FAABulous Football Week 3: The Madden Curse is Real

Welcome to Week 3

It was none other than Christian McCaffrey gracing the cover of the popular video game and becoming yet another victim of the dreaded “Madden Curse,” now being placed on IR to start the season. 

This off season felt eerily quiet and calm on the injury front, but now feels like this was a facade in which many teams were deceptive in reporting injuries, lulling us into a false sense of security… I’m looking at you 49ers and Rams. Now heading into Week 3 and there has been an abundance of injuries to start the season. In addition to injuries we have several other surprises that question our own sanity surrounding player evaluations and team performance expectations.

Yet despite all of this drama early on in the season the waiver wire is surprisingly barren, especially in high stakes and deeper formats. 

All stats and data for this article are pulled from Fantasy Life, PFF, ETR, and Stealing Signals.

A Look at Week 2

Week 2 Waiver Wire Wins

When I say “wins” it is in reference to the player(s) won on the waiver wire, not a performance evaluation. Because I am releasing this article after the conclusion of Week 1, many things, in hindsight, may not be a win after all. I include this section not for bragging rights or victory laps but rather to keep myself accountable and demonstrate that I am, in fact bidding on many of the players I am writing about (for better and worse).

Several of the top waiver options were not available or right for teams’ roster needs. I included these players I did not win any shares of as well ones along with the winning bid range I saw these players go for in other leagues.

Jeff Wilson Jr. (5 shares)

Winning bid(s): $203, $203, $203, $203, $252

Price range won in other leagues: $156-$501

Tyler Johnson (4 shares)

Winning bid(s):$132, $132, $132, $132

Price range won in other leagues: $29-$128

Isaac Guerendo (2 shares)

Winning bid(s): $51, $52

Price range won in other leagues: $2-$325

Jalen Nailor (2 shares)

Winning bid(s): $1, $32

Price range won in other leagues: $3-$51

Ronnie Rivers (2 shares)

Winning bid(s): $5, $1

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$91

TEN Def (2 shares)

Winning bid(s): $1,$1

DEN Def (2 shares)

Winning bid(s): $1, $1

Price range won in other leagues: $2-$13

Hayden Hurst (1 share)

Winning bid(s):$53

Justin Fields (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $1

Price range won in other leagues: $43

Jordan Akins (1 share)

Winning bid(s):$1

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$115

Miles Sanders (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $1

Price range won in other leagues: $11

Malik Washington (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $1

KC Def (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $1

Price range won in other leagues:$1

Jake Moody (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $3

Cameron Dicker (1 share)

Winning bid(s): $1

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$11

Alexander Mattison (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $115

Justice Hill (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $489

Emanuel Wilson (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $9-$67

Kenny McIntosh (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$39

Carson Steele (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $7

Jamaal Williams (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $17-$225

Trey Sermon (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues:$3

Dameon Pierce (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $22-$39

Allen Lazard (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $12-$350

Greg Dortch (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $6-$183

Demarcus Robinson (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $135

Devaughn Vele (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $6-$47

Alec Pierce (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$228

Ray-Ray McCloud (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$13

Jordan Whittington (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $9-$178

Josh Reynolds (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $6

Tyler Boyd (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $3

Colby Parkinson (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $385

Tucker Kraft (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $80

Theo Johnson (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $16-$28

Gerald Everett (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $15

Luke Schoonmaker (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $17- $67

Foster Moreau (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $22-$150

IND Def (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $11-$34

JAC Def (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $1- $19

PHI Def (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $1-$42

LAC Def (no shares)

Price range won in other leagues: $22-$61

Week 2: The Ship Chasing Team Standings

FFPC Main Event Teams

Live A Little (0-2) 11th Place 229.10 pts

This has been a rough start to the season with a second straight loss for the team. This matchup was very close and the big flop from Travis Kelce put the team in a hole which if we started Rico Dowdle at RB over Jeff Wilson Jr. the team would climbed out and overcome.

Top 2 Win It Win It (1-1) 5th Place 278.65 pts

This week our opponent put up a massive 191.10 point performance so it feels like there was very little we could have done on this team for the week. Starting Jaylen Wright proved to be disastrous even with Raheem Mostert missing the game and Jeff Wilson Jr. leaving with injury, it was the De'Von Achane show. This team already has some big waiver targets on the roster but will need to find some WR production with Deebo Samuel now missing time.

We Just Don't Know (1-1) 5th Place 273.70 pts

This was the closest and most heart breaking loss on the week, where it was down to the wire Monday night and watching Koo kick an extra point to take down the Stat Chasing guys. This team has De'Von Achane and Zach Charbonnet making it one of the stronger running back rooms and feels like a solid squad going into next week.

Tree Branches (1-1) 9th Place 260.90 pts

This was one of the few bright spots on the week as this team rose victorious thanks to a strong wide receiver room of the Sun God (Amon-Ra St.Brown), Nico Collins, and Marvin Harrison Jr. combined with the true elite TE Brock Bowers. This team fucks!

Hear Ye Hear Ye (0-2) 11th Place 215.70 pts

This zero RB team almost took a literal zero at the RB position after starting Jaylen Wright and Jaleel McLaughlin. Wide receiver was not much better as almost all the studs had a down week, the only bright spot here was Trey McBride. I am praying for better days ahead here.

@CrakRok (2-0) 3rd Place 288.65 pts

This is the only other team to pull out a victory on the week, thanks to Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, DK Metcalf, and Brock Bowers. These players had big enough weeks the team over came the Jaleel McLaughlin dud and feels like a strong squad heading into Week 3.

Dairy Queen (1-1) 9th Place 227 pts

My team had a really bad week, seemingly making every wrong starting decision. The only solace I can find is even if we chose the best starters it would not have mattered. I am hoping we have some players step up on offense this week because this team needs some miracles.

Caveish (0-2) 10th Place 240.65 pts

This was a tough matchup and hard fought battle taking on friend and fellow LegUp subscriber JTimber this week. This team should see better days ahead with what should be a killer TE duo with Brock Bowers and George Kittle, not to mention its only a matter of time before Ja'Marr Chase goes off. This team feels like an explosion waiting to happen.

FFPC $5,000 Big Payback Teams

Leone HS1 (0-2) 11th Place 213.60 pts

This team could not catch a break after choosing the wrong starting running backs it ran terrible at wide receiver and tight end with the likes of Jayden Reed, Xavier Worthy, and Kyle Pitts. This team is now losing Deebo Samuel and will need a bit of love and luck on waivers this week. This team maybe down but it is far from out of the race.

Leone HS2 (0-2) 10th Place 248.85 pts

This team had a disappointing finish mixed with some studs and duds. This team feels ready to come on soon and has lots of options that could emerge. While it's easy to feel down about these starts, remember how early it is in the season... there is still a lot of football to be played.

Week 3 Waiver Priorities for FFPC

Below are all the players I like for Week 3 for FFPC leagues. I break down all players into tiers with FAAB suggestions, followed by analysis and a list of players to consider dropping. 

This article is also intended to provide value for those of you who play in deeper league formats and dynasty leagues. 

Please note with a drop list, you do not have to drop these players and all suggestions are general as it is impossible to cover all nuances of individual leagues.

Tier 1

Carson Steele, Jauan Jennings