Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets + Biggest Risers & Fallers | Fantasy Focus
Daniel Dopp, Field Yates, and Liz Loza break down a wave of Week 3 QB injuries (Caleb Williams, Jackson Dart, Kyler Murray) and how they ripple into backup and pass-catcher value, recap a wild Monday night Rams-Giants game, and set priority waiver targets at QB, RB, WR, and TE. They close with a risers/fallers segment comparing early-season overachievers (Trey McBride, Dalton Kincaid, Jalen Coker, Jaylen Waddle) against disappointments (Rome Odunze, Kenneth Gainwell, De'Von Achane).
This Week 3 episode of Fantasy Focus opens with a wave of QB injury news — Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, Jackson Dart all banged up — and pivots into concrete waiver-wire priorities and a risers/fallers audit of the first two weeks. The through-line is that early-season shocks (backup QBs, injury-driven role changes, and offenses that simply don't move the ball) should be driving immediate lineup and roster decisions rather than being shrugged off as noise.
The arguments
Caleb Williams' hamstring injury tanks the entire Bears passing-game outlook for Week 3. Fields and Liz agreed Tyson Bagent is a real downgrade, not just a name swap, since Bagent lacks Williams' arm strength for downfield throws. They split slightly on the receivers: both want Rome Odunze and Luther Burden benched against Philadelphia, but Liz argued Burden's ability to create after the catch insulates him more than Odunze, while Fields conceded Colston Loveland could still scrape into low-end TE1 range on modest, safe throws.
Michael Penix Jr.'s return is an upgrade over Cooper Rush but shouldn't be overhyped. The hosts noted the Falcons haven't reached the red zone in two games, calling that historically bad, and Fields pointed to Penix's big arm and prior chemistry with Drake London (39 targets in three late-season starts last year) as reasons for cautious optimism. They flagged accuracy concerns from his first two seasons as the governor on expectations.
Jameis Winston stepping in for the injured Jackson Dart actually helps Isaiah Likely more than Malik Nabors. Fields argued Winston's willingness to push the ball down the field makes him one of the more fantasy-useful backup QBs in the league, but the hosts agreed the passing offense overall downgrades. They specifically split Nabors (lower floor, must-monitor shoulder pop) from Likely, whom Fields said you have to start regardless of ceiling because he's chasing volume (10 targets in the Monday game).
Tyler Shough and Bryce Young are the clear top two waiver QB targets, but with different risk profiles. Fields is highest on Shough (QB6 in fantasy points, leads the NFL in passing yards two straight weeks) while questioning whether he can produce when the Saints aren't trailing big, comparing him to a "second-half savior" like Jacoby Brissett. Liz's pick, Bryce Young, comes with less game-script dependency and a favorable stretch of matchups over the next five weeks, though this week's Browns defense is inconsistent.
Divine Achane and Devon-something backfields are the clearest bust stories of the young season, and there's no fix. Liz used efficiency stats (RB42 in breakaway runs after being RB1 last year, only 6.5% of runs going 10+ yards) to argue the offense simply isn't creating explosive opportunities, while Fields tied it to game script — Miami trailing so badly he's off the field in the fourth quarter. Both agreed there's no actionable move for managers beyond continuing to start him and hoping for positive regression.
Rome Odunze and Kenneth Gainwell are the two biggest value fallers through two weeks relative to draft capital. Fields noted Odunze went ninth overall in his draft class and is outside his top 25 WRs now given the Bagent downgrade, while Liz owned being wrong on Gainwell, who has fewer touches than Baker Mayfield has carries despite a two-year, $14M deal signed for his receiving skill set.
Dalton Kincaid, Jalen Waddle, and Jalen Coker are the standout risers worth immediate FAAB or lineup investment. Fields called Kincaid a locked-in top-3 fantasy tight end behind only Trey McBride, ahead of Brock Bowers, given real snap share and Josh Allen's play. Liz championed Waddle as "unlocked" after a 138-yard, contested-catch performance, and Fields flagged Jalen Coker as a must-start flex given WR5 fantasy production and clear investment from Bryce Young's Panthers offense.
What it means for your roster
- Bench/downgrade hard: Rome Odunze and Luther Burden out of lineups in Week 3 vs. Philadelphia; Odunze now outside top-25 WR rankings overall given the Bagent downgrade.
- Add off waivers, QB priority order: Tyler Shough first, Bryce Young second, if you lost Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, or Jackson Dart this week.
- Speculative RB adds: Jonah Coleman (only if J.K. Dobbins remains out — otherwise outside top 25), and Rashad White over Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Washington's committee given his second-half receiving-game usage.
- Must-start despite a down week: Isaiah Likely, based on target volume (10 in Week 2) even with Jameis Winston starting.
- Buy/hold the risers: Dalton Kincaid (top-3 TE right now), Jalen Waddle (locked-in WR2), and Jalen Coker (flex-worthy WR5 production) — all merit season-long investment, not one-week plays.
- Drop candidates: Kenneth Gainwell (five targets, seven carries through two weeks) can be cut for Emmanuel Wilson if you're desperate at RB; Alec Pierce is droppable given his heel injury layered onto an already limited role.
“He should be on a milk carton. I'm like, he didn't do anything.” — Eric Moody
Players in this episode
↓ Ruled out with a hip injury before Monday night's game; status uncertain for Week 3's Sunday night matchup.
↓ Named a biggest faller; his fantasy point totals in the first two weeks were worse than his worst game all of last season due to poor game script and lack of explosive/breakaway runs.
↑ Looked fantastic with two receiving touchdowns, confirmed as the clear lead back over Blake Corum.
↑ Recalled having 39 targets in three starts with Penix last season, giving hope for a target explosion now that Penix is back under center.
↓ Avoided a major hamstring tear but is week-to-week; expected to miss Week 3, forcing Tyson Bagent into action.
↑ Named the clear TE1 in fantasy for two straight weeks, held serve as a top redraft option.
↓ Left the game with a shoulder issue that 'popped out and back in,' finished with just one catch for one yard; downgraded with Jameis Winston starting.
→ Still viewed as a top-10-ish tight end even with Bagent, but hosts say he's benchable if better tight end options are available; his value has fallen due to lack of big plays.
↓ Led the backfield in touches even with Najee Harris and Devin Singletary active, but hosts are discouraged by low overall volume and receiving production through two weeks.
↓ Considered unstartable in Week 3 vs. Eagles with Bagent at QB, though seen as better suited to survive the downgrade than Odunze due to his ability to create after the catch.
↓ Suffered a reported sprained MCL and is expected to miss time; Jameis Winston will start in his place.
↑ Named a biggest riser after an 8-of-10 target, 138-yard performance including a key contested catch, confirming he's being used as the Broncos envisioned.
↑ Exploded for 8 catches, 195 yards and two touchdowns in Puka Nacua's absence, showing more explosive, sustainable production than last year's touchdown-dependent stats.
↓ Coach clarified his injury is a shoulder issue, not chest, and is 'intact' with nothing serious, but hosts remain disappointed in his overall performance and call him a stock-down player.
↓ Falling out of the top 25 WRs for Week 3 without Caleb Williams, though hosts still believe in his long-term talent; named the biggest 'faller' of the first two weeks.
→ Ran well but lacks standalone fantasy value as a backup to Kyren Williams.
↑ Named a biggest riser, now viewed as the TE3 in fantasy behind McBride and Bowers, unlocked in Buffalo's offense.
↓ Named a biggest faller; has only 7 rushing attempts and 5 targets through two weeks despite offseason hype as a receiving complement to Bucky Irving.
→ Cleared concussion protocol; hosts are uncertain of his fantasy outlook but see him as a streamable QB2 option (ranked 12-15) given other QB injuries around the league.
↑ Named the top QB waiver priority; ranks QB6 in fantasy points, leads NFL in passing yards back-to-back weeks, but hosts question if he can produce without negative game script.
↓ Set to miss several weeks with a heel injury possibly tied to an offseason issue; hosts compare his situation to Chris Godwin's and call him droppable.
↓ Will miss a few weeks with an MCL sprain.
→ Posted 14 targets/12 catches while Nico Collins was out, compared to Jake Ferguson's 2024 role without CeeDee Lamb, but expected to regress once Collins returns.
↑ Drew 10 targets and is a must-start for target volume even in down games, especially with Jameis Winston at QB.
↑ Top RB waiver target if J.K. Dobbins remains out; compared stylistically to David Montgomery, seen as a more complete back than R.J. Harvey.
↑ Showed more explosiveness and receiving work than Jacory Croskey-Merritt after Jayden Daniels' injury; flagged as a name to watch if Washington plays from behind.
↑ Named the top riser overall, currently WR5 in fantasy points through two weeks with strong volume and touchdown production, now viewed as a must-start flex.
↑ Second in fantasy points at QB with six passing touchdowns; hosts like his upcoming schedule and see him as the No. 2 QB waiver target.
→ Bounced back from a Week 1 dud with 9 targets, 6 catches, 54 yards and a TD (17.4 fantasy points), drawing host attention but seen as hard to trust given Sean McVay's rotating tight end usage.
↑ Has emerged as Deshaun Watson's clear top target, playing 93%+ of snaps in each of the first two weeks; recommended as a strong add.
→ Nearly matching Garrett Wilson in routes and targets, but one host remains skeptical given his inconsistent track record and the Jets' low offensive ceiling.
→ Is Baltimore's clear WR1 while Zay Flowers is out, posting 7-88-1, but hosts note he also caused a costly interception and will lose value once Flowers returns.
↑ Named starting QB for Atlanta, generating optimism for the passing game despite the Falcons not reaching the red zone in two games.
↑ Will start for the Giants with Dart out; hosts like him as a volume-boosting streamer despite turnover risk.
→ Signed to fill in for Goedert, has a chance to play Monday night, but hosts view him as only a speculative add, not a top-12 tight end.