Week 3 Pickups: James Starks and Top Waiver Wire Targets in Fantasy

There's no time to reflect on the NFL season's second week. Fantasy football owners must quickly focus their attention on next Sunday.

Even before the week officially concludes, active managers must dive into the waiver wire and collect some reinforcements for the next slate of action.

Some running backs enter the market in place of their battered colleagues, whose potential absences should push owners to make moves. And another promising young tight end has emerged in the position's sea of talent.

These players highlight the group of free agents worth an add this week.

James Starks

Eddie Lacy, we hardly knew ye.

The rookie running back took a nasty hit to the head that caused him to exit Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

While the Alabama product averaged 2.9 yards per carry during his professional debut against the San Francisco 49ers, he scooped up a goal-line touchdown, which is what made the 230-pound back so enticing in the first place.

Since the Green Bay Packers placed DuJuan Harris on the injured reserve before the season began, James Starks is now, by default, the guy behind Aaron Rodgers. 

We've done this before, and it never ends well. After averaging 3.6 yards per carry last year, Starks is hardly the prettiest option at running back, but he became the first Packer since 2010 to accumulate more than 100 yards on the ground with a 132-yard effort against Washington.

But any starter at the scarce position should be rostered in fantasy leagues.

Jacquizz Rodgers

The hits kept on coming at running back, as Steven Jackson also left Sunday's game early.

Perhaps succumbing to the dreaded curse of the 30-year-old running back, Jackson left during the first quarter after injuring his thigh against the St. Louis Rams.

He scored a touchdown against his former team before his exit, but his owners would much rather see him out there in subsequent weekends.

If Jackson can't suit up, Jacquizz Rodgers is next in line to shine. With a career 3.7 yards per carry, Rodgers isn't a superstar in waiting, but he could transform into a major weapon for points-per-reception gamers.

The 5'6" scatback won't inflict much damage up the middle, but he could imitate Darren Sproles and become a key player in Atlanta's passing game. Stuck behind Michael Turner, he still registered 53 catches last season.

Again, the pickings are slim at running back. Take what you can.

Coby Fleener

Jared Cook, Jordan Cameron, Vernon Davis, Jermichael Finley and Owen Daniels all had monster opening weekends, so many managers probably are not panicking about their tight end situations.

But it never hurts to stockpile depth, and a quiet Week 1 from Coby Fleener may make him available despite a sturdier Week 2 effort.

The sophomore got a chance to break out of Dwayne Allen's shadow Sunday, snatching 69 yards and a touchdown during his first taste of starting duty.

Andrew Luck connected on a 40-yard strike with his old Stanford buddy and found him in the end zone with a three-yard pass. The two have great rapport, so playing time is all Fleener needs to become a top-10 tight end.

Take a chance on him if he is still unaccounted for.