The fantasy football season is in full effect and between the injuries and surprise breakouts, the waiver wire will be extremely active in Week 3.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
With Kenneth Walker III (oblique) inactive, the backfield belonged solely to Charbonnet. The second-year running back enters Monday night as the RB8 in full-PPR scoring. He was inefficient on the ground with a 14-38-1 rushing line but also caught all five targets for 31 yards. Walker could miss more than one week, which would make Charbonnet a fringe RB2 option.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 15%
2. WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
This new-look Saints offense is benefiting Shaheed big time. He’s connected with Derek Carr on a pair of bomb touchdowns in each of the first two games. Those won’t always be there, but he has a 25% target share to begin the season, and he clearly has a connection with his quarterback. Shaheed’s game naturally makes him volatile as a WR3 option, but not many have his upside on a weekly basis. If you’re set at running back, Shaheed can be prioritized over Charbonnet.
Availability: 38%
FAAB: 15%
2. WR Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams
It wasn’t a great showing for the Rams offense, and Cooper Kupp suffered an ankle injury that could keep him off the field. Robinson becomes the de facto WR1 in the Rams offense if Kupp misses time and even if he doesn’t, Robinson is still a worthy WR3/flex option.
Availability: 58%
FAAB: 12%
3. RB Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt , Kansas City Chiefs
Starter Isiah Pacheco exited Sunday’s game with a fractured leg, which lands him on IR for what currently looking like a six- to eight-week timeline. Perine will likely get a bump here as the projected leader in the backfield. Carson Steele also would see an increased role on early downs, but Perine’s role as the pass-catcher makes him the slightly better target. To further complicate things, Hunt was re-signed Tuesday to the practice squad, but he should require a few games to ramp up. Nab him off the wire with the expectation you can will need to let him get up to speed.
Availability: 96% (Perine) and 98% (Hunt)
FAAB: 10% (Perine) and 8% (Hunt)
4. WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
After a brutal rookie season, Johnston is finally making an impact. He posted a 5-51-2 receiving line on six targets (32% target share) in Week 2 and seems to be building a rapport with Justin Herbert. The former first-round pick isn’t fully trustworthy as a starter every week, but it’s nice to see he’s beginning to produce consistently. Johnston may not be startable over the next two games (at Pittsburgh, vs. Kansas City), but he should be rostered in more leagues than he is.
Availability: 93%
FAAB: 10%
5. WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
In last week’s waiver column, I had Pierce as a stash rather than an add because there was a good chance his explosive performance was a one-off. After Sunday, it appears it wasn’t. Pierce tied for the team lead in targets in Week 2 while leading the room with a 5-56-1 receiving line. He has a clear connection with Anthony Richardson, so Pierce is a volatile WR4 option with upside.
Availability: 72%
FAAB: 8%
6. WR Tyler Johnson, Los Angeles Rams
Much of what we said about Robinson applies to Johnson. He was the clear WR3 before Kupp’s injury with just three fewer routes run than Robinson in Week 2. The Rams offense seems to be dealing with issues other than injuries as well, but Johnson should be rostered in most leagues as a solid bench asset and flex option in deeper leagues. I prefer Robinson over Johnson, but they both should have solidified roles.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: 8%
7. RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
As the 1b to Aaron Jones‘ 1a in the Vikings backfield, Chandler put together an efficient 82 rushing yards on 10 carries against the San Francisco 49ers. He’s still clearly behind Jones in the pecking order, but he is seeing enough steady work to be rostered. And if anything happens to Jones, Chandler becomes an immediate RB2 with upside.
Availability: 71%
FAAB: 5%
8. QB Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
It’s been only two games, but Carr looks like a completely different quarterback in this new system under Klint Kubiak. They are using motion and airing the ball out more. Carr has scored 21.3 and 21.8 fantasy points over his first two games, respectively, and is currently the QB2 entering Monday night. It’s probably not sustainable simply given the efficiency in which he’s producing, but the consistency is difficult to beat right now. Managers in dire need of a quarterback, can bump him up a few spots.
Availability: 81%
FAAB: 8%
9. RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Following the shocking news that Andy Dalton will take over as the starting quarterback with Bryce Young going to the bench, this move should provide Hubbard with a better floor. He already improved his peripheral numbers in Week 2 with a 59% running back rush share and a 19% target share. Hubbard can be viewed as an RB3 option with a low ceiling right now.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 5%
Grab-n-Stash
RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
While James Conner is the clear starter, Benson moved up the depth chart in Week 2 over Emari Demercado. He’s not start worthy yet, but Benson should be rostered as one of the top handcuffs in fantasy.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 5%
RB D’Onta Foreman, Cleveland Browns
Pierre Strong wound up suffering an injury, which led to Foreman leading the backfield with 14 carries. That was surprising given Jerome Ford‘s efficiency, but Foreman should at least be on the radar if he’s the RB2 in Cleveland’s backfield.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: 1%
RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
The rookie finally got some run with the offense after logging only special teams snaps in Week 1. He took over the RB2 role from Ronnie Rivers, so he’s worth a stash for managers who can afford it.
Availability: 57%
FAAB: 3%
RB Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots
Gibson had an impressive day going over 100 total yards (96 rushing) in Week 2. He’s not start worthy as the usage indicates Rhamondre Stevenson is the clear RB1, but Gibson is someone to monitor at least.
Availability: 84%
FAAB: 1%
RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Irving doesn’t quite have standalone flex value yet, but he’s not solely a handcuff, either. If something happens to Rachaad White, who exited Sunday’s game for a few plays due to a groin injury before returning, Irving would skyrocket in value.
Availability: 66%
FAAB: 3%
RB Braelon Allen, New York Jets
He scored twice in Week 2, which was nice to see for everyone except Breece Hall managers. Allen is solely a handcuff right now, but he’s near the top of that list if anything happens to Hall.
Availability: 90%
FAAB: 1%
WR Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams
With Cooper Kupp (ankle) potentially missing time, Whittington becomes the favorite for the WR3 role. The rookie shined during the preseason, so this bears monitoring.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 1%
WR Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys
Tolbert surprisingly led the Cowboys in target share and routes run during the Week 2 blowout loss. He had a career game with six receptions for 82 yards. Maybe that’s more due to the game environment, but managers should at least keep an eye on him.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 1%
WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McMillan again logged only one reception, but he’s running the same number of routes as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He’s not start worthy yet, but rookies are generally great stashes for the second half.
Availability: 93%
FAAB: 1%
WR Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals
There’s a chance Tee Higgins returns in Week 3 given the Bengals play in one of the Monday night games. Iosivas capitalized on just four targets, turning his only two receptions into touchdowns. He should still be the WR3 when Higgins returns, but Iosivas’ fantasy value is likely sitting on borrowed time.
Availability: 93%
FAAB: 1%
WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel is expected to miss a few weeks due to a calf strain, which makes Jennings the de facto WR2 on the depth chart behind Brandon Aiyuk. Jennings probably doesn’t offer more than a flex play in deeper leagues but he could end up being third in the pecking order for targets behind Aiyuk and George Kittle with no Samuel or Christian McCaffrey.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 1%
Streamers of the Week
QB Gardner Minshew vs. Carolina Panthers (95% available)
Minshew delivered a quality game in a tough matchup against Baltimore in Week 2, and he now draws the Panthers, who have allowed five passing touchdowns in two games to opposing quarterbacks.
QB Sam Darnold vs. Houston Texans (87% available)
Don’t look now, but Darnold is the QB9 on the season entering Monday night. He has 476 yards and four touchdowns in two games. While the Texans have a solid defense, this could turn to be a high-scoring matchup.
TE Hunter Henry vs. Seattle Seahawks (76% available)
Henry just posted eight receptions for 109 yards on 12 targets … so, yes, we’re going to chase the targets and points in a barren tight end landscape.
TE Mike Gesicki vs. Washington Commanders (96% available)
Gesicki exploded for seven receptions and 91 yards on nine targets in Week 2. The Bengals will look to establish dominance through the air against a week Commanders secondary, making Gesicki a fine streamer.
Las Vegas Raiders D/ST vs. Carolina Panthers (92% available)
They are playing the Panthers.
Green Bay Packers D/ST at Tennessee Titans (84% available)
While the Titans have some weapons, Will Levis is a turnover machine who loves taking sacks. Green Bay could have a similar outcome to Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.
PK Cairo Santos at Indianapolis Colts (78% available)
The Colts defense is in shambles both from production and injury standpoints. Caleb Williams should at least get into field-goal range a handful of times.
PK Chris Boswell vs. Los Angeles Chargers (74% available)
Though this is likely to be a low-scoring game, Boswell’s eight field-goal attempts are tired for the most in the NFL. He’s been perfect thus far.
