by Roger Rotter

By failing to score yet, top running backs like Steven Jackson, Jamal Lewis and Ryan Grant and wide receivers Braylon Edwards, Wes Welker, Andre Johnson and Chad Johnson have disappointed their owners.

Scour the waiver wire, though, and owners can find unheralded running backs like Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain, Cincinnati's Chris Perry and Houston's Steve Slaton to help boost their underperforming fantasy squads.

Owners may also find wide receivers such as Chicago's Brandon Lloyd, Tampa Bay's Antonio Bryant and Dallas' Miles Austin available to increase fantasy scoring.

Review my Top 10 waiver claims after Week 3's developments.

10. Brian Griese, QB, Tampa Bay (Available 95.9 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

Chicago held Peyton Manning to 257 yards and one touchdown pass and Jake Delhomme to 128 yards with zero touchdowns. Yet Griese threw for 407 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears in Week 3. After throwing for 67 times against the Bears, Griese will be counted on to throw heavily in future games when the running attack struggles. He has a tough matchup with Green Bay next game but can be a fantasy factor against Denver in Week 5. He'll also be effective against divisional foes with weaker pass defenses like New Orleans (Week 13) and Atlanta (Week 15) and other NFC Central teams with questionable pass defenses such as Detroit (Week 12) and Minnesota (Week 11).

9. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Chicago (Available 97.4 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

He has demonstrated the best potential of any Chicago wide receiver to emerge as its top one. Lloyd led the Bears with 124 yards and one touchdown on six receptions last game after topping all Chicago receivers with five receptions for 66 yards in Week 2. Lloyd has favorable games against the weaker pass defenses of Detroit (Weeks 5 and 9), Atlanta (Week 6), Minnesota (Weeks 7 and 13), St. Louis (Week 12) and New Orleans (Week 15).

8. Rudi Johnson, RB, Detroit (Available 52.3 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

After rushing for 83 yards and gaining 48 receiving yards and a score on three receptions in Week 3, Johnson may have secured himself Detroit's featured back role. Rookie Kevin Smith mustered only three carrries for 14 yards. Though the Lions are losing by lopsided margins, Johnson can still produce solid fantasy stats.

7. Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay (Available 97.7 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

If Joey Galloway misses any more games with a sprained foot, his replacement Bryant will be ready to post another excellent game in his place. Bryant caught 10 passes for 138 yards against Chicago in Week 3.

6. Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans (Available 84.7 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

He's become the Saints' goal-line back in place of Deuce McAllister in the first three games. If Thomas continues to play instead of McAllister, he'll be worth starting as a No. 3 running back in New Orleans' high-powered offense. Thomas scored twice against Denver in Week 3 after recording one touchdown in Week 2.

5. Le'Ron McClain, RB, Baltimore (Available 85 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

While Willis McGahee had 15 carries for 64 yards and a score, he still shared the workload at running back with McClain in Week 3. McClain responded with team highs of 17 handoffs for 66 yards and two scores. Especially with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco at the helm, Baltimore is emphasizing the running game heavily, which will translate into more solid fantasy stats for McClain behind a talented offensive line. Favorable upcoming games include Indianapolis (Week 6), Miami (Week 7), Oakland (Week 8), Cleveland (Week 9), Houston (Week 10) and Cincinnati (Week 13).

4. Miles Austin, WR, Dallas (Available 99.3 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

After missing the opener with a knee injury, a healthy Austin had a career-high 152 yards and one score on two receptions. He displayed big-play ability with catches of 63 and 52 yards. Double teams on Terrell Owens will help open opportunities for Dallas secondary receivers like Austin to post big games. He's worth starting as a No. 3 or 4 wideout on fantasy squads.

3. Correll Buckhalter, RB, Philadelphia (Available 96.6 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

Brian Westbrook left Week 3 early in the second quarter after injuring his ankle. If he misses any games, Buckhalter will be the likely featured back in his place. Buckhalter had a solid game substituting for Westbrook against Pittsburgh's difficult defense. He scored the game's only touchdown on a 20-yard reception and finished with 87 total yards and a touchdown. He ran for 43 yards on 10 carries and had 44 receiving yards on six receptions.

2. Chris Perry, RB, Cincinnati (Available 56.5 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

He received a team-high 20 carries compared to just a combined three by two other Bengals running backs. Perry averaged only 3.7 yards per carry but posted a solid fantasy day with 93 yards and a score. He ran for 74 yards and gained 19 yards on two receptions.

1. Steve Slaton, RB, Houston (Available 46.1 percent of FOX Sports leagues)

With Ahman Green still nursing a knee injury, Slaton performed admirably as Houston's featured running back. The rookie had 18 carries for 115 yards and one score, averaging a robust 6.4 yards that was helped by runs of 25 and 50 yards. His big-play ability and speed separate him from the other running backs on the roster. He also added four catches for eight yards. In addition, his strong fantasy day was made more impressive by accomplishing those stats against one of the league's best run defenses.

The Titans allowed Fred Taylor to run for only 18 yards and Maurice Jones-Drew to rush for just 13 yards in the opener, and permitted Perry to rush for just 64 yards in Week 2. Houston faces a favorable schedule with shaky run defenses ahead, such as Indianapolis (Weeks 5 and 11), Miami (Week 6), Detroit (Week 7), Cincinnati (Week 8), Cleveland (Week 12) and Oakland (Week 16).