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If you thought the waiver wire outlook for running backs was bad last week, don't bother looking this week. There are plenty of intriguing options at wide receiver, however, and some help to be found for those looking to stream QB and TE.
Below, you will find the top waiver wire options at each position with an analysis of their values, both immediate and long-term. We will look only at players who are rostered in 50% or fewer leagues, according to Yahoo! Players are listed in order of priority.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears - 48% rostered
The breakout performance of Week 3 belongs to Herbert, who ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He reaped the benefits of having the backfield to himself for most of the game once David Montgomery left with an ankle injury. A big consideration of how high to prioritize Herbert and how much FAB to spend is the status of Monty for the following week. The initial report from Sunday evening makes it seem as if Herbert might not be the hero you're looking for after all.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus says the prognosis on RB David Montgomery is “good” and he’ll be “day-to-day” with a “lower leg” injury.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) September 25, 2022
If Montgomery is good then Herbert might not get the chance to be great again. He has surely earned more touches and could force his way into something closer to a 60-40 split in Monty's favor as opposed to being limited to a handful of snaps. The other consideration is that Herbert doesn't catch passes (four in three games this year, 14 in 17 games last year), mainly because he's not very good at it. He has plenty of upside in standard leagues but takes a hit in PPR. He's a top priority for those starved at RB this week and especially Montgomery's stakeholders but not worth emptying the wallet for.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings - 54% rostered
He's just over half-owned in Yahoo leagues at the moment and is stashed in many competitive leagues already but it needs to mentioned that Mattison is poised and ready to jump into fantasy lineups again. Of course, he'll need Dalvin Cook to sit out in order for that to happen. Much like Montgomery in Chicago, Cook's injury is being downplayed and the team has indicated he may be ready to play against New Orleans across the pond this coming week.
#Vikings RB Dalvin Cook’s shoulder dislocated again today, as it has in the past, and he'll be OK, per sources.
Cook has an unrepaired labral tear and wasn't wearing a harness. As @ProFootballTalk said, the hope is Cook will harness up and play next Sunday vs. the #Saints.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 25, 2022
We've seen this repeatedly with Cook, who's never made it through a season without missing at least two games. Mattison is always the highest-end of handcuffs and should be on standby for fantasy managers this week.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills - 40% rostered
The younger Cook is starting to become part of the Bills' offense. He took 11 handoffs in Week 2 and then caught four passes in Week 3. It was surprising to see Devin Singletary get so much work as a pass-catcher because that's never been his forte but his career-high nine receptions along with Cook and even Moss' involvement this year makes it obvious that OC Ken Dorsey is making that a staple of the offense. Cook was drafted as much for his receiving chops as rushing ability so one can easily see a world in which he becomes something similar to Tony Pollard.
Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals - 6% rostered
The longtime backup RB has resurfaced again after a decent showing. He accumulated 47 rushing yards, 14 receiving yards, and scored a touchdown in a Week 3 rout over the Jets. He had only one carry in each of the first two games, so why the sudden usage spike? Joe Mixon left the game in the third quarter, so the team had no chance but to turn to Perine. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury and Mixon may have returned if needed in a more competitive game.
Joe Mixon's ankle is "a little sore" according to #Bengals head coach Zac Taylor
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) September 25, 2022
The tricky thing is that Cincinnati plays on Thursday night this week, so if Mixon is still sore or tweaks something in practice, Perine could be in store for a big workload. Mixon owners should consider adding him but he won't have standalone value this season as long as Mixon is active.
Others to consider: Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans (19% rostered); Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (15% rostered); Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (9% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills - 41% rostered
After seeing just three targets in each of the first two contests, McKenzie led all Buffalo receivers with 76 yards and tied Stefon Diggs with seven receptions in their heartbreaking loss to Miami. He also found the end zone for the second time this season. There is some suspicion that Gabe Davis might not have been 100%, which led to other players getting more involved. Still, McKenzie serves as the WR3 in a potent offense that doesn't have a stud at TE and lacks depth at receiver.
McKenzie is a solid fallback option for PPR leagues but he should be highly prioritized this particular week because of the schedule. Buffalo, coming off their first defeat, gets to play Baltimore this coming week. The Ravens have given up by far the most passing yards at 1,060; Miami is second with 893.
Russell Gage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 42% rostered
In the absence of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Julio Jones, it was Gage who stepped up as the primary receiver for Tom Brady. He gathered 12 receptions for 87 and a touchdown on the final drive that nearly led the Bucs to tie up the game if not for a failed two-point conversion.
💣 ¡SUENAN LOS CAÑONES!
15 segundos en el reloj.
Tom Brady para Russell Gage.
Touchdown.
La conversión era el siguiente paso para ganar.Es inevitable este tío. pic.twitter.com/mD7KwYNLq7
— Ready Hut (@Ready_Hut) September 26, 2022
Gage's 13 targets were more than twice as much as any other Buc. That will obviously change with Evans returning next week and Godwin may not be too far off, so the volume can't be counted on. He should still be one of the primary targets going forward and has WR3 value in full PPR leagues as long as he's got the GOAT slinging it to him.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers - 25% rostered
Here come the truthers! Doubs was looking more like Marquez Callaway than Davante Adams after the first two games where he caught a total of six passes for 64 yards. Numerous injuries at the receiver position led him to an 89% snap share in Week 3 and eight targets. He caught all eight, winding up with 73 yards and a touchdown. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship between him and Aaron Rodgers.
Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers - 27% rostered
In a game where Keenan Allen didn't play and Mike Williams caught just one pass, it was Palmer stepping up as the lead receiver with 99 yards. The best sign of future value is the fact he led the team with nine targets. The Bolts were in catch-up mode, shockingly, all game long and had to throw it 45 times. That happened frequently last year but wasn't supposed to be the case with an improved defense. If J.C. Jackson doesn't get right soon and Joey Bosa misses time, then we could see another pass-happy offense that feeds Palmer targets. Even if Allen does return next week, Palmer remains on the streaming radar due to a matchup with the Texans.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys - 36% rostered
As of this writing, it's unclear whether Gallup will suit up in Week 3 and if so, how much he will be involved. The reality is that it doesn't matter much - he is not recommended as a streamer or short-term fix. He is a play for the second half of the year when he gets closer to full strength and the Cowboys get Dak Prescott back. If you have room on your bench, stashing him now would be wise.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars - 10% rostered
Apparently, late-bloomers still exist in pro sports. Jones was a second-round pick by the Bills who didn't impress enough to stick around after two and a half years, then spent an equal amount of time with the Raiders before walking in free agency. He has found a home in Jacksonville, becoming the clear number two target in this offense behind Christian Kirk. After his 10-catch outing in Week 3, Jones has 19 receptions for 173 yards on the season. This Jags offense is much different from a year ago and Jones looks to be in line for plenty of targets going forward.
Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders - 1% rostered
I had a sneaking suspicion Hollins was stream-worthy with Hunter Renfrow out. I did not expect him to be one of the leading receivers on the week with 158 yards on eight catches and a touchdown. Hollins didn't just post a career-best game with his first-ever 100-yard effort, he drew the same number of targets as Davante Adams last week and has as many as Darren Waller on the season. It's too early to declare him a breakout and Renfrow should return in Week 4 but Hollins definitely deserves a look where receiver help is needed.
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals - 17% rostered
For another couple of weeks, Dortch will be fantasy-relevant until DeAndre Hopkins is activated. He's taking advantage of his opportunity, averaging 15 PPR points per game and serving as the third option in the Cards' offense behind Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz. He gets solid matchups against the Panthers this coming week and then at Seattle in Week 6, with a tough one vs Philadelphia sandwiched in between. The upside isn't as high as a few others on this list and the lifespan of his value is limited but Dortch is a fine streamer for the time being.
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings - 6% rostered
There was plenty of preseason hype about Osborn in this new offense that was supposed to be more aggressive and utilize a third receiver more often. That's why he was one of my top draft sleepers. But the first two games made it look like he wasn't being favored by the coaching staff when he drew a total of six targets. Now, it like deja vu all over again from the season opener of 2021. Osborn was the leading receiver against Detroit with 73 yards while Justin Jefferson was an afterthought, catching three balls for 14 yards.
It won't continue this way, just as it didn't last year. But it is clear that Osborn has upside in this offense, especially in prime matchups. It might be tough sledding when the Vikes take on the Saints in Week 4 and it could be a get-right game for Jefferson. He gets the Bears and Dolphins the next two weeks, who rank 12th and sixth respectively in most net yards per pass attempt allowed.
DeVante Parker, New England Patriots - 25% rostered
His Week 3 outburst of 156 yards can't be completely overlooked but there are a few reasons to be skeptical of him. First, it was against the Ravens. Second, it came with Jakobi Meyers sidelined. Finally, the Pats may not have Mac Jones in the near future if his injury proves to be serious. Parker has always been capable of making plays downfield, he just hasn't done it consistently.
Laviska Shenault Jr., Carolina Panthers - 1% rostered
Are we buying into a Viska revival? Maybe it's the change of scenery that he needed. In his first appearance as a Panther, Shenault took a 67-yard reception to the house and made another big play later. The volume won't be there, although he's proven he may not need it. In 14-team or deeper leagues, he can't be a lotto ticket.
Others to consider: Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans (46% rostered); D.J. Chark, Detroit Lions (44% rostered); Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (23% rostered); Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (11% rostered); Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (4% rostered); Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (0% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets - 21% rostered
With all the hype surrounding Garrett Wilson and the disappointment around Elijah Moore, what's being lost is the fact that the tight end is getting a ton of targets in this Jets offense. Conklin hasn't seen fewer than seven targets in a game yet and was actually the team's leading receiver in Week 3. For those who are tired of streaming at TE, Conklin may be the answer.
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars - 26% rostered
Week 3 was a letdown as Engram only caught one pass for nine yards. The wideouts are carrying the load in the Jags' passing game but Engram has been solid on the whole. Most encouraging is that he has an 80% catch rate and hasn't made any terrible drops. He always looms as a high-end TE2 streamer and may see more action when they play Philly next week as Darius Slay and company lock down the outside receivers.
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks - 1% rostered
His solid Week 1 (3 rec., 43 yds, 1 TD) looked like an outlier after he caught two balls for zero yards (how?) in Week 2. Then, he emerged with another touchdown in Week 3. The yardage hasn't been great and the floor is low without a trip to the end zone but the Hawks will travel to Detroit in Week 4.
Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts - 1% rostered
We've already gotten a great example of why you don't overreact to a two-touchdown game with O.J. Howard after his opening-game performance. This is a little different though. Whereas Howard was recently released by another team and scooped up to replace an injured starter, Woods was a recent draft pick who is expected to be the starting TE soon enough.
Woods did nothing in the first two games and his only two catches against KC were both touchdowns. He's not necessarily someone to trust but those in non-PPR leagues can consider deploying him if needed.
Others to consider: Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (29% rostered); Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders (37% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints - 42% rostered
Despite all the injuries, Winston came through with 353 yards and a TD in Week 3. New Orleans was playing from behind all day long, so that certainly contributed. The upside is always great with Winston but there is concern now that Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Tre'Quan Smith all suffered injuries this past week. If at least one of them returns for Week 4, it should be enough to buoy Winston's value against a Vikings defense that has been generous to opposing passers so far.
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons - 22% rostered
The passing numbers will never wow us but the ability to sneak into the end zone is always present. Mariota has thrown three touchdowns in three games and also run in for two scores. The Browns have allowed rushing TDs to Baker Mayfield and Mitch Trubisky so surely Mariota can find paydirt. He'll never win you a week by himself but Mariota brings a decent floor for fantasy managers who need a fill-in.
Others to consider: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (45% rostered); Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (16% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Cleveland Browns Defense - 49% rostered
Once the implied totals are released, the best guess is that CLE-ATL is among the lowest on the upcoming slate. Cleveland took care of business on Thursday against Pittsburgh and will now face a Falcons team that has been surprisingly good on offense. Atlanta has scored at least 26 points in three straight games but they've also turned the ball over seven times. In leagues where turnovers matter more than points allowed, Cleveland could get the job done.
Miami Dolphins Defense - 15% rostered
Picking a defense that is about to hit the road to face Joe Burrow and the Bengals isn't ideal. In formats where points allowed weigh heavily, look elsewhere. But in leagues where you are looking for sacks first and foremost, this is a strong streaming option. Burrow predictably carved up the Jets but he was sacked 13 times in the first two games. The Fins got to Josh Allen, one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league, four times in their victory and are riding high on their victory to a Thursday night matchup.
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