Welcome to Waiver Wire (Week 3). This is where we highlight a few players at each position that we want to add this week. As for ownership percentages we will be using Sleeper. For our full weekly rankings list, head to The FFU Weekly Rankings Page or try our Sit/Start Tool Powered by Fantasy Pros. As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, we will be referring to 1QB leagues. That’s the only format where quarterbacks are readily available, if you’re in a superflex league, it’s doubtful any usable quarterbacks are available.
Quarterbacks
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesDerek Carr, Saints (19% rostered)
Carr is the hottest quarterback on the planet right now and at one point has led the Saints to 15 consecutive scoring drives over the first two games of the season. After Week 1, most fantasy managers believed that the Saints were a mirage and feasted on a weak Panthers squad, but after dismantling the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 it’s starting to look like the Saints could be a legitimate threat in the NFC. In Week 2, Carr threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for 31 fantasy points. Carr feels like Fool’s gold, but until his production comes crashing down you have to ride the wave. Carr is in the QB1 mix until something changes.
Sam Darnold, Vikings (13% rostered), Will Levis, Titans (14% rostered), Daniel Jones, Giants (6% rostered), Gardner Minshew, Raiders (5% rostered), Malik Willis, Packers (2% rostered). Skylar Thompson, MIA (0% rostered), Tyler Huntley, MIA (0% rostered), Andy Dalton, CAR (0% rostered).
Medium League Options (26-50% Rostered)
Geno Smith, Seahawks (34% rostered)
Smith may not have been the most exciting fantasy asset in Week 2, but he managed to total 22 fantasy points on the way to defeating the New England Patriots 23-20 in overtime. He was far from spectacular but put up 327 yards and one touchdown. That statline made for a 22 fantasy point outing against an all-around solid Patriots squad. While Geno still doesn’t have top-five upside like he did a few years ago, he has the potential to be in the mix for low-end QB1 production every week. He is a must-start in super-flex leagues and is always in starter consideration in 1QB leagues, although he isn’t currently a must-start there.
Aaron Rodgers, Jets (49% rostered), Deshaun Watson, Browns (34% rostered).
Shallow League Options (51-75% Rostered)
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (67% rostered)
Many fantasy managers came into 2024 with the belief that Baker Mayfield was a one-hit wonder, but through two games, that appears to not be the case. Mayfield put up another solid start, this time against a solid Detroit Lions defense. His statline was only 185 passing yards and one touchdown but he added in five rushes for 34 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Mayfield is similar to Geno Smith and is likely to be in the mix as an every-week low-end QB1, although he appears to have more weekly upside than Smith.
Justin Herbert, Chargers (64% rostered), Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (74% rostered).
Running Backs
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Ray Davis, Bills (14% rostered)
Davis wasn’t exactly impressive, racking up only 29 yards on his nine carries for the Bills against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night. Davis should be considered more of an injury handcuff than a worthwhile streamer. Davis is still carving out a decent-sized role on the ground, but with James Cook taking all of the receiving work and Josh Allen culturing all of the goal-line and short-yardage work, few high-valued touches are remaining for Davis. In the event of a Cook injury, Davis is a potential league-winner, but in the meantime, he is just a handcuff with limited upside.
Antonio Gibson, Patriots (16% rostered), Braelon Allen, Jets (9% rostered), Justice Hill, Ravens (17% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr, Dolphins (14% rostered), Tyrone Tracy Jr, Giants (5% rostered), Carson Steele, Chiefs (0% rostered), Samaje Perine, Chiefs (35 rostered), Kareem Hunt, KC (13% rostered), D’Onta Foreman, CLE (4% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Alexander Mattison, Raiders (38% rostered)
In Week 1 against the Chargers, Mattison stole most of the receiving work from Zamir White and proved to be a legitimate threat to White’s fantasy production. In Week 2, against the Ravens though he was nowhere near as productive. He managed only one rushing yard on four carries and had his fantasy day saved by a rushing touchdown while adding nothing in the receiving game.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (48% rostered), Rico Dowdle, Cowboys (41% rostered), Blake Corum, Rams (44% rostered), Ty Chandler, Vikings (29% rostered).
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesZach Charbonnet, Seattle (68% rostered)
Charbonnet is another case of an injury handcuff lottery ticket that appears to have cashed in. In week 2, starter Ken Walker was unable to play, leaving Charbonnet as the lead back for the Seahawks. He only managed to rush for 38 yards and one touchdown against a stout Patriots rush defense, but added in five receptions for 31 yards in the passing game. If Walker is unable to go again in Week 3 against a much easier Dolphins defense, Charbonnet has top-12 running back potential for fantasy.
Tyjae Spears, Titans (74% rostered), Gus Edwards, Chargers (64% rostered), Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (74% rostered).
Wide Receivers
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesJalen Nailor, Vikings (1% rostered)
Nailor had limited production in his rookie season, but the absence of TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison was exactly the opportunity he needed to become relevant for fantasy managers. Add in a Justin Jefferson injury during the game and Nailor was able to parlay that into a statline of three receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown. That’s back-to-back weeks with a touchdown for Nailor who suddenly finds himself in WR3 consideration. He has weekly upside as a WR3 or flex option for as long as Addison and Hockenson are out of the lineup and has top-20 potential if Jefferson misses any time with his injury.
Quentin Johnston, Chargers (6% rostered), Alec Pierce, Colts (28% rostered), Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (20% rostered), Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys (2% rostered), Ja’Lynn Polk, Patriots (14% rostered), Demarcus Robinson, Rams (8% rostered), Tyler Johnson, Rams (2% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Gabe Davis, Jaguars (34% rostered)
Davis is the opposite of a sexy, high-upside pickup. He is however a decent weekly streamer. He managed only three catches for 43 yards in Week 2, but if the Jaguars can get their offense back on track his production should see a notable uptick. Jacksonville has looked terrible through two weeks and this is a case of there being nowhere to go but up. Buy Davis now, at his absolute lowest, so you can sell later when they get things on track.
Jerry Jeudy, Browns (41% rostered), Khalil Shakir, Bills (59% rostered), Romeo Doubs, Packers (45% rostered), Jakobi Meyers, Patriots (41% rostered).
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Rashid Shaheed, Saints (64% rostered)
Shaheed is the star wide receiver that no one in your home league has heard of. He isn’t a household name but will be very shortly. After posting an excellent Week 1 performance, he followed up with a four-catch, 96-yard performance that also saw him haul in one touchdown catch. Shaheed has now put up a monster game against a bad defense and a good one and has emerged as a solid second receiver for Derek Carr, although he has outperformed Chris Olave in both matchups so he may be the WR1. For now, he is the WR2, who is producing at an excellent level.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (74% rostered), Jameson Williams, Lions (73% rostered), Ladd McConkey, Chargers (71% rostered).
Tight Ends
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Zach Ertz, Commanders (8% rostered)
Once again, Zach Ertz has managed to limit the potential of a rookie tight end with tons of potential to post a mediocre statline. He posted four catches for 63 yards in Week 2 against the New York Giants, which isn’t sexy, but it’s good enough to stream if you are desperate at tight end. Ertz is going to do what he does for another month or so before once again getting injured or fading away to let Ben Sinnott become relevant. Stream him for another few weeks if you need to.
Jonnu Smith, Dolphins (6% rostered), Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys (3% rostered), Brenton Strange, Jaguars (0% rostered), Mike Gesicki, Bengals (5% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans (25% rostered)
Okonkwo is the higher upside, lower floor version of Ertz. In Week 1, he put up a solid fantasy finish while in Week 2 he was a total dud. That is the nature of streaming tight ends. The only reason he is on the waiver wire target list is because of how limited the options are at the position. If you need consistency and a low upside, choose Ertz. If you need boom or bust production, stream Okonkwo.
Hunter Henry, Patriots (26% rostered), Noah Fant, Seahawks (31% rostered).
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesBrock Bowers, Raiders (75% rostered)
If he wasn’t already, Brock Bowers is going to be the TE1 in fantasy football. A week after being the most productive player in the Las Vegas offense, he posted nine catches for 98 yards in a Week 2 matchup against a solid Ravens defense. Most fantasy managers feared that the Raiders quarterback play would be so bad that only Davante Adams would be fantasy-relevant, but Gardner Minshew has managed to make both Adams and Bowers startable for fantasy. Bowers is at an all-time low in cost, it’s only going to go up from here.
Isaiah Likely, Ravens (74% rostered), Taysom Hill, Saints (60% rostered).
Thank you for checking out this week’s Waiver Wire column. For our latest content, head over to our YouTube Channel for daily videos.
