Waiver-wire news changes fast and furious throughout the week as injuries and depth-chart shenanigans overtake us. So be sure to follow me on Twitter by clicking on the link next to my headshot at the bottom of the column, and I'll keep you updated as news warrants. Let's get to the best fantasy roster additions heading into Week 3:
Standard ESPN league finds
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Indianapolis Colts (owned in 23.9 percent of ESPN leagues): Remember, the threshold for inclusion in this column is 50 percent availability, which means players such as Knile Davis, Donald Brown and Khiry Robinson aren't eligible. If they're on your waiver wire, though, they should rank above anyone I'm writing about in today's column. Anyway, Bradshaw scored twice Monday night and has at least put himself into the back half of a platoon with Trent Richardson. In truth, T-Rich played well for much of Monday night, and wound up with 95 yards from scrimmage. But he committed an awful, game-altering fumble, allowing the Philadelphia Eagles back into the game. Should Bradshaw ever become the Colts' every-down back, I don't think he'd last long, particularly because of his constant string of lower-leg injuries. At the very least, Richardson owners should be adding Bradshaw as a legit handcuff.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington (8.0 percent): Robert Griffin III will miss extended time with a dislocated ankle, so Cousins will get an long look in coach Jay Gruden's offense. Cousins was solid in relief during an easy win over the Jacksonville Jaguars: 22-of-33 for 250 yards, 2 TDs and no turnovers. I hesitate to call Cousins a must-add, but for Bobby Three Sticks owners, Cousins is a viable replacement. He presented a decidedly mixed bag in three starts late last season, showing varied pocket presence and accuracy, but he's a good athlete with a strong enough arm. His talent compares with that of Nick Foles. With the weapons at his disposal in D.C., Foles-like upside is possible.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (2.0 percent): Kelce saw his usage increase dramatically in Week 2. He's still not the Chiefs' every-down tight end because the team trusts Anthony Fasano's blocking more, but Kelce makes Alex Smith more dangerous and that means more two-TE sets. Kelce saw six targets Sunday and caught four of them for 81 yards; three of those targets and two of those catches came on passes of 15 air yards or more. This player is still raw, but he's a dangerously fast and fluid guy for 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers (43.8 percent): Stewart showed flashes in Week 2. He caught a second-quarter screen and wove dangerously through traffic for 22 yards, took advantage of a big hole on an important fourth-quarter run, and powered into the end zone on the game-clinching TD. And the Detroit Lions did represent a tough matchup. Still, I wasn't overawed at most of Stewart's film. It was just OK. Mainly Stewart looked like a shadow of his pre-injury form. He's big, but he doesn't make many tacklers miss. If DeAngelo Williams misses more time, perhaps Stewart stays in "emergency fantasy starter" territory. Long term, though, I don't have high hopes.
James Jones, WR, Oakland Raiders (2.5 percent): Two seasons ago, Jones led the NFL in receiving TDs. Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? Jones contributed nine grabs for 112 yards in Week 2 and has two TDs this year, though he also produced an embarrassing highlight as he fumbled after a catch, recovered the ball, ran downfield, and then fumbled again. Anyway, Jones didn't even appear to be part of the Raiders' starting lineup Week 1, but he was in there all day Sunday. My instinct would be to stay away from all of Derek Carr's weapons, because the rookie QB hasn't looked ready yet. But if you must take a chance on a WR, I suppose you could do worse than Jones.
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings (11.9 percent): Enough has been written about Adrian Peterson's legal situation; it's certainly a story that's far more significant than the silly fun of fantasy football. But my job here is to talk about the Vikings' depth chart. In Week 2, without AP, Asiata dominated the Minnesota backfield with 13 carries and five receptions, and scored an early TD. I suppose he's the right guy to add if you're concerned about Peterson's Week 3 availability, though Asiata's ability is underwhelming. Really, he's part-fullback. Remember the days of Jackie Battle starting games? That's pretty much Asiata. It's not like he can't help in any given week, but overall: meh.
Larry Donnell, TE, New York Giants (1.4 percent): Donnell is slow and isn't a great athlete, but I was impressed by how many difficult catches he made in Week 2. That's a good quality when you're grabbing passes from scattershot Eli Manning. Through two games, Donnell has 12 grabs, which puts him in the top 10 among TEs. I'd still add Kelce first, but in a checkdown-heavy Giants offense, Donnell has won the role of Eli's security blanket.
Niles Paul, TE, Washington (1.0 percent): Paul was a stud in Week 2, catching eight passes for 99 yards and a TD. In the absence of injured Jordan Reed, Paul -- a converted WR -- showed impressive speed and body control. Reed is expected to return from his hamstring problem within a matter of weeks, and frankly, Washington needs to involve Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson more. Still, for one or two more games, it's not a terrible idea to ride Paul's hot hand.
Benjamin Cunningham, RB, St. Louis Rams (1.5 percent): This is just a note to say that if you own Zac Stacy, you're playing with fire if you don't also roster Cunningham. Don't get me wrong: Stacy won this supposed depth-chart battle, and as of now Cunningham runs in a purely supplemental role. That doesn't mean Stacy will last all season, though. Cunningham is his obvious and pure handcuff. Do it.
Other solid waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Bobby Rainey, RB, Buccaneers (6.8 percent); Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers (45.3 percent); Markus Wheaton, WR, Steelers (27.1 percent); Josh Gordon, WR, Browns (12.6 percent).
Deeper league finds
Brian Quick, WR, Rams (2.7 percent): I want to like Quick more. He's a third-year breakout candidate who's 6-3 and 218 pounds, and has 14 catches (tied for second among NFL WRs) on 18 targets so far this season. Unfortunately, I don't trust Shaun Hill or Austin Davis or Case Keenum, or whoever else the Rams plan on playing at QB. In addition, there are so many other WRs in St. Louis. Every time I look up, Austin Pettis, Chris Givens, Tavon Austin or Kenny Britt is getting a target, and now Stedman Bailey is set to have his suspension revoked. Quick should be owned in deep leagues. In 10-teamers? Make him prove it one more week.
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (2.6 percent): It seems that A.J. Green's foot injury isn't serious, and while he could miss Week 3, the Bengals are off in Week 4 and the team expects to have Green thereafter. Sanu did score a long TD on a short pass Sunday in Green's absence, but frankly it looked to me like Brandon Tate was actually the guy running Green's typical routes. I think we've just seen Sanu's best game of the season. (He did complete an incredible bomb throw on a WR option Sunday!)
Damien Williams, RB, Miami Dolphins (0.3 percent): Williams was on my Super-Deep Sleeper list this summer, mainly because I questioned Knowshon Moreno's durability. Now Moreno is out between four and eight weeks because of a dislocated elbow, and Lamar Miller looks like the starter. But history has shown Miller isn't at his best when forced to be physical, so the team could find itself looking for a platoon-mate. Williams has a chance. He was pretty good (five carries, 19 yards) in limited action in Week 2. Realize also, though, that the team re-signed Daniel Thomas (0.2 percent).
Alfred Blue, RB, Houston Texans (0.5 percent): Another Super-Deep Sleeper of mine, Blue saw significant mop-up action Sunday, using 11 carries to accumulate 40 yards. It's impossible to draw definite conclusions based on what's happening when the score is 27-0, but it looked to me like Blue has passed Jonathan Grimes (1.2 percent) on the Houston depth chart. That could make him the best Texans RB to own in the event that Arian Foster suffers an injury. And considering Foster is on pace for 480 touches from scrimmage, that's a distinct possibility.
Jerick McKinnon, RB Vikings (0.8 percent): McKinnon had four touches Sunday compared to 18 for Asiata, so it seems clear what the pecking order would be for the Vikings without Peterson. But I've already mentioned I don't think Asiata has special talent, and certainly McKinnon is a wonderful raw athlete. Will he put things together as a rookie and become a fantasy factor? Probably not, but it's possible.
Other solid waiver adds for deep leagues about whom I've written in previous weeks: Jake Locker, QB, Titans (11.1 percent); Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns (3.4 percent); Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens (9.6 percent); Andrew Hawkins, WR, Browns (15.4 percent); Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars (16.0 percent); Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts (9.1 percent).