The second full Sunday of the fantasy football season is officially in the books. It’s now time to improve our rosters.
Let’s take a look at the top Week 3 waiver-wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
Who To Target on This Week’s Waiver Wire
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
It’s time to put some respect on the Saints’ offense. Evidently, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was just what this team needed to unlock its talent.
Derek Carr has now thrown five touchdowns and rushed for one more in his first two games.
Same Rashid, different day.
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/Ap2RXdPhew
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 15, 2024
Despite having no rushing upside, Carr has topped 20 fantasy points in each of the first two weeks, leading his team to 40+ points in both contests.
Carr gets the Eagles and Falcons the next two weeks. Both of those games could be high-scoring affairs. At worst, he’s a viable streamer. At best, he could be the answer for teams who punted QB and have struggled to find their answer.
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
If you are finding yourself a bit confused on what to make of Braelon Allen’s 19.6 fantasy points in Week 2 — where he registered two TDs and 56 total yards on just nine touches — then take some comfort you aren’t alone.
Allen’s jump in usage from Week 1 to Week 2 is certainly noteworthy.
Braelon Allen 2024 Weekly Stats
- Week 1: 18% snap share, two touches for 17 yards
- Week 2: 35% snap share, nine touches for 56 yards and 2 TDs
Can fantasy managers expect Allen to get Breece Hall off the field this much moving forward? I don’t believe so, but I do think this now needs to be monitored when trying to set weekly expectations for this Jets backfield moving forward.
Hall still saw 21 total touches for 114 yards and a score in Week 2, which means he still more than doubled Allen’s total in the touches and yardage production department.
While Allen’s performance in Week 2 was outstanding, I’m not ready to suggest he should be in your starting lineup with stand-alone value quite yet. But he is certainly now in the conversation for the best fantasy handcuff in the league.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
The injury to Isiah Pacheco certainly opens up a sizeable role in the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield, which should catch your attention as a fantasy football manager.
One could certainly make a case that Samaje Perine is in this waiver wire conversation here, which is fine. But I’m willing to bank on Steele’s usage as a ball carrier in Week 2 as the priority add in KC.
Steele saw seven carries to Perine’s zero against the Cincinnati Bengals, which is why I’m giving him the edge as a player who could be an effective short-yardage carrier with his physical running style when the Chiefs inevitably generate trips to the goal line.
Perine could certainly be involved in passing down situations, which gives him some intrigue in full-PPR formats, but I want to target the player who has been the preferred ball carrier option through the first two weeks of the season.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Fantasy managers got a bit too frustrated with Chuba Hubbard a bit too quickly. Yes, this is the second-worst offense in football (no one is worse than the Bo Nix-led Broncos). Yes, Bryce Young is not making it through the season as the starter. But Hubbard is still a starting running back in the NFL.
MORE: Fantasy Football Buy Low, Sell High Targets After Week 2
Hubbard is not about to blow anyone away with production, but he can volume his way to RB3 numbers.
Hubbard played 58% of the snaps and was clearly ahead of Miles Sanders. Hubbard carried the ball 10 times for a very respectable 64 yards, while adding four receptions for 12 yards. Given all of the injuries and with bye weeks coming up, that’s serviceable production.
Antonio Gibson, RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots’ offense is not terrible. Specifically, their run game is doing things through the first two weeks.
Rhamondre Stevenson was a bellcow in Week 1, but that was largely because Antonio Gibson wasn’t healthy. He looked healthy in Week 2, carrying the ball 11 times for 96 yards.
Gibson probably won’t be startable every week alongside Stevenson, but, at bare minimum, he’s the handcuff, and he should be on more rosters.
Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones is the clear RB1 for the Vikings. However, Ty Chandler is the clear RB2. Jones reminded everyone of his age and fragility when he left the game against the 49ers. Although he ultimately returned, Chandler is one 29-year-old starter injury away from being the lead back in what is a pretty good offense.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The efficiency issues fantasy managers have seen from Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White continued against a stingy Detroit Lions front seven in Week 2, but the starting running back picked up a groin injury that will need to be monitored very closely entering their Week 3 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
The numbers are pretty concerning for White through the first two games. He has 35 fewer rushing yards on nine more carries than Irving and could be hampered even more while battling through a soft tissue injury.
Irving has provided a small spark to this offense in a complementary role through two weeks but is fully capable of contributing in the passing game should his role expand against a Broncos defense that gave up 111 rushing yards to Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on Sunday.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Samaje Perine, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
This was a late addition to the waiver wire column. Samaje Perine barely saw the field in the Chiefs’ last-second win over the Bengals. But on that final drive, Isiah Pacheco got twisted awkwardly on a tackle and limped off the field.
It was revealed on Monday that Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula, and he’s expected to “miss real time,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
With Pacheco sidelined, Perine will obviously play more. However, I’m not sure he will see enough work to be usable in fantasy. Plus, Carson Steele will likely be the goal-line back. This has all the makings of an undesirable committee without Pacheco. Nevertheless, Perine is worth a claim given the severity of Pacheco’s injury.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Regardless of whether you should add Quentin Johnston off the waiver wire, anyone scoring two touchdowns has to at least appear on the list.
The much-maligned Johnston made his presence felt on Sunday, catching five passes for 51 yards and the aforementioned two scores.
Quentin Johnston TOUCHDOWN
📺: #LACvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/OzD8IfKRTC— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Johnston led the Chargers in routes run. However, he didn’t even get to 20. Unfortunately, the Chargers remain incredibly run-heavy.
If you want to grab Johnston to see what happens, as he is a former first-round pick, I won’t argue it. But I’m not doing it.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts
All Anthony Richardson concerns aside, the second-year quarterback clearly has established a nice rapport with Alec Pierce through the first two games of the 2024 NFL season.
Pierce made an appearance on this list last week and followed up his 21.5 fantasy points — on three receptions for 125 yards and a score — in Week 1 with five more receptions for 56 yards and another score in Week 2.
Pierce saw his snap share jump from 84% in Week 1 to 95% in Week 2, which suggests he is firmly entrenched at the moment as a focal point of this passing attack.
The Colts do draw a tough matchup against a stingy Chicago Bears secondary this week, but as Pierce has already proven this year, he is capable of having a successful fantasy day with just one big vertical down the field in this offense.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Jalen Nailor, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson left the game late in the second half with a quad injury. By the sounds of it, he should be okay. However, we need to be proactive. Therefore, Jalen Nailor’s name at least needs to be on fantasy managers’ minds.
MORE: Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Nailor served as the WR2 with Jordan Addison out. If Jefferson can’t go, Nailor would be the presumptive WR1 in what would not exactly be an ideal offensive situation.
I think Jefferson will play, but if you feel compelled to grab Nailor, you’re going to have to do it ahead of time.
Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas Cowboys
It’s always wise to invest in good offenses. The Cowboys may have faceplanted at home against the Saints, but they still scored 19 points. That’s a bad game for this elite offense.
Jalen Tolbert had the best game of his career, catching six of nine targets for 82 yards. I have no idea if this is here to stay. But Brandin Cooks is 30 years old and CeeDee Lamb can’t do everything. Tolbert is worth a speculative add.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns
This may be a bit tough to believe, but Jerry Jeudy is currently a top-30 fantasy WR in full-PPR formats.
An injury to David Njoku and the struggles of Amari Cooper through the first two weeks of the season have helped Jeudy produce eight receptions for 98 yards and a score through his first two games with the Browns.
Quite frankly, saying that Cooper is struggling is putting it very gently. Jeudy has more receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns than Cooper on three fewer targets. Additionally, Cooper has multiple drops on his profile, while Jeudy continues to be the significantly more efficient option.
Jeudy’s realized air yards sits at 52.7% — which isn’t exactly a great mark — while Cooper is concerningly bad at 11.1% (which ranks 120th at the WR position this season).
Jeudy may not be the fantasy stud many hoped he would be entering the league, but he has managed to carve a fantasy-relevant role in this Browns offense, which does make a WR3 option against the New York Giants in Week 3.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson, WRs, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua is already on IR and expected to miss anywhere from 5-to-7 weeks. That immediately elevates both Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson into starting roles in three-receiver sets.
The bad news for the Rams got worse on Sunday, as Cooper Kupp sprained the same ankle he had problems with last season and did not return. If Kupp can’t play next week, the Rams would be looking at Robinson and Johnson as their top two receivers.
While neither did anything of note against the Cardinals, that was a weird game that was non-competitive from very early on. Matthew Stafford has to throw to someone. Both are worth speculative adds.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have played two games this year and Hunter Henry has more than triple the amount of targets, receptions, and receiving yards than any other individual pass catcher on the roster.
Henry’s 10 receptions for 127 yards may not sound like an astronomical total, but he currently ranks as the TE4 overall in full-PPR formats.
Hunt is feeling it today 🔥@Hunter_Henry84 | #NEPats
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/x1bN1KLq3R
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 15, 2024
I am fully aware that the thought of trusting any Patriots pass catcher in your starting lineup with Jacoby Brissett under center in an offense that has handed the ball to its running backs 66 times through the first two games isn’t exactly exciting, but when the Patriots have gone to the air in 2024, it has been to Henry.
Like it or not, that type of reliable volume in the passing game normally equals fantasy success at the tight end position, which means he should be worth consideration as a low-end TE1 option in Week 3 until another pass catcher emerges.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
The big story from Thursday Night Football is undoubtedly Tua Tagovailoa’s health. Given his history of concussions, it would not be a surprise if that was the last time we’ll see him on a football field. Most importantly, he needs to do what’s best for his long-term health.
On the field, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle thoroughly disappointed. However, Jonnu Smith saw a significant uptick in usage. Although Smith played fewer than half of the offensive snaps, he actually led the team in routes run. Smith caught six of seven targets for 53 yards.
Given the state of the tight-end position, I wouldn’t fault anyone for chasing the points and hoping there’s something here. However, I am not interested in adding Smith.
We’ve now seen the Bills erase outside wide receivers for two consecutive weeks, forcing opponents to take short stuff underneath. Additionally, for at least a couple of weeks, if not the entire season, it’s going to be Skylar Thompson at quarterback. I am not interested in anyone catching passes from Skylar Thompson.
Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders
There is certainly nothing exciting about Zach Ertz. The soon-to-be 34-year-old tight end has recovered from multiple serious knee injuries and is now the TE1 for the Commanders.
Ertz hasn’t done much of note over the first two weeks, but he is on the field plenty. Four catches for 62 yards is very much passable at a challenging tight-end position. Although we’d like more than four targets, anyone scoring double-digits is good enough for me.