RADIO
Daniel Jones. That's where this article will begin and end. As one of the many analysts who mocked the Giants on draft day and held heavy skepticism about his prospects as an NFL quarterback, let me be the first to issue a formal apology to Mr. Jones. Of course, Giants fans know they can't have nice things these days, so news of Saquon Barkley's high-ankle sprain also makes Wayne Gallman someone of interest, at least in fantasy circles. But the New Yorkers aren't the only ones worth claiming off waivers this week, so let's take our weekly look at every position (except kickers - they're don't count) to find some help for our rosters.
Each week, we will advise you which players to consider picking up on waivers that are owned in approximately 33% or fewer of Yahoo leagues so that you can make an educated decision about how to improve your fantasy football team. This list is NOT meant to be exclusive of all add-worthy players. If higher-owned players not listed here are available in your league, feel free to treat them as priority pickups before these players.
As always, keep checking back here for updated waiver recommendations and always keep tabs on our NFL Player News feed. Be sure to also check out our weekly rankings and analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all options heading into Week 4.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts - 19% owned
Last week, Brissett had the first three-TD performance of his career. This time, he tossed a pair of scores and went over 300 yards for the third time ever. Could we be witnessing the emergence of a new franchise QB? Maybe but it's premature to expect him to be the next Andrew Luck. He's worth an add for those looking for help, as he stays at home again to face the Raiders, who have a bevy of injuries in the secondary and have yet to intercept a pass in three games.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants - 16% owned
If you not only picked up Jones but somehow put him in your lineup for his first NFL start, you must have felt lucky. Congrats. Jones put up a debut for the ages and promptly shut up all his doubters by leading the Giants to a road victory with a dominant performance. He wound up with 336 passing yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He also ran for two touchdowns, one of which came in the final seconds of the game and proved to be the winning score. What's most impressive is he spread the ball around to seven different receivers and did all this without the luxury of an elite WR like Odell Beckham. Once Golden Tate comes back in Week 5, Jones could be even more effective.
If you think this was a one-week wonder, also consider that he did much of this without Saquon Barkley in the backfield to distract defenders, as he left the game early with an ankle injury. With a home game against the hapless Redskins on deck, Jones is a borderline must-start for those who play the streaming game.
Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers - 13% owned
It's a good thing he has JuJu. Rudolph had a rough time in San Francisco, barely completing half his passes by going 14 for 27. It should be noted that 76 of his 174 passing yards came on a catch-and-run by JuJu Smith-Schuster, who did all the work on a long touchdown. Otherwise, it was tough sledding against a decent but not great defense. Rudolph gets a great chance to redeem himself in his second start though. He'll be at home against the Bengals, who have one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville Jaguars - 8% owned
If your fantasy league gives bonus points for cool factor, Minshew is a must-add. He's looked calm and composed through his first two starts, although that hasn't translated to great fantasy numbers. In three week of play, including his relief appearance in Week 1 when he basically played the entire game, Minshew has a 5/1 TD/INT rate, 74% completion rate and is averaging 230 passing yards per game. He's mainly a stash in 2QB leagues, as a road matchup against the Broncos makes him less appealing in Week 4.
Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers - 2% owned
We don't know if Allen will start Week 4 or if Cam Newton will be available. Considering the way Allen played in his first start, tossing four touchdowns without an interception (he did lose a fumble), it wouldn't be surprising if the Panthers kept Newton on the sidelines another week at least. Carolina will be on the road against Houston, which has allowed 858 passing yards over the first three games, or 286 per game. Check on Newton's status before bothering with a waiver claim on Allen.
Others to consider: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (28% owned); Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans (12% owned); Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints (6% owned)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 24% owned
It'd be nice if Jones could make up his mind. Week 1, he looked like the better running back than Peyton Barber. Week 2, he totaled just nine yards rushing and took a backseat to Barber. Week 3, he was back to averaging nearly six yards per rush attempt with big gains as a receiver too. We certainly can't trust Jones or the Bucs offense just yet, but Jones has the talent and opportunity to be one of the more interesting names to watch over the next few weeks.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings - 20% owned
A big game by a backup RB doesn't always make for fantasy value. After all, this game had a 27-point margin until the last minutes, so Mattison simply took advantage of a struggling Raider defense. That said, Minnesota's running game has been dominant so far and Mattison himself is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He may not deliver the same type of value as Latavius Murray last year, simply because Dalvin Cook is healthy and looks like one of the best running backs in football. He does have high-end handcuff value and would seem to be an instant RB1 if Cook does get hurt.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys - 17% owned
A big game by a backup RB doesn't always... you get the idea. Pollard had the joy of facing the Dolphins and parlayed second-half touches into his first 100-yard game along with a touchdown. He's getting touches but we also have to keep in mind that the Cowboys have enjoyed a pillow-soft schedule so far. A road game with the Saints is followed by a contest with the Packers. Pollard is a great Zeke handcuff but can't be depended on for standalone value on a consistent basis.
Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers - 9% owned
When Matt LaFleur said he wanted to give Williams and Aaron Jones an equal amount of carries to keep Jones fresh for the end of the season, it might have caused heart palpitations for Jones owners, especially those who spent a third-round pick on him. He wasn't kidding either - Williams out-touched and outrushed Jones in Week 3, with 12 carries for 59 yards while Jones came away with just 10 carries for 19 yards. In another role reversal, it was Jones who got the goal-line work, scoring twice in the process and saving his fantasy day. Williams even saw more targets in the passing game. If this becomes a trend, Williams has to hold some appeal in 12-to-14-team leagues and deeper. This week isn't a good time to roll him out as a flex since Philly brings a tough run defense. Plus, it's a Thursday night game, so don't expect much offense.
Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs - 6% owned
Right team, wrong Wiliams. With Damien Williams out, it wasn't rookie Darwin Thompson who saw a bump in usage, it was second-year back Williams. You might not remember that he was part of the Chiefs backfield last year, as he only carried the ball 13 times and caught three passes all season. He didn't touch the ball the first two weeks of this season either. Now, he becomes an intriguing add if Damien Williams remains out for Week 4 versus the Lions. LeSean McCoy has also had some ankle issues that limited him on Sunday, so keep an eye before deciding how much FAAB to spend. He's still just a short-term add, if at all, so don't get carried away.
Jeffery Wilson, San Francisco 49ers - 4% owned
Kyle Shanahan wasn't kidding when he said Jeff Wilson would be his red-zone back. Wilson scored twice on short runs and saw extensive work inside the 20 all game long. Unfortunately, the Niners are the first team to go on bye, so he won't be of use to you in Week 4. He is worth stashing in standard leagues for his scoring potential alone. Those of you in touchdown-only scoring leagues should consider Wilson an every-week starter. Then again, if you're in a league like that, you probably aren't reading an article like this.
Wayne Gallman, New York Giants - 3% owned
The player who will see the most waiver claims this week, especially from Barkley owners, is Gallman. This might have been one of those depressing, out-of-necessity adds that doesn't inspire much confidence except that Daniel Jones has reinvigorated the offense in New York. Plus, the matchup against Washington is too good to pass up. After the first two weeks, they had allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league, behind only Miami. Gallman has the chance to take a prominent role for several weeks, most likely. He should be the first RB added everywhere.
Others to consider: Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers (29% owned); Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots (24% owned); Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (4% owned); Ty Johnson, Detroit Lions (2% owned)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Phillip Dorsett, New England Patriots - 32% owned
Let the roller coaster continue. Dorsett was added in a ton of league after his two-TD game in Week 1, then dropped like a bad habit when Antonio Brown took the field for the Pats. His ownership now stands right at one-third of all leagues, which means the WR3 for New England could very well be free for the taking once more. He scored his third touchdown of the season and caught six passes for 53 yards in Week 3. He won't ever surpass Julian Edelman or Josh Gordon in target share but we know that even the third option for Tom Brady always has value.
Dante Pettis, San Francisco 49ers - 24% owned
How did I know that as soon as I dropped Pettis he would score? Pettis didn't just catch the only touchdown from Jimmy Garoppolo, he was second on the team in targets and receptions, behind George Kittle. He can't help you in Week 4 but he is someone to watch more closely or stash in deeper leagues.
Kenny Stills, Houston Texans - 18% owned
It looks as if the Houston offense can support two deep threats alongside Nuk. Stills had his best game as a Texan with 89 yards on four catches in Week 3. He will continue to be boom-bust as always. If you need a high-upside play, Stills could pay dividends with a home game against Carolina next up.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills - 8% owned
The Bills didn't roll over the Bengals quite like we expected. While Josh Allen was a slight disappointment, his favorite receiver, Cole Beasley, did help PPR owners with eight catches on the day. They were all short routes, resulting in 48 yards. Add in a two-point conversion and he did reward you with about 15 fantasy points though. He hasn't hit paydirt yet but he does have at least four receptions in every game thus far. He can be considered a solid floor play.
Adam Humphries, Tennessee Titans - 6% owned
The slot man for Tennessee was quiet to start the year but saw his targets go up from one to two to nine. It's hard to trust anyone in this passing game but typically the slot receiver will be targeted more frequently. It's a lot better than trusting Corey Davis or rookie WR A.J. Brown.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 4% owned
Donte Moncrief has been officially demoted, not just from the starting role but from the active roster. Johnson, a rookie out of Pitt, took his place and came away with 52 yards and a TD in his first start. It was also the first start for Mason Rudolph, so it will be interesting to see if they can build chemistry together as the season goes on. Johnson will be a risky play for fantasy owners most weeks, except this one. The Steelers will be at home facing division rival Cincinnati Bengals, who are flat-out terrible on defense. It would have to be a deeper league but rolling out Johnson might be a risk worth taking.
Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins - 3% owned
Undrafted rookie Preston Williams led the Fins in receiving against Dallas - the second straight game he's done so. He should have done much better. He caught four balls for 68 yards but was targeted 12 times on the afternoon. Imagine if he'd been claimed by a different team... Williams is possibly the only player worth owning on this "team."
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots - 1% owned
Does the fourth receiver on the Pats carry fantasy value? Probably not outside of dynasty leagues but he's at least seen the field now. He caught two of three targets for 38 yards and could be a more prominent player if injury occurs to another Patriots WR.
David Moore, Seattle Seahawks - 1% owned
The presumptive WR3 for Seattle is back after missing the first two contests with a shoulder injury. He caught just one of two targets for 29 yards in Week 3 but will likely see his target share ramp up as the weeks go by. He's only someone to consider in very deep formats.
Others to consider: Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys (30% owned); Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers (24% owned); Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions (24% owned); Devin Smith, Dallas Cowboys (11% owned); Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars (4% owned)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins - 20% owned
We may never have to worry about whether Jordan Reed is worth adding/starting/dropping ever again. Repeated concussions and leg injuries have caught up to him to the point where he may have to hang up his cleats for good. That leaves Davis as the tight end of the present for the Skins, with just former fifth-round pick Jeremy Sprinkle, he of nine career receptions, to back him up. Even at age 35, Davis has great athleticism at the position and can be a factor in this passing game.
Chris Herndon IV, New York Jets - 13% owned
If you're left wanting more at tight end, (e.g. you own Jared Cook or Eric Ebron), or need a replacement for David Njoku, this is the time to add Herndon. It'll be another week before he finishes his suspension and yet another before Sam Darnold comes back, but Herndon's ownership will hav spiked by that point. Grab him now if you have room on your roster.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings - 1% owned
Rookie tight ends are always hard to trust, especially one who accounts for -1 yard after his first two NFL games. Smith finally made positive strides in Week 3, however, coming away with three catches for 60 yards. Believe it or not, he was the leading receiver for the Vikings on the day as Adam Thielen had 55 yards and Stefon Diggs just 15. Most notable is the fact Kyle Rudolph caught one pass for 11 yards and has a total of four catches for 20 yards on the season. Smith doesn't offer enough upside based on the way this pass offense looks but it's possible he becomes more valuable than Rudolph sooner than later.
Demetrius Harris/Ricky Seals-Jones, Cleveland Browns - 1% owned
Demetrius Harris is the new starter but perhaps RSJ is the better pass-catching TE in Cleveland. Seals-Jones registered one catch for 14 yards on Sunday night; not great to be sure, but it trumps Harris' two yards. Of course, Harris' one catch went for a touchdown. Either could be considered a bye-week fill-in for the upcoming weeks while Njoku is on IR.
Others to consider: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (22% owned); Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals (13% owned); Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (11% owned)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Denver Broncos - 35% owned
It was a dud for the Broncos in Week 3, as they came away with goose eggs in all major categories and rewarded fantasy owners with lots of nothing. Granted, playing in Lambeau Field isn't conducive to defensive prowess. They return home in Week 4 to face the Jaguars, who average 19.3 points per game. Rookie QB Gardner Minshew hasn't turned the ball over much but this remains one of the safer DST plays among lesser-owned options.
Pittsburgh Steelers - 17% owned
While there are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the offense, the defense certainly did its part in Week 3. They forced five turnovers from Jimmy G and the Niners, who had been rolling on offense coming into the game. The Steelers get to play the 0-3 Bengals at home next on Monday Night Football. With new safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the mix and LB Vince Williams possibly returning from a hamstring strain, there is plenty to be optimistic about.
Indianapolis Colts - 14% owned
It's amazing that the Colts held up as well as they did against the high-flying Falcons offense without defensive leader Darius Leonard and pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard, especially in the first half. If Leonard returns for Week 4, he gets to lead the team in a home matchup against the Raiders. There isn't as much upside in this pick based on the limited turnover potential. Indy shouldn't be considered in leagues where points against aren't considered.
