Fantasy Football Week 3 Waiver Wire: Top Players to Add
Understanding the Week 3 Waiver Wire Landscape
Week 1 delivered record-breaking offense. Week 2 brought extreme heat, weather delays, quarterback injuries, turnovers and plenty of disappointing fantasy performances. If Week 2 left you scrambling for help, you aren't alone. This is exactly why working the waiver wire matters.
Before we dive in, remember one important rule: Don't panic after two games. The fantasy season is still young, and one bad performance shouldn't convince you to give up on a talented player. Unless you drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. Then the panic meter might already be warming up.
Whether you're replacing an injured starter, strengthening your bench or trying to stay one step ahead of your league, these are the best fantasy football waiver-wire targets entering Week 3. Every player featured was rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues entering standard Week 3 waiver processing.
Quarterbacks Worth Your Waiver Bid
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (34.3% rostered)
Don't look now, but Bryce Young has opened the season as one of fantasy football's highest-scoring quarterbacks. After an impressive Week 1, Young followed it up with another strong performance against Atlanta. He scored approximately 23 fantasy points while throwing three touchdowns and protecting the football.
Through two games, Young has thrown six touchdown passes and added another score on the ground. The favorable early-season matchups certainly helped, but Young deserves credit for taking advantage of them. He looks more confident, is making quicker decisions and has provided unexpected rushing value.
With matchups against Cleveland and Detroit coming up, Young belongs on rosters and can be started in one-quarterback leagues by managers dealing with injuries or poor production.
SLM Fantasy verdict: Priority addition for quarterback-needy teams.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (49.7% rostered)
There is no reason the NFL's early-season passing leader should still be available in half of ESPN leagues. Tyler Shough has thrown for 662 yards through two games while ranking second in the NFL with 90 passing attempts. He entered Monday night as fantasy football's QB6 and produced in a difficult road matchup against Baltimore.
New Orleans now returns home for three consecutive games against the Raiders, Falcons and Vikings. The first two matchups are especially appealing. As long as Chris Olave remains healthy, Shough has enough volume and playmakers around him to provide a dependable fantasy floor.
SLM Fantasy verdict: The safest quarterback addition of the week.
Running Backs to Target on Waivers
Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (15.7% rostered)
Emmett Johnson may not deliver immediate starting value, but he is one of the best running-back stashes available. Kenneth Walker III has been outstanding since joining Kansas City, leading the NFL with 290 rushing yards on 47 carries through two games. That heavy workload, however, creates an opportunity for Johnson.
The rookie has produced 39 rushing yards on 10 attempts while adding 64 receiving yards. Kansas City coach Andy Reid has also indicated that Johnson could receive more work to reduce Walker's workload. If Walker misses time, Johnson could immediately enter the weekly RB2 conversation with even greater upside.
SLM Fantasy verdict: A strong bench stash with league-winning upside.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (37.5% rostered)
Alvin Kamara's 7.2 PPR points in Week 2 weren't exciting, but his usage deserves attention. Kamara played only 29% of the offensive snaps in his return from injury, yet he received a team-high 15 opportunities. That included five receptions on six targets, showing that the Saints still want him involved in the passing game.
Travis Etienne remains part of the backfield, but Kamara receiving that much work on a limited snap count is encouraging. His role should continue to grow as he gets healthier. Managers shouldn't expect the dominant Kamara from earlier in his career, but double-digit opportunities in a productive New Orleans offense give him weekly flex potential.
SLM Fantasy verdict: Add him now before his snap count increases.
Wide Receivers Breaking Out This Season
Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns (26.4% rostered)
Cleveland struggled offensively in Week 1 and showed improvement in Week 2, but Denzel Boston produced in both games. The rookie is averaging 18.5 PPR points and has scored a touchdown in each contest. More importantly, he is tied for the team lead in targets and owns an average depth of target of 15.8 yards.
That combination of volume and downfield usage gives Boston a valuable fantasy ceiling. His early chemistry with Deshaun Watson has been noticeable, and a future quarterback change to Shedeur Sanders wouldn't necessarily hurt him. Sanders has never been afraid to attack downfield. Boston gets Carolina next before facing Pittsburgh and the Jets.
SLM Fantasy verdict: A high-upside addition who can be used as a flex option.
Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (17% rostered)
The Adonai Mitchell breakout may be arriving. Mitchell entered the season as New York's clear second receiver behind Garrett Wilson. With opposing defenses focused on Wilson, Mitchell has totaled at least 60 receiving yards in each of his first two games.
In Week 2, he caught six of his team-high 12 targets for 63 yards while running a route on 41 of Geno Smith's 50 dropbacks. That type of involvement is difficult to ignore. The upcoming schedule makes him even more appealing, with New York facing Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland over the next three weeks.
SLM Fantasy verdict: Pick him up before the full breakout happens.
Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (26.3% rostered)
Dontayvion Wicks appeared on our waiver list last week, and he remains one of the better receivers available. Wicks caught five of six targets for 74 yards in Philadelphia's Week 2 victory. Through two games, he has seven receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown while emerging as the Eagles' second receiver.
Philadelphia traded for Wicks after hiring former Packers assistant Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator. That connection suggests the Eagles had a specific role in mind for him. As Wicks continues building chemistry with Jalen Hurts, his involvement should grow. A favorable matchup against Chicago gives him immediate flex appeal.
SLM Fantasy verdict: A strong add with both short-term value and season-long upside.
Tight End Opportunities at the Waiver Wire
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (21.3% rostered)
C.J. Stroud has attempted a league-high 93 passes through two weeks, and Dalton Schultz has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. With Nico Collins unavailable in Week 2, Schultz caught 12 passes for 140 yards. He now has 22 targets through two games, tying him with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the fourth-most targets among all NFL players entering Monday night, not just tight ends.
Collins' hamstring injury could keep him sidelined for Week 3, meaning Schultz should remain heavily involved against Indianapolis. At a position where dependable volume is difficult to find, Schultz offers immediate starting value.
SLM Fantasy verdict: The top tight-end addition for Week 3.
Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers (2% rostered)
Oronde Gadsden II suddenly has one of the clearest paths to playing time among available tight ends. David Njoku and Charlie Kolar both suffered injuries in Week 2 and have been placed on injured reserve. Gadsden is now the only healthy tight end on the Chargers' active roster.
He caught both of his Week 2 targets for 18 yards and a touchdown. Gadsden isn't known as a strong blocker, but his receiving ability makes him an intriguing fantasy option. He previously played wide receiver and has the athleticism to stretch the field from the tight-end position. With the Chargers potentially playing from behind in several upcoming matchups, Gadsden could see a major increase in routes and targets.
SLM Fantasy verdict: A high-upside addition for managers needing tight-end help.
Defense/Special Teams Streaming Options
Cincinnati Bengals (8.2% rostered)
The Cincinnati defense may finally be fantasy relevant. The addition of Dexter Lawrence has strengthened the middle of the defensive line and given Cincinnati a proven leader. The Bengals scored 20 fantasy points in Week 1 before following it with another solid performance against Houston.
This week, Cincinnati faces a Pittsburgh offense averaging a league-worst 3.8 yards per play. The Steelers need to establish their running game, but Lawrence makes that a difficult assignment. The Bengals have recorded takeaways, created pressure and shown enough improvement to be trusted in a favorable matchup.
SLM Fantasy verdict: One of Week 3's best streaming defenses.
Your Week 3 Waiver Wire Priority List
If you need immediate help, prioritize the players in this order:
- Tyler Shough — Volume leader with favorable matchups
- Dalton Schultz — Rare target consistency at tight end
- Alvin Kamara — Growing role with high ceiling
- Adonai Mitchell — Breakout candidate with schedule advantage
- Dontayvion Wicks — Emerging second receiver with chemistry building
- Bryce Young — Stabilizes QB position with upside
- Denzel Boston — High-ceiling flex option
- Oronde Gadsden II — Opportunity-based tight end play
- Emmett Johnson — League-winning stash candidate
- Cincinnati Bengals D/ST — Best streaming defense matchup
Waiver Wire Strategy and Final Thoughts
Your exact priority order should depend on your team's specific needs. Shough and Young can stabilize the quarterback position, while Schultz provides rare target volume at tight end. Kamara, Mitchell and Wicks offer the best immediate flex potential for teams needing production this week.
Johnson is the player to stash if you can afford to wait. He may not help immediately, but his value could skyrocket if Kansas City expands his role or Kenneth Walker misses time. This is the type of move that wins championships in deep league formats.
Remember the golden rule of waiver wire success: Don't chase points from one surprising performance. Look for sustainable opportunities through targets, carries, snap counts and playing time. The players featured in this list all have legitimate reasons for their success beyond random variance.
For more waiver-wire advice, fantasy rankings, injury updates and weekly analysis, visit www.sportsloungemedia.com. Follow SLM Fantasy on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and all our social platforms for daily fantasy content and expert analysis.
SLM Fantasy, We Don't Just Watch the Game. We Live the Fantasy.