Week 3 has not yet begun, but “In the Scope” has all the best players to pick up this week before they go off and end up on everyone else’s radars! Dive deeper than the mainstream Week 3 waiver wire pickups and get ahead of your competition with our best recommendations for who to add.
Whether you already blew all your Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) or just want to get creative, we’ve got your Week 3 gems!
Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN Points Per Reception (PPR) redraft fantasy football leagues as of Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Check Your Waivers: Mainstream Fantasy Football Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups
As you’re scanning the waiver wire for some deeper additions, here are a few mainstream names that might still be available in your league:
Quarterback
- Justin Fields (Pittsburgh Steelers) | 31.5%
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints) | 9.9%
- Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) | 16.3%
Running Backs
- Carson Steele (Kansas City Chiefs) | 1.9%
- Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams) | 41.8%
- Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) | 29.4%
- Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) | 49.4%
- Ty Chandler (Minnesota Vikings) | 46.5%
- Rico Dowdle (Dallas Cowboys) | 37.2%
- Alexander Mattison (Las Vegas Raiders) | 32.8%
- Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins) | 24.5%
- Justice Hill (Baltimore Ravens) | 12.3%
- Antonio Gibson (New England Patriots) | 32.3%
- Dameon Pierce (Houston Texans) | 2.3%
Wide Receivers
- Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills) | 49.1%
- Adam Thielen (Buffalo Bills) | 49.8%
- Demarcus Robinson (Los Angeles Rams) | 33.6%
- Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants) | 18.0%
- Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers) | 7.1%
- Andrei Iosivas (Cincinnati Bengals) | 6.0%
- Jalen Nailor (Minnesota Vikings) | 0.5%
Tight End
- Hunter Henry (New England Patriots) | 10.3%
- Colby Parkinson (Los Angeles Rams) | 43.4%
In the Scope Targets: Top Fantasy Football Week 3 Free Agent Finds
Now, let’s dive into the “In the Scope” picks, with some players currently flying under the radar who could make an impact in the coming weeks.
Deshaun Watson (QB, Cleveland Browns) | 31.1%
Despite a rough start, Deshaun Watson has been surprisingly productive for fantasy purposes, ranking as the QB13. His 79 passing attempts through the first two weeks are the second-most in the NFL, and he leads the league in air yards with 395. The Browns are playing faster than almost anyone, ranking third in pace, which boosts Watson’s volume. His rushing floor also adds value, with 59 yards and a touchdown on the season, keeping him fantasy-relevant.
The upcoming schedule is juicy: The Browns face the Giants, Raiders, Commanders, Eagles and Bengals, all of which present favorable matchups. Watson’s fantasy ceiling could rise quickly in the next few weeks, making him a prime pickup before everyone else takes notice.
Jalen Tolbert (WR, Dallas Cowboys) | 5.0%
Jalen Tolbert is quietly emerging as a key piece in the Cowboys’ offense, which has shifted to a pass-heavy approach due to Jake Ferguson‘s lingering injury and a lackluster backfield. With veteran Brandin Cooks showing signs of age, Tolbert’s opportunity to make an impact is growing.
In Week 2, he hauled in six of nine targets for 82 yards, yet he’s flying under the radar because Dallas didn’t need to rely on the pass in Week 1. While the Cowboys led the league in points per game last season, they might not reach that same level in 2024, but this offense remains potent with Dak Prescott under center, making the third-year receiver a name to watch.
Mike Gesicki (TE, Cincinnati Bengals) | 2.7%
Mike Gesicki is emerging as a sneaky tight end play after a strong performance in Week 2, during which he posted seven catches for 91 yards on nine targets. The Bengals are dealing with injuries in the receiving corps, including Tee Higgins, which could mean a steady stream of targets for Gesicki moving forward.
His athleticism and ability to stretch the field give him plenty of upside, especially with upcoming matchups against Washington and Carolina, which have two of the softer defenses against tight ends.
Check out all of our Week 3 fantasy football content:
- Fantasy Football Week 3 News & Notes (2024)
- NFL Week 3 PrizePicks Player Predictions (2024)
- Week 3 NFL DFS Picks & Lineup Advice (2024)
- Week 3 Fantasy Football Trade Targets (2024)
- Week 3 Fantasy Football Advice Mailbag
- Week 3 Shore Thing Sleepers (2024)
- Week 3 In the Scope Targets (2024)
Thanks for reading our “In the Scope” targets to add after the Week 3 waiver wire run. Check out more of our fantasy football and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Scott Galvin – USA TODAY NETWORK*
