Waiver Wire Analysis: Week 3

 

As a refresher, The Drop List consists of players who are no longer must-have assets. Recommended additions are available in over 50% of ESPN, Sleeper, or Yahoo leagues, the Watch List contains in-depth notes on fringe waiver adds, and Deep Leagues includes player notes on potential waiver adds in 14-team and 20-round leagues. A change log will be added ahead of any Saturday waivers.

Is your roster top-heavy and exclusively limited to the best stashes who could become startable in a pinch? In that case, we recommend reviewing the One Injury Away list ahead of Week 3.

 

The Drop List

• QB: Joe Burrow, J.J. McCarthy

• RB: Kaleb Johnson, Braelon Allen, Dylan Sampson, Joe Mixon, Brian Robinson Jr.

• WR: Jayden Reed

• TE: –

 

Joe Burrow will undergo toe surgery and be sidelined for “a minimum of three months.” I’ve extended this week’s list of available QBs to target given the plethora of injuries at that position.

A matchup-based QB2 seeing ghosts for 7.3 yards per attempt (16th), there’s no need to hold J.J. McCarthy (ankle) in 1-QB formats through his “2-4 weeks” absence.

While Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers in both rushing and receiving yards, Kaleb Johnson has produced -1 yards on two carries and a muffed kickoff return that assisted the Seahawks for 10 unanswered points in six seconds. Refer to the available players on the One Injury Away list for better stashes.

Breece Hall’s share of backfield touches increased from 72.4% in Week 1 to 80% against the Bills, out-touching Braelon Allen 12-2. With Isaiah Davis additionally receiving touches at this time, I’m not convinced Allen would handle a majority of New York’s workload if Hall were hurt.

As discussed on last week’s Waiver Wire Show, there was always the chance Jerome Ford iced Dylan Sampson once Quinshon Judkins suited up due to Ford’s 53% route participation (to Sampson’s 28%) in Week 1. That exact scenario played out against the Ravens with Sampson being out-carried 10-4 by Judkins and Ford once again running a route on 46% of Cleveland’s dropbacks. I view Sampson similarly to Bills RB Ray Davis in that neither has a role unless the starter ahead of them is ruled out.

We began burying Joe Mixon (foot) in our rankings on July 26 and have comfortably settled on him as an unrosterable player. There’s no reason to block your bench or lone I.R. spot with his presence, especially with injuries beginning to mount across the league.

Brian Robinson Jr. is rostered in 63% of Yahoo leagues, which is lightyears more than the typical contingency player. Christian McCaffrey has confidently out-touched him 50-17 through two games.

Jayden Reed broke his collarbone in the first quarter on Thursday night and will be out “for quite some time.” Although he’s attempting to return at some point this season, it’s too early in the year to block our I.R. slot with an individual we would not be able to start in his first game back (due to the unpredictable nature of his usage upon returning).

 

Overall Top 10

1. Kayshon Boutte
2. Cedric Tillman
3. Christian Kirk
4. Troy Franklin
5. Elic Ayomanor
6. Tyler Allgeier
7. Wan’Dale Robinson
8. Blake Corum
9. Rachaad White
10. Najee Harris

 

For those looking to roster the best available player(s) regardless of position, the rankings above weigh every position minus the players’ actual positions for all formats. These are listed in the precise order I would prioritize waiver claims in those leagues for Week 3. Adjust for what you need on your roster — immediate touches, high-upside bench stashes, targets, one-week spot starters, etc.

 

Early Week 3 Injury Report for Waivers

 

Injured player = beneficiary who is available on waivers

Jayden Reed = Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks
Joe Burrow = Jake Browning
Jayden Daniels = Marcus Mariota
Brock Purdy = Mac Jones
J.J. McCarthy = Carson Wentz
Justin Fields = Tyrod Taylor
Joe Mixon = Woody Marks
Austin Ekeler = Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Xavier Worthy = Tyquan Thornton
Noah Brown = Jaylin Lane
George Kittle = Jake Tonges
Aaron Jones = Zavier Scott

 

Week 3 Streaming Options

 

QB: Daniel Jones, Michael Penix Jr., Jake Browning, Marcus Mariota, Mac Jones, Sam Darnold, Spencer Rattler, Tyrod Taylor, Carson Wentz

RB: Tyler Allgeier, Rachaad White, Najee Harris, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Blake Corum

WR: Kayshon Boutte, Cedric Tillman, Christian Kirk, Troy Franklin, Elic Ayomanor, Wan’Dale Robinson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Tyquan Thornton, Hunter Renfrow, Tre Tucker

TE: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Chig Okonkwo, Jake Tonges, Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson, Dalton Schultz, Jonnu Smith

D/ST: Falcons, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Bengals

K: Spencer Shrader, Matt Prater, Cairo Santos, Joshua Karty, Will Reichard

 

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defenses | Kickers

 

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Quarterbacks