Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 3

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (available in 68% of leagues)

As I wrote last week, we’d seen isolated big performances from Young, but the consistency has been an issue. He stacked success in Week 2, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. Going back to the end of last season, Young has now accounted for multiple TDs in six of his last nine games. With a couple of regular QB1s—Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Caleb Williams (hamstring)—both potentially facing prolonged absences, Young looks like someone that could help keep your team afloat. Others to target:

• Tyler Shough, New Orleans (52%): Another repeat name from Week 1, Shough finished with 252 yards passing, 23 yards rushing, and two combined scores in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. At a minimum, he’s a solid backup option.
• Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (42%): Murray (concussion) was inactive this week as he recovers from a concussion but should return in Week 3. While I’m not a big believer in Murray, in part because of his suspect durability, he has weekly dual-threat potential that can deliver low-end QB1 value in plus matchups.
• Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (95%): We all know that Cousins is eventually going to be replaced by Fernando Mendoza, but Las Vegas is 2-0, and Kirko Chains has thrown six TD passes. He could offer short-term plug-and-play appeal.
• Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears (100%): As of this writing, there’s no news about the severity of Williams’ injury, but if the MRI shows Williams is going to miss significant time, you should consider snapping up Bagent off the waiver wire. There’s a lot of internal confidence in Bagent, and it could be this year’s version of the Jordan Love/Malik Willis situation from last season where a backup quarterback could still produce viable QB1 value.

Running Backs

Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (74%)

With RJ Harvey (hamstring) inactive, Coleman stepped in and split backfield duties with J.K. Dobbins. The rookie responded with 58 total yards, the go-ahead touchdown, and the game-sealing first down. Coleman had a little buzz in drafts leading up to Week 1 after a strong camp, and some savvy fantasy owners already stashed him because of Dobbins’ injury history as well as Harvey’s struggles as the lead back last year. Coleman’s late-game performance is sure to draw attention, so if he’s still on waivers in your league, now is the time to scoop him up as depth with intriguing upside as the season wears on. Others to target:

• Rachaad White, Washington Commanders (44%): He caught six passes and had 83 combined yards in Sunday’s loss. With Marcus Mariota likely to be QB1 for a while, a capable checkdown target like White could be in for some decent numbers.
• Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles (71%): What happened versus the Tennessee Titans should serve as a reminder to all Saquon Barkley (stinger) owners that they should be carrying Bigsby on their bench as a handcuff.
• Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers (96%): Acquired at the conclusion of the preseason, Johnson saw his first action in Week 2, leading the team in carries (8) and yards (32). Those are modest numbers, and he did fumble, but with so much uncertainty surrounding Josh Jacobs’ status for 2026, Johnson offers some potential value.
• Emmanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (99%): While we don’t know how much time, if any, Jadarian Price (chest) will miss, we did learn that if Price is sidelined, it appears that Wilson, not George Holani, will get the call. Wilson, who had some good games filling in for Jacobs in Green Bay last year, ran the ball 21 times for 92 yards in Week 2, compared to 13 yards on four carries for Holani.

Wide Receivers

Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (72%)

Wicks was always a darling of advanced metrics, but in a deep Packers receiver room, he never saw regular work. Through two weeks with the Eagles, Wicks has turned 10 targets into seven receptions, 147 yards, and a touchdown. He’s clearly operating as WR2 ahead of rookie Makai Lemon, and if Dallas Goedert (knee) is forced to miss time due to injury, Wicks could emerge as a leading red-zone target—at 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, he’s considerably larger than Lemon or DeVonta Smith. Wicks offers WR3 potential moving forward. Others to target:

• Romeo Doubs, New England Patriots (40%): With A.J. Brown (ankle) out until at least Week 6, Doubs is the de facto WR1 for the Pats. After being blanked in Week 1, Doubs turned his three catches into 96 yards to comfortably lead the team. While Drake Maye hasn’t looked great to start the year, Doubs offers enough upside to be rostered as a WR4/WR5 type.
• Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns (69%): The Browns overhauled their receiving corps during the offseason, and through two weeks, Boston is the standout. He had 59 yards and a TD in the opener, and he then followed that up with a 5-95-1 line against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stash him now before someone else does.
• Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (53%): Shakir led the Bills in receiving each of the last two seasons, and though he’s been supplanted as WR1 by DJ Moore (shoulder), a No. 2 wideout on a high-powered offense still offers value as roster depth in most leagues.
• Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints (46%): Tyson (hamstring) is currently on injured reserve with an expected return in mid-October. The rookie was the eighth overall pick and should have a sizable role when he returns. He’s a nice stash candidate if your league has an IR slot.
• Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (83%): With Zay Flowers (hamstring) inactive and Ja’Kobi Lane (wrist) on IR, Bateman was targeted nine times for a 7-88-1 effort against the Saints on Sunday. His value might dry up once Flowers returns, but those in deep leagues should at least consider adding him.

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (44%)

Through two games, Schultz has been targeted 22 times, catching 16 passes for 175 yards. It’s a strong start, but do keep a couple of things in mind: 1) Nico Collins (hamstring) was inactive in Week 2, and 2) his 12-140-0 output came against the Cincinnati Bengals, who allowed the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns to opposing tight ends in 2025. If you’re carrying two tight ends, Schultz would be a solid reserve. I’d be hesitant to consider him a reliable TE1, though. Others to target:

• Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers (94%): Gadsden scored a touchdown in Week 2, but the larger development was an injury to David Njoku (knee), who was carted off. If Njoku’s injury is long term, Gadsden becomes the clear-cut top tight end in LA.
• Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (98%): After having a touchdown erased via penalty in Week 1, Waller scored twice in Atlanta. It’s a stretch to consider the 34-year-old a legit TE1 candidate, but those in deeper leagues could consider him a potential backup with a little juice.

Defensive Teams

Defenses I like for Week 3:

• Green Bay Packers (77%): In two games, the Packers have allowed just 524 yards, and they sacked Geno Smith four times on Sunday. They host the Falcons on Thursday night, and it’s anyone’s guess who Atlanta’s starting quarterback will be. There’s a sliding scale at work—Green Bay’s value would be higher with Cooper Rush or Jack Strand as QB1—but the ceiling should be high no matter who is under center.
• Cincinnati Bengals (94%): It’s only been two games, but thus far the reunion of Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers has produced next to nothing offensively. Rodgers has taken six sacks, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have scored just 16 points. With Cincy’s defense looking much improved as well, this is a good week to get the Bengals in your lineup.
• Detroit Lions (67%): The Lions have been awful defensively over the last six quarters, but they get extra rest before welcoming former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets to Motown. The Jets have avoided big mistakes thus far, but against a Detroit offense that can put points on the board, they’ll likely need to take more chances. That seems like a natural segue into a reminder that Geno Smith led the NFL in interceptions a season ago.