Best Fantasy Football Waiver Pickups Week 3: Zack Moss breaks out, Giants backup Matt Breida set to step up

Best Fantasy Football Waiver Pickups Week 3: Zack Moss breaks out, Giants backup Matt Breida set to step up

Last week’s waiver wire was as busy as it’s ever been to open the season, and while the top Week 2 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds likely won’t inspire the same level of activity, there are plenty of potential impact players worth considering. Rookie WRs Marvin Mims, Tank Dell, and Jayden Reed might seem like the most exciting options, but “boring” veterans like Matt Breida, Zack Moss, and Josh Reynolds figure to be more reliable.

Regardless of the type of player you’re targeting on the wire this week, we have you covered. From more undervalued RBs (Justice Hill, Roschon Johnson) to emerging WRs (Nelson Agholor, Skyy Moore, Tutu Atwell) and even a surprise TE or two (Cade Otton, Zach Ertz), our full waiver list is loaded. As always, we have some potential D/ST streamers for next week at the end of the list, too.

It’s tough to recommend using a top waiver claim this week unless you really need an RB and one of Moss, Breida, or Hill is available. Johnson might have the most long-term upside, but he’s not currently worth a top claim. The WRs have a lot of season-long upside, too, but at this point, a high waiver claim has more value. There will be committee backs and “breakout” WRs on the wire every week.

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That said, this a good week for “taking out some trash,” or dropping end-of-bench players who have disappointed two weeks in a row. You shouldn’t do it just for the sake of doing it; rather, have targets in mind when free agency hits. If you want to use low waiver claims on these stashes, go ahead, but remember — there will be more injuries and surprises next week.

WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:

QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 3

Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.

Zack Moss, RB, Colts. Moss made his season debut and immediately staked claim to the Colts’ starting RB job, handling 18 carries for 88 yards and a TD. He also caught all four of his targets for 19 yards. Jonathan Taylor is out for at least two more games — possibly more — so Moss should be owned in more than 52 percent of Yahoo leagues in the meantime. Consider him a flex next week against Baltimore, especially if QB Anthony Richardson (concussion) is inactive and unable to poach short TD runs.

WEEK 3 FANTASY: FAAB budget planner | Trade advice

Matt Breida, RB, Giants. Saquon Barkley was visibly upset after an apparent lower leg injury suffered late in New York’s comeback win against Arizona, and there’s a real chance he’ll miss time going forward. Enter Breida, who figures to get first crack at the starter’s job if Barkley is out. The veteran back hasn’t done much since his time with San Francisco in 2019, but he’s maintained a solid yards-per-carry in the limited duty he’s seen the past four years (4.3). Every starting running back has value in fantasy leagues, so Breida is worth adding, but we wouldn’t use him next week against the 49ers, especially with Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray also factoring into the mix.

WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:

QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Justice Hill, RB, Ravens. For some reason, fantasy owners weren’t particularly interested in Hill after his two-TD Week 1, perhaps thinking Gus Edwards would run away with the starting job. Based on their respective usage in Week 2, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Hill totaled 14 touches (RB-high 11 carries, three catches) and 53 total yards compared to Edwards’ 10 touches and 62 yards. Edwards did plunge in a one-yard TD, but it’s clear Hill will be involved. He should be owned in far more than 45 percent of Yahoo leagues, and he’s a potential flex next week against Indianapolis.

Josh Reynolds, WR, Lions. Reynolds impressed with four catches (seven targets) for 80 yards in Week 1, and he followed that up with a 5-66-2 line (six targets) in Week 2. He seems locked in as Jared Goff’s No. 2 receiver, at least until Jameson Williams returns in Week 7, and that will likely yield at least flex value most weeks. Have him in your lineups in Week 3 against Atlanta.

Tutu Atwell, WR, Rams. After posting 119 yards in Week 1, Atwell turned in another solid performance in a tougher matchup in Week 2. He finished with seven catches (nine targets) for 77 yards. Puka Nacua is clearly Matthew Stafford’s new favorite toy, but as defenses shift their attention to the sure-handed rookie, Atwell might actually have more room — and more opportunities — with which to operate. He’s a potential flex next week against Cincinnati.

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs. Moore was dropped en masse after his Week 1 goose-egg, but perhaps the return of Travis Kelce will help more than just Patrick Mahomes. Moore broke out for a team-high 70 yards and a TD on three catches (four targets). A late 54-yard reception helped Moore pad his stats, but in this offense, multiple pass-catchers can (and will) have value. Picking the right guy every week is a different story, but Moore proved he’s worth owning in 12-team leagues. He’s a potential flex next week against Chicago.

Tank Dell, WR, Texans. Dell took advantage of garbage time to finish with seven catches for 72 yards and a TD, and it’s worth noting that he had another touchdown called back because of a penalty. Houston’s offense is in disarray right now, largely due to several injuries along the offensive line, but it’s clear that Dell is going to be involved. The versatile rookie is worth stashing in 12-team leagues, but we wouldn’t necessarily start him next week against Jacksonville.

Jayden Reed, WR, Packers. With Christian Watson (hamstring) out, Reed impressed with four catches (team-high eight targets), 37 yards, and two touchdowns. With Watson expected back next week, Reed might not have a ton of long-term value, but after doubling up the next-closest receiver in targets, he’s worth stashing based on what we’ve seen from him so far. Be careful with him next week against New Orleans, though.

Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos. Where was this last week? Apparently, all Mims needed to take off was Jerry Jeudy being back. Either way, the flashy rookie broke out with two long catches, one of which went for a TD. All told, he finished with 113 receiving yards on his two targets, and he proved he’s at least worth stashing in 12-team leagues ahead of next week’s matchup in Miami. The same goes for teammate Brandon Johnson, who caught two-of-three targets for 66 yards and two TDs. We’re not as high on him since a big chunk of his production came on a 50-yard Hail Mary TD, but he’s still just as involved as Mims.

Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants. Like Mims, Hyatt saw just two targets, but he made the most of them, posting 89 yards. His big-play potential is obvious, and for a team that’s sorely lacking any other receivers with that kind of ability, Hyatt could see more opportunities soon. Stash him — but don’t play him — ahead of next week’s game in San Francisco.

Nelson Agholor, WR, Ravens. Agholor hauled in five-of-six targets for 63 yards (all highs among Baltimore’s WRs) and a TD in Week 2, but the main reason he’s on this list is because of Odell Beckham Jr.’s ankle injury. If OBJ is out, Agholor will continue to play a meaningful role in the offense, making him potentially flex-worthy in Week 3 against the Colts.

Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears. Chicago made D’Onta Foreman a healthy scratch in Week 2, and even though Johnson couldn’t really take advantage of it in Week 2 (six touches, 42 total yards), it seems like only a matter of time before he takes over as Chicago’s lead back. Grab him now, and you can even think about him as a dee-league flex next week against Kansas City.

Cade Otton, TE, Buccaneers. Otton hauled in all six of his targets for 41 yards, which doesn’t sound all that impressive, but it’s enough to make him a starter in 12-team PPR leagues most weeks. The main reason he’s on this list, though, is his Week 3 matchup against the Eagles, who have been torched by TEs two weeks in a row. Consider Otton a top streaming option if you’re hurting at tight end.

Zach Ertz, TE, Cardinals. No one wanted him last week after his 10 targets, but perhaps after another eight targets (and six catches) in Week 2, fantasy owners will pay attention. Ertz doesn’t have a high ceiling most weeks, but PPR owners shouldn’t overlook his busy role on a bad team. He’ll be a borderline TE1 with a solid floor next week against Dallas.

Craig Reynolds, RB, Lions. David Montgomery’s thigh injury doesn’t just open the door for rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Reynolds will get more touches, too, as we saw in the second half against the Seahawks, and he might be able to do just enough to earn a flex spot if Montgomery misses multiple weeks. Don’t worry about him in shallow leagues, but deep leaguers should stash him ahead of a potentially favorable matchup against Atlanta.

Top fantasy defense streamers for Week 3

Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Texans). We love to pick on inexperienced QBs — especially on the road — so even a relatively mediocre D/ST like Jacksonville has streamer value this week. The Jags picked on fellow rookie Anthony Richardson in Week 1, recording four sacks and three takeaways, and Houston’s offensive line issues should help the Jags feast again.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Bears). The Chiefs got Chris Jones back in Week 2, and now they get a favorable home matchup against a turnover-prone Justin Fields and Chicago’s discombobulated offense. We’ll take it.

Seattle Seahawks (vs. Panthers). The Legion of Boom isn’t walking through that door, but we’re still willing to take a chance on the 12th Man-inspired Seahawks’ against a rookie QB coming off a short week.

Detroit Lions (vs. Falcons). The Lions will give up yards and points, but they can get after the QB and cause a few turnovers, too. At home against Desmond Ridder seems like a good spot to stream them in deep leagues.