I could have written the Great American Novel. Instead, I wrote this Waiver Wire Week 3 column. This is too long for a Waiver Wire read, but that is what we are dealing with during Week 2’s injury carnage. I don’t need to rattle off the names—you know them, and you roster them.
We are not going to throw in the towel because our first-rounder is injured. In the NFL, when one door closes, another opens. Teams do not stop scoring points.
The bad news is that there is not a savior-type player to add this week or to empty the clip on. But the good news is there are lots of players with a pathway to fantasy viability—albeit in many cases, short-term viability.
Happy hunting this week.
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Shallow League Options (Players available in 31-40% of Yahoo Leagues)
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle (34%)
Smith posted career highs in pass attempts and completions. DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba both put up 20+ PPR Points and combined for 30 targets. The pass volume was significantly higher without Kenneth Walker.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver (41%)
I cheated a little on the availability rules, but Jeudy should be rostered.
He is playing better than Amari Cooper right now and outproducing him. It is still early, but this has been a positive start for Jeudy on his new team.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay (34%)
Irving should be rostered at a high level. He flashed in Week 1 but struggled this past week. For the second consecutive game, he outrushed Rachaad White, who also picked up a knock.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas (41%)
There could be some changes made in Dallas after a disappointing beatdown loss to the Saints. One of them could be even more Dowdle. He started the game and caught four passes for 29 yards. Dallas has a huge game against Baltimore in Week 3. Make sure Dowdle is rostered.
Waiver Wire Additions: All players are available in at least 70% of Yahoo Leagues
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, New Orleans (20%)
Forget your summertime takes and preconceived notions. Derek Carr is 2-0 and now has weekly finishes of QB2 and QB5. The Saints’ offense is humming at a historical rate. They just shredded the Dallas Cowboys in Big D. Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed are rostered everywhere. But you can still gain access to Klint Kubiak’s offense with the QB. New Orleans hosts Philadelphia this week in a MASSIVE home game, but this offense is clicking on all cylinders. I will be bidding on Carr in multiple leagues on the Waiver Wire Week 3, and so should you.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota (14%)
Competent coaching and strong line play have elevated Sam Darnold. Oh, and having Justin Jefferson helps. Darnold passed for two TDs in Week 1 and beat the hapless Giants on the road. But this week felt different. The vaunted 49ers defense arrived in Minnesota as road favorites, but Darnold stood firm and had arguably his best win ever as a starting QB. He is a locked-in Superflex starter and can be used as a streamer in single QB leagues.
Note: If Justin Jefferson were to miss time, Darnold’s weekly ceiling would drop significantly, as would Minnesota’s offense.
Justin Fields, Pittsburgh (19%)
Fields had another quiet fantasy outing but also had another road win. If Pittsburgh can beat the LA Chargers in front of the home crowd at Heinz Field, then it would be hard to envision Fields losing his starting position. We know there is a fantasy ceiling with Fields despite the lackluster returns so far.
Skylar Thompson, Miami (0%)
Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion and will be out for who knows how long. Thompson steps into a difficult situation on the road in Seattle. On the plus side, Thompson is now in his third season as a pro and has familiarity with Mike McDaniel’s system.
He has multiple high-end weapons, including De’Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle. For better or worse, Thompson will be behind center. Access to the Miami offense makes him a viable Waiver Wire Week 3 target in Superflex.
Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas (5%)
I am contractually obliged to write about Minshew at least once in this column, and a win over Baltimore earns it for him this week. Minshew led the Raiders to a come-from-behind victory against the heavily favored Ravens. Minshew benefits from Las Vegas literally not being able to run at all. Davante Adams and wunderkind TE Brock Bowers provide him with high-level targets. Superflex managers—make sure he is rostered.
Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers (0%)
Bryce Young is finally being benched in a somewhat shocking move. Dave Canales has had QB success with many different players, and now will attempt to do so with the 47-year-old Dalton. Ok, I am kidding; he is only 36.
Running Backs
Braelon Allen, New York Jets (10%)
Most handcuff-plus backs are smaller pass-catching types, but Allen is breaking the mold. The Jets have one of the most talented RB pairings in the league right now, and they showed it on Sunday. Breece Hall scored 24.4 PPR Points, and Allen added 19.6. The Jets seem to have figured out a Thunder and Lightning identity. Will they continue to give Allen double-digit weekly touches? Ask yourself this: can they afford not to? The passing game is not exactly humming right now. Allen displayed versatility with two catches on four targets and a TD. He added a rushing score. If Hall were to miss time, Allen would be a weekly Top 15 RB—maybe top 10. He is 20 years old.
Samaje Perine, Kansas City Chiefs (5%)
Perine should absorb some of Isiah Pacheco‘s work as a receiver and will have a few carries as well. Steele should become the short yardage back. This could end up being an ugly split, but it is the Chiefs. We need to take shots on this backfield and hope that one takes on a 65-percent role. Perine’s ability as a receiver gives him the edge here, but Andy Reid seems to like Steele. Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be back in Week 5 for speculators.
Carson Steele, Kansas City Chiefs (4%)
Steele will see increased opportunities as a short-yardage specialist and probably goal-line back with Pacheco out. I anticipate a Perine/Steele split. Both are worth taking stabs on the Waiver Wire Week 3 because of the quality of the Chiefs’ offense, but I would not go all in on either. Both make my top 10 overall.
Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots (16%)
The Patriots are leaning on their RBs (with a healthy dose of Hunter Henry—see below). In Week 1, Rhamondre Stevenson had bell cow usage. Week 2 gave us more Stevenson and 12 touches for Antonio Gibson.
Gibson made the most of them, finishing with 96 yards on 11 carries. He is the clear-cut handcuff on a team with a high amount of RB touches. He’s a great add on the Waiver Wire Week 3.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville (29%)
Keep an eye on Bigsby in case he was dropped. If he was—and assuming the shoulder injury was nothing serious—scoop him up. He played very well in Week 1, and the Jaguars’ offense needs playmakers. They were stuck in the mud against Cleveland. In Week 1, Bigsby had 12 carries for 73 yards and made my top 10 Overall.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota (29%)
Chandler is the No. 2 back in Minnesota, but he’s a valuable one. He led the Vikings in rush attempts (10) and yards (82). He conceded passing game usage to Aaron Jones but caught three passes in Week 1. Chandler is a valuable handcuff that could reach handcuff-plus level. Jones is 29 and played only 12 games last year.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta (26%)
Allgeier is the No. 2 back in Atlanta. He has a high level of contingent upside if Bijan Robinson were to miss time.
Jaylen Wright, Miami (22%)
Wright lacks vision, but he has tons of explosiveness. He disappointed in Miami’s loss to Buffalo, and a Raheem Mostert injury didn’t open up anything for him. I am still stashing Wright. It may take a De’Von Achane injury to create a pathway. Miami could also be more RB-centric with Thompson behind center.
Ray Davis, Buffalo (14%)
James Cook cooked on Thursday, ripping off a three TD performance in Buffalo’s shellacking of the Miami Dolphins. Ty Johnson caught a TD, but Davis outtouched him 10-2. Davis is the clear handcuff in Buffalo and a near like-for-like usage replacement if Cook were to miss time. He is the sort of upside handcuff we want on our bench.
Justice Hill, Baltimore (17%)
Hill out-snapped Derrick Henry again. Unlike last week, he had little to no fantasy production to show for it.
The Dallas Cowboys game could present opportunities for similar usage to Week 1’s loss to Kansas City, with Hill seeing a few additional targets. Consider Hill to be a Henry handcuff only for now.
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco (6%)
Guerendo is the backup to Jordan Mason. Mason is playing dominant football but absorbing a ton of volume. If he were to miss time, Guerendo would be the next man in with Christian McCaffrey on the IR.
D’Onta Foreman, Cleveland (1%)
Pierre Strong was injured, and Foreman saw an increased role. Cleveland won a hard-fought game in Jacksonville, and Foreman carried the ball 14 times for 42 yards and caught a pass. This is a sneaky addition, and the usage should not be ignored. This was the first game for the Browns without David Njoku.
Cam Akers/Dameon Pierce, Houston (1%, 5%)
Joe Mixon injured his ankle and is getting an MRI. Akers and Pierce will battle it out for the No. 1 RB spot if he were to miss. Most will assume Pierce is the one to roster, but I am intrigued by Akers. Pierce is banged up himself and was inactive against Chicago with a hamstring injury. He was also phased out last season for Devin Singletary. Akers has an opportunity here to join Dobbins on the left-for-dead former blue blood RBs who returned from injuries list. As a result, he’s worth a look on the Waiver Wire Week 3.
Julius Chestnut, Tennessee (0%)
Tyjae Spears is banged up. Chestnut would assume the RB2 role in Tennessee for any game that he misses.
Jamaal Williams, New Orleans (7%)
The Saints’ offense is humming. Williams is the current handcuff to Alvin Kamara and could see increased opportunities with Taysom Hill now injured.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans (7%)
We want every Klint Kubiak player. Miller will be coming off of IR in a few weeks. If you have an IR spot, consider stashing him.
Kareem Hunt, Free Agent
Hunt is visiting Kansas City. If he signs there, then this backfield becomes a complete mess.
Wide Receivers
Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers (7%)
This week may break me. I am going to include Quentin Johnston inside my top 10 overall, and it’s probably not going to work out. But I cannot ignore this past week. QJ had a 30-percent+ target share in a low-volume pass attack. Two of his five targets went for TDs. He was a laughingstock, but maybe this coaching staff has figured him out, and he is a bizarro 2024 version of Year 2 DJ Chark. IYKYK.
Tyler Johnson, LA Rams (11%)
Jordan Whittington, LA Rams (2%)
Demarcus Robinson is now rostered in too many leagues to be discussed here. He would be the top add. Tyler Johnson is now, along with Jordan Whittington, a priority addition. Kupp and Nacua are both going to miss considerable time.
I would expect Johnson to be used heavily in Week 3, but Whittington’s role should grow. If you want a speculative addition, it is Whittington; if you want someone to use as a Week 3 dart throw spot start, then it is Johnson.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco (2%)
Jacob Cowing, San Francisco (0%)
Deebo Samuel will miss several weeks with a calf injury. Jennings was already playing well and has over 100 receiving yards this season. He could be a sneaky source of fantasy points with Brandon Aiyuk ramping up and no RB commanding targets. Cowing also will have an opportunity. He was a mega-productive player in college, and the 49ers selected him in the fourth round.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis (29%)
I wrote this last week about Pierce:
“Pierce had a stretch run in this column during his rookie season and popped up last year as a player to watch. His profile and role are not mysteries to me. He is a former second-round draft pick with elite athleticism and speed but little consistent fantasy production. But this week felt slightly different. I would not recommend breaking the bank, but Pierce’s long speed combined with Anthony Richardson‘s rocket launcher cannon of an arm seemed to click. Is this a one-week wonder? Maybe. But Pierce was on the field for 84% of snaps.”
“He finished with three catches for 125 yards and a TD on only three targets. Pierce connected with Richardson on a gorgeous 60-yard score. I would assume most of your league is dismissive of Pierce’s gaudy stat line. I personally want to see where this is headed if it only costs me a few FAAB dollars. He appeared to be ahead of Adonai Mitchell, but it is anyone’s guess how the Colts WR room shakes out when Josh Downs returns.”
Pierce went on to have another solid outing. He now has 181 receiving yards and two TDs this season. Could a year-three breakout be on tap? Josh Downs‘ return probably spoils the fun, but Pierce’s strong play and connection with Anthony Richardson cannot be ignored.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis (21%)
I will write about Downs until he is rostered. I will die on this hill. He is good at football and should be rostered. Last week, I wrote this about him, and it still stands:
“If you have room for Downs, consider stashing him. He should immediately become the No. 2 target in Indianapolis as soon as he returns to full health. Downs is an underrated talent and had a terrific offseason. He finished with the most catches for a Colts rookie all-time last season with 68. I have a lot of Downs and will look to add him in leagues where he is available.”
He should be back soon—possibly this week—and is in my top 10 in the Waiver Wire Week 3.
Jalen Nailor, Minnesota (1%)
Jordan Addison was already banged up, and now Justin Jefferson is dealing with a quad injury. Nailor would become the Vikings’ defacto No. 1 target if Jefferson were to miss time. He caught three passes for 54 yards and a TD last week. Deep leaguers should roster Nailor.
Jalen Tolbert, Dallas (2%)
I had Tolbert in my preseason waiver wire article and then wrote him off after Week 1. Week 2 was probably just game flow in a game in which the Cowboys were trailing in, but Tolbert caught six passes for 82 yards on nine targets. He is a deep league option.
Wan’dale Robinson, New York Giants (20%)
Robinson came down to earth after his insane Week 1 usage game. He should be rostered in deeper formats.
Josh Reynolds/Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (2%/1%)
Reynolds led Denver with 93 yards receiving on four catches. Vele caught eight passes in Week 1 before missing last week with a slight rib injury. Both players are worth taking shots on with low bids. This Denver offense is still figuring things out.
If you need a dart throw injury fill-in this week, consider Reynolds. If you want a long-term add whose game meshes with Bo Nix, then it is Vele. Both are low bid options.
Andrei Iosivas/Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati (7%/2%)
Iosivas caught two TD passes but was only targeted four times. Burton got loose for a deep reception, but that was his only catch of the day. Both players should battle it out for the No. 3 target when Tee Higgins returns. The Bengals have a chance at a get-right game against Washington this week on Monday Night Football. Both are for deep leaguers only on the Waiver Wire Week 3.
Ja’Lynn Polk, New England (14%)
Polk caught a TD this past week. Maybe this is a sign of increased usage for the second-round pick. The Patriots could use a WR to separate from the pack and emerge, and Polk is the highest pedigreed player in their WR room.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, New England (24%)
A no-brainer add. Henry is currently the No. 1 target in New England by a wide margin. He was targeted 12 times, catching eight passes for 109 yards. This could be his best game of the season, but this performance should not be overlooked either. He is the best tight end option on the Waiver Wire Week 3 and is easily in my top 10.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati (5%)
Gesicki is officially back on our radars after a strong outing against Kansas City. He had a TD overturned in Week 1, but this week was very impressive. Gesicki caught seven passes on nine targets and finished with 91 receiving yards. After two lost seasons in Miami and New England, Gesicki is having a dead cat bounce moment in Cincy. Add him in TE premium leagues.
Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas (3%)
The Dak Prescott TE theory is still holding on strong. Schoonmaker caught six passes in his first game as the Cowboys’ TE1. He is a locked-in TE2. The Ravens just were shredded by Brock Bowers. Schoonmaker is no Bowers, but he is an athletic TD threat.
Zach Ertz, Washington (8%)
Ertz is dominating TE usage in Washington. He caught four passes for 62 yards.
Washington will have to keep up with an angry 0-2 Bengals on MNF this week, and Ertz could be a sneaky play on the Waiver Wire Week 3.
Erick All Cincinnati (1%)
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville (0%)
Monitor Evan Engram‘s injury.
Top 10 Overall
- Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
- Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans
- Hunter Henry, TE, New England
- Samaje Perine, RB, Kansas City
- Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City
- Quentin Johnston, WR, LA Chargers
- Tyler Johnson, WR, LA Rams
- Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota
- Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis
- Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis
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