NFL Fantasy Football Week 3 Waiver Wire

Another week of NFL action is in the books, including another interesting week of fantasy. Similar to the previous week, this week’s waiver wire options aren’t the most appealing or enticing. It feels too early to have a full understanding of which direction a team is going with certain players. However with the information that is available, there are still clues that can point us in the right direction to find meaningful information. 

Heading into Week Three, here are my top waiver wire options for every position. My one rule that I have set for this is that a player must be rostered in less than 60 percent of ESPN leagues to be eligible in my column.   

Quarterbacks 

Michael Penix - Atlanta Falcons; Rostered - 28%:  I wrote in my Week Two waiver wire column that managers should strongly consider picking up Penix, and I still have the same beliefs heading into Week Three, regardless of his final results against the Vikings. He’ll play an adequate Arizona Cardinals defense that has squared off against the Saints and the Panthers to open the season. Expecting that this will be the week where the Cardinals luck will run out, Penix, who threw for 312 yards and two TDs against the Panthers in Week 18 last season, should have a great opportunity. 

Jake Browning - Cincinnati Bengals; Rostered - 0%: For the second time in the past two years, the Bengals will have former Washington Husky Jake Browning as their starting QB after Joe Burrow suffered a grade-three turf toe, which will require surgery and sideline him for at least three months. Browning came in during the second quarter and did his part to help the Bengals win over the Jaguars, putting up 241 yards, two TDs, three INTs and completed 65 percent of his passes. While those aren’t impressive stats, he will still fall in line to fantasy relevance with his supporting staff of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. If you do pick him up, I do advise not to start him this week against a stout Vikings Defense.     

Daniel Jones - Indianapolis Colts; Rostered - 21%: Alright, I’m drinking the Kool-aid. Jones has shown for the first two weeks that he not only can be a solid starter for the Colts, but also be a viable option for fantasy. In Weeks One and Two, Jones scored 29.48 against the Dolphins and 22.84 points against the Broncos. Even with just two TDs passes, he has thrown for the second most passing yards (588). And his running ability has been an X-factor, finding the end zone three times. This week he takes on the Titans that allowed 17.32 points to Matthew Stafford. It’s not the greatest matchup for Jones, but his unexpected resurgence has shown that he shouldn’t be slept on.   

Mac Jones - San Francisco 49ers; Rostered - 1%: It is not entirely shocking the day Jones had, finishing as the QB8 during Week Two. I say this because head coach Kyle Shanahan already is familiar with Jones and his play style. His schemes are QB friendly, even with all the injuries they are dealing with. And with Purdy expecting to be out another week, Jones has a solid matchup this week against the Cardinals, who allowed Panthers Bryce Young to sling the ball 55 times and finished with 328 yards with three TDs. 

Running Backs

Tyler Allgeier - Atlanta Falcons; Rostered - 34%: While this has been the summer of Bijan (Robinson), Allgeier has resumed his usual role he has had for the last few seasons as the team’s backup RB. Week One, he didn’t receive a big workload, going 10 carries for 24 yards and averaged 2.4 yards a touch. Week Two was a different story, getting the rock 16 times, rushed for 76 yards, averaged 4.8 yards a carry and scored the game’s only TD. If the Falcons hold a big lead, you can expect Allgeier to get more work. This week, he plays the Panthers, so he has a real shot to build on from his last performance.  

Bhayshul Tuten - Jacksonville Jaguars; Rostered - 40%: Last week, I didn’t put Tuten on my waiver wire list, but he definitely was in the conversation. He is one of my top targets this week, following his impressive Week Two outing where he finished with 74 yards from scrimmage (42 rushing, 32 receiving) and scored a TD on 10 touches. While he may not have a great matchup against the Texans this week, he is a good consideration as a handcuff for Travis Etienne Jr. or a deep-flex option.    

Blake Corum - Los Angeles Rams; Rostered - 5.3%: Corum’s only fantasy value is that most of his handoffs come from in the red zone, where three of his five carries were received this past week, including his one yard TD. He is also a solid handcuff option if you roster Kyren Williams or want to use him as trade bait if anything were to happen to Williams.     

Trey Benson - Arizona Cardinals; Rostered - 56%: The second-year back out of Florida State has been on my radar since Week One. Benson has developed a nice role in the Cardinals offense as the backup RB for James Conner. Like I said last week, Benson is worth stashing on your lineup if anything were to Conner, who hasn’t played a full season in his entire career. Over the first couple of weeks, he has 119 yards from scrimmage (83 rushing, 36 receiving) on 16 touches. 

Wide Receivers

Wan’Dale Robinson - New York Giants; Rostered - 30%: The target monster is back in the fantasy spotlight. Robinson, with Russell Wilson as his QB, has been targeted 18 times over the past two weeks and has posted 197 yards with a TD. He exploded against the Cowboys, going 8-142-1 and averaged 17.8 yards a catch. Compared to other receivers in the league, Robinson is sixth in yards and tied for seventh in receptions. If you are in a deeper league and are in need of a WR, Robinson is a potential flex option, as the Giants will take on the Chiefs in Week Three. 

Troy Franklin - Denver Broncos; Rostered - 2%: With Courtland Sutton as the obvious first option for Bo Nix, Franklin has a strong case to be the next best target with little to no competition ahead of him. In Week Two against the Colts, he led the Broncos in target (9), receptions (8), receiving yards (89) and scored a three yard TD from his Oregon teammate. However, I do think he needs to stack a couple more weeks of consistent fantasy production until trusting him in your lineup. Nonetheless, he is worth putting in a claim for in deeper leagues.

Hunter Renfrow - Carolina Panthers; Rostered - 2%: I believe Renfrow can be a solid option for Bryce Young, who’s only real target is first round rookie Tetairoa McMillian. Renfrow rebounded after a quiet Week One, going for seven catches, 48 yards and scoring twice. While the Panthers have had no-show performances by WR Xavier Legette in back-to-back weeks, this has led Renfrow to be targeted 15 times and average 6.6 yards per-reception. This week, he will go against a Falcons’ secondary that could be without their star cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. 

Dyami Brown - Jacksonville Jaguars; Rostered - 1.8%: Brown can be an interesting option as the Jaguars WR3. Through the first two weeks of the season, Brown leads the team in receiving yards (109) and is only the wideout with a receiving TD to his name. He has been on the field for 76 percent of the snaps only behind Brian Thomas Jr. and ahead of Travis Hunter, but is still targeted less than the leading pair. He also averages 13.6 yards per catch on eight catches this season. I would pick up Brown and stash him to see if his success continue. But for deeper leagues, he is a solid flex option this week against the Texans.   

Romeo Doubs - Green Bay Packers; Rostered - 20%: A window has opened for Doubs in terms of more production after Jayden Reed suffered a collarbone fracture in Green Bay’s Week Two win. Some people might want Dontayvion Wicks over Doubs in the waiver wire this week, but he is a better receiver overall and has better chemistry with QB Jordan Love. I do think Wicks should also be considered but I favor Doubs more. He is second in targets (9), receiving yards (96) and TD catches by receivers (1). The Packers do play the Browns this week and that concerns me a little bit. However, they do play the Cowboys the next week, which should be a much more favorable matchup. 

Tight Ends 

Juwan Johnson - New Orleans Saints; Rostered - 48%: If Johnson is still available in your league, what are you waiting for? This should be a no brainer claim to place. Johnson has been excellent in the TE1 role with Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau both not playing. He currently leads the team in receiving over Chris Olave (125) and has scored a TD over the first two weeks.

Zach Ertz - Washington Commanders; Rostered - 50%: This is also another TE that should be scooped up by fantasy managers. Ertz has been Jayden Daniels' security blanket so far in his short career. Entering year 15, the 34-year-old is only behind Deebo Samuel in receiving yards (90), tied second for the most targets (13) on the team and has touchdowns in both games this season. Ertz has an upside to be a TE1 still at this stage in his career.

Isaiah Likely - Baltimore Ravens; Rostered - 6.5%: Likely has missed the Ravens first two games of the season with a foot injury, but last week head coach John Harbaugh said he was “encouraged” with his progress. Likely had a great season last year and is expected to have a bigger role this year. I imagine, once he returns, he will be more productive in the lineup than starting tight end Mark Andrews, who has only caught two passes for seven yards so far this season. Be ahead of the train and don't miss out on him while he’s still available to add.

Defense/ Special Teams

Falcons; Rostered - 1%: What a turnaround the Falcons’ defense has made. This last week against the Vikings, proved how great their pass rush and secondary can be, recording 21 FPTS with six sacks and forcing four turnovers. This week, they take on the Panthers, who have allowed opposing defenses to score 10 or more FPTS in each of the first two weeks. 

Packers; Rostered - 45%: With the addition of Micah Parsons to the line, the Packers might have the best defense in the league. So far against the Lions and the Commanders, two explosive offenses, were held to 31 points combined and have registered eight sacks with one interception. This week they will take on Joe Flacco and the Browns, which could only mean for another dominant day for Green Bay.     

Indianapolis Colts; Rostered - 36%: The Colts take on the Tennessee Titans this week in what should be a great set up for their pass rush. Through the first two weeks, Cam Ward has been sacked a league most 11 times. The Colts this year are ranked as ninth best defense in fantasy with 36 points allowed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and three sacks. This pick up should exclusively be viewed as a one week play. Pick them up, if you are in need of a streamer this week.  

Kickers 

Joey Slye - Tennessee Titans; Rostered - 0%    

Spencer Shrader - Indianapolis Colts; Rostered - 3% 

Matt Prater - Buffalo Bills; Rostered - 34%

Parker Romo - Atlanta Falcons; Rostered - 0%