With just Monday Night Football still to happen, now is that glorious time of the week when we turn our attention to Week 3 and attack the fantasy football waiver wire.
Let me take a quick moment to pour some out for Trey Lance. Man, you absolutely hate to see a young player—or any player for that matter—go down with what looked like an extremely painful injury. Here’s to hoping he has a full recovery and balls out to his fullest potential in 2023.
To be as helpful as possible to you dear readers, I’ve got at least two players at each position, ranging from a little over 50% rostered in Sleeper leagues to well under the 30% mark. I’ve also included a few players to be cautious of to further help give you the edge over your leaguemates. No matter your league size, there’s someone in here for you.
Let’s begin!
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (64% rostered)
This is the last chance you have to get Tua. After an absurd six touchdown performance, any team who’s even slightly QB-needy is going to be spending all their FAAB to get Tua. And they should be. Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passing by over 85 yards and is averaging 369 yards per game to start the year. He’s no longer a fringe QB1. With the talent around him, in Mike McDaniel’s offense, Tua is a legit QB1 with a good shot to finish top 5 in the position. Get him.
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders (54% rostered)
You’re not going to feel good about spending precious FAAB to get Wentz, but through two games this season, he’s been putting up numbers. Wentz has thrown for at least 313 yards and 3 touchdowns in each game this year and is slated for another high-scoring affair against the Eagles in Week 3.
Other Targets: Trevor Lawrence (46%), Jared Goff (22%), Jimmy Garoppolo (7%)
Running Backs
Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (39% rostered)
After Chase Edmonds led the backfield in Week 1, I guess it was Mostert’s turn to play RB1 in Miami. Mostert led the backfield with 11 carries for 51 yards and added 28 yards on 3 catches. This use in the passing game is a big development for Mostert who previously had never run 20+ routes in a game in his career. The Dolphins’ backfield might be a week-to-week situation but a back with a chance of seeing double-digit touches is well worth rostering (especially in what’s shaping up to be a FUN Dolphins’ offense).
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (31% rostered)
In the rookie’s first game, Allgeier had 10 carries for 30 yards. Not wildly efficient but he got as many carries as starting back Cordarrelle Patterson did which is noteworthy. Allgeier isn’t likely to make an immediate impact in the coming weeks. However, he does have the potential to eventually become the lead back in Atlanta this season. For now, he’s worth rostering in particularly deep leagues, or if you have space to store him on your bench.
Caution(?): Darrel Williams & Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (10%/16% rostered)
I’ve sort of got a warning here because so much rests on James Conner’s health. Conner left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury and as of now, it’s unknown how much time he’ll miss. With Conner off the field, Williams saw an increased workload, carrying the ball 8 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. Benjamin saw his carries increase as well, but his role is still primarily through the air. Benjamin has more standalone value even if Conner is healthy given his passing game work. Still, both are risky targets if Conner is healthy.
Other Targets: Mark Ingram (49%), Jaylen Warren (29%), Tyrion Davis-Price (23%)
Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots (39% rostered)
Meyers was targeted 13 times Sunday against the Steelers, by far the most on the team. He caught 9 of those targets for 95 yards. He’s currently sixth in the NFL in targets, tied with Drake London (19). He’s clearly Mac Jones’ go-to guy and will continue to be peppered with targets this season. He’s a top target, especially in PPR leagues.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (21% rostered)
Shepard led the Giants in targets (10) and receptions (T-6), and was second in snaps (66) and routes run (39). It’s clear Shepard is the Giants’ WR1 for now. Things could change with Kadarius Toney maybe becoming more involved in this offense. However, something is going on with Kenny Golladay, which would only further narrow the Giants’ receiving options.
Greg Dortch, Cardinals (15% rostered)
With Rondale Moore out, Dortch has stepped up in a big way for the Cardinals. After seeing 9 targets, catching 7 for 63 yards in Week 1, Dortch caught all 4 of his Week 2 targets for 55 yards and a score. Marquise Brown and A.J. Green still appear to be WR1 & WR2 in Arizona, but Dortch’s production as WR3 can’t go unnoticed. Especially with a potential high-flying game vs the Rams on the horizon.
Ashton Dulin, Indianapolis Colts (6% rostered)
The Colts’ offense did much of nothing Sunday against the Jaguars but Dulin’s performance shouldn’t get overlooked. With Michael Pittman Jr. sidelined, Dulin led the team in targets (7), receptions (5), and yards (79). And this wasn’t just a fill-in job for Pittman. Dulin saw 6 targets in Week 1, catching 3 of them for 46 yards. He’s emerging as the WR2 to roster in Indianapolis.
Caution: Sammy Watkins, Green Bay Packers (30% rostered)
Watkins led the Packers in targets (4), receptions (T-3), and yards (93) Sunday night vs the Bears. However, five other Packers saw three targets. Aaron Rodgers is clearly going to keep spreading the ball around to his weapons and likely won’t be focusing in on any one receiver. Plus, as the veteran of the group, Watkins’ playtime will likely be the one cut short to make room for rookies Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs.
Other Targets: Curtis Samuel (72%), Isaiah McKenzie (43%), Joshua Palmer (42%)
Tight Ends
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (67% rostered)
I’m sorry. I said add Higbee with caution last week thinking his high target share wouldn’t hold up. I was wrong. While he didn’t see 11 targets vs the Falcons, he did see 9, hauling in 7 for 71 yards. It seems at least for the time being, he remains a top-12 option at the TE position.
Logan Thomas, Commanders (20% rostered)
Thomas’ workload drastically increased from Week 1 to Week 2, which makes sense given he didn’t play all preseason. He was head and shoulders above the rest of Washington’s tight ends in snaps (54) and routes run (32). That extra time on the field led to 5 targets, 3 catches, 37 yards and a score. As long as Thomas is the unquestioned TE1 in Washington—who suddenly have an explosive passing game—he has fantasy value.
Other Targets: Evan Engram (15%), Tyler Conklin (8%)