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Dan's fantasy football quarterback waiver wire pickups for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season. His free agent QBs to add and QB streamers for 1QB and 2B leagues.
Thankfully for fantasy football managers, offensive football made a major bounce back in Week 2. 15 different teams scored at least 27 points in Week 2, and two different matchups featured teams that scored at least 28 points each.
Higher scoring also means better quarterback play. 10 different quarterbacks threw for at least 300 yards, including a week-leading performance from Houston rookie C.J. Stroud (364 passing yards). Kirk Cousins paced the quarterback position in touchdown passes (four), but four other quarterbacks had three passing touchdowns.
In this article, I will look at the fantasy football waiver wire for quarterback pickups and streamers, focusing on players under 65% rostered in fantasy leagues while adding a couple of deep sleepers for two-quarterback leagues (less than 25% rostered).
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Single-QB League Waiver Wire Options
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Yahoo: 40% rostered
The Saints won’t kick off until tonight’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers, which means we are missing information about how pass-happy the New Orleans offense will be. If Week 1’s performance is any indicator, then Carr can provide solid play in a high-volume passing attack this season.
Carr completed 23 of 33 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown with one interception against the Tennessee Titans. Three different receivers had at least five receptions and 61 receiving yards in that game, led by Chris Olave (eight receptions for 112 yards). The Saints have an excellent passing attack and three legitimate weapons to stress secondaries.
That isn’t great news for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have a strong defense but haven’t been tested through the air in matchups against the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons. Desmond Ridder was able to get the Falcons’ offense moving in the second half through the air to secure a 25-24 victory.
We will learn more about New Orleans’ offense after tonight’s game, but Carr should be on the radar given what we have seen through one week of the season.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Yahoo: 35% rostered
The Rams offense was expected to take a major step back this season, especially once Cooper Kupp started the season on the short-term injured reserve. However, through two weeks, Matthew Stafford has looked solid in a high-volume passing offense.
Stafford has continued to air the ball out without his top target, instead funneling the passing attack through players like Tutu Atwell and rookie sensation Puka Nacua. Stafford has attempted at least 38 passes in both weeks and has completed 62.5% of his passes for 641 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.
The veteran quarterback still won’t have Cooper Kupp in Week 3, but he will have an easy matchup against a Bengals defense that has surrendered at least 24 points in back-to-back weeks against the Browns and Ravens. This game should result in a shootout, which will result in Matthew Stafford airing the ball out against a subpar secondary to keep up in the scoring department.
Two-QB League Waiver Wire Options
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Yahoo: 15% rostered
We won’t see Bryce Young play for a second time until tonight’s contest against the New Orleans Saints. Regardless of that outcome, Young is an intriguing quarterback to add to your bench starting in Week 3.
Young had his struggles in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons' revamped defense, completing just 52.6% of his passes for 146 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. And there is a chance he struggles against a stingy defense in New Orleans tonight.
However, Young is poised to have a great matchup in Week 3 against a Seattle secondary that hasn’t shown much interest in stopping opposing offenses through two weeks. Seattle has allowed 30.5 points per game through two games, allowing the combination of Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff to throw for 657 yards and three touchdowns.
Young will have growing pains, but Week 3 should be the first chance we get to see him operate against a bad passing defense. There is a great chance he shows us the reason he was the first overall pick in the 2023 draft in that matchup.
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
Yahoo: 5% rostered
The Falcons are committed to playing as a run-first offense whenever possible. However, they were forced to air the ball out more against the Packers in a game where the Falcons trailed until the fourth quarter. That meant we got to see Desmond Ridder function more as a passer.
Ridder still isn’t great at throwing the ball, but he was able to produce a solid stat line against a strong Green Bay defense. The second-year quarterback completed 19 of 32 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also provided solid production on the ground, racking up 10 carries for 39 yards and a rushing touchdown.
The Falcons find themselves playing another offense that can put points up in a hurry in the Detroit Lions in Week 3. The Lions are averaging 29 points per game through their first two contests. They’ve also given up 554 passing yards and five passing touchdowns to Patrick Mahomes and Geno Smith.
Ridder should be in a passing environment in Week 3 and have the mobility we look for in the quarterback position. He should have more than enough to provide a solid floor in fantasy in Week 3.
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