This week's waiver wire focus is primarily on trying to replace Browns All-Pro running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a nasty knee injury on Monday Night and is likely done for the year and Giants running back Saquon Barkley who is expected to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury. Chubb is one of the league's best runners and a favorite among the fantasy football community thanks to his stellar production year in and year out. Prayers up for Chubb and all the NFL players battling injuries!
Chubb and Barkley were first-round picks in nearly every fantasy draft this summer and finding someone to replace their production will be difficult, but we must try. The obvious choices are their primary backups.
After Chubb went down, Jerome Ford entered the game and scored a touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion (the octopus). Ford later ripped off a 71 yard run. For the Giants, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell are the handcuffs, but it appears Breida has a slight edge on the early down work based on Sunday’s usage after Saquon left the game. Brightwell should be added in deeper leagues.
Lions running back David Montgomery is also expected to miss a few weeks and if he cannot go on Sunday, Craig Reynolds could see more work in the run game for Detroit (sorry, Jahmyr Gibbs stans).
Last week's waiver wire article prioritized quarterback Jordan Love, running backs Gus Edwards and Kyren Williams, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and tight end Sam LaPorta- all of whom had good performances for the second week in a row. Check to see If they were not nabbed in your league already, and those who are rostered in fewer than 40% of ESPN leagues will also be mentioned again here.
Let's get to it.
Week 3 Waiver Wire Running Backs
Jerome Ford (CLE): FAAB up to 25%
The Browns' second-year rusher didn't do much as a rookie, after all he was playing behind Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and even D'Ernest Johnson. But Hunt and Johnson are now off the roster which puts Ford in the driver's seat (car pun?). In the first half against the Steelers, Ford caught two passes for 11 yards and a touchdown and then ran in the two point conversion. In the second half he showed off his speed with a 71 yard run but was tackled on the one-yard line. Pierre Strong Jr. saw some action in the second-half and punched in a touchdown from the one-yard line. Hassan Hall are also on the roster but if Chubb is indeed done for the year, expect Cleveland to add a veteran free agent, like Kareem Hunt who is obviously very familiar with the Browns offense.
Kyren Williams (LAR): FAAB up to 21%
Cam Akers was a healthy scratch, and the saga continues. This could be your last chance if you didn't pick up Williams after we suggested him last week. Rumors are Akers is on the trade block again, and who knows if the Rams will bring in a new runner (maybe Jonathan Taylor?), but for now, Williams is the back to roster in what is shaping up to be a surprisingly good Rams offense. Williams rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries Sunday and was also active in the passing game, catching six of his ten targets for 48 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the 49ers. Williams is the RB2 for the season heading into Monday Night Football, behind only Christian McCaffrey.
Zack Moss (IND): FAAB up to 16%
The Colts have decided on their bell-cow running back after Moss played all but one snap in Week 2. Rookie Evan Hull is on the injured list, Deon Jackson has been inefficient, and Jonathan Taylor isn't back for at least two more weeks. Even when JT returns, there is no guarantee he returns with the Colts, so Moss is worth an add if you're looking for a runner. After racking up 88 rushing yards, catching all four of his targets for another 19, and scoring a touchdown, Moss was the RB9 heading into Monday night football.
Gus Edwards/Justice Hill (BAL): FAAB up to 11%
This looks like a committee in Baltimore with no JK Dobbins. Perhaps most importantly, though, Melvin Gordon was not a factor. Edwards ran ten times for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Hill ran 11 times for 41 yards. Either player could be successful on a weekly basis, with HIll likely the primary pass-catching back.
Roschon Johnson (CHI): FAAB 3%
The talented rookie RB took D'onta Foreman's snaps in the two-minute drill on Sunday after the veteran was a healthy scratch. Khalil Herbert benefited the most from Foreman's absence, but it's worth stashing Johnson, a tough runner with talent as a receiver, who could carve out a more prominent role as the season progresses. Roschon Johnson spent much of his college career stuck behind Bijan Robinson at UT; otherwise, we probably would already be rostered in most leagues.
Others to Consider: Matt Breida (NYG), Craig Reynolds (DET), Gary Brightwell (NYG), Kareem Hunt (FA), Leonard Fournette (FA)
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Week 3 Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Jordan Love (GB): FAAB up to 7%
Love made this list last week, and he makes it again this week after a strong follow-up performance. Love has thrown for three TDs in each of his first two contests, and the Packers have scored the second-most points so far this season- behind only the Cowboys. Perhaps even more impressive is that Love has been without receiver Christian Watson for both contests and was missing Aaron Jones in Week 2. Love has yet to throw an interception, and the matchup with the Saints next week should be favorable.
CJ Stroud (HOU): FAAB up to 3%
Stroud came alive in Week 2, despite missing three of his five offensive linemen. Stroud completed 30 of his 47 attempts for nearly 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns, all without throwing a single interception, and he completed passes to eight different receivers. The sacks should improve as the line gets healthy, and he's a good stash for the weeks ahead. With the Texans expected to be in negative game scripts for most of the season, Stroud could be a waiver-wire winner in Houston's uptempo offense.
Sam Howell (WSH) FAAB 1%
Howell's matchup with the Bills this weekend is not very good, but I like how Howell is trending for the future. Howell completed passes to ten different receivers for 300 yards and two touchdowns in an upset victory vs. the Broncos in Week 2. At UNC, in his final season, Howell ran for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 attempts. Not only does Howell have a good arm, he has the mobile upside that could be a boon for your fantasy team. Howell rushed for a score in Week 1 vs. the Cardinals.
Others to consider: Gardner Minshew (IND)
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Week 3 Waiver Wire Wide Receiver
Nathaniel "Tank" Dell (HOU): FAAB up to 9%
Tank Dell went off on all my benches this weekend. I hope you had him stashed, too. Dell consistently beat his coverage in preseason action, and we were promised we would see more of Dell once WR Noah Brown his the IR. The Texans made good on their promise. Dell caught seven passes for 72 yards and a score vs. the Colts, with veteran WR Robert Woods moving into the slot in Brown's absence. Dell played 77.2% of the snaps, ahead of Nico Collins, who played 67%. He also ran 41 routes and saw ten targets, slightly ahead of Collins. This bodes well for Dell's future usage. The Texans got Dell in the third round despite the fact the receiver accumulated 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior and final year at Houston, and his 19 missed tackles were top 25 in the country. With the Texans expected to be often playing in negative game scripts, Dell is an excellent addition.
Josh Reynolds (DET): FAAB up to 8%
Reynolds made the list last week, and he makes it again today after putting up a two-touchdown, five-catch, 66-yard game in Week 2. He owns a 20.3% target rate across the first two games and should be the WR2 in Detroit- at least until Jameson Williams returns.
Tutu Atwell (LAR): FAAB up to 8%
Everyone was so excited about Puka Nacua that they may have overlooked Atwell, who is still, and he's ranked seventh in the league with 196 receiving yards heading into the Monday night games. Atwell is the deep target in this surprisingly high-powered Rams offense.
Marvin Mims (DEN): FAAB 3%
We needed a healthy Jerry Jeudy for a Marvin Mims breakout game. Kidding. Mims caught only two passes, but for 113 yards and a TD. Mims only ran six routes, but he's a fun stash, much like Giant's rookie Jalin Hyatt, who caught both of his targets for 89 yards on Sunday.
Jayden Reed (GB): FAAB 3%
With no Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs limited, the rookie receiver had a good day, scoring two touchdowns despite catching only four of his eight targets for 37 yards. He was targeted on 33.3% of his routes, and he's worth an add in this promising Green Bay offense.
Others to consider: Jalin Hyatt (NYG), Robert Woods (HOU), Jonathan Mingo (CAR)
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Week 3 Waiver Wire Tight End
Hunter Henry (NE): FAAB up to 9%
This could also be your last call to get Hunter Henry on waivers, as Henry is now fantasy TE2 behind only TJ Hockenson. Will he cool off? Probably. But for now, the fact is that Bill O'Brien is using him effectively. Henry has 11 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns across the first two weeks.
Logan Thomas (WSH): FAAB 2%
Thomas's matchup this weekend is not a good one with the Bills, and he's also in concussion protocol. Keep Thomas on your radar, however. He's a talented receiver who runs a route more than 50% of the time. He led the team with eight targets in Week 1, and Thomas scored a TD in Week 2 before leaving the game early to go into concussion protocol.
Jake Ferguson (DAL): FAAB 2%
The matchup with the Cardinals is great for the Dallas tight end this weekend. Ferguson found pay dirt on Sunday vs. the Jets and was targeted four times. He caught three passes for 11 yards, but that number could be better vs. a Cardinals defense that allowed the most fantasy points to the position in 2022, and has allowed the third-most receiving yards to tight ends 10 through the first two games of the season.
Others to consider: Luke Musgrave (GB)
