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Through The Wire - Week 3



By Mike Krueger | Updated: 9/20/22

Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business, but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious selections to help your team from week to week while you strive for that elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp.

The waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players that might be available in 12-team PPR leagues. I’ll also provide a brief update on the players I covered the previous week.

Feedback is always welcome, appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as I can.


Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo, SF – With Trey Lance out for the season (broken ankle), Garoppolo will be the top pickup for QB-needy teams. Upcoming 49ers schedule: @DEN, LAR, @CAR, @ATL.

Carson Wentz, WAS – He was my top add last week but just in case he’s still sitting out there in your league, grab him. After another 300-yard, multi-TD game, this will be the last week he’s on the wire. The schedule is still favorable the next few weeks: PHI, @DAL, TEN.

Tua Tagovailoa, MIA – I had Tua in the “Other QBs to consider” section last week. He’s got two game-breakers for weapons and is an ideal QB2 in most leagues with QB1 upside in the right matchup against suspect defenses. We just saw his ceiling game in Week 2 (469-6-2) and home for the Bills isn’t ideal in Week 3, but @CIN (Wk4) and @NYJ (Wk5) seems more palatable.

Other QBs to consider (Week 3 opponents in parentheses): Jared Goff, DET (@MIN); Marcus Mariota, ATL (@SEA); Ryan Tannehill, TEN (LV); Mac Jones, NE (BAL)

Players recommended last week:

Carson Wentz (30-46, 337-3-0; 2-23): Wentz finished as the QB6 on the week and has another nice matchup in Week 3 (PHI) in what should be a high-scoring game.

Marcus Mariota (17-26, 196-2-2; 6-16): Mariota finished as the QB16 and was largely contained by the Rams-D. His rushing upside makes him fantasy viable.

Matt Ryan (16-30, 195-0-3; 0-0): Oof. Ryan was also sacked 5 times and finished as the QB30. I should’ve placed more emphasis on the Colts recent struggles with Jacksonville (last win in JAX was in 2014). Losing Michael Pittman Jr. in practice this week certainly didn’t help.

Cooper Rush (19-31, 235-1-0; 1-2): Rush finished as the QB22. After two TD drives to start the game, the offense fell flat. He doesn’t offer much running ability and is lacking weapons. TE Dalton Schultz left late in the game with a knee injury.

Running Backs

Priority if available: Jamaal Williams, DET

Cam Akers, LAR: Akers was left for dead after barley playing in Week 1 but he got the start in Week 2 and ending up sharing time with Darrell Henderson against the Falcons. A committee approach with these two is likely moving forward. It’s doubtful Akers was dropped in your league, but if so, he’s worth a pick-up. Upcoming schedule: @ARI, @SF, DAL.

Raheem Mostert, MIA – Chase Edmonds played second fiddle to Mostert against the Ravens. Mostert got the start and out-carried Edmonds 11-to-5 despite both playing a similar number of snaps. There isn’t likely to be a lot of volume in this rushing attack making both RBs weak Flex options. Upcoming schedule: BUF, @CIN, @NYJ.

Darrel Williams / Eno Benjamin, ARI – With James Conner leaving Week 2 with an ankle injury, both Arizona RBs will be sought after on the wire - depending on the severity of Conner’s injury. They played almost evenly in Week 2 but Williams was used around the goaline giving him priority. If Conner returns this week, then Williams and Eno will be lower priority.

Update: Jordan Mason, Marlon Mack, SF: Tyrion Davis-Price is going to miss some time with a high ankle sprain and we know how much San Francisco loves to run the ball (2nd in the league through two weeks). It doesn’t seem like the 49ers trust Mason to be a significant contributor on offense, so Mack may make an appearance on the active roster sooner rather than later.

Other RBs to consider (Week 3 opponents in parentheses): Tyler Allgeier, ATL (@SEA), Mark Ingram, NO (@CAR)

Players recommended last week:

Jeff Wilson, SF (18-84-0; 2-19-0): Wilson operated as the lead back for the 49ers and finished as the RB15 in PPR leagues. Upcoming schedule: @DEN, LAR, @CAR, @ATL

Rex Burkhead, HOU (0-0-0; 2-9-0): Role reversal. Dameon Pierce dominated the carries and Burkhead mainly played on passing situations. Burkhead will be hard to trust moving forward given the shaky offense.

Kenyan Drake, LV (6-8-0; 0-0): The Ravens don’t currently have a running game outside of Lamar Jackson. Perhaps the return of J.K. Dobbins will alter the situation, but until that happens, Drake, Mike Davis and Justice Hill can be avoided.

Khalil Herbert, CHI (4-38-0; 1-3-0): Playing behind David Montgomery, Herbert made the most of his opportunities, but only five touches isn’t going to help us.

Update: The Bears are running more than any team in the league (69.6%), but they’ve also run only 92 plays in two games - tied for last. Herbert remains an upside bench stash.

Dontrell Hilliard, TEN (N/A): Hilliard is Out with a hamstring injury.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Priority if available: Michael Gallup, DAL

Breshad Perriman, TB – With Mike Evans being suspended for his dust up with Marshon Lattimore, the Bucs will be searching for WR answers in Week 3 against the Packers. Julio Jones (knee) is already dealing with injury and Chris Godwin (hamstring) is unlikely to suit up. The matchup isn’t great but Perriman should find himself in the starting lineup.

Noah Brown, DAL – With the Cowboys searching for answers outside of CeeDee Lamb, Brown caught all five of his targets in Week 2 for 91 yards and a TD. He could have more spiked weeks like this, but he’ll be hard to trust as a WR3 or Flex option especially with Michael Gallup likely to return soon. Week 4 against the Commanders will be his next best opportunity.

Garrett Wilson, NYJ – There are plenty of options in the Jets passing game and who knows how the offense will play when Zach Wilson (knee) returns, but you can’t deny the usage Garrett received in Week 2 – 14 targets. The rookie will be a WR4/5 option moving forward. Upcoming schedule: CIN, @PIT, MIA

Update: Treylon Burks, TEN – It’s hard to takeaway much from the pounding the Bills put on the Titans but Burks usage with first team is encouraging. He led the Titans with 6 targets (4-47-0) and a decent matchup against the Raiders is on tap for Week 3.

Greg Dortch, ARI – I had Dortch in the “Other WRs to Consider” category last week. He is operating in the role Rondale Moore will play whenever he returns. Dortch now as 11-118-1 in two games and is currently the WR21 this week heading into Monday night. He’ll be a Flex option in Week 3 (LAR) if Rondale is out.

Chris Olave, NO – The 13 targets in Week 2 were nice but the Saints’ passing game has some issues, most notably Jameis Winston’s back problems. Consistent targets will be an issue for Olave with Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry still in the mix but a spike week is coming. The schedule does look promising: @CAR, MIN (London), SEA, CIN

TE Juwan Johnson, NO – Johnson (4-40-0) is operating as the pass-catching tight end for the Saints. He doesn’t have a ceiling but does have 12 targets in two games.

Other WRs/TEs to consider (Week 3 opponents in parentheses): Jakobi Meyers, NE (BAL); Nelson Agholor, NE (BAL); TE Tyler Conklin, NYJ (CIN); Sterling Shepard, NYG (DAL); Ashton Dulin, IND (KC); Mack Hollins, LV (@TEN), Richie James, NYG (DAL)

Players recommended last week:

Curtis Samuel, WAS (7-78-1; 1-21): Finished as the WR10. With 20 targets and 5 rushing attempts in two games, Samuel is looking like a solid PPR option moving forward. Ride this train while you can.

Jahan Dotson, WAS (4-59-1): Dotson finished as the WR21 thanks to his TD grab. Schedule remains favorable outside of the Cowboys in Week 4: PHI, @DAL, TEN

Josh Palmer, LAC (4-30-1): Palmer finished as the WR32. He appeared to be out of sync with Justin Herbert to start the game but did receive 8 targets.

Sterling Shepard, NYG (6-34-0): Shephard led all Giants receivers with 10 targets. This offense just stinks at the moment.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE (0-0-0): Goose eggs. Amari Cooper (9-101-1) operated as the main receiving target against the Jets.

TE Gerald Everett, LAC (6-71-0): Everett finished as the TE8 and should have low-end TE1 value moving forward.

TE Taysom Hill, NO (3-14-0; 0-0-0): I’m actually surprised the Saints didn’t involve Hill more in gameplan considering Alvin Kamara (ribs) was out and Mark Ingram (ankle) was banged up.

Devin Duvernay, BAL (2-42-0): Duvernay took the opening kickoff back for a TD. Otherwise, he was largely quiet in the shootout against Miami with Rashod Bateman commanding 7 targets and Mark Andrews 11.

D/ST streamers for Week 3

  • New Orleans @ CAR
  • Chicago vs. HOU
  • Philadelphia @ WAS
  • Cleveland vs. PIT
  • Minnesota vs. DET