Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.
Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
Baker Mayfield (QB – TB) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (13.6% Rostered)
Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.
Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
Baker Mayfield (QB – TB) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (13.6% Rostered)
Some thought the former Oklahoma star would have lost the starting job by Week 3. Instead, the Buccaneers have a 2-0 record, and Mayfield has played well. The veteran is the QB13 over the first two weeks, averaging 245 passing yards, 1.5 touchdowns, and 17.2 fantasy points per game. His fantasy points per game average is higher than multiple superstars, including Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence. After playing against two subpar defenses, Mayfield takes on the Eagles on Monday night. However, that shouldn’t scare off fantasy players.
The Eagles had an excellent defense in 2022. They held quarterbacks to only 11.5 fantasy points per game, the third-fewest in the league. Unfortunately, Philadelphia is dealing with multiple injuries in the secondary. The Eagles gave up 316 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 24.14 fantasy points to Mac Jones in Week 1. Then they made Kirk Cousins a top-five quarterback last week, giving up 364 passing yards, four touchdowns, and 28.56 fantasy points. This game should be high-scoring, giving Mayfield mid-level QB1 upside this week.
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR) vs. Seattle Seahawks (19.2% Rostered)
While Miles Sanders is the lead running back in Carolina, Hubbard has carved out a role on offense. The former Oklahoma State star is averaging 7.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game this season, only 0.3 fantasy points per game fewer than Sanders. Furthermore, the third-year running back has scored at least 7.5 fantasy points in both contests. He caught all five targets for 34 receiving yards last week. With Andy Dalton starting this week, Hubbard could see an uptick in targets.
Carolina faces a Seattle defense that has struggled to slow down running backs this season. They have surrendered 24.2 fantasy points per game to running backs, the seventh-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Seahawks have given up four rushing touchdowns, the most in the league. Meanwhile, Sanders has been dealing with a pectoral injury. While he will play, Hubbard could see an uptick in work, especially if the Panthers are in negative game script early in the fourth quarter.
Kendre Miller (RB – NO) vs. Green Bay Packers (15.2% Rostered)
The Saints backfield might be cursed. With Alvin Kamara missing the first three games this season, Jamaal Williams had a chance to be a top-20 running back for the month of September. Instead, he struggled in Week 1 and got hurt last week. Meanwhile, Miller will make his NFL debut on Sunday after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury. However, he has under-the-radar upside in Week 3, with Williams unable to play.
More importantly, the matchup is excellent for the rookie’s fantasy outlook. The Packers have surrendered 25.9 half-point PPR fantasy points to running backs this season, the sixth-most in the NFL. Last week, Green Bay surrendered nearly five yards per rushing attempt to the Atlanta Falcons running backs. The Packers have given up 235 rushing yards to running backs this year, the sixth-most in the NFL. Fantasy players shouldn’t worry about Tony Jones Jr. or Taysom Hill. Miller should be the lead back in Week 3.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (20.5% Rostered)
Dell is an outstanding last-minute waiver wire add for Week 3. He should also be added in all leagues as a rest-of-the-season type player. The rookie finished second to Nico Collins in Week 2, scoring 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points. Furthermore, he finished second on the team in snap share (79%), second in routes run (45), and first in targets (10). Houston is playing for the future. It’s only a matter of time until Dell plays ahead of Robert Woods in two wide receiver sets. Pick up the rookie receiver, start him this week, and keep him on your roster.
Jacksonville has surrendered 27.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, about the league average. However, they struggled against the Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers in Week 2. After Skyy Moore had zero receptions and 0.4 fantasy points in Week 1, he had 70 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 14.5 fantasy points against the Jaguars. More importantly, C.J. Stroud has 91 pass attempts, the third-most in the NFL over the first two weeks. The Texans will be in negative game script most of this game, creating plenty of opportunities for Dell to score fantasy points.
Mack Hollins (WR – ATL) vs. Detroit Lions (1.2% Rostered)
The Falcons passing attack has been a nightmare for the fantasy football community. However, fantasy players hit by injuries or in deeper leagues should consider starting Hollins this week. The veteran wide receiver has averaged 6.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game this season. Yet, he is second on the team in targets (10), only behind Bijan Robinson. Furthermore, Hollins had six targets in Week 2 and averaged 2.61 yards per route run, a team-high. Meanwhile, his matchup this week offers upside.
Unfortunately, Detroit’s defense has gotten destroyed by injuries over the first two weeks. C.J. Gardner-Johnson might be out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. James Houston will miss several weeks with a fractured ankle. Both players were placed on injured reserve earlier this week. The Lions have surrendered 31.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the 10th-most in the NFL. If he can make a big play or two downfield, Hollins could end the week inside the top 36 wide receivers.
Cade Otton (TE – TB) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (1.8% Rostered)
Last year, Otton had a solid rookie season, totaling 42 receptions on 65 targets for 391 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. However, he wasn’t drafted in most leagues after the Buccaneers lost Tom Brady in the offseason. Yet, the former Washington star was solid in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. Otton caught all six targets for 41 receiving yards, scoring 7.1 half-point PPR fantasy points. More importantly, he finished third on the team in targets behind Chris Godwin and Mikes Evans.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s defense has struggled this season after shutting down tight ends in 2022. They held tight ends to only 8.5 fantasy points per game last year. However, the Eagles have given up 21.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, the most in the NFL. Philadelphia has surrendered at least 79 yards, one touchdown, and 19 fantasy points in both contests. Otton has scored double-digit fantasy points only twice in his career. Don’t be surprised if he scored 10 or more points on Monday night against the Eagles.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
