’re desperate.

Rodgers has carried the ball 13 times for 16 yards — no, that’s not a typo — for a whopping 1.2 yards/attempt. Snelling has tallied two carries through two weeks for a total of 19 yards, but has scored on one of those carries. Out of the backfield, Rodgers has hauled in each of the five passes tossed his way for 31 yards (6.2 yards/reception) while Snelling reeled in 6-of-7 targets for 58 yards.

Like I said, nothing exactly exciting here.

Consider in leagues: 12+ teamers
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: <5%
Players I’d drop for him: Shonn Greene, Christine Michael, Michael Bush

Minnesota & Buffalo D/ST

This is simply the perfect time to stream defenses and both Minnesota and Buffalo have reasonable matchups in week three against Cleveland and the New York Jets, respectively.

Consider in leagues: 10-12 team
Waiver Priority Worthy: N/A
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Cincinnati, St. Louis, Green Bay