The 2023 fantasy football season is now firmly underway. The NFL landscape is always shifting, and fantasy managers should always be looking to improve their rosters. Let’s take a look at the top Week 3 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
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Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 3 | Quarterbacks
Note: As always, all players are rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (50% Rostered)
There’s really not much out there at quarterback. Consider this more of a streamer than anything else. This is being written before the Sunday night game, but based on Week 1, I surmise the Dolphins’ defense isn’t very good.
On the road against the Dolphins, the Broncos should have to pass a ton. Wilson could be a viable starter next week.
FAAB Recommendation: 0-1%
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 3 | Running Backs
There are a couple of priority adds at the running back position off the waiver wire. Zack Moss and Justice Hill are among them.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts (52% Rostered)
Moss is slightly over the roster percentage threshold, but he’s worth mentioning. One week after Deon Jackson embarrassed himself on national television, the Colts completely turned the backfield over to a returning Moss.
The former Buffalo Bill saw 18 carries and four targets, totaling 107 yards and a touchdown. He was an RB1.
MORE: PFN’s NFL and Fantasy Player News Tracker
Of course, it won’t be that case every week. However, Moss is undoubtedly startable for as long as Jonathan Taylor isn’t playing football. If he is out there in your league, pick him up.
FAAB Recommendation: 28-32%
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (44% Rostered)
Justice Hill was one of last week’s top waiver wire pickups. Given that he still hasn’t crested 50% rostership, we double down.
Hill carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards and added three catches for 12 yards. He will likely be touchdown-dependent, but the Ravens are a good offense that runs the ball plenty.
This is a timeshare between Hill and Gus Edwards. Both need to be rostered. But as bye weeks get near and injuries pile up, a guy like Hill could be useful.
FAAB Recommendation: 12-14%
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (17% Rostered)
Make no mistake about it; this is still Derrick Henry’s backfield. With that said, Tyjae Spears is plenty involved. He saw eight carries and two targets on Sunday, totaling 55 yards.
Spears is already looking like a desperation Flex option. If something were to happen to Henry, Spears would be an every-week RB2, making him one of the most valuable handcuffs in the league. He should be on a lot more rosters.
FAAB Recommendation: 8-10%
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears (38% Rostered)
We aren’t the biggest Roschon Johnson fans. However, it really doesn’t matter when it comes to useful fantasy backs.
Johnson operated as the clear RB2 behind Khalil Herbert in Week 2. The Bears’ decision to deactivate D’Onta Foreman speaks volumes.
Johnson didn’t see much work, only touching the ball six times, but he was efficient on his four carries, totaling 32 yards. In better matchups, both he and Herbert could be startable. Plus, he has injury-related upside.
FAAB Recommendation: 8-10%
Matt Breida, New York Giants (1% Rostered)
Late in the fourth quarter, Saquon Barkley was helped off the field, putting minimal weight on his right leg. He was then shown slamming his helmet on the sideline. The first person to know when something is seriously wrong is the player himself. This does not look good for Barkley.
After Barkley left the game, Matt Breida was the first man in. That makes him the priority add.
Now, we are not all that excited about Breida or any non-Barkley Giants running back. There’s also a chance the Giants look to Kareem Hunt or Leonard Fournette. But unless and until that happens, Breida has to be rostered.
FAAB Recommendation: 14-16%
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (0% Rostered)
Craig Reynolds is a late addition to the waiver wire column in the wake of David Montgomery’s comments that his thigh injury will take a couple of weeks to heal.
Based on Montgomery’s own words, we can expect him to miss anywhere from 1-3 weeks. While Jahmyr Gibbs will undoubtedly be the most fantasy relevant member of the Lions backfield, I do not envision the team fully turning the backfield over to the rookie. Reynolds is going to play.
Expect the Lions to use Reynolds in the Montgomery role. He won’t see as much work, and isn’t as good in pass blocking, but he can take carries up the middle and work around the goal line. For the desperate fantasy manager, Reynolds could be better than whatever else is out there, especially in deeper leagues.
FAAB Recommendation: 4-6%
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 3 | Wide Receivers
After a big NFL debut, rookie Puka Nacua is a priority add, among some other Week 2 surprises.
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams (25% Rostered)
Guess it’s time to respect Tutu Atwell. He’s now looked good two weeks in a row. He saw eight targets in Week 1 and nine in Week 2. He has 196 receiving yards on the season. That’s worth paying attention to.
Puka Nacua is the clear WR1. He’s essentially Cooper Kupp. When Kupp returns, it will probably be Atwell who takes the hit over Nacua. But that’s at least two weeks away. For now, Atwell has to be rostered.
FAAB Recommendation: 13-15%
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (10% Rostered)
Jayden Reed was my favorite late-round target in fantasy drafts this season. Given roster limitations, clearly, most fantasy managers were unable to stash him. Now is the time to make up for it.
Reed caught 4 of 8 targets for 37 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, the team is manufacturing touches for him.
Christian Watson is likely going to return next week, which could be an issue. However, it is only a matter of time before Reed overtakes Romeo Doubs as the team’s WR2. He’s worth a stash right now.
FAAB Recommendation: 8-10%
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (11% Rostered)
It’s time to take the journeyman seriously. Josh Reynolds followed up a 4-80 performance with a 5-66-2 line. With Amon-Ra St. Brown banged up, Reynolds could be even more of a priority in this passing attack.
Reynolds did this last year, too. He was useful for a hot minute before fading into obscurity. It could happen again. In fact, it probably will. But given his performance over the first two weeks, Reynolds has to be added.
FAAB Recommendation: 8-10%
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (5% Rostered)
C.J. Stroud had a really nice game in a losing effort against the Colts. He consistently found Tank Dell, whom he targeted a whopping 10 times. Dell caught seven passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
It could be nothing, but fantasy managers do not have the luxury of waiting. Get the rookie on your roster and figure it out later.
FAAB Recommendation: 6-8%
Robert Woods, Houston Texans (9% Rostered)
For the second consecutive week, Robert Woods saw a strong target share in this offense. He was targeted 10 times in Week 1 and nine times in Week 2.
Woods is not going to blow anyone away at this stage in his career. Spike weeks are not in his repertoire. But Woods can be a solid floor Flex play and possibly even a WR3 if the volume keeps up.
FAAB Recommendation: 4-6%
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (39% Rostered)
This is not a strong recommendation here. Tyler Boyd is who he is. You put him in your lineup and hope to get like 4-40. This week, Boyd caught 6 of 8 targets for 52 yards. He’s not exciting, but he won’t get you zero. If you need that, Boyd is your man.
FAAB Recommendation: 1-3%
Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants (12% Rostered)
This is easily the least urgent of the waiver wire targets. Jalin Hyatt only saw two targets on Sunday. But he caught both for 89 yards.
At some point, Hyatt’s role is going to grow. If you wait for it to happen, he’s going to be very expensive. If you can stash him ahead of time, you can smile as everyone else burns all of their FAAB on a guy you already have.
FAAB Recommendation: 0-5%
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 3 | Tight Ends
The tight end position is not in a good spot this season.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2% Rostered)
It is exceedingly difficult to find anyone to recommend fantasy managers add at the tight end position.
MORE: Buy Low, Sell High Week 3
Baker Mayfield has been playing reasonably well, and Cade Otton saw six targets on Sunday. That’s good enough for me.
FAAB Recommendation: 1-3%