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 to 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. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 3.
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- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Sam Darnold (QB – MIN) vs. Houston Texans (15.2% Rostered)
One of the biggest surprises over the first two weeks has been Darnold and the Vikings. Minnesota is 2-0, including a 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. While the former No. 3 NFL Draft pick hasn’t been a fantasy star, he has played well. The veteran has completed 72% of his pass attempts for 238 yards, two touchdowns, and 17.3 fantasy points per game. Yet, Darnold hasn’t had to throw the ball at a high rate, totaling 24 and 26 pass attempts in the two contests.
Surprisingly, he showed off his athleticism last week, rushing for 32 yards on five attempts. Meanwhile, the Texans gave Caleb Williams nightmares, as he was pressured on almost every snap last week. They held him to 7.4 fantasy points while forcing two interceptions. However, Houston gave up 212 yards, two touchdowns, and 16.5 fantasy points to Anthony Richardson in the passing game in Week 1. The Vikings have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. Darnold should have another strong fantasy performance if Minnesota can keep him upright.
Bucky Irving (RB – TB) vs. Denver Broncos (32.6% Rostered)
The Buccaneers backfield hasn’t been great for fantasy players. Yet, Irving has outplayed Rachaad White, posting a higher explosive run rate (6.3% vs. 4%) over the first two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, the rookie has played well in appealing matchups. Last week, he averaged 3.1 yards per rushing attempt, scoring 2.2 half-point PPR fantasy points against an elite Detroit Lions run defense. However, Irving was significantly better in Week 1 against an awful Washington Commanders defense, averaging 6.9 yards per rushing attempt, totaling 8.6 fantasy points.
Thankfully, Irving has an appealing matchup against the Broncos in Week 3. Denver has struggled to slow down opposing rushing attacks, giving up 229 rushing yards to running backs over the first two weeks, the ninth-most in the NFL. They have surrendered at least 114 rushing yards to running backs in both games. More importantly, running backs have averaged 22.2 fantasy points per game against the Broncos, 14% higher than the league average. Don’t be surprised if Irving sees an increased workload with White dealing with a groin injury.
D’Onta Foreman (RB – CLE) vs. New York Giants (14.8% Rostered)
Jerome Ford played 75% of the snaps in Week 1, totaling 81.8% of the backfield touches. While Foreman barely played in Week 1, that drastically changed last week. He played 38% of the snaps compared to 44% for Ford. The former Texas star had 14 rushing attempts for 42 yards and 5.6 half-point PPR fantasy points. By comparison, Ford had seven rushing attempts for 64 yards and 6.9 fantasy points in Week 2. More importantly, Foreman had both the team’s rushing attempts in the red zone.
Meanwhile, the Giants have had an awful run defense this season, surrendering 23.8 fantasy points per game to running backs, the eighth-most in the NFL. They have given up the seventh-highest explosive run rate (8.2%), the highest missed tackle forced per rushing attempt rate (25%), and the most yards after contact per attempt (3.11) over the first two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data). While Ford remains the lead running back, Foreman should have flex value in Week 3 if he sees the same volumes as last week.
Alec Pierce (WR – IND) vs. Chicago Bears (34.3% Rostered)
Some fantasy players might be afraid to start Piece with Josh Downs returning from an ankle injury this week. However, he isn’t the one who will see his fantasy value decline with the return of the second-year receiver. The former UNC star primarily plays in the slot, where Piece has only run 28% of his routes over the first two weeks. He has run the other 78% of his routes out wide, averaging 4.61 yards per route run and a 25% target per route run rate (per Fantasy Points Data).
The veteran receiver has had 87.5% of his receptions, 81.8% of his targets, 91.7% of his receiving yards, and 94.1% of his half-point PPR fantasy points lined up outside this season. More importantly, Pierce’s 23.2 aDOT, when lined up out wide, is the fourth-highest among wide receivers with at least 10 routes over the first two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Bears have struggled with deep ball outside receivers this year, surrendering the 13th-highest aDOT (12.1) and the 12th-most receiving yards per game (103).
Jordan Whittington (WR – LAR) vs. San Francisco 49ers (7.1% Rostered)
Unfortunately, the Rams will be without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for a while, making Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson popular waiver-wire targets. However, Whittington is the guy fantasy players want to pick up as a potential beat-the-waiver-wire candidate. Furthermore, the rookie is an appealing flex option this week in deeper leagues. He had an impressive preseason, averaging 1.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per reception and 0.39 per route run. More importantly, Whittington had a 47% increase in snaps played from Week 1 to Week 2.
Last week, the rookie ran 72.7% of his route from the slot in the second half following Kupp’s exit from the game, the most on the team. He faces a San Francisco defense that has surrendered the most receiving yards per game (145.5), the third-most receiving touchdowns (two), and the highest yards per route run rate (3.51) to slot receivers over the first two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data). Furthermore, the 49ers have given up 36 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-most in the NFL this season.
Brenton Strange (TE – JAX) vs. Buffalo Bills (3.4% Rostered)
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t believe Evan Engram will play Monday night after suffering a hamstring injury during pregame warm-ups last week. The veteran tight end didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday, meaning Strange will likely get his second consecutive start. The former Penn State star was the TE9 in Week 2, totaling three receptions for 65 receiving yards and eight half-point PPR fantasy points against a talented Cleveland Browns defense. More importantly, Strange led the team in targets (seven) and target per route run rate (29%).
Meanwhile, the Bills have played well on defense despite missing several critical players. However, their bend but don’t break type of defense has been excellent for opposing tight ends. Buffalo has surrendered 8.7 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the first two weeks, the eighth-most in the NFL, despite not allowing a touchdown. Furthermore, they have permitted slot pass catchers to average 14.3 fantasy points per game. Strange ran 70.8% of his routes from the slot last week. He should have another solid performance on Monday night.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.