Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3 (Fantasy Football)
I forgot how tough Monday mornings can feel after a brutal fantasy Sunday. No amount of coffee or hitting the snooze button seemed to help, but here I am, running on a bit of motivation and a glimmer of optimism. Why? Because we are only two weeks into the season. One bad week does not define your year, and like it or not, the show goes on.
With so many unpredictable outcomes and key injuries over the weekend, I know a lot of you are in the same boat. That is simply the beauty of fantasy football. Every new week brings a fresh start and a chance to turn things around. Let’s take a look at the players who can help you steady the ship and get back on track in Week 3.
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
3
4
3
4
6
3
7
5
7
6
5
6
8
7
4
7
4
9
12
8
5
11
10
9
12
8
6
10
10
5
13
11
11
10
8
12
9
12
11
13
13
13
9
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots – While it may frustrate TreVeyon Henderson truthers like myself who are impatiently waiting for his breakout, there is no denying how impressive Rhamondre Stevenson looked in Week 2. In Sunday’s dominant win over Miami, Stevenson operated as the Patriots’ featured back, rushing 11 times for 54 yards and catching all five of his targets for 88 yards, including a highlight-reel 55-yard reception. Despite the strong showing, it is worth noting that Stevenson struggled in the season opener, so it is unclear whether this performance was sustainable or the result of a favorable matchup. Still, he appears to be the team’s lead back for now and draws consecutive plus matchups against Pittsburgh and Carolina. Stevenson should be rostered in all leagues and is the top waiver option if you need a starting RB in Week 3.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants – While Cam Skattebo remains rostered in the majority of leagues, there is a chance he was dropped after posting negative rushing yards in his NFL debut. If that happened in your league, it appears to have been a major overreaction. The rookie bounced back in Week 2, outplaying both Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary with 11 carries for 45 yards, including a 24-yard TD, the first of his career. He also caught two of three targets for 14 yards and was on the field for 81% of the offensive snaps. If Skattebo is available, he should be picked up in all formats. Just be aware that he faces a tough matchup in Week 3 against the Chiefs’ strong run defense.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars – Following Tank Bigsby’s surprising trade to the Eagles, Bhayshul Tuten quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing waiver wire options last week. While Travis Etienne opened the season on fire and Tuten did little in Week 1, his path to opportunity was clear. In Sunday’s loss to the Bengals, he made the most of his chances, turning eight carries into 42 yards and adding two catches for 32 yards and a score. More importantly, he showcased the burst and acceleration that made him such an exciting prospect. Now locked in as Etienne’s clear backup, Tuten is a top RB pickup heading into a tough Week 3 matchup with the Texans.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – It is wild to think that just two years ago, Rachaad White finished the 2023 season as the RB7. Even after Bucky Irving took over as Tampa Bay’s clear RB1 last year, White still managed an RB24 finish. Yet, entering this season, it felt like he had been completely forgotten. After a quiet opener, he reminded everyone of his value in Monday night’s win over Houston, rushing 10 times for 65 yards and sealing the game with a TD. Irving remains the unquestioned lead back, but White proved he still brings plenty to the table and deserves a role in this backfield. He will look to carry that momentum into Week 3 against the Jets.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals – After earning a featured mention in last week’s article thanks to a strong season debut, Trey Benson appears to have solidified that he is carving out a larger role in Arizona’s backfield alongside James Conner. In Week 2, Benson was quiet on the ground with just 14 yards on three carries, but he contributed as a receiver by catching four of six targets for 30 yards. As long as Conner stays healthy, Benson’s touches will likely remain limited, making him more of a desperation start or bye-week fill-in. Still, he should be rostered in all leagues. If Conner were to miss time, which is possible given his injury history, Benson has the kind of upside that could swing fantasy leagues.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers – Najee Harris’s stats may not jump off the page, but his role grew in Week 2 compared to the opener. In Monday night’s win over the Raiders, he logged eight carries for 28 yards and caught both of his targets for 20 yards. Rookie Omarion Hampton has yet to find his footing, struggling with efficiency, getting stuffed three straight times at the goal line in the first half, and losing a late fumble. If Hampton’s struggles continue and Harris keeps working into game shape, the veteran could carve out a fantasy-relevant role in this high-powered offense. Still only 27 and with four straight top-20 fantasy finishes to his name, Harris will look to build on this showing in Week 3 against the Broncos.
Chris Rodriguez & Jeremy McNichols, RBs, Washington Commanders – Austin Ekeler’s devastating Achilles injury on Thursday night leaves a major void in Washington’s backfield. Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt should take over as the lead runner, but he does not bring the elite pass-catching ability that defined Ekeler’s role. That opens the door for Jeremy McNichols or Chris Rodriguez to carve out meaningful touches. McNichols has not been a consistent fantasy option, but he offers clear receiving upside after catching 55 passes for 261 yards and four scores with Washington last year. Rodriguez, meanwhile, lacks receiving chops but is the more efficient runner. Both make for intriguing speculative adds as we wait to see how the workload shakes out. Washington’s Week 3 matchup with the Raiders should give us a much clearer picture.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams – While Kyren Williams remains the clear lead back in Los Angeles, Blake Corum is quickly establishing himself as a valuable complementary piece. After a quiet debut, Corum impressed in Week 2 by turning five carries into 44 yards and a TD, showing some of the burst and vision that made him a standout at Michigan. Though he had an unremarkable rookie campaign last season, his recent performance is an encouraging sign of growth. Corum does not carry much fantasy value at the moment, but if Williams were to miss time, he has the talent and opportunity to emerge as a potential league-winner.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers – While his fantasy numbers remain modest, Kenneth Gainwell continues to prove he is Pittsburgh’s clear complementary back to Jaylen Warren over rookie Kaleb Johnson. Warren dominated in Week 2, but Gainwell contributed with five carries for 20 yards and three catches for 16 yards. Johnson, by contrast, has combined for -1 yards on two carries through his first two NFL games and made a critical special teams miscue, failing to pursue a kickoff that led to a key Seattle TD in the 4th quarter. Gainwell looks firmly positioned as the No. 2 RB behind Warren and the preferred handcuff if an injury occurs, regardless of Johnson’s prospect pedigree.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons – Tyler Allgeier is one of the most talented backup RBs in the NFL and looked every bit like a player who deserves a featured role in Week 2. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, as long as he is in Atlanta, he will remain a complementary option behind Bijan Robinson, no matter how well he performs in limited touches. In Sunday night’s dominant win over the Vikings, Allgeier logged 16 carries for 76 yards and a TD, adding one catch for four yards. While the numbers stand out, his increased usage was largely a result of Atlanta blowing out Minnesota in the second half. Allgeier will likely remain TD-dependent or require a favorable game script to be fantasy relevant most weeks. Still, given the thin RB options on waivers, he remains a valuable stash with potential upside.
Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans – Maybe it is because he is nicknamed after the main character from my favorite childhood movie, Toy Story, but I have been rooting for Woody Marks to make an impact in his rookie year with the Texans. After a quiet debut, he flashed in Week 2 with three carries for 14 yards and a 37-yard reception on his only target. Dameon Pierce was a healthy scratch, confirming Marks as the No. 2 back behind Nick Chubb. While Houston’s ground game continued to struggle behind a shaky offensive line, Marks remains an intriguing stash as he looks to carve out a bigger role heading into a Week 3 matchup with Jacksonville.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
2
1
3
2
3
3
6
3
5
5
1
4
4
2
7
5
6
4
4
6
1
6
8
7
7
10
2
8
14
7
5
9
8
8
11
10
11
9
9
11
9
11
12
12
10
12
10
13
12
13
13
14
13
14
14
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns – Cedric Tillman was far less efficient with his looks in Week 2, but his role in Cleveland’s passing attack appears locked in. After a strong opener, he drew seven more targets against the Ravens, turning them into two catches for 22 yards and a TD. That gives him scores in back-to-back games and 15 total targets through two weeks. With Joe Flacco under center, Tillman projects for steady volume and red-zone opportunities. He should be a priority pickup this week, though trusting him in Week 3 will be risky against a dominant Packers defense.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants – Wan’Dale Robinson flashed PPR upside last season with heavy volume, but his short-area role often capped his ceiling. That usage carried into the opener, where he caught six of eight targets for 55 yards, but he took things to another level in Week 2. In Sunday’s overtime loss to the Cowboys, Robinson hauled in eight of 10 targets for 142 yards and a key TD, highlighted by his work as a downfield threat rather than just a chain mover. While Russell Wilson will not deliver at that level every week, his big arm paired with Robinson’s growing role makes the receiver a strong flex option and nearly a set-and-forget play in PPR leagues. He will look to keep rolling in Week 3 against the Chiefs.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers – Last week, we noted that, despite an uninspiring stat line, Romeo Doubs looked like Green Bay’s most dependable wideout. He reinforced that in Week 2, playing heavy snaps and catching three of five targets for 28 yards and his first TD of the season. The storylines from the Packers’ dominant win over Washington were TE Tucker Kraft’s incredible breakout performance and Jayden Reed’s collarbone injury, which will sideline him for the foreseeable future. While Kraft brings explosiveness, Reed’s absence should funnel more opportunities toward Doubs, who profiles as the team’s WR1 until rookie Matthew Golden finds his footing. Dontayvion Wicks also impressed with four catches for 44 yards on six targets and is worth a look in deeper leagues. Both receivers will look to take advantage of a more favorable matchup in Week 3 against the Browns.
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos – Much to the delight of our own Jason Moore, Troy Franklin delivered the best game of his young career in Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to the Colts. He set career highs across the board, catching eight of nine targets for 89 yards and a TD. While Courtland Sutton was quiet with just one grab, he will remain Denver’s WR1 most weeks, but Franklin looks to have the early edge on the No. 2 role in what once appeared to be a muddled receiving room. Playing the majority of offensive snaps underscores his growing role, and his chemistry with Bo Nix dating back to Oregon could accelerate a second-year breakout despite his modest draft capital. Franklin will look to build on this momentum in a tough Week 3 matchup with the Chargers.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots – Kayshon Boutte made a statement in Week 1 with six catches for 103 yards, then followed it up in Week 2 by turning his lone target into a 16-yard TD. While New England spread the ball around in Sunday’s win over Miami, Boutte’s budding connection with Drake Maye is hard to miss. He should remain a key part of the passing attack and could see a larger role in Week 3 as the Patriots look to stay hot against the Steelers.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans – Last week, we highlighted rookie Elic Ayomanor as a savvy stash after his 28% target share and 82% route participation hinted at a larger role despite limited production. It appears that the call is already paying off. In Week 2’s loss to the Rams, Ayomanor caught four of six targets for 56 yards and his first career TD. Tennessee’s offense will have its growing pains, but Cam Ward’s clear trust in Ayomanor makes him hard to overlook. He is now on the flex radar in deeper leagues and remains one of the top stashes available as he looks to build momentum in a Week 3 matchup with the Colts.
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Kansas City Chiefs – If you are new to the podcast, allow me to introduce our resident wizard (and host), Andy Holloway. Although he never officially attended Hogwarts, Andy has an uncanny ability to predict the improbable, whether it’s a near upset or a bold TD guarantee pulled straight from his metaphorical hat. This week, he called a TD from Tyquan Thornton, and like magic, it happened.
Thornton delivered in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, catching two of five targets for 59 yards and a TD. He also came close to hauling in another deep score. While his NFL career has been off to a disappointing start, Thornton now finds himself in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes and a depleted receiving corps, which gives him weekly boom potential. Still, he is a volatile option. When he does not hit, the results will be rough. Regardless, he will get his next shot to find the end zone in a Week 3 matchup against the Giants.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
4
3
4
4
3
5
5
5
5
4
When you wake up and find out that you got Harold Fannin AND Juwan Johnson on waivers: pic.twitter.com/wYUQ6aUNuu
— Joe Beldner (@JoeBeldner) September 10, 2025
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints – Despite his strong involvement in New Orleans’ passing game and a featured mention in last week’s article, Juwan Johnson is still rostered in just about half of fantasy leagues. After an eight-catch performance in Week 1, he followed up with five receptions on nine targets for 49 yards and his first TD of the season. Johnson now has 20 targets through two games, delivering double-digit fantasy points in both outings. With that kind of volume and consistency, he once again stands out as the top TE pickup of the week. He will look to take advantage of another favorable matchup in Week 3 as the Saints travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders – While Tucker Kraft grabbed the headlines on Thursday Night Football, the TE on the other side of the field quietly had a big night of his own. After finding the end zone in Week 1, veteran Zach Ertz followed it up with six catches on eight targets for 64 yards and another TD in Washington’s loss to the Packers. With Terry McLaurin off to a slow start, it has been Ertz and Deebo Samuel stepping up as the most productive weapons in Washington’s passing game. Ertz is benefiting from a steady target share in a high-powered offense led by Jayden Daniels, giving him both a solid floor and weekly scoring upside. For fantasy managers in need of TE help, Ertz is shaping up to be a reliable weekly starter. He will look to keep the momentum going in a favorable Week 3 matchup against the Raiders. That said, his upside should be tempered if Daniels is sidelined with his knee injury.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens – Even after missing the first two weeks of the season with a foot injury that required surgery in early August, Isaiah Likely remains one of the most intriguing TE pickups. He may need time to regain full form, but his return is approaching, and he has the upside to be a true difference-maker this season. Meanwhile, Mark Andrews’ decline has continued with just two catches for seven yards through the first two games of the year, making Likely’s potential impact even harder to ignore.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
4
4
2
4
5
3
4
5
3
5
6
6
7
7
5
7
6
6
7
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DEF/ST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
3
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
5
6
6
5
6
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
Think of this list as your secret weapon for tomorrow morning’s waiver wire. Tuesday nights during fantasy season are always restless for me. I find myself tossing and turning, waking up every hour, wondering if I landed that week’s must-have player. This week offers a few intriguing names with the potential to make an immediate impact on your roster.
Good luck in the week ahead, and here’s to a season full of exciting pickups, bold moves, and plenty of restless Tuesday nights.