The fantasy football season is underway. As much as we all loved our rosters after the draft, things change quickly. It’s time to improve our teams. Let’s take a look at the top Week 3 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
As always, all players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
I eliminated FAAB recommendations last year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced them with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should pursue the player on a scale of 1-10.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 55%
Bhayshul Tuten looked very good in his newly expanded role, carrying the ball eight times for 42 yards and catching two passes for 32 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to Cincinnati.
The rookie’s touchdown reception capped an impressive performance that showcased his versatility as a receiving threat out of the backfield. His 5.3 yards per carry efficiency shows he’s making the most of his opportunities, while his receiving work adds a valuable fantasy floor.
With Bigsby now in Philadelphia, Tuten has clearly established himself as the primary backup to Travis Etienne Jr., logging significant snaps in both rushing and passing situations.
The fourth-round pick from Virginia Tech totaled 10 touches in Week 2, providing exactly the type of involvement that makes him startable in desperation scenarios. His ability to contribute in both phases of the ground game makes him a more complete fantasy asset than a typical handcuff.
Etienne remains the lead back but did not dominate touches, with Tuten earning meaningful work throughout the game, rather than just garbage-time carries. The rookie’s college production and breakaway speed create legitimate upside for a larger role as the season progresses.
Jacksonville’s investment in Tuten as their highest-drafted running back suggests long-term confidence in his abilities. Fantasy managers need to recognize that Tuten represents pure upside with 10-touch weeks providing immediate flex value and plenty of runway to potentially overtake Etienne entirely.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.5
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Rostered: 22%
Robinson erupted for 8 catches on 10 targets, totaling 142 yards and a touchdown in the New York Giants’ high-octane loss to Dallas. Three separate times, the slot receiver beat the Cowboys’ secondary up the seam, picking up chunk yardage in a manner not typical for his game. This was easily Robinson’s most electric performance as a pro, both for real football and fantasy managers.
While Robinson looked outstanding and capitalized on every opportunity this week, it’s important to temper expectations for this kind of efficiency. The big plays down the seam are more likely the exception than the rule; Robinson is almost certain to return to his usual role as a low aDOT, checkdown specialist. Those underneath routes still offer plenty of value, though, as he’s consistently been a fantasy-relevant contributor.
Robinson’s weekly ceiling won’t be close to this output very often, but his skillset and usage almost always deliver a reliable 8-10 point PPR floor. That puts him squarely in the mix as a plug-and-play roster piece, especially for managers dealing with injuries or underperforming starters. Robinson’s combination of steady volume and touchdown upside makes him the exact type of receiver who should be rostered in any format.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.5
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 8%
Elic Ayomanor caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Tennessee Titans’ Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The rookie has taken over the WR2 role, fully leapfrogging veteran Tyler Lockett in the pecking order behind Calvin Ridley. Fourth-round rookies aren’t exactly typically players you want to target in fantasy, but they also aren’t usually starters this early in their careers.
While Ayomanor may still be behind Ridley and catching passes from rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the Titans have had two very difficult matchups to open the season against Denver and now Los Angeles. The 6’2″ Stanford product has shown impressive route-running ability and an understanding of how to find soft spots in coverage, traits that should translate as the schedule lightens up.
More favorable opponents are ahead, and Ayomanor should continue to improve as he builds chemistry with Ward. At the very least, he’s a bench stash worth monitoring as Tennessee’s offense develops throughout the season.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.5
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns
Rostered: 39%
Cedric Tillman caught two passes on seven targets for 22 yards and a touchdown in the Cleveland Browns’ blowout loss to Baltimore, leading the team in targets despite the modest yardage total. He scored his second touchdown in as many games, giving him back-to-back useful fantasy performances to start the season.
Jerry Jeudy is viewed as the WR1, but through two weeks, he has not been clearly ahead of Tillman in terms of target distribution or overall involvement.
That’s now two consecutive useful games for Tillman, who has established himself as Joe Flacco’s preferred target in key situations. Before a concussion ended his 2024 season early, Tillman was the WR12 in fantasy points per game from Weeks 7-12 with a 19.7% target share. The Browns are likely to continue facing negative game scripts, but they will also likely lose games, which should lead to increased passing volume.
The downside is it’s only a matter of time before we see Dillon Gabriel or Kenny Pickett supplant Flacco under center, but we can’t predict when that quarterback change will occur. For now, Tillman’s consistent target volume and red zone involvement make him a reliable fantasy option. His ability to produce even in difficult matchups suggests he should be on more rosters as a dependable WR3/flex play.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Rostered: 44%
Juwan Johnson hauled in five catches on nine targets for 49 yards and a really impressive touchdown in the New Orleans Saints’ Week 2 battle with San Francisco. The converted wide receiver capped his performance with a tough touchdown grab from Spencer Rattler that showcased his red zone ability and reliable hands. One week could be a fluke, but two weeks is a trend, and Johnson’s role in Kellen Moore’s offense is clearly real.
He continues to be a key part of the offense, building on his 8-catch, 76-yard performance from Week 1 against Arizona. With both Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill on the PUP list, Johnson has emerged as the unquestioned top tight end option for the Saints. Moore has a proven track record of producing fantasy-relevant tight ends, including Jason Witten (TE12 in 2019) and Dalton Schultz (TE3 in 2021, TE11 in 2022).
We’ve seen enough through two weeks to confidently say Johnson is a top-12 tight end moving forward and needs to be universally rostered. The Saints’ three-year, $30.8 million investment in Johnson signals their long-term commitment to featuring him prominently. His 20 targets through two games demonstrate consistent usage that should continue as long as the key injury absences persist.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.5