Analysis
9/18/23
8 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in both points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Players listed below are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
>>READ: Fantasy Takeaways From Each Week 2 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, QB
Matthew Stafford enters a Week 3 bout with the Cincinnati Bengals coming off consecutive outings with 300-plus passing yards. Cincinnati’s 26th-ranked pass rush (26.7 percent quarterback pressure rate) will struggle to interfere.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams, RB
Kyren Williams’ rostership rate needs to reach the 99th percentile after playing Cam Akers out of a job and thrashing the vaunted San Francisco 49ers defense.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns, RB — Season-Ending Knee Injury Fallout
On Monday night, Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome knee injury that doctor of physical therapy Jeff Mueller suspects includes a dislocated knee and multiligament tears. In-house Chubb replacements include Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr.
It is also possible Cleveland’s front office will choose to sign free agent and former Cleveland player Kareem Hunt. Free agent veteran Leonard Fournette is also a strong candidate.
One-dimensional rusher Caleb Huntley could also be in play, as could the Chicago Bears’ Week 2 healthy inactive RB D’Onta Foreman.
Running back–needy fantasy managers should prioritize Ford, followed by Hunt, Fournette and Foreman. Strong Jr. can be added to deep-league benches, while Huntley is purely a 16-team bench-stash option.
Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints, RB — Hamstring Strain Fallout
Jamaal Williams was carted off the field during Monday Night Football after suffering a hamstring strain, and Alvin Kamara remains suspended through Week 3. Backup Tony Jones Jr. offers fantasy managers and RB4/flex floor-play, while talented rookie Kendre Miller makes for a zero-floor/high-ceiling dice roll. A nagging MCL injury limited him this summer, and he was inactive last week due to a hamstring strain, but Miller will be involved if he’s active in Week 3.
TE Taysom Hill attempted one pass, had nine rushing attempts and earned two targets. He’s a risky, if high-upside, tight end/flex option in Week 3
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints, WR
Louisiana speed merchant Rashid Shaheed will establish himself as New Orleans’ No. 2 wide receiver in prime time Monday night, likely dusting a Carolina Panthers secondary missing No. 1 cornerback Jaycee Horn (on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring strain). Add Shaheed prior to kickoff.
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans, WR
Treylon Burks’ 61.0 percent rostership rate on Yahoo clears the 50 percent threshold but is still 30-plus percent too low. Talented and efficient (4.22 YPRR in Week 2) second-year wide receivers must be rostered in all formats.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans, WR
Nico Collins is in the midst of a rare third-year breakout and needs to be rostered everywhere as a weekly WR2 or WR3. His 20 targets are tied for No. 4 at the position, and his 2.94 yards per route run (YPRR) impressively ranks No. 6 among 24 NFL wide receivers with at least 15 targets.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts, RB
Zack Moss played 55 of 56 offensive snaps and handled 100 percent of backfield touches (18 rushing attempts and four targets). He is an inefficient pass catcher, but his volume is bulletproof.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions, WR
Josh Reynolds is aptly filling the role of the suspended Jameson Williams, averaging 17.80 PPR points per game.
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams, WR
Tutu Atwell remains efficient (2.09 YPRR) through two games, operating as the Los Angeles Rams’ field stretcher.
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions, RB
The Detroit Lions’ No. 1 RB David Montgomery suffered a quad injury, carrying concern for knee-tissue involvement. Following Montgomery’s late-game departure, Craig Reynolds immediately filled in as the team’s primary rusher. Reynolds will be an RB4/flex option in Week 3.
Stash These Players Now
Tank Dell, Houston Texans WR
Veteran WR Robert Woods’ target-earning renaissance is coming to a close. Tank Dell (44 routes) ran just three fewer routes than Woods (47 routes) this week and posted 10 targets.
Matt Breida, New York Giants, RB
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound, slippery running back Matt Breida will handle early-down rushing duties but is at risk of losing green-zone touches to the 6-foot-1, 218-pound lumbering Gary Brightwell. Breida’s ceiling is capped at the RB3/flex level.
Eric Gray, New York Giants, RB
Among 15 NFL preseason running backs with at least eight targets, pass-catching specialist Eric Gray’s 1.66 YPRR rank No. 2. Breida has never profiled as a strong target earner. His career-high 36 targets occurred in his 2017 rookie season.
Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos WR
Marvin Mims has been used sparingly, but his 7.63 YPRR is too high for coach Sean Payton to continue ignoring.
Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants WR
Third-round rookie Jalin Hyatt has earned a 30.00 average depth of target (aDot), and his 58-yard reception is Week 2’s seventh-longest by the position.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers WR
Second-round rookie slot receiver Jayden Reed is developing into an efficient scoring-position weapon. Among 112 NFL wide receivers with at least three red zone targets, Reed’s 42.9 percent red zone targets per route run (TPRR) is tied for No. 14, and his two red zone receiving touchdowns are tied for the positional lead.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coach DeMeco Ryans has trusted C.J. Stroud on an NFL-high 104 dropbacks, and the rookie quarterback has responded positively with the third-most 313 yards passing per game among 33 NFL quarterbacks with at least 25 passing attempts. His 3.5 rushing attempts per game hints at an unrealized rushing ceiling (21 total yards rushing). Jacksonville’s droopy pass rush offers comfortable passing environs.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens
Indianapolis rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson entered the concussion protocol early in the second quarter and was barred from re-entry after being taken to the locker room, per NFL rules.
By my reading #ForTheShoe QB Anthony Richardson cannot re-enter the game.@TheRealAdam_H @jmthrivept @FBInjuryDoc
Is this accurate? https://t.co/FikbRZw2CC pic.twitter.com/lSO5GOIBLr— Nic Bodiford (@NicBodifordNFL) September 17, 2023
Per Doctor of Physical Therapy Adam Hutchison’s Injury Report, quarterbacks average 1.9 games missed because of concussions; however, 22 percent do not miss any time. Whether Richardson actually suffered a concussion remains unknown. Gardner Minshew played well in his stead, producing an 82.6 percent completion rate while averaging 7.4 yards passing per attempt.
Defenses
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears
The Kansas City Chiefs notched top-12 quarterback pressure (28.6 percent) and sack (8.7 percent) rates, easing 2022 first-team All-Pro interior pass rusher Chris Jones back into action following his holdout. Chicago QB Justin Fields continues to struggle against pressure; his 13.2 percent sack rate is the second-highest among 33 NFL quarterbacks with at least 25 dropbacks.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 58 percent Yahoo rostership rate is too low for its top-three 44.4 percent quarterback pressure rate and 9.4 percent sack rate.
Miami Dolphins vs. Denver Broncos
The Miami Dolphins’ 53 percent Yahoo rostership rate tickles the availability threshold. Their 8.5 percent sack rate (No. 9) pairs nicely with Denver QB Russell Wilson’s No. 29 12.0 percent sack rate.
Looking Ahead to Week 4
Defense
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets
Kansas City gets the Zach Wilson-led New York Jets in Week 4.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Hunter Henry made good on his Week 2 Streaming Options listing, banking his second consecutive top-two PPR TE1 finish (17.20 points). The Jets’ 84.6 percent catch rate allowed to opposing tight ends ranks sixth-highest in the NFL. He is an elite TE1 moving forward.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Jake Ferguson’s 33.3 percent TPRR leads NFL tight ends with at least 10 targets, but his yardage is lacking. The Arizona Cardinals’ defense is surrendering the 10th-most yards per reception to opposing tight ends.
Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Hayden Hurst is a reliable short-to-intermediate depth target for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Seattle’s 81.8 percent catch rate allowed to opposing tight ends is ninth-highest in the league, and its 12.1 yards allowed per target is second-highest.
Kicker
Brett Maher, Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Brett Maher’s 28.00 fantasy points rank No. 2 overall. He is rostered in fewer than 10 percent of leagues, and the game’s over/under opened at 4.5 points, tied for third-highest on the week.
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