Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets
Not much happened in Week Two of the NFL. We saw a few injuries that will require some roster moves for the near future.
Other players performed well again, making them a surefire pickup this week. Still, our season is early and there isn’t a ton on the waiver wire this week, so it may be a good one to skip and save some FAAB.
There still are a few players I’m going after this week as potential league winners, but it probably is going to cost a pretty penny to get them.
Let’s dive into some players worth adding this week.
Jerome Ford – Running Back – Cleveland Browns (10% rostered)
Nick Chubb left Monday night with a gruesome leg injury and will unfortunately have a big hill to climb to get back into action in the next year or two.
Jerome Ford, who had already pretty much had a hold on the backup role, found himself as the workhorse back. In Week One with a healthy Chubb, Ford rushed 15 times for 36 yards.
In Week Two, Ford rushed 16 times for 106 yards and caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Ford seems to have first shot at being “the guy” in Cleveland, but for sure expect the Browns to pick up a free agent. Kareem Hunt comes to mind as a guy who already knows the team/system, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him come in and steal some work.
Still, Ford is a potential league winner with huge opportunity.
FAAB: $33
Zack Moss – Running Back – Indianapolis Colts (32% rostered)
Ho boy Zack Moss did not disappoint in his first action of the 2023 season, rushing 18 times for 88 yards and one touchdown. He also caught four passes for 19 yards.
Moss took over the backfield after returning from an arm injury, and he probably cemented his role in Indy for the near future. Deon Jackson did not record a carry after fumbling twice in Week One, which speaks volumes moving forward.
Moss has two weeks left before Jonathan Taylor is set to return, but for now no one really knows what will happen. Some reports say Taylor will be traded. If that does happen, Moss becomes a huge fantasy asset. If Taylor comes back, Moss probably will be utilized, but will only have handcuff value.
He may be worth the gamble, however.
FAAB: $25
Craig Reynolds – Running Back – Detroit Lions (1% rostered)
Craig Reynolds came in for the injured David Montgomery in Week 2, and although he only carried the ball three times for seven yards, it’s opportunity that makes Reynolds intriguing.
Montgomery seems to be missing the next few weeks, and the Lions have shown they love running two backs. Figuring Reynolds takes over the Montgomery role, he will instantly thrusted into fantasy relevance.
Jahmyr Gibbs seems to be the change of pace back (like our pal D’Andre Swift was), leaving Reynolds as more of the goal line and between the tackles type of player.
He should be considered in all leagues until Montgomery returns.
FAAB: $12
Gus Edwards and Justice Hill – Running Back – Baltimore Ravens (32% and 30% rostered)
So I kept both Baltimore backs on this list because its pretty bare this week, and both are still only rostered in one third of leagues. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill split the work pretty evenly last week against the Bengals, but depending on your league you may want to grab one over the other.
Edwards has been more efficient with the ball, outgaining Hill in each of the past two games. He is also the bigger back, so he sees more of the goal line work. On the other hand, Hill is a pass-catcher, so he will probably be a bit more valued in PPR leagues.
Either way, both are serviceable backs in a run-heavy offense.
FAAB: $15 for Edwards, $10 for Hill
Tyjae Spears – Running Back – Tennessee Titans (13% rostered)
Tyjae Spears won’t necessarily take over the Derrick Henry role, but he’s already carved out more playing time over the last two weeks and could see more playing time as the season goes on.
It’s no secret Henry is getting dangerously close to that “running back downslope”, and his injury history the last few seasons shows he is starting to break down just a tad.
Spears carried the ball eight times for 49 yards and caught two passes for six yards in Sunday’s win over the Chargers.
Now I’m not saying he will hold standalone value as long as Henry is healthy, but if you are looking for a great handcuff option, Spears is probably up there with the best.
FAAB: $4
Kyren Williams – Running Back – Los Angeles Rams (60% rostered)
Kyren Williams was added in half of leagues after the first week, but he still is available in too many leagues for me to not keep him here.
Williams has undoubtedly taken over the Rams’ backfield, with Cam Akers a healthy scratch. Based on that and last year’s weirdness around Akers, its safe to say Williams is the guy from now on.
He rushed 14 times for 52 yards and caught six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown against a tough 49er defense.
If he is available in your league, I’d go after him first.
FAAB: $20
Tank Dell – Wide Receiver – Houston Texans (4% rostered)
Tank Dell is another rookie that has had a nice start to the season, maybe not to Puka Nacua levels, but enough to make him someone to watch.
He has been targeted 14 times, catching 10 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown over his first two games in the NFL.
The Texans already have Nico Collins having a nice fantasy year, and even though Houston is struggling, their offense hasn’t looked that bad. CJ Stroud has actually thrown 44 and 47 times so far, and that should continue as Houston often is playing from behind.
If Stroud continues to throw this much, Dell could have solid PPR impact.
FAAB: $4
CJ Stroud – Quarterback – Houston Texans (7% rostered)
Speaking of CJ Stroud, he has surprisingly been solid as a rookie Quarterback and probably hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves in fantasy.
So far, he hasn’t thrown any interceptions, and has thrown for 626 yards and two touchdowns.
There are other options at the Quarterback position, but Stroud is an interesting one that could be used in a pinch or potentially as a solid QB2 in leagues that can start more than one Quarterback.
It might be a bit early to tell whether or not Stroud is legit, but he does face Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta the next three weeks so it isn’t the worse schedule.
FAAB: $3
Tutu Atwell – Wide Receiver – Los Angeles Rams (32% rostered)
Tutu Atwell has been overshadowed by what rookie Puka Nacua is currently doing, but he himself has had two solid fantasy weeks in a row.
Atwell caught six passes for 119 yards against Seattle in Week One, then followed it up with a seven catch, 77-yard performance against the 49ers. It appears as though Nacua and Atwell will lead the receiving corps, and Matt Stafford has looked much more himself so far this season.
Cooper Kupp is eligible to return in a few more weeks which could make Atwell fantasy irrelevant, but hamstring injuries do linger, so Atwell could see increased usage even when Kupp returns.
FAAB: $5
Hunter Henry – Tight End – New England Patriots (35% rostered)
Hunter Henry has had two solid weeks in a row now, catching five of six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in Week One, and then catching six of seven passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Now New England gets the Jets, Cowboys, and Saints the next three weeks so it could be scary, but Henry has shown he needs to be involved in the New England passing game.
The Patriot wide receivers are often injured or unreliable, so we could see Henry’s role increase as others fail to impress.
If you are in need of a Tight End switch, Henry might be one of the better options available.
FAAB: $5
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