When it comes to fantasy football, injuries can be detrimental to the season-long success of your fantasy squad and can leave you scrambling for plug-in starters, especially after another action-packed, injury-riddled week of football. This is why you will need to work the fantasy football waiver wire to grab high-upside players to help fill these empty spots and reduce that Sunday morning pre-kickoff panic.
If you’re looking to do just that, here are the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 3 that could help push your fantasy team in the right direction.
All players must be owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues to be included in the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups weekly column. All ownerships for waiver wire players will be provided and will reflect that of Tuesday morning.
QB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Jordan Love, Packers (39.8%)
This is the second straight week that Jordan Love will be featured as one of my top Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire pickups. His Week 1 performance was solid against the Bears, but fantasy managers wondered if he could do it again in Week 2, and he did. He’s the only quarterback with three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in both games thus far and has some rather favorable matchups approaching (NO, DET, LV), although the Saints could pose some issues if Green Bay’s offensive line isn’t healthy.
Both the Lions and Raiders have allowed at least 19.0 fantasy points per game (FPPG) already to opposing quarterbacks. Jordan Love fantasy owners could be rewarded mightily.
Sam Howell, Commanders (9.4%)
Sam Howell isn’t that enticing of a fantasy waiver wire option in just Week 3, but he’s played well in his first two starts this season and the Commanders are 2-0 as a result. He may be erratic with the ball at times but is currently the QB11 in fantasy football and offers some rushing upside if needed. His weapons are talented and the running game has been powerful, so all he has to do is not mess up. Howell also faces Buffalo and Philadelphia in his next two games, two strong offenses that can put points on the board quickly, suggesting he and the Commanders’ offense will be in a negative game script. Surprisingly, the Eagles are allowing the most FPPG to opposing quarterbacks thus far (26.4) as well.
RB Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Jerome Ford, Browns (9.5%)
May the odds be ever in your favor. Jerome Ford is the most obvious fantasy football waiver wire pickup of the week with the news of Nick Chubb missing the rest of the season due to a knee injury, but he is going to be claimed in every single fantasy football league when waivers are processed. Ford stepped in and made an impact immediately, totaling 131 scrimmage yards and 24.1 fantasy points. Combine the fact that there’s nobody there to steal snaps from Ford with Deshaun Watson’s struggles throwing the ball and you’ll suddenly find yourself with a RB1 each week, barring injury or free agency signings that could affect his production.
Zack Moss, Colts (32.3%)
Zack Moss’ fantasy football ownership has already risen 21.6 percent as of writing, and it’ll keep rising. Moss missed Week 1 due to an arm injury, but the concerns of him splitting carries with anyone should be put to bed now. He accounted for every single carry by a Colts RB on Sunday against the Texans, found the end zone once and even hauled in four receptions all on his way to 20.7 fantasy points. Anthony Richardson is in concussion protocol and he’s totaled three touchdowns on the ground already, so if he is unable to suit up in Week 3, those red zone carries are going right to Moss.
MORE: NFL Power Rankings Week 3 – Offensive Injuries Continue to Stack
Unfortunately, injuries continue to stack up in the NFL. It’s a big reason why you are looking on the fantasy football waiver wire. See how these injuries affected the NFL Power Rankings for Week 3!
WR Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Tutu Atwell, Rams (31.7%)
Believe me, I’m amazed by what Puka Nacua is doing in this Rams’ offense too, but he’s in the Cooper Kupp role, right? He’s producing at such an elite level right now, but so is Tutu Atwell, who isn’t utilized in the Kupp role much. Atwell has still been targeted 17 times in two games and currently ranks as the WR16. When/if Kupp comes back, I think his role is still just as big and important to the offensive scheme. Nacua is owned in over 70 percent of leagues already, suggesting more than half of fantasy managers are overlooking Atwell right now and you should pick him up before it’s too late.
Josh Reynolds, Lions (4.8%)
I didn’t think Josh Reynolds would emerge as the WR2 in the Lions’ offense over the declining Marvin Jones Jr. this quickly, but here we are. Reynolds has been targeted 13 times and averaged nearly 18.0 FPPG in two games thus far and should continue his strong play against some vulnerable secondaries (ATL and CAR) over the next few games, too. Reynolds ended up logging the most receiver snaps because Amon-Ra St. Brown left due to cramping for a few plays, but it’s clear the Lions have included him in the normal game plan.
TE Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Zach Ertz, Cardinals (37.2%)
Well, it’s 2023, and Zach Ertz is still making fantasy football waiver wire articles. Tight end waiver wire options are usually ugly and unappealing, so you’ll have to look a little deep. Ertz has just 77 yards and zero touchdowns through two games, but he has been targeted a whopping 18 times so far by Joshua Dobbs. The Cardinals are god-awful, so I understand if there is hesitation here, but finding a tight end option garnering that many targets rostered in just 37.2 percent of leagues is worth the roster spot.
Sam LaPorta, Lions (49.5%)
Sam LaPorta made last week’s article too and this will be the last because he just made the cut at 49.5 percent ownership. None of the other tight end options were that appealing to me and LaPorta is something to be excited about. He’s logged at least 82% of snaps in his first two games and made some tough catches in Week 2 against the Seahawks.
Jared Goff has targeted him 11 times thus far and clearly trusts him already, suggesting that LaPorta’s value and impact will only rise the more his dependability does, as well. The Lions’ offense is exciting and rostering him before it’s too late could pay off big-time later in the season once he’s more established.
