Fantasy football is back! We bring you our weekly list of players who might be potential waiver wire busts or who have downside. Some of these players may appear in our waiver wire suggestions, but this list is designed to point out factors that could impact or limit their production.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice, Week 3: Hot players with potential downside
Fantasy football is back! But so are injuries, so you may be looking for a short-term fix or a long-term solution on the waiver wire.There are some players who are hot on the waiver wire lists who could have some potential downside. We bring you the top-five list here.
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RB Chris Ivory - New York Jets (owned in 53 percent of leagues)
Chris Ivory makes his second appearance on the list due to continuing concerns with the split in snaps and carries in the Jets backfield. Ivory and Chris Johnson continue to split snaps almost evenly and share carries despite Ivory being the most effective runner. Despite playing 27 snaps in Week 2, Ivory only carried the ball 10 times, although he did score. Johnson got 12 carries and only averaged 1.8 yards per carry. Until the Jets utilize Ivory more he will remain a risky play. Still, with the injury bug running rampant in the league, he might be worth the risk.
RB Khiry Robinson - New Orleans Saints (owned in 18 percent of leagues)
Khiry Robinson is in play due to the broken hand suffered by Mark Ingram in Week 2. Robinson was getting limited work behind Ingram and through two games only has 14 carries for 59 yards and one touchdown while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Robinson's workload should increase, but without Ingram to soften the defense it remains to be seen how he will do with the increase. He also has no looks in the passing game, and with Cooks and Pierre Thomas in the mix he is a risky play.
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RB Donald Brown - San Diego Chargers (owned in 9 percent of leagues)
Donald Brown will see increased work as Ryan Mathews is out with a sprained MCL. It's a blow to the San Diego Chargers offense, who will try to replace his production with a combination of Brown and Danny Woodhead. Brown has never been the lead back sharing the backfield his entire tenure in Indianapolis for the Colts. He has nine carries for 19 yards and a 2.1 yards-per-carry average through two games in San Diego. Brown's highest career production came in 2013 when he carried the ball 102 times for 537 yards and six touchdowns in his final season with the Colts.
WR James Jones - Oakland Raiders (owned in 21 percent of leagues)
James Jones is the Raiders' best wide receiver, which might not be saying much since the Raiders are currently ranked in the bottom on the league on offense. The Raiders are counting on rookie quarterback Derek Carr to lead the way, but he will struggle as rookie quarterbacks tend to do. Carr is averaging 198 passing yards per game through two games and has thrown three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones is averaging 73 yards per game and has 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His numbers are likely to be as inconsistent as his rookie quarterback projects to be.
TE Niles Paul - Washington (owned in 5 percent of leagues)
Niles Paul is seeing playing time due to the latest injury to second-year tight end Jordan Reed. In Week 2, he had eight receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Paul had the most targets with 11 and abused a Jacksonville Jaguars secondary playing without Jonathan Cyprien. Washington won't play the generous Jaguars every week so it's unlikely Paul will see such production again. Still, he is currently their leading receiver with 12 receptions for 185 yards and a touchdown.
