Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3
While there aren’t any surefire, league-winning additions in this week's waiver wire addition, there are several capable players who could help your fantasy squad by adding much-needed depth or filling in for one of your injured stars.
Of course, I’m only choosing to highlight a few of the options. There are many more to turn your sights on if you miss out on the upper-tier options. With that in mind let’s take a look at a few of the top choices to add to your roster as we head into Week 3.
Derek Carr (QB)
New Orleans Saints, 20% Rostered
You could be forgiven if you took the Saints’ opening day contest against the flailing Carolina Panthers with a grain of salt. Carolina is not exactly a defensive powerhouse and should be one of the most fantasy-friendly matchups all season. But on Sunday, the Saints went into Dallas and took care of business, putting up 44 points and over 400 yards of total offense. Much of this has been due to a dominant ground game which accounted for 190 yards of offense, but Derek Carr and the passing game also deserve some credit. Over the first two weeks, Carr has thrown for 423 total yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He has scored 25+ fantasy points per game, is the No. 2 QB in fantasy, and has a league-leading 142.4 rating. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak appears to be good for Carr. In Week 3 the Saints will host a vulnerable Eagles defense who will have a short turnaround after playing on Monday night, laying the groundwork for another productive outing.
Bucky Irving (RB)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 42% Rostered
Tampa Bay's starting running back, Rachaad White, has never been an efficient runner. In 2023, White had one of the lowest success rates among running backs with 200+ rushing attempts. This lack of efficiency was on display on Sunday against Detroit when he rushed 10 times for 18 yards. In the past, White has gotten by on his involvement in the passing game and home-run threat ability. But on Sunday he only received one target. He was still involved in over 70% of the snaps, which is encouraging. But after suffering a minor groin injury and rookie Bucky Irving being given more opportunities we could see the Buccaneers backfield approach more of an even split. There were rumors going into the 2024 NFL Draft that White’s inability to produce between the tackles was a driving force behind drafting Irving. You can only run into the backside of your lineman so many times before someone else is brought in to compete. If Irving’s snap share continues to grow he could provide a lot of value, and if White ever misses time, Irving could be a solid flex play with RB2 upside.
Dameon Pierce/Cam Akers (RB)
Houston Texans, 13% & 2% Rostered
Joe Mixon injured his ankle on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears. The injury occurred when Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards dropped Mixon with what looked to be a now-banned swivel hip-drop tackle. Mixon left the game immediately to get looked at and while he did return, he only played seven snaps. If Mixon misses time Cam Akers is likely the next man up. There is a chance that Dameon Pierce would be in line to take on a large role if healthy. Pierce has been limited in recent weeks due to a hamstring injury. But if he can return he would be the priority add. Akers is coming off his second Achilles tear and had a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Bears. Neither of those bodes well for him gaining quality playing time or ultimately staying healthy. Still, if Pierce is unable to go then it might be worth it to grab Akers and see what he can do in Week 3. Don’t automatically insert him into your lineup, but if you have the room on your bench, then taking a wait-and-see approach with him could prove beneficial down the line.
Quentin Johnston (WR)
Los Angeles Chargers, 16% Rostered
Quentin Johnston had a top-10 fantasy day against the Carolina Panthers racking up 51 yards, two touchdowns, and 22.1 PPR points. There are a couple of caveats to this production. The Chargers are a run-heavy team. J.K. Dobbins had 17 carries while Gus Edwards had 18 of his own. Johnston was also efficient to a level that does not feel sustainable. Against the Panthers Johnston only had five receptions for 51 yards, but two of those catches went for scores. Take those two touchdowns away and Johnston would have ended with a very pedestrian stat line. Still, Johnston leads the team in air yards and with Joshua Palmer playing through an injury and rookie Ladd McConkey being, well, a rookie, Johnston could emerge as the No. 1 option in this passing game. That would have value even in a low-volume passing attack. His next two matchups against the Steelers and Chiefs aren’t ideal, but Johnston is a low-risk option you can afford to stash on your bench and see what happens.
Alec Pierce (WR)
Indianapolis Colts, 23% Rostered
Alec Pierce is an interesting option this week. If you had told me before the season that Pierce would be averaging 17 fantasy points a game and be the WR5 through two weeks I would have thought you were crazy. But that is exactly where we stand. His snap count and routes run are similar to that of Michael Pittman Jr., and he leads the team in air yards. Pierce is also trending in the right direction. After demanding just three targets the first week, that number went up to seven against Green Bay. It’s difficult to know if this is a mirage or a trend that will continue. If his role does continue to grow then he could develop into a weekly starter as a high-end flex or low-end WR2. It doesn’t have to make sense. We all know that Pittman is the better talent. But if Pierce is the player Anthony Richardson trusts then his production might be here to stay. Stash him on your bench and hope for the best.
Hunter Henry (TE)
New England Patriots, 22% Rostered
The New England passing game is not one that strikes fear in their opponents. But one way it may provide value for fantasy managers is Brissett's connection with TE Hunter Henry. While they failed to get anything going in their first game together in Cincinnati, against Seattle, Henry received 12 targets and caught eight for 109 yards, finishing as the TE3 on the week. To put this into perspective, in that game Brissett threw for 149 yards total. This means 73% of those yards went to Henry. Obviously, that isn’t sustainable, but I do think Henry’s involvement in the passing game is here to stay. The Patriots have very few established pass catchers, so leaning on their veteran tight end makes sense. None of Henry’s upcoming matchups scream “Start ‘Em,” but if he continues to see a large share of the passing attack he could produce low-to-mid-range TE1 numbers on volume alone.
Filed under: Free Articles
