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.
Russell Wilson, QB, New York Giants
Rostered: 5%
Wilson delivered his best performance since his 452-yard outing against Houston in 2017, completing 30 of 41 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns in the New York Giants’ overtime loss to Dallas. The veteran quarterback’s 450 yards were the second-most of his career and marked just the fourth time he’s eclipsed 400 yards in a single game.
Another poor performance from Wilson might have gotten him benched for rookie Jaxson Dart. Instead, he silenced critics with vintage deep-ball accuracy and pocket presence throughout the contest.
RUSSELL WILSON MOON BALL TO MALIK NABERS.
GIANTS LEAD. pic.twitter.com/Chl9HdjldL
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
Wilson didn’t turn the ball over until his abysmal game-winning interception in overtime, when he threw an ill-advised deep pass under pressure that was picked off at the Dallas 30-yard line. Before that costly mistake, it was a masterful performance that showcased the arm talent that made him a perennial Pro Bowl selection in Seattle. His 31.3 fantasy points represent exactly the type of ceiling performance that keeps him relevant as a streaming option.
With that said, Wilson is not going to face the Dallas Cowboys’ porous secondary every week, and the Giants won’t be in shootouts consistently throughout the season. This performance came against a Cowboys defense that allowed multiple explosive plays and failed to generate consistent pressure.
Wilson’s name deservedly appears on waiver wire lists because his fantasy output mandates attention, but he remains nothing more than a matchup-dependent streamer. His poor Week 1 showing against Washington’s defense demonstrates the volatility that comes with rostering the aging quarterback.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Rostered: 17%
Daniel Jones delivered another impressive performance, completing 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown in the Indianapolis Colts’ comeback victory over Denver. We have to give the devil his due – Jones has been impressive in his two starts for Indianapolis, following up his 29-point Week 1 outing with 22 fantasy points in Week 2. This time, he accomplished this feat against the Broncos’ elite defense, which makes the performance even more noteworthy.
Jones only rushed for two total yards on Sunday, but scored another short touchdown via quarterback sneak, demonstrating the team’s willingness to utilize him in goal-line situations. His overall mobility also raises his floor significantly compared to traditional pocket passers.
The fact that he can post QB1 numbers mostly through the air, though, is incredibly encouraging. His 9.3 yards per attempt against Denver showcased improved decision-making and arm talent that many thought had diminished during his struggles in New York.
The former Giants quarterback has found new life in Shane Steichen’s offensive system, averaging 294 passing yards per game through two weeks. For fantasy managers looking for a Joe Burrow replacement or simply seeking reliable quarterback production, Jones may be your guy. His combination of rushing upside and renewed passing efficiency creates a compelling weekly floor with legitimate ceiling potential.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Jeremy McNichols, RB, Washington Commanders
Rostered: 0%
It’s hard to endorse picking up a player who didn’t see a touch. If Jeremy McNichols were that good, the Washington Commanders would’ve felt compelled to give him the ball. There’s a reason he played behind Austin Ekeler and got beaten out by Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Nevertheless, the Commanders are in a bind here. As poorly as they view McNichols, at least he was active. Chris Rodriguez was not, which heavily suggests that McNichols is the more valued player.
More importantly, McNichols played every snap in the Commanders’ feeble attempt at a comeback against the Green Bay Packers. He’s the Ekeler replacement, at least for now.
The rookie should start going forward and will see more work on the ground, but JCM is not a good pass-catcher. When the Commanders fall behind or are in the two-minute offense, it’s going to be McNichols. While he’s unlikely to be startable in fantasy, he’s worth adding just to see how things shake out.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.5
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.
Bhayshul Tuten scores his first NFL TD!
JAXvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/B4EmYon3L8
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
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
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Rostered: 16%
Every year, there is never a compelling reason to draft Romeo Doubs. Every year, at some point, Doubs finds his way onto fantasy rosters.
The argument against drafting Doubs is simple. He has no difference-making upside. He’s a guy you throw in your lineup who won’t get you zero. There’s no reason to draft that because you find it on the waiver wire … which is exactly what we’re doing here.
Doubs is still part of the Green Bay Packers’ frustrating wide receiver rotation. Even with Jayden Reed out, Doubs’ snap share didn’t increase. He played a mere 2.7% more snaps than he did in Week 1.
Nevertheless, Doubs still led the Packers’ wide receivers in routes run. He’s now posted 8.8 and 11.8 fantasy points in each of his first two games. Those numbers aren’t flashy, but as injuries pile up and bye weeks begin, fantasy managers will encounter situations where they’d sign for that production.
Doubs is by no means a priority add. However, he is someone worth adding to the back of your roster if you’re in a bind.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
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.
Wan’Dale Robinson:
8 receptions
142 receiving yards
1 fourth-down TD for the leadpic.twitter.com/0bm4gClXhQ— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 14, 2025
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
Dyami Brown, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 1%
Dyami Brown caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 2 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. His seven-yard touchdown reception capped an impressive opening drive and gave Jacksonville an early 7-0 lead. Brown showed some upside last season, having a couple of big games with the Washington Commanders, but he’s never been anything more than a real-life WR3.
That remains his role in Jacksonville, which means he will have games like this, but they will be few and far between. Brian Thomas Jr. remains the WR1, and both Travis Hunter and Parker Washington are plenty involved as well. Brown’s depth chart position and situational usage mean he needs specific game scripts to pop; there will be more weeks where he fades into the background.
Brown’s performance puts him on the waiver wire radar, but he is not a priority add. Fantasy managers should view him as a desperation streamer or deep-league stash.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
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.
WE GOT 5 ON IT‼️ @Cameron7Ward to @elicayomanor for their first career TDs!
📺: #LARvsTEN on @NFLonCBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/eQANrmlUCo
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 14, 2025
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
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
Rostered: 3%
Troy Franklin caught eight of nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Denver Broncos’ Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, building upon his solid Week 1 showing against Tennessee. The second-year man even tacked on an 11-yard rush, showcasing the versatility that made him a valuable college player at Oregon. His 42-yard reception during a scramble drill set up his eventual 3-yard touchdown grab, capping a dominant drive where he authored the scoring sequence from start to finish.
Franklin’s involvement is extremely encouraging and suggests he’s emerged as the clear WR2 behind Courtland Sutton in Denver’s passing attack. His 88.9% catch rate and consistent target volume through two weeks indicate that Bo Nix has developed trust in the 6’3″ receiver’s ability to make contested catches. How legitimate this role proves to be remains to be seen, but early in the season, we need to get ahead of potential increases in usage.
Franklin appears to have leapfrogged Marvin Mims Jr. in the pecking order, establishing himself as a reliable intermediate and red zone target. He needs to be added before his ownership percentage climbs significantly higher.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.5
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Carolina Panthers
Rostered: 1%
Hunter Renfrow caught seven of nine targets for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the Carolina Panthers’ Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, serving as Bryce Young’s No. 2 target behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan.
After not playing football last year due to ulcerative colitis, the former Las Vegas Raiders receiver returned, couldn’t make the team initially, then was brought back after Jalen Coker suffered a quad injury in practice that forced him to open the season on IR. While McMillan led the team in receiving with 100 yards, Renfrow’s nine targets demonstrated his established chemistry with Young.
It’s worth noting that extreme negative game script forced Young to throw the ball 55 times, creating an unusually target-rich environment. Even with the Panthers being underdogs in just about all of their games, that level of passing volume won’t be the norm throughout the season.
Nevertheless, Renfrow showed enough to establish that there might be something here for fantasy purposes, particularly given his proven track record as a 103-catch, 1,038-yard Pro Bowler in 2021.
He’s certainly a far more talented receiver than Xavier Legette, who the Panthers will likely continue to phase out of the offense after managing just three catches on seven targets for 10 yards in Week 1, and one catch for -2 yards in Week 2.
On volume alone, Young is capable of sustaining the fantasy values of two receivers, and Renfrow’s slot expertise provides a reliable underneath option. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues as a potential flex play while Coker remains sidelined.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
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.
Juwan Johnson snags it for a @Saints TD!
SFvsNO on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Q52t7zCdXk
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
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
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
Rostered: 43%
Harold Fannin Jr. caught a team-high five passes for 48 yards in the Cleveland Browns’ blowout loss to Baltimore, posting his second consecutive useful fantasy performance. The rookie third-round pick is not supplanting David Njoku but is playing alongside him in Cleveland’s heavy two-tight end sets. The Browns are drawing up plays for Fannin, and the rookie is delivering, building on his impressive seven-catch, 63-yard debut against Cincinnati.
Through two weeks, Fannin has commanded 14 targets and caught 12 passes for 111 yards, establishing himself as a reliable red zone and intermediate target for Joe Flacco. Cleveland utilized two tight end sets on 50.7% of their offensive plays in Week 1, the second-highest rate in the NFL, creating consistent opportunities for both Fannin and Njoku to contribute. His 20% target share in his debut showcased the trust the coaching staff has in the Bowling Green product.
At this point, fantasy managers can feel reasonably confident inserting Fannin into lineups as a streaming option. He’s not quite a top-12 tight end yet, but he’s emerged as a high-end TE2, which is good enough for tight end-needy managers. His route-running ability and reliable hands make him particularly valuable in PPR formats where his target volume provides a solid floor.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
