Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 3

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr, Saints

Carr isn't someone I recommend very often as a fantasy starter, but there's no denying he's absolutely dealing in Klint Kubiak's new system.

The 33-year-old topped 20 fantasy points in each of the first two weeks and will look to keep that going against an Eagles defense traveling to New Orleans on a short week.

Consider Carr a strong QB2 streamer option in Week 3.

Streaming options: Geno Smith vs. MIA (34% rostered), Sam Darnold vs. HOU (13% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Justin Fields vs. LAC (20% rostered), Gardner Minshew vs. CAR (5% rostered), Deshaun Watson vs. NYG (25% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Bo Nix at TB (13% rostered), Skylar Thompson at SEA (0% rostered), Will Levis vs. GB (14% rostered), Daniel Jones at CLE (7% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at NYJ (2% rostered), Andy Dalton at LV (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Malik Willis at TEN (2% rostered), Taylor Heinicke at PIT (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Drake Maye (3% rostered), Michael Penix Jr. (2% rostered), Jameis Winston (1% rostered)

Running backs

Carson Steele/Samaje Perine, Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with a fractured fibula, leaving a mess in the Chiefs' backfield from a fantasy perspective.

Steele profiles as the most likely to handle early-down work, giving him immediate value. The hulking fullback could be a surprise star if he can carve out a big enough role in Pacheco's absence. The rookie has fantasy RB3 potential with an RB2 ceiling.

Perine is a nice veteran complement to Steele and could take on some of the passing-down work. However, he's more of a flex option for fantasy.

There are also three wild cards in this scenario. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is currently on injured reserve but could come back as early as Week 5, Kareem Hunt has a history with the club and is set to visit with the team in the wake of this injury, and 32-year-old Jerick McKinnon spent the last three seasons in this offense.

Everyone involved deserves to be rostered depending on the size of your league and your current needs, but I've mentioned them in the order they should be added. Steele as an RB3, Perine as a flex, and CEH, Hunt, and McKinnon as deep-league dart throws.

Dameon Pierce/Cam Akers, Texans

Joe Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury that head coach DeMeco Ryans said will be evaluated throughout the week. It initially seemed like a good sign that Mixon came back into the game after getting hurt, but the return was brief and his night ultimately ended early.

Normally, Pierce would be the next man up, but he missed this contest with a hamstring injury. That left Akers to serve as Mixon's backup, and he performed well outside of a fumble near the goal line.

While it's possible Mixon could play through an ankle issue, if this turns out to be a high ankle sprain, the veteran back could miss multiple weeks.

Until we get a diagnosis and recovery timeline for Mixon, both Pierce and Akers need to be rostered. Pierce has struggled in Bobby Slowik's system, but he's still above Akers on the depth chart.

If Mixon is sidelined, Pierce would be an RB3 with touchdown upside. However, the same would be true of Akers if Mixon and Pierce missed Week 3.

Chuba Hubbard is close to the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

High-upside backups like Tyler Allgeier (25% rostered), Blake Corum (43% rostered), Trey Benson (48% rostered), and Ray Davis (14% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Ty Chandler vs. HOU (29% rostered), Rico Dowdle vs. BAL (41% rostered), Bucky Irving vs. DEN (34% rostered), Braelon Allen vs. NE (10% rostered), Alexander Mattison vs. CAR (38% rostered), Tank Bigsby at BUF (29% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Jaylen Wright at SEA (22% rostered)

Risky flex options: D'Onta Foreman vs. NYG (1% rostered), Khalil Herbert at IND (20% rostered), Antonio Gibson at NYJ (16% rostered), Justice Hill at DAL (17% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin at TB (38% rostered)​​​​​​

Dart-throw flex options: Emanuel Wilson at TEN (2% rostered), Miles Sanders at LV (3% rostered), Jamaal Williams vs. PHI (7% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. JAX (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (5% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (6% rostered), MarShawn Lloyd (10% rostered), Kimani Vidal (5% rostered), Trey Sermon (1% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (3% rostered), Will Shipley (1% rostered)

Deep stashes: Kareem Hunt (1% rostered), Jerick McKinnon (0% rostered), Kenny McIntosh (0% rostered), D'Ernest Johnson (0% rostered), Julius Chestnut (0% rostered), Dare Ogunbowale (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2% rostered), Kendre Miller (7% rostered), Audric Estime (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (13% rostered)

Wide receivers

Demarcus Robinson/Tyler Johnson/Jordan Whittington, Rams

Cooper Kupp suffered an ankle injury that's expected to keep him out for an extended period of time. That could land him on IR alongside teammate Puka Nacua.

With the Rams' two best wideouts out for for the foreseeable future, Robinson is best positioned to be Matthew Stafford's new No. 1 option. Robinson had a strong finish to the 2023 campaign and has topped 40 yards in each game this season. He's a fantasy WR3 until Kupp and Nacua return.

There will be opportunity for the other receivers behind him, but their contributions are harder to project. Johnson stepped into the Nacua role but earned less targets in Week 2, Whittington is an intriguing rookie who impressed in the summer, and Tutu Atwell is a small speedster who lost the No. 3 last season to Robinson.

Robinson stands out as the clear fantasy pickup this week, but don't be afraid to stash Johnson or Whittington. Someone is going to catch passes in this offense, and if anyone can generate fantasy production, it's Sean McVay and Stafford.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

After a disappointing rookie campaign and the arrival of a run-heavy coaching staff, I didn't expect to be recommending Johnston in the waiver column this season.

But his improvement is undeniable and culminated in a five-catch, 51-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Panthers.

Though the matchups will get tougher moving forward, it's great to see him spreading his wings in a new system that's taking advantage of his skill set.

If you need help at receiver, he's a WR4/flex option as long as Justin Herbert stays healthy.

Flex options: Romeo Doubs at TEN (45% rostered), Jerry Jeudy vs. NYG (41% rostered), Brandin Cooks vs. BAL (42% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ja'Lynn Polk at NYJ (14% rostered), Jakobi Meyers vs. CAR (41% rostered), Gabe Davis at BUF (34% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. CHI (28% rostered), Jalen Nailor vs. HOU (1% rostered), Rashod Bateman at DAL (11% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at CLE (20% rostered), Mike Williams vs. NE (31% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. KC (15% rostered), Jauan Jennings at LAR (2% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Josh Downs vs. CHI (21% rostered), Devaughn Vele at TB (1% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Andrei Iosivas vs. WAS (7% rostered), Jahan Dotson at NO (18% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Adonai Mitchell vs. CHI (26% rostered), Josh Reynolds at TB (1% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks at TEN (15% rostered), Noah Brown at CIN (0% rostered), Jalen McMillan vs. DEN (7% rostered), Joshua Palmer at PIT (45% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. NE (46% rostered), Tutu Atwell vs. SF (1% rostered), Elijah Moore vs. NYG (2% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud vs. KC (5% rostered), Greg Dortch vs. DET (16% rostered), Darius Slayton at CLE (2% rostered), Lil'Jordan Humphrey at TB (0% rostered), Kalif Raymond at ARI (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Jermaine Burton vs. WAS (2% rostered)

Tight ends

Hunter Henry, Patriots

Henry is coming off a 12-target game where he finished with eight catches for 109 yards.

More importantly, he's playing in an offense that lacks a true No. 1 receiver, meaning the opportunity will be there for him to soak up volume.

Normally, Henry is a TD-or-bust fantasy streamer. But given the state of the tight end position and his most recent stat line, I'm treating him as a high-end TE2.

Streaming options: Colby Parkinson vs. SF (50% rostered), Mike Gesicki vs. WAS (5% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Zach Ertz at CIN (8% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Luke Schoonmaker vs. BAL (3% rostered), Brenton Strange at BUF (0% rostered), Jordan Akins vs. NYG (8% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Jonnu Smith at SE (6% rostered), Cade Otton vs. DEN (20% rostered), Cole Kmet at IND (45% rostered), Noah Fant vs. MIA (31% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. PHI (7% rostered), Greg Dulcich at TB (2% rostered), Tucker Kraft at TEN (4% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Ben Sinnott (4% rostered), Erick All Jr. (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 3 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Bengals DEF (20% rostered), Cardinals DEF (0% rostered), Raiders DEF (8% rostered), Saints DEF (35% rostered)

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