Another wild week of fantasy football is now in the books as we near the conclusion of the first quarter of the 2023 season.
Through the first three weeks, the standings across fantasy leagues are beginning to take shape as are the narratives surrounding some of the biggest names in the game. Regardless of whether you’ve started 3-0 or 0-3, the waiver wire is arguably the most vital tool a manager can lean on.
Notably, this will be the final week without byes until Week 8.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel’s offense put up video game numbers in Week 3, and the rookie Achane was right at the center of it. Scoring four total touchdowns, Achane posted an incredible 18-203-2 rushing line while adding a 4-30-2 receiving line. He split snaps with Raheem Mostert, but his 43% running back rush share led the team. Achane needs to be the top add in all league formats, and managers should be aggressive in pursuing him.
Availability: 59%
FAAB: 60%
2. RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Another rookie who has been trending in the right direction, Johnson is inching closer to taking over the lead role in the backfield. In Week 3, he played just five fewer snaps, ran just two fewer routes and saw one more carry than Khalil Herbert. How much of the game script played a role in that isn’t clear, but this didn’t come out of nowhere. Johnson has been climbing the depth chart and even though the production hasn’t been stellar, the usage continues to improve. It seems to be only a matter of time before he’s given the lead role.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 35%
3. WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
It’s painful watching this Broncos offense operate. Still, Sutton has quietly put together a strong start to the season. His target share has improved every week and though the game script played a role in Week 3, Sutton posted a 31% target share against the Miami Dolphins. He turned that into an 8-91-1 receiving line. With a healthy 24% target share on the season, Sutton is entering the WR3/flex tier.
Availability: 32%
FAAB: 30%
4. WR Tank Dell, Houston Texans
When rookies open the season showing high upside with explosive games, we should take notice. This is especially true when a rookie does so on the back of strong usage rather than unsustainable efficiency. For the second week in a row, Dell led the Texans offense in targets (seven) while posting a 5-145-1 receiving line. Much of his big day came on a 68-yard touchdown against busted coverage, but the Texans are airing it out at an incredible rate. There will be some regression coming for Dell, but he needs to be rostered and can be viewed as a WR3/flex option in the right matchups.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 30%
6. WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers
Much of Thielen’s big performance in Week 3 stemmed from the fact that Andy Dalton was the starter, replacing the injured Bryce Young. Dalton’s 58 pass attempts were a single-game career-high, so that context is important and the driving force behind Thielen’s spectacular 11-145-1 receiving line on 14 targets in Week 3. Still, Thielen has put together two strong games consecutively on the back of 29% and 25% target shares over the last two weeks, respectively. How productive he will be when Young returns is a major question mark, but he’s a WR3/flex option over the next three weeks considering the upcoming schedule.
Availability: 53%
FAAB: 25%
7. WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
The epitome of volatility, Doubs has two top-20 finishes through three games this season. His other finish? WR82 in Week 2. Despite the tough matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Doubs posted a 5-73-1 receiving line on a career-high 12 targets in Week 3. What his usage will look like when the Packers offense is fully healthy remains to be seen, but the fact that Doubs has two high-end finishes without recording more than five receptions in a game proves he can score at any moment. He’s a volatile, high-end WR3 right now and should be rostered in most leagues with bye weeks coming up.
Availability: 59%
FAAB: 20%
8. RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles play Monday night, and Gainwell is making his return from a rib injury that forced him to be inactive in Week 2. We don’t know what the split will look like after D’Andre Swift exploded in Gainwell’s absence, but his usage in Week 1 showed us the Eagles aren’t against making him the lead back. So, keep an eye on the role he gets Monday night because he should probably be rostered in more leagues if for no reason other than Swift’s lack of durability.
Availability: 40%
FAAB: 15%
9. WR Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams
Another waiver wire target playing Monday night, Atwell’s impressive start to the season has been overshadowed by the astronomical rise of teammate Puka Nacua. Through two games, Atwell has earned a 19% target share and has at least six receptions in each contest. He has yet to find the end zone, but he played 94% of the snaps in Week 2 after playing 79% of the snaps in the opener. What his role will look like if and when Cooper Kupp returns is a major question, but he has flex value until then considering how often the Rams have thrown the ball.
Availability: 40%
FAAB: 15%
Grab-n-Stash
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
For the second time in three games, Spears has outsnapped Derrick Henry. Of course, it’s due to the negative game script, and Spears hasn’t been all that productive. But the Titans offense is in shambles right now and could find themselves in those pass-heavy game scripts often. Spears is the clear-cut back on passing downs and now has a double-digit target share in two games.
Availability: 76%
FAAB: 5%
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The rookie continues to flash some intriguing potential. He’s not ready to be considered flex-worthy just yet, but Reed has at least five targets in every game this season, giving him a healthy 21% target share. What his usage looks like when Christian Watson returns remains to be seen, but he’s a strong stash to keep on the bench.
Availability: 79%
FAAB: 5%
RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
This backfield continues to trend toward a true 50-50 split. Warren saw a season-high 45% snap share and despite the fact that Najee Harris nabbed 20 opportunities to Warren’s 12, the latter had a better fantasy output. Granted, it wasn’t stellar production, but Warren continues to prove he’s the more electric option.
Availability: 40%
FAAB: 5%
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Despite running as the clear No. 3 wide receiver, Downs posted a team-high 29% target share in Week 3. It resulted in eight receptions for 57 yards. Downs’ upside is capped with Michael Pittman Jr. there, but he’s an intriguing stash in PPR formats.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 3%
RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
The majority of work still belongs to Kenneth Walker, but Charbonnet continues to see opportunities in passing situations. The rookie saw a season-high 43% snap share while running more routes than Walker. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry in Week 3 and was a yard away from a touchdown. He’s not flex-worthy yet, but he’s certainly someone to monitor.
Availability: 46%
FAAB: 3%
RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
The rookie made his NFL debut in Week 3. It wasn’t a noteworthy performance, but with Jamaal Williams on the Reserve/Injured list for at least the next three games, Miller should get some run as the change-of-pace back behind Alvin Kamara, who is set to return from his suspension this week.
Availability: 66%
FAAB: 3%
WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
The Giants are still easing Robinson back from a torn ACL so he should not be in starting lineups. But the fact that he saw five targets and four receptions on just nine routes run signals he will be very involved once he receives a full allotment of snaps. If anything, keep an eye on Robinson’s progress.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 3%
Streamers of the Week
QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans: Pickett has been far from serviceable, but he showed some life in Week 3 throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns. The Texans have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Availability: 73%
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers: Garoppolo has two passing touchdowns in two of three games, and the Chargers are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks thus far. Garoppolo is being evaluated for a concussion, so be sure to monitor that situation.
Availability: 85%
TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: This could be a very high-scoring game, and Musgrave just posted six receptions for 49 yards on eight targets in Week 2. The Lions have allowed the most receptions and receiving yards to tight ends through three games.
Availability: 82%
TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders: The Chargers offense is cooking right now and even though there are a lot of mouths to feed, this is a good matchup. The Raiders have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game to the position.
Availability: 69%
Denver Broncos D/ST at Chicago Bears: The Broncos are coming off a historically poor performance. What better way to take out frustrations than facing a Bears offense that has allowed the second-most sacks and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses?
Availability: 62%
Seattle Seahawks D/ST at New York Giants: Seattle’s defense is essentially uninspiring, but they get to visit a Giants offense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses while averaging the third-fewest points scored per game.
Availability: 55%
PK Matt Gay, Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Rams: Coming off a historic performance that included four field goals of at least 50 yards, Gay gets to kick inside a dome against the Rams, who’ve allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to the position (pending Monday Night Football).
Availability: 91%
PK Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants: Sticking with Seattle, Myers leads the league in field-goal attempts and is fourth in fantasy points per game. The Giants also have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Availability: 57%
