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Fantasy Football waiver wire adds and drops following Week 3

Week 3 of the NFL season saw several under-the-radar running backs emerge as legitimate fantasy football options while several others became obsolete.

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Editor's Note: FanDuel is running a $1,500,000 fantasy football league in week 3. The top 66,000 teams win cash with $100,000 paid to first place on Sunday. Join now!

It's time for a look at the adds and drops you need to be making this week in your fantasy football leagues, as well as one promising rookie who you need to keep on your watch list.

Adds

Bills RB Karlos Williams

While no one's debating that LeSean McCoy is the man in the Bills backfield, Karlos Williams has shown he can put up big numbers as the backup for another Rex Ryan run-heavy team. Against the Dolphins in Week 3, Williams rushed 12 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. his biggest highlight was Williams' 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The fifth-round rookie out of Florida State is now averaging 7.75 yards through his first 24 carries to go with three scores in his first three NFL games. What's helping him even more is McCoy's hamstring injury reared its ugly head again in Miami. It's unclear if it will cause him to miss games, but it certainly makes Williams a more intriguing fantasy option if you're in need of backfield help.

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman

Coming into the season, Devonta Freeman was owned in most leagues, but a slow start led many to cut him coming into Week 3. Freeman gained just 43 yards on 22 carries and one score behind a bad Falcons offensive line over the first two games, but exploded for 141 yards and three scores on 30 carries vs the Cowboys in Week 3.

Freeman dazzled the Boys for big run after big run while also catching five passes for 52 yards. He was arguably the best running back in Week 3 as he reminded everyone he needs to be owned in every league. Make sure you pick him up ASAP if he's still on the waiver wire in your league.

Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman

The Broncos were already using a timeshare in their backfield between Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson, which alone has Hillman as a viable fantasy option. As of Sunday, he was owned in just 65% of fantasy leagues, per CBS Sports. That came before Anderson was forced from Denver's Sunday night game at Detroit with a possible concussion.

Though Anderson did eventually return, Hillman was able to get in the end zone for a TD. Once this offense gets clicking, both backs are going to be viable fantasy options, and Hillman is already showing he can be one. Don't let him sit on your league's waiver wire any longer.

Dolphins WR Rishard Matthews

With so much star-power in Miami, the emergence of Rishard Matthews has been a pleasant surprise for the struggling Dolphins. Now in his fourth NFL season, Matthews has been one of Ryan Tannehill's favorite targets, and that continued in the team's Week 3 blowout loss at the hands of the Bills. With Miami playing from behind most of the game, Matthews caught six passes on 10 targets for 113 yards and two scores.

He now has 16 catches on 23 targets for 183 yards and three scores from Miami's first three games. As long as he keeps putting up these kinds of numbers, Matthews would be a great pickup if you're in need of receiver depth.

Drops

Steelers WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

With the Steelers not having Martavis Bryant for their first four games, Darrius Heyward-Bey emerged as a legitimate No. 2 receiver in the Steelers' offense. He caught eight passes for 135 yards and one score over his first two games, but things came to a screeching halt in Week 3.

That's because Pittsburgh lost Ben Roethlisberger during their 12-6 win over the Rams. He'll be out for awhile, but even if he wasn't Bryant is still set to return after Thursday's game vs the Ravens, and he's simply a better player than Heyward-Bey. This is going to become an offense that isn't going to allow DHB enough opportunities to put up enough fantasy points going forward to warrant a spot on your roster.

Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams

In a similar situation to that of DHB, DeAngelo Williams is also falling victim to less playing time because of a returning player from suspension. Le'Veon Bell returned against the Rams in Week 3, and that led to Williams getting a whopping one carry for two yards and no catches.

Even with Big Ben out, it's clear Bell is going to be the workhorse again as he was last year. Unless you can afford to keep him as a handcuff for Bell, don't bother with him going forward.

Seahawks RB Fred Jackson

The end of Fred Jackson's days as a viable fantasy back are likely over, and so too may the 34-year-old's NFL career soon. In three games with the Seahawks, Jackson has just five carries for 26 yards, including three for 13 during the team's 26-0 win over the Bears.

That's significant because bellow back Marshawn Lynch was forced from the game with a hamstring injury. Even that couldn't get Jackson significant touches as rookie Thomas Rawls got most of the snaps with Lynch out. A calf injury already had Lynch as a gametime decision for this one, so it looks like lower leg injuries could begin plaguing Lynch. That could led to another back getting the bulk of the touches going forward, but it appears it won't be Jackson.

Watch List

Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls

As mentioned above, it was Thomas Rawls who got the bulk of the carries against the Bears when Marshawn Lynch was forced from the game. He racked up 104 yards on 16 carries, 98 of which came after halftime. It's clear the Seahawks like what they have in the undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, and he could be in for a big role if Lynch is out for significant time.

It's not enough though to add Rawls to your team now, but keep him on your watch list while also monitoring Lynch's status going forward.