Week one of the 2022 NFL season is in the books. If you are a fantasy nerd like me, you created spreadsheets to track your spreadsheets because all you did was study. You did your homework to make sure that you were only drafting the finest of fantasy football prospects. You spent hours scouring tape that told you that Joe Burrow could never throw four interceptions and lose to the NVP of our hearts Mitchell Trubisky. And now you are here. Wondering how you could put so much work into winning and already hate your roster.
Fear not, my ferocious fantasy warriors, because I’m about to drop some hard truths on you. Fantasy leagues aren’t won in the draft. Fantasy football is won on the waiver wire. This week, I’m going to provide you with the best options available. If I don’t mention someone whom you think I should be talking about, just know there are many reasons why I overlooked them. Maybe they are owned in most leagues. Maybe they are so bad I don’t even consider them. Or. maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine who our best week three waiver wire players for your championship run are…
Week Three Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins ( 64% rostered)
I will rarely point out a player who is 64% rostered in my waiver wire article because I figure if they are on that many rosters, people should be able to do the math themselves. But, Tua is available in 1 out of every 3 leagues and it is early in the season, I feel he is worth pointing out. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones to have a guy on the waiver wire who just threw for 469 yards and 6 touchdowns and might have the best wide receiver duo in football. If you need quarterback help and Tua is available, grab him. That Miami offense looks like it could be incredibly explosive and they have a relatively soft schedule the rest of the season. I’m not necessarily sold on Tua, but Miami looks like they will throw a lot to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, and if you can’t get excited about Tua, then you can get excited about that. The Dolphins play the Bills next week, so Tua will not be startable, but after that, he has the upside to be a league-winner.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions ( 12% rostered)
What a world we live in when my favorite non-Tua waiver wire play is Jared Goff at the helm of the Detroit Lions. But here we are and I’m very much into this play. Through the first two weeks of the season, Goff has six touchdowns and just one interception. The Lions invested heavily in their offense and it shows. I mentioned last week that one of the most appealing parts of this play is the Detroit Lions’ defense looks like it will give up a lot of points this season. Good offenses paired with bad defenses are great for fantasy production, especially at quarterback. I like Jared Goff to be a low-end QB1 the rest of the year. If Tua isn’t available in your league, grab Goff, instead.
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders (50% rostered)
Unlike Goff, I am not quite sold on Carson Wentz. Yes, he had 337 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception in week two. Yes, he has a solid wide receiver corps. But he also put these numbers up against Jacksonville and Detroit. I find it hard to believe that after years of Carson Wentz being Carson Wentz, that it isn’t a coincidence that he put these numbers up against two of the worst pass defenses in football thus far. If Goff and Tua aren’t around, maybe take a flyer on Wentz if you are desperate. But only if you are really desperate. Like desperate enough that you won’t be staring in a mirror four weeks later asking yourself why you thought Carson Wentz could save you.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (3% rostered)
Jimmy Garoppolo is the flyer for the truly desperate. Last season, he finished as the QB18. You shouldn’t have any hopes that he will fix your team But if you are in a superflex league, grab him, because he’s a quarterback with a pulse on a good team. In a one-quarterback league though? Have a little self-respect.
Week Three Waiver Wire Running Backs
Jerrick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs (9% rostered)
Jerrick McKinnon had a touchdown in week two and not much else. However, he is still the most intriguing option on the waiver wire due to his usage. Over the last two weeks, McKinnon has a higher snap count than Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I’m not sure McKinnon is going to be any good, but a running back on the waiver wire who is on the field half the time with one of the best offensive staffs in football is someone you want to get.
Darrel Williams/Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (9/5% rostered)
Early reports indicate that James Conner was not seriously injured, but the man did hurt his ankle. Darrel Williams was the clear lead back when the Cardinals turned to the backups, finishing with 63 all-purpose yards and a touchdown on Conner out, Darrel Williams was the more productive running back with 63 all-purpose yards and a touchdown on 10 touches. Emo Benjamin had 11 touches, but he managed just 51 yards. I’ll be honest, neither of these guys excites me and I wouldn’t spend my waiver priority on guys who are just placeholders until Conner gets back.
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins (42% rostered)
In week one, Miami put Raheem Mostert on the field for 42% of their snaps, and he turned six touches into 32 yards. In week two, Miami gave Mostert 55% of their offensive snaps, and he turned 14 touches into 79 yards. He could be the relevant running back out of Miami, but that could also be Chase Edmonds. Mostert also has the possibility of exploding on contact with the next defender. Of all three outcomes, the exploding feels like the most likely outcome, so I will not burn a waiver claim on him until he shows me more.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (25% rostered)
Mark Ingram had 63 all-purpose yards on 12 touches in week two, against Tampa Bay, who was one of the best run defenses in football last year. Unfortunately, we don’t know if or when Kamara is coming back. Without conclusive data that Kamara will be out for an extended period of time, I will not burn a waiver on Mark Ingram.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Commanders (27% rostered)
In week two, McKissic had 7 catches for 63 all-purpose yards. I just don’t see how he can maintain any level of fantasy relevance with how many mouths there are to feed in Washington. He is a hard pass for me.
Week Three Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders (43% rostered)
Last week, I said Jahan Dotson was my favorite lottery ticket on the waiver wire and he rewarded those who listened with 4 catches for 59 yards, a touchdown, and a 2-point conversion. While I may have been wrong about Curtis Samuel’s role in this offense, I think by the end of the year, Dotson is going to be a guy people will wish they had grabbed shares of early.
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans (49% rostered)
In week two, Treylon Burks had 6 targets and 4 catches for 47 yards, which led the Titans in targets, catches, and yards. Let’s be real, the fact that he got this many fantasy points against the Bills defense is a positive. I’m still a big fan of him long-term this season, so you should go add him to your roster.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (39% rostered)
After professing my love for Dotson in week one, we add two rookie wide receivers to this list, Treylon Burks and Garrett Wilson. Wilson blew up this week, with 8 catches for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Through two weeks, his 22 targets rank inside the top ten across the entire NFL, and coincidentally, he was also a top-ten draft pick in this class. There are a lot of signs screaming that you might want to get in on this. See the signs. Open up your eyes. See the signs.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (30% rostered)
Michael Gallup is a popular guy to look at in waiver wire articles this week. They will tell you that he will be coming back soon. Even if he is, Cooper Rush is still throwing him the football. So I’m not on board with this development.
Noah Brown, Dallas Cowboys (1% rostered)
Noah Brown is already what people are trying to convince you Michael Gallup will be. Through two games, Brown has emerged as the clear number two receiver in Dallas by virtue of having a pulse and a propensity for defenses to think that he’s a funhouse mirror on the field just reflecting CeeDee Lamb, so they ignore him. In week two, he 5 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Brown has been a solid WR2 through two games this season thanks to his volume. Unfortunately, he also has Cooper Rush throwing him the football, so I have no idea how long this will last. I’d keep an eye on him if he does clear waivers.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (24% rostered)
People will keep trying to sell you snake oil disguised as Josh Palmer because they desperately want to make Josh Palmer a thing, despite being fourth on the team in targets without Keenan Allen in the lineup. In week two, he had 4 catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. Without that touchdown, we would not be talking about him. STOP TRYING TO MAKE FETCH HAPPEN!
Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots (1% rostered)
After his week two performance of 6 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, someone might try to convince you that grabbing Nelson Agholor is a good idea. Just know these people are not your friends and do not have your best interests at heart.
Week Three Waiver Wire Tight Ends
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers (55% rostered)
Unlike Joshua Palmer, Gerald Everett is definitely a thing. Yes, he is still a tight end, but I won’t hold that against him. Everett is one of six tight ends to notch double-digit fantasy point days in both weeks this year. That’s how he stacks up against other tight ends, but how does he stack up against the rest of the Chargers? Well, on a team with Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams, Everett is tied for first in targets and has sole possession of the Chargers’ lead in yards and receptions. Most importantly, the Chargers are one of the best offenses in football. People will talk to you about Tyler Conklin, Evan Engram, or God help me, Logan Thomas. There is only one tight end worth grabbing on the waiver wire if he is there and his name is Gerald Everett.
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