Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3: Top Free Agent Adds Include Tutu Atwell, Marvin Mims, Tank Dell, Josh Reynolds, more

September 20, 2023

Justin Carter's fantasy football wide receiver waiver wire pickups for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season. His free agent WRs to add, stream and stash off waivers.

We're almost done with Week 2 in the NFL, though we've got a couple of Monday night games to get through still. This seems like a good week to need a wide receiver off the wire if you're in a 14 or 16-team league where you can take a stab at some speculative guys, but not nearly as good a week if you need one in a 10 or 12-team league.

Below, you'll find some wide receivers that you should be targeting on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 3. Not all of these waiver wire options are the same. Some players may be better in PPR or deeper leagues, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all comparison. Use your best judgment when deciding which of these players is the right fit for your roster.

Be sure to also check out our Waiver Wire Adds for Week 3 for help at all the skill positions. All players on this list are around 50% rostered or below.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 3

Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams - 25% rostered

For the second week in a row, rookie Puka Nacua was unstoppable, catching 15 of his 20 targets for 147 yards. If you're in the 24% of leagues where Nacua is still out there on the wire, go get him. Right now. Put the claim in.

If you're in the majority of leagues where he isn't available, you can still get an important piece of a surprisingly good passing offense with Tutu Atwell. Atwell was targeted nine times on Sunday against the 49ers, catching seven passes for 77 yards. He's been targeted 17 times already this season and has very clearly surpassed Van Jefferson in the pecking order.

Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos - 23% rostered

Marvin Mims. What's there to say about one of the weirder stat lines of Week 2? We got to see the upside that Mims had when he caught a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Then, in the second quarter, he added a 53-yard reception.

And that was it for the targets. Mims had a couple of rushing attempts, but Russell Wilson targeted him just twice all game. Normally, I'm not rushing out to add a player on the wire who gets two targets, but the catches Mims did have showcased how he really stretches the field. He's worth a roster spot, though I'd ideally like to see more consistent usage before I consider him a must-start player.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans - 5% rostered

I wasn't really sure what to expect from the Texans' passing attack this year. Rookie quarterback. Bunch of new pieces around him. Makeshift offensive line.

But after Week 2's game against the Colts, I think it's safe to say that C.J. Stroud's an NFL quarterback. Despite the line providing him almost no protection, Stroud threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores went to rookie Tank Dell, whose 10 targets led the team. He caught seven of those for 72 yards. The explosive -- but diminutive -- receiver is going to be a key piece of this offense all year. Nico Collins is the clear No. 1 receiver, but Dell's proving why he needs to be on the field and on your fantasy rosters.

Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars - 52% rostered

It might seem weird to recommend Zay Jones after he was held without a catch this week, but that's why you watch the games and don't just look at the numbers. Jones was targeted in the end zone and caught the pass with a foot out of bounds twice. He was so close to a multi-touchdown game. It didn't work out this week, but his current usage patterns are promising.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals - 39% rostered

The Bengals offense struggled for much of the day on Sunday against the Ravens, and the team fell to 0-2 with the 27-24 loss. Tyler Boyd had a solid outing though, catching six of his eight targets for 52 yards. It was a nice bounce back from last week's two catches for 10 yards. Boyd's a fairly boring fantasy option, but he usually has a decent floor if that's something you need.

Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions - 12% rostered

Amon-Ra St. Brown led the Lions' receiving room in targets as expected, but Josh Reynolds was just one back of him, as Jared Goff looked his way six times. Reynolds caught five of those for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns. After last week's seven targets, it's fair to say that Reynolds is the No. 2 receiver for the Lions, at least until Jameson Williams is back from his suspension.

Wide Receiver Deeper League Pickups For Week 3

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers - 10% rostered

With Christian Watson out again, Jayden Reed was the most targeted wide receiver for the Packers, as Jordan Love looked his way eight times. He pulled in four of those for 37 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the assumed No. 1 with Watson out, Romeo Doubs, saw just three targets, one fewer than Dontayvion Wicks. At this point, it looks like Reed has the best chance to be the team's top non-Watson guy once Watson returns. He's worth adding for the upside.

Robert Woods, Houston Texans - 9% rostered

I'm not sure the Texans will be able to sustain having three fantasy-relevant wide receivers, but so far they are. Robert Woods had six catches for 57 yards in Week 1, then six catches for 74 yards this week. He has 19 targets already.

The Texans' defense is a lot worse than I expected it to be. If nothing changes there, C.J. Stroud's going to be forced to keep throwing the football. And if they keep throwing the football, then maybe Woods, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins all keep getting theirs. We'll see. Woods is worth an add in the event this offense keeps racking up passing yardage.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants - 3% rostered

The Giants have the league's worst collection of pass catchers. The highest-rostered receiver on this team is Jalin Hyatt at 12%. He caught both of his targets for 89 yards this week, but 12% is probably about where he should be rostered. Isaiah Hodgins caught a touchdown, but he was targeted less than two other Giants wideouts.

I think there's some upside for Darius Slayton to be rostered more than he is, though. He was targeted six times, tied with Parris Campbell for most among the team's wide receivers, but his targets came farther down the field. He had three catches for 62 yards, while Campbell had four for 21. With 11 targets through two games, there's some upside here.

Justin Watson, Kansas City Chiefs - 0% rostered

Look, the way the Chiefs have gotten so egalitarian about the distribution of targets means that there's really no one you can trust in this offense other than Travis Kelce. But while I might not want to grab Kadarius Toney or Skyy Moore in a shallow league, I think there's reason to keep an eye on Justin Watson in deep leagues. He's established himself as the big-play receiver for the Chiefs, catching three passes for 62 yards this week. Patrick Mahomes seems most comfortable firing up the deep ball when it's Watson on the other end of it, and that's worth something.

Mack Hollins, Atlanta Falcons - 1% rostered

It's hard to know what to make of Atlanta's passing game at this point. Drake London led the team in targets this week with seven, catching six of them for 67 yards and a score one week after he was held without a catch. Kyle Pitts had just two receptions for the second straight game.

And Mack Hollins was one of just two wide receivers on the team to even be targeted this week, as Desmond Ridder looked his way six times. Hollins brought three of those in for 60 yards. He's been targeted 10 times and is the de facto WR2 on this team.

Nelson Agholor, Baltimore Ravens - 0% rostered

Nelson Agholor had no targets in Week 1, but he led all Ravens wide receivers in targets this week with six, catching five of them for 63 yards and a score. Agholor is a decent NFL wideout, and if Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) misses any time, he could be worth a look in deep leagues.

Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears - 2% rostered

Remember Chase Claypool? After failing to bring in either of his Week 1 targets, Claypool was looked at eight times this week, catching three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. He and D.J. Moore were the only wide receivers who were targeted, and Darnell Mooney left the game early in the second half with a knee injury. If Mooney misses time, Claypool is going to be on the field a lot.

K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings - 9% rostered

K.J. Osborn was targeted six times on Thursday night, catching three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. He played more snaps than Jordan Addison this week and looks to have a solid role in this offense. I'm not super confident in Osborn in fantasy, but 12 targets through two games is solid.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice