The Week 3 waiver wire is far less exciting than Week 2, but it is still an important part of the fantasy football season. With another week in the books, we have a better idea of who these players are. Yet, it is still very early.
We must balance possible overreactions with equally damaging underreactions that could lead to missing out on season-long contributors. With that in mind, let’s examine a couple of potential QB and TE targets on the wire this week.
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Top QB Waiver Wire Targets in Week 3
More Waiver Wire Targets: RBs | WRs
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (50% Rostered)
There’s not much out there at quarterback. Consider this more of a streamer than anything else.
I hesitate to say Wilson played well in Week 2, but he was certainly better. Wilson pushed the ball downfield more, hitting Marvin Mims on two long receptions, including one for a touchdown. We love to see that, but don’t be fooled by the final stat line.
Wilson officially threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns. However, 50 of them came as time expired on a fluke hail mary to Brandon Johnson.
As for something genuinely encouraging, Wilson ran a lot more. He ripped off six carries for 56 yards. For context, Wilson ran for 57 yards once in 2022. He didn’t hit 30 yards on the ground in any other game.
Next week, the Broncos travel to Miami. A road game against one of the most prolific offenses in the league is another nice spot where Wilson should have to throw a ton. He’s a very viable streamer in Week 3.
FAAB Recommendation: 0-1%
Top TE Waiver Wire Targets in Week 3
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2% Rostered)
It is exceedingly difficult to find anyone to recommend fantasy managers add at the tight end position.
Baker Mayfield has been playing reasonably well, and Otton is the clear primary tight end. He played a whopping 97% of the snaps on Sunday and saw six targets, catching all of them for 41 yards.
MORE: Overall Week 3 Waiver Wire Rankings
6-41 isn’t anything flashy, but just five tight ends crested 12 fantasy points in Week 2. 10 points is just fine if it’s something Otton can do more often than not while sprinkling in the occasional touchdown.
FAAB Recommendation: 0-2%
Which QBs/TEs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?
Should You Roster Russell Wilson or Derek Carr?
These two are very close in my preseason rankings. I wish I had a chance to see Carr perform in Week 2 before making this determination, but those are the scheduling breaks.
Carr looked quite good in Week 1, throwing for over 300 yards. My guess is he will end up looking just fine against the Carolina Panthers as well.
I have more confidence in Carr as a quality NFL QB than Wilson. However, Wilson likely has a higher weekly ceiling. They both have great weapons, but Wilson has the rushing upside. If that is going to be more consistent every week, Wilson is the better quarterback to add off the waiver wire.
Should You Roster Cade Otton or Jake Ferguson?
This one comes down to what you prefer as a fantasy manager. Otton is going to see more volume. Ferguson is going to score more touchdowns.
Through two weeks, Ferguson has a total of 11 targets. While Otton only has nine, he saw six last week to Ferguson’s four. Otton was also able to outscore Ferguson despite Ferguson scoring and Otton not.
MORE: Early Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
Otton will give fantasy managers a higher weekly floor. He won’t get you zero. But there will be weeks where he goes 3-40, and Ferguson catches a short Dak Prescott touchdown pass.
At the end of the season, I suspect their PPG numbers will look rather similar, but the path to those numbers will be quite different. Normally, I’m chasing the touchdown upside in Ferguson.
However, when it comes to tight ends, bankable production is more valuable to me. Give me Otton.
Should You Roster Kyle Pitts or Gerald Everett?
I cannot believe this is a question being asked. Even worse, it’s a legitimate one.
Through two weeks, neither Pitts nor Everett have been even remotely startable in fantasy lineups. Pitts saw three targets in Week 1 and five in Week 2. He still has not reached 10 total fantasy points on the season.
Everett has not been much better. He’s seen exactly three targets in each of his first two games. That’s simply not going to get it done.
Pitts may only be on the field for around 65-70% of the snaps, but he’s running a route on nearly every Desmond Ridder dropback. Last week, he led the Atlanta Falcons in routes run. He just hasn’t been targeted.
Given Pitts’ talent, you have to imagine there will be games where he explodes. Everett just doesn’t have that in him. It’s ugly to even have this conversation, but I’m sticking with Pitts.
Keep an eye out for him on waiver wires, as it would not shock me if a frustrated manager cut bait, even after just two weeks.