Week two of the 2023 NFL season is over and the Grim Reaper is coming for your team. Aaron Rodgers? Dead! Saquon Barkley? Dead! Your fantasy football playoff hopes? That all depends on what you do to rally the remaining survivors on your roster. Before you give up on your fantasy season, remember that the waiver wire exists to save you from the cruel and unforgiving fantasy football gods. 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. Maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine who our best week two waiver wire players for your championship run are…
Week Three Waiver Wire QBs
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (48% rostered)
My number one waiver-wire quarterback last week is still available in most leagues. Every year, people let a guy who will finish the year as a QB1 sit on the waiver wire because they either can’t let go of the quarterback they drafted or they just can’t believe an undrafted guy can be good. Last year, it was Geno Smith. More and more, it is looking like Jordan Love is that guy for 2023. For the second week in a row, he has finished the week as a QB1. Against Atlanta, Love threw for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns. He even rushed for 23 yards. With one of the softer schedules in football, this may be your last chance to get a set-and-forget quarterback for the rest of the season.
Week Three Waiver Wire RBs
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams (53% rostered)
I have a rule when writing this article to only talk about players who are rostered 50% or less. However, when the RB2 on the season is available in 47% of leagues, I feel like that needs to be addressed. Last week, I told you to grab him, but apparently nobody listened. This week, Kyren Williams had 100 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns, so you probably won’t have a third chance at getting him. Kyren Williams should be your number one waiver priority if he is available in your leagues.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (38% rostered)
In the preseason, a lot of the members of Football Absurdity were banging the Najee Harris drum for good reason. Historically, Mike Tomlin leans on one running back. Two weeks into the season, it looks like the Steelers backfield is in an even split. In week two, Jaylen Warren had 86 all-purpose yards on 10 touches and looked a lot better than Najee did. Warren has had two very tough match-ups to start the season but could be a solid flex option with upside if something does happen to Najee Harris. Warren is a must-add if he is available in any of your leagues.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (9% rostered)
With the devastating injury to Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford finds himself the lead back in Cleveland. In week two, Ford had 16 carries for 106 yards, along with 3 catches for 25 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion. Cleveland’s offensive scheme is built around their running back, so even if Jerome Ford doesn’t show out as he did in week two, he will see a ton of usage and provide a very steady fantasy floor. If he faces good match-ups, Ford has RB1 upside. We know this because he just showed us this in week two.
The rest of the running backs
With J.K Dobbins, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and Jamaal Williams all being hurt, there is a case for volume for Tony Jones, Kendre Miller, Zack Moss, Matt Breida, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards. These guys all look the same to me. They look like a desperation play for relevance. A couple of them are probably going to hit to a greater or lesser degree. My advice is to find the team you think you can trust to score the most points and grab whichever of the above players is on that team.
Week Three Waiver Wire WRs
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams (26% rostered)
Through two weeks, Matthew Stafford has the second most pass attempts of any quarterback in football. It is worth noting that over that same two-week span, Tutu Atwell has 17 targets. While his week two performance wasn’t as strong as his week one performance, Tutu still had 9 targets, 7 catches, and 77 receiving yards. This level of usage should make him a solid WR2 until Cooper Kupp comes back. That usage should also make him the number one wide receiver target on the waiver wire for week three.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions (7% rostered)
It looks like Josh Reynolds might be the number two receiver for the Detroit Lions. In week two, Reynolds had 5 catches for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns. What concerns me about this is that I feel like Reynolds is just a placeholder until Jameson Williams comes back from his suspension. If you need immediate receiver help and Tutu Atwell isn’t available, Josh Reynolds would be my guy.
Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos (11% rostered)
If you don’t need immediate help at wide receiver but are looking for a potential home run hitter down the stretch, may I introduce you to Football Absurdity Discord Darling Marvin Mims? While he only had 2 targets in week two, he made the most of those with 2 catches for 113 yards and 1 touchdown. It is important to note that this was the first draft pick of the Sean Payton regime and when you consider previous Payton players like Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas, there is reason to believe that Marvin Mims could be the next in a long line of great Payton receivers.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (4% rostered)
With Noah Brown placed on Injured Reserve, Tank Dell found himself with a lot more opportunities in week two and he made the most out of it. On 10 targets, Dell had 7 catches for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. While they were only playing a questionable Colts defense, C.J. Stroud looked really good and seemed to favor his fellow rookie. The only real concern with picking up Tank Dell is putting your fantasy faith in a Houston Texans offense.
Week Three Waiver Wire TEs
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (48% rostered)
Remember last week when I said that Hunter Henry wasn’t impressive enough to burn a waiver on? Well, I stand by my statement even though he finished week two with 6 catches for 52 yards and 1 touchdown. The reason why I’m not interested in Henry is because he just faced two of the worst defenses at defending the tight end position. His next two matchups are against the Jets and the Cowboys. These are arguably two of the toughest defenses in football. Unfortunately, there aren’t actually any tight ends worth burning a waiver on. After waivers clear, you can stream based on their opponent, but as of this moment, nobody has done anything to stand out and demand our attention. Well, except Hunter Henry. But I’m pretty sure he’s a trap. If you think I’m wrong though, get your guy. I just hope you can look at yourself in the mirror knowing you wasting a waiver claim on a tight end.
