Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin. Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Three post-waiver fantasy football targets for Week 3

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 9:53 AM ET

After just two weeks of football, many fantasy managers find themselves scrambling to replace injured players. Here’s three options with a defense to boot. (Fantasy stats via Yahoo!Sports)

QB Russell Wilson | New York Giants

If the Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5 favorites) pour it on against the Giants as expected, Wilson should easily surpass the 41 attempts he put up in a 40-37 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

Wilson threw three touchdowns and led all quarterbacks with 450 yards and 31.30 fantasy points last week, a far cry from the scoreless 17-for-37 performance he had against the Washington Commanders in Week 1.

He won’t see 450 yards again but Joe Burrow, J.J. McCarthy and Brock Purdy owners could do worse than a 10-time Pro Bowler fighting to stay off New York’s bench, even at 36 years old and even against the reigning AFC champions.

Wilson remains available in 86 percent of leagues.

WR Troy Franklin | Denver Broncos

Franklin had a team-high eight receptions on nine targets for 89 yards and a score in a 29-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, his best performance since joining the team as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

That @oregonfootball connection pic.twitter.com/8qJnaqW6fI
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

Nearly half of his yardage came on a 42-yard pass in the second quarter that set him up for a three-yard touchdown five plays later. Franklin may not be ready to overtake No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton, but his 24.00 fantasy points are the most by a Broncos pass-catcher after two games.

Franklin remains available in 67 percent of leagues.

TE Harold Fannin Jr. | Cleveland Browns

A third-round pick of the Browns in this year’s draft, Fannin made seven catches for 63 yards and 13.60 fantasy points in his NFL debut before catching a team-high five targets for 48 yards and 9.8 points against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.

Browns running back Jerome Ford also had five catches but finished with half as many yards as the 6-foot-4, 249-pound rookie, who clearly has established chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco. Fannin currently has more targets than any Browns player and the eighth-most fantasy points among NFL tight ends.

This week he’ll face the Green Bay Packers, who allowed a team-high 64 yards and a touchdown to Commanders tight end Zach Ertz in Week 2. With George Kittle still on the IR and Brock Bowers struggling with a knee injury, Fannin could easily finish Week 3 as a top-five tight end.

Fannin remains available in 57 percent of leagues.

DST | Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons used six sacks, two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries to beat the Minnesota Vikings 22-6 in Week 2, earning a league-high 21 fantasy points along the way.

Of course, the Vikings are averaging the sixth-fewest points per game (16.5) but the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta’s next opponent, have scored just 16.0 points per game.

Only Cleveland (191.5) has allowed fewer yards per contest than Atlanta (229.0) and only the Los Angeles Rams (14.0) have given up fewer points per game than the Falcons (14.5). Only the Vikings (16.0) and Miami Dolphins (13.0) have given up more fantasy points to opposing defenses than Carolina (12.0), which should bode well for the Falcons.

The Falcons defense remains available in 65 percent of leagues.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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