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There's no avoiding the scourge of injuries in the NFL. The chaotic, physical nature of the game means everyone on the field is one play away from a trip to the trainer's table or even the surgery ward.
Week 2 hit running backs particularly hard, with guys like Danny Woodhead, Adrian Peterson and Jonathan Stewart all suffering leg injuries.
Add the notable injuries to poor early returns from some players, and just two weeks of football already have fantasy football owners scrambling like Cam Newton on a broken play, hoping to make the right moves without getting blindsided.
Every week, certain players quickly become waiver-wire favorites. Whether you believe in wisdom of the crowds or think people are sheep, it's worth taking a look at which players are proving particularly popular, and why.
Here are the top pickups and drops from Yahoo Sports and ESPN fantasy football leagues entering Week 3.
To account for the larger 12- and 14-player leagues, only players owned in less than 50 percent of leagues are included in the pickups category, except in the case of major swings in ownership not related to injuries. For drops, players owned in more than 50 percent of leagues may still be included to show they are rapidly falling out of favor.
Fozzy Whittaker Getting All the Love
According to Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, Stewart could miss a game or two with a hamstring injury picked up Sunday in a 47-26 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"If it's a hamstring—and every indication is that it is—it's going to be at least a week or two," Rivera said, per the Associated Press' Steve Reed. "We'll see how severe."
Though the Panthers boast a stable of backup backs including Mike Tolbert, Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker, it's the latter of the group whom fantasy owners are feeling all warm and fuzzy about.
Whittaker impressed in taking over for Stewart against the 49ers, carrying the ball 16 times for 100 yards while adding another 33 through the air. While he's hardly been on fantasy radars prior to now, there's reason to believe he will continue to produce if given a chance.
For his career, Whittaker is averaging 4.3 yards per carry, so he's never been a slouch despite limited action. He lost a fumble against the 49ers, but it was the first such incident of a four-year career that has seen him touch the ball 146 times.
Still, NFL Network's Michael Fabiano believes he'll be in a committee if Stewart is indeed out:
Considering the longest run of his career is only 25 yards, it could be that he'll need plenty of touches to cobble together a worthwhile day for fantasy owners. If Artis-Payne gets the rock with any regularity and Tolbert continues to siphon carries, Whittaker might only provide real fantasy value if he scores a touchdown, a scenario mitigated by Newton's ability to take it upon himself to score from a few yards out.
The Panthers also have a tough matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. Fantasy owners desperately in need of a back are looking at Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata, who are in line to share carries should Peterson miss time with a torn meniscus suffered Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
It's no fun trying to find a replacement running back so early in the season, but Whittaker might be the best bet in the short term. McKinnon and Asiata have spent time handicapping each other's fantasy value in the past, and Artis-Payne was at least inactive for the Panthers in Week 2. Whittaker has put in solid work throughout his career. Week 3 might be his chance to shine.
Go Ahead, Add Dennis Pitta
Baltimore Ravens Dennis Pitta might be all the way back, folks.
After a successful 2012 season in which he racked up 669 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, Pitta played just seven games over the next three years as two major hip injuries threatened to end his career.
"There were doctors that suggested I should quit," Pitta recalled, per the Associated Press' David Ginsburg. "There were friends and family—looking out for my best interest and my health—who wanted me to just be smart about it."
Pitta resolved to keep on playing, and things are looking good for him so far in 2016. Although he had just three catches for 39 yards in Week 1, ESPN's Mike Clay noted he was on the field quite often:
All those snaps must've gotten Pitta back into focus, as Joe Flacco found him nine times for 102 yards in Week 2. Per ESPN Fantasy Sports, he was far and away the main target for the Ravens on the day:
The Ravens have a weak rushing attack so far this year and a mixed bag at wide receiver, with only Mike Wallace reeling in a touchdown (three, on just seven catches) so far this year. Pitta could prove to be just the kind of consistent, every-down target Flacco needs while the rest of the offense sorts itself out.
Tight end is a tough position to forecast in fantasy football, with only a handful of guys proving to be worth a start year in and year out. Pitta looked like he was on his way to being one of those players in 2012. Injuries kept him from building on that successful campaign, but 2016 might finally be his chance.
Pitta is still only 31 years old, and he doesn't have much wear and tear from the daily grind of the NFL on his body. As long as he's healthy, he's worth an addition.
Tyrell Williams Keeps Coming Up With Big Plays
With Woodhead joining Allen on season-ending injured reserve, the Chargers are now without their top two pass-catchers from last season. Someone has to catch the football in San Diego. There's no way Philip Rivers won't continue to sling it at a high rate with offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays. Tyrell Williams stands to benefit with a greater share of Rivers' throws potentially coming his way.
Williams started receiving attention from fantasy owners after Keenan Allen went down with a knee injury in Week 1. After all, he reeled in receptions of 38 and 33 yards in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, so there was some obvious potential here.
Bumped up the depth chart, Williams responded with three receptions for 61 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the majority of those coming on a 44-yard scoring catch-and-run. NFL Network has the play:
Williams' penchant for monster gains through the air goes back to last season, when he scored an 80-yard touchdown in a Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos.
At 6'4" and 205 pounds, Williams fits the mold of big Chargers receivers that have had success with Rivers, from Vincent Jackson to Malcom Floyd to even Allen, who stands at 6'2". While he's not reeling in everything thrown his way—five receptions on 11 targets this season, per ESPN.com—the 24-year-old out of Western Oregon has shown an ability to exploit a broken defense or pick up yards after the catch.
The Bolts signed wide receiver Griff Whalen on Monday, but he may need a week or two to integrate himself into the offense, and he might be more immediately useful as a punt or kick returner so the Chargers don't have to risk No. 1 wideout Travis Benjamin on special teams.
Considering he's done most of his damage on big plays, Williams has the potential to be a boom-or-bust player. You may be able to overlook him in PPR leagues in favor of maybe the New York Giants' Victor Cruz (eight targets in Week 2), or if digging deep, the Dallas Cowboys' Cole Beasley (18 targets, 13 receptions through two games).
However, the potential is here for Williams to provide all the fantasy value one needs on just a couple of plays. Rivers will more than likely give him those chances.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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