Fantasy Football: Week 3 Streamers to Consider
When it comes to the week-to-week grind of the fantasy season, fantasy managers have to find the sweet spot of relying on those every-week starters and the guys that need to be inserted into a given matchup to push a roster into the winning side for that week.
Injuries are beginning to pile up, so finding streaming QBs & TEs will become more important as the season rolls on!
Let’s get into Week 3’s streamers!
Editor’s Note: Check out the Fantasy Footballers’ Waiver Wire Rankings for Week 3!
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young
QB - CAR
Feels weird to be going back to the same well this week, but Bryce Young is still available in 42% of leagues and has only been the QB2 overall through the first two weeks of the season. Young has strung together easily his best two weeks of fantasy production in his career to start the 2026 season. In fact, this is the first time Young has ever had back-to-back top-12 QB finishes. The name of the game for Young’s fantasy production to start the year has been TD passes, where he is currently tied for the league lead with six. A Week 3 matchup with Cleveland should give Young plenty of opportunity to continue his hot start for fantasy managers in need at QB.
Tyler Shough
QB - NO
It has been a little messy, but Tyler Shough has delivered for fantasy over the first two weeks of the season. Shough has finished as a top-8 QB in back-to-back weeks to start 2026 and scored five total TDs (four passing, one rushing) in the process. Week 2 saw Shough get back to running the ball more, like we saw from his rookie season, where he averaged 18 yards per game over the last 10 games of the season. Shough has a tougher matchup against a Raiders defense in Week 3 that has just allowed one passing TD on the season, but Shough should be entering an every-week consideration for fantasy managers based on how this Saints offense has performed to start the year.
Drew Lock
QB - SEA
Well, we’ve gotten to the “kind of gross” fantasy streaming QB of the week with Drew Lock. As irresponsible as he has been in the past, Lock has been very solid stepping in for the injured Sam Darnold. Lock threw three TDs against the Cardinals this week and hasn’t thrown an INT, which was his biggest problem in the past. What is most intriguing about Lock heading into Week 3 is his matchup against the Commanders. Washington’s defense has allowed the most passing TDs in the league to start the season and is one of just nine teams in the league who haven’t picked off a pass on defense. Lock is truly a short-term option, but could be worth considering for fantasy managers in need this week.
Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz
TE - HOU
There isn’t much to be excited for in the Houston offense right now, but Dalton Schultz is a surprisingly bright spot at TE. The absence of Nico Collins due to injury opened the door for Schultz to take the lead receiving role for the Texans to the tune of 12 receptions for 140 yards, both career single-game highs. Sunday was just Schultz’s second game in his career eclipsing 100 receiving yards in a game, so it is not necessarily prescriptive for him to continue being a contributor at this high a volume, but as long as the opportunity is there, he should be a valuable option for fantasy managers.
T.J. Hockenson
TE - MIN
The Vikings offense was a big letdown on Sunday, mainly because of nasty rain in Chicago, but the matchup is right for TJ Hockenson to get back on track for fantasy rosters in Week 3. Hockenson seems to be the second receiving option in Minnesota’s offense behind Justin Jefferson and is a good bet for a TD any given week. Getting to take on a Bucs defense makes this argument stick since Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed a TD pass to a TE in each game to start the season. Hockenson is only rostered in 47% of leagues, so he is likely there for a quick add and start this week for fantasy managers in need.
Darren Waller
TE - CAR
It feels like we have been here before with Darren Waller coming back from the fantasy grave to catch TDs, but here we are. Waller’s work got ramped up again in Week 2, playing 44% of snaps for the Panthers but, more importantly, converting two of his three catches for TDs. This Carolina offense is throwing the ball at the fifth-highest rate in the league through two weeks, so getting a piece of that type of passing attack at a position with such scarce production from week to week is worth taking a shot on.
Defenses
Green Bay Packers
D - GB
Once we get into a rhythm during the fantasy regular season, the real task for finding productive defenses is less about the defense and more about the offense they are playing against, which is the entire argument for the Packers in Week 3. While Green Bay’s defense has the pieces to be a productive unit, they have allowed 56 points through their first two games and only forced one INT. Regardless, getting a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons is enough to make this a streamable DEF for this week. In their first two games, the Falcons have thrown five INTs and allowed seven sacks while scoring just 16 points on the season. The Packers are rostered in only 33% of leagues and could be an easy grab-and-play this week.
Cincinnati Bengals
D - CIN
Going back to the well again this week for the Bengals defense, as they are still only rostered in 7% of leagues. While Cincinnati’s defense didn’t duplicate their massive Week 1 performance, the Bengals defense still managed to tally four sacks in Week 2 against the Texans and have only allowed 27 points on the season. It helps that a matchup against the Steelers is on the slate for Cincinnati this week. Pittsburgh has allowed six sacks on the season already and should give the Bengals plenty of opportunity to provide legitimate fantasy value again.
Kansas City Chiefs
D - KC
Despite a rough Sunday night against the Colts, the Chiefs should still be on fantasy managers’ radars heading into Week 3. Kansas City’s defense was awesome in their season opener, allowing just 176 yards and recording four sacks against the Broncos, so the ability for a big fantasy week is definitely there. The argument for playing the Chiefs in Week 3 revolves mainly around a matchup with the Dolphins, who have already allowed a league-high nine sacks on the season. Surprisingly, Kansas City is still available in 41% of leagues and could be a strong option to stream this week.
Boom Boom Kicker
Chase McLaughlin
K - TB
Let’s again start this by stating I’m 100% against Kickers as a position in fantasy football. That said, if your league refuses to move on and you are in need, Chase McLaughlin is the name I would be adding ahead of Week 3. McLaughlin is a perfect 6/6 on FG attempts through two weeks and is on an offense in Tampa Bay that’s struggling to find its footing, as we have seen in the past several seasons. Until Baker figures himself out, McLaughlin will be the fantasy beneficiary to swoop in and add fantasy value at the Kicker spot.