Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Quentin Johnston, Tyler Johnson, Josh Downs (Week 3)

The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course there were another round of injuries and surprising performances. As a result, fantasy football managers will be on the lookout for wavier wire additions and replacement options for those injured over the weekend or just to bolster their lineup moving forward. Here are a few players to consider adding via the fantasy football waiver wire this week. And here’s all of our Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire advice.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target: Week 3

Quentin Johnston (LAC): 7% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, KC, Bye
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Don’t look now, but Johnston is playing well. He crushed expectations in Week 2, leading the Bolts’ receivers in every category. He drew a 30% target share while recording a team-leading 69% route share and two scores. Johnston’s 2.68 yards per route run (per PFF) was quite nice. While he didn’t fill up the box score in Week 1, he was quietly effective. Among 80 qualifying receivers, Johnston was 38th in route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). With Joshua Palmer banged up and Ladd McConkey experiencing rookie growing pains, Johnston could be the team’s WR1 moving forward. The upcoming matchups aren’t amazing before the team’s bye, so keep your expectations in check, but better days could be ahead for the sophomore wide receiver.

Tyler Johnson (LAR): 11% rostered

• Next Opponents: SF, @CHI, GB
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: In Week 1, after Puka Nacua was injured, Johnson had a 21.7% target share, a 12.3% air-yard share, 3.67 yards per route run (4.4 aDOT), and a 16.7% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Among 78 qualifying receivers in Week 1, Johnson was 53rd in separation and 32nd in route win rate. His Week 2 numbers weren’t nearly as impressive, as Johnson had an 11.1% target share and 20 receiving yards (0.80 yards per route run) as a full-time receiver. Cooper Kupp was sidelined for the second half against the Cardinals and left the stadium in a walking boot, so Johnson could be elevated to the WR2 role for the Rams. This holds some weekly flex appeal, especially in deeper leagues.

Josh Downs (IND): 21% rostered

• Next Opponents: CHI, PIT, @JAX
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Downs was close to returning from an ankle injury and suiting up in Week 2. He wasn’t able to go against the Packers, but he may return in Week 3. Once he is ready to go, Downs should resume his role as the team’s starting slot wide receiver, pushing Adonai Mitchell to the bench. I feel like I need to remind people of Downs’ talent. Last year, before spraining his knee, Downs was the WR36 in fantasy points per game with an 18.9% target share and 2.0 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Downs has decent matchups in the slot over the next two weeks against Chicago and Pittsburgh, who respectively allowed the second-most and 14th-most PPR points per target last year.

Check out all of our Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire advice

Successful In-Season Fantasy Football Management

Once your fantasy football team is drafted, the work is not over. Successful in-season management is crucial to a winning fantasy football season. Here are some tips to help you manage your team effectively throughout the season:

Stay up to date on player news
Keep track of player injuries, suspensions, and other news that may impact their performance. This will help you make informed decisions about which players to start each week.

Monitor the waiver wire
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and be ready to pick up players who may be undervalued or overlooked by other teams. This can provide valuable depth to your roster. Use our waiver wire assistant to view optimal lineups, waiver and trade suggestions, and league analysis.

Analyze matchups
Analyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week. Look for favorable matchups and take into account the strength of the opposing team’s defense.

Stay active in trades
Be open to trading players with other teams if it will benefit your team. Analyze the potential impact of a trade before making a decision and negotiate with other teams to find a mutually beneficial agreement.

Be prepared for bye weeks
Plan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters. Avoid having too many players with the same bye week, which can leave your team short-handed.

Don’t overreact to one bad week
Avoid overreacting to one bad week of performance by a player. Take a long-term view of their performance and evaluate their potential moving forward.

Continuously evaluate your roster
Continuously evaluate your roster throughout the season and make adjustments as needed. Be willing to drop underperforming players or make changes to your lineup if necessary.