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Who Should I Pickup for Week 3? Fantasy Football waiver wire outlooks for Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks, Khalil Shakir, Brenton Strange, Alvin Kamara, Keenan Allen, Braelon Allen, Darren Waller, Oronde Gadsden.
Who Should I Pickup? Some of the most common Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire decisions involve players like Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks, Khalil Shakir, Brenton Strange, Alvin Kamara, Keenan Allen, Braelon Allen, Darren Waller, and Oronde Gadsden. However, don't worry, we are here to help you make these waiver wire decisions and make winning moves for Week 3. Add your optimal fantasy football pickups for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to add... all free! Get your winning waiver wire pickups set.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlooks
Below are some fantasy football waiver wire outlooks written by our NFL team here at RotoBaller, bringing you their fantasy football analysis and advice on which players to consider adding off waivers in Week 3:
Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has become a much more interesting Week 3 waiver option after injuries thinned out the position Sunday. David Njoku was carted off with a knee injury and did not return, while Charlie Kolar later left with a forearm injury and was also unable to come back. Gadsden caught both of his targets for 18 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert.
The volume was still modest, so this is not a must-add situation in every league yet. The opportunity could change quickly, though. Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season, and he could move into a much larger role with both tight ends hitting the injured reserve.
Through two games, he has caught all four of his targets for 50 yards and a score. Gadsden is a strong add in 12-team leagues, with his Week 3 value on the rise.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen did not do much with his five carries Sunday, gaining seven yards, but he did punch in a five-yard touchdown and added an eight-yard catch. The workload was lighter than Week 1, when Allen carried 10 times for 40 yards, but he has still been involved enough through two games to matter in deeper fantasy leagues.
Breece Hall remains the clear lead back with 38 carries and seven receptions, so Allen is not someone to force into a lineup right now. His value is mostly in what could happen if Hall misses time, though the Jets have already given Allen enough work to leave open the possibility of some standalone value. RotoBaller ranks him 23rd among Week 3 waiver options and recommends adding him in 12-team leagues.
That feels about right. Allen is a bench stash rather than a priority claim, but he is one of the better backup running backs to hold if a roster has room.
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has been quiet to start the season, but that might change in Week 3. Through two games, Shakir has hauled in seven of his 12 targets for 88 yards. Fantasy managers expected more from the 26-year-old, and they might get it soon. Fellow wideout DJ Moore (shoulder) was injured during Thursday's win over the Detroit Lions.
It's unclear at the moment if Moore will be able to play during the Week 3 matchup versus the Los Angeles Chargers. The absence of Moore would likely mean a larger role in the passing game for Shakir. Fantasy managers seeking a possible flex option for Week 3 should consider adding Shakir.
Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has gotten off to a strong start to the season with his new team, and he is a very solid pickup from the waiver wire as he continues to settle into his new offense. In Week 1, he showed his big-play ability and finished with two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. He didn't find the end zone in Week 2, but he was more involved overall, hauling in five of his six targets for 74 yards against the Titans.
Wicks did lose some snaps to Darius Cooper down the stretch, but as long as he remains the second option at receiver behind DeVonta Smith, he'll be a very viable fantasy option in most leagues. Dallas Goedert (knee) is expected to miss a few weeks, which could open up a few more targets for Wicks.
This week, the Eagles visit the Bears on Monday Night Football, and Wicks will be a deep-league WR4 play with a high ceiling due to his big-play upside. For shallow leagues, he's not quite a starter yet, but he is a solid depth pickup in all formats.
Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was targeted six more times in Sunday's win over the Ravens, collecting five receptions for 64 yards. With one Week 2 game still to be played, Vele sits as the fantasy WR18 on the season, and as long as rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) remains sidelined, the third-year veteran can be trusted to provide a usable floor.
In Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense, quarterback Tyler Shough has attempted the second-most passes through two weeks and leads the league with 662 yards; along with Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson, Vele is one of three New Orleans pass-catchers to top 50 receiving yards in both games this season. Vele was considered a priority add last week, so he may not be available in most leagues, but he should be scooped up wherever he remains unrostered.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here.
2026 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks, Khalil Shakir, Brenton Strange, Alvin Kamara, Keenan Allen, Braelon Allen, Darren Waller, Oronde Gadsden. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2026. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2026 for Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks, Khalil Shakir, Brenton Strange, Alvin Kamara, Keenan Allen, Braelon Allen, Darren Waller, Oronde Gadsden:
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