MNF Recap + Week 3 Waiver Wire
Matthew Berry and Adam Ronis break down Monday Night Football, including Jaxson Dart's MCL injury and a Rams offense that thrived without Puka Nacua behind DeVonta Smith... err DeVonta Adams and Matthew Stafford, then dive into Week 3 waiver wire priorities at every position. They emphasize grabbing injury-replacement backs and emerging deep-threat receivers while cautioning about small-sample fantasy tight ends who mostly rely on touchdown equity.
Matthew Berry and Adam Ronis break down the Monday night Giants-Rams disaster, then spend the bulk of the show working through the Week 3 waiver wire position by position. The episode's core argument is that Week 2 injuries have created a rare wave of streamable-quarterback and complementary-piece opportunities, and managers who move now will beat the rush.
The arguments
The Giants offense is in freefall and Jameis Winston is a clear downgrade from Jackson Dart. Ronis says Dart's likely MCL injury, combined with Malik Nabors' shoulder tweak and Isaiah Likely's banged-up game, gutted an offense that already had no running game rhythm against a good Rams defense. Berry notes he was skeptical of Nabors' ADP all preseason after Stefania Bell's caution about his rare injury recovery, and both agree the schedule (Titans, Cardinals, Washington) gives Winston a chance to stabilize things.
Terrence Ferguson is matchup-dependent, not a true starter yet. Both hosts drafted him as a second tight end and he delivered (6-51-1, 30% target share) with Puka Nakua out, but Ronis is explicit that when both Nakua and Devontae Adams are healthy, the Rams' rotation of tight ends (Higbee, Parkinson, Allen) makes Ferguson unstartable. Berry agrees Ferguson is a stash, not a lineup lock.
Tyler Shough is the number-one waiver priority at quarterback and shouldn't still be sitting in half of leagues. Berry cites Shough leading the NFL in passing yards through two weeks and ranking as the fourth-best fantasy QB on a per-game basis since Week 10 last year (10-game sample), plus a soft upcoming stretch (Raiders, Falcons, Vikings, Giants). Ronis adds that Kellen Moore's fast-paced offense and improving weapons (Olave, Vele, Johnson, eventually Jordan Tyson) support the volume.
Bryce Young's breakout looks structurally different, not a mirage. Ronis argues the Panthers under new play-caller Brad Idzik are using more motion and play-action and are finally letting Young throw more (36+ attempts in each of his first two games, something he rarely did last season), which signals a real scheme shift rather than a hot streak against bad defenses. Berry pushes back gently on small-sample skepticism, noting Young's pedigree (Heisman winner, top-two pick in his class) makes this more believable than a random journeyman surge, and both agree he's the priority option behind Shough if available.
Jonah Coleman is a must-add running back given the Broncos' backfield health issues. Berry had pounded the table on Coleman as a preseason sleeper, and both hosts say his Week 2 line (10-39, TD, 3 catches) after J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey both left with hamstring injuries confirms he's the three-down talent they projected — worth a top waiver claim even beyond this week, since Dobbins' health can't be trusted long-term.
Tank Bigsby deserves 100% rostership as direct Saquon Barkley insurance. Both hosts stress that Barkley's stinger (he left and didn't return) makes Bigsby's 15-9 touch edge over Will Shipley and his 5.3 career yards-per-carry with the Eagles' line meaningful — he'd instantly become a top-12 back in any week Barkley sits, starting with a favorable Bears matchup.
Denzel Boston has passed Cedric Tillman/Jerry Jeudy as the Browns' top target earner. Berry flags Boston's 95% route participation, 15 wide receiver utilization ranking, and 100% share of Cleveland's end zone targets, while Ronis credits Deshaun Watson's best game in years for making Boston's role sustainable and startable now, not just a preseason projection.
What it means for your roster
- Priority add: Tyler Shough for two-QB/superflex or streaming needs — clean matchups the next three of four weeks (Raiders, Falcons, Giants) sandwich a tough Vikings game.
- Priority add if Shough is gone: Bryce Young, especially if you've lost Jaden Daniels, Jackson Dart, or Caleb Williams to injury.
- Claim and stash, not just for this week: Jonah Coleman — both hosts say give up a No. 1 waiver priority here even though Dobbins/Harvey may return short-term.
- Mandatory roster in all leagues: Tank Bigsby as direct Barkley handcuff insurance; monitor the Monday night game-time decision.
- Speculative adds: Emmanuel Wilson (if Jadarian Price sits vs. Washington), Denzel Boston (WR2/3 in Cleveland), Dontavion Wicks (WR3 with upside given Philadelphia's soft upcoming slate), and A.D. Mitchell as a Week 3 flyer against Detroit's leaky secondary.
- Tight end streamers, in order: Elijah Arroyo/Oronde Gadsden II (Chargers, top-eight tight end target share), Pat Freiermuth (if Michael Pittman stays out), Darren Waller as a touchdown-dependent flex in deep leagues.
“Tank Bigsby needs to be rostered in 100% of leagues.” — Matthew Berry
Players in this episode
↓ Ruled out for the Rams game; without him, hosts say start any viable running back/receiver replacement rather than a desperation play.
↓ Left the game with a stinger and did not return; status uncertain for Week 3, likely a game-time decision.
↓ Left the game with a shoulder injury (returned) and hosts remain cautious on him overall after his knee injury, echoing Stefania Bell's earlier caution; Berry says he has very little Nabors exposure this year.
↓ Suffered an MCL injury early in the MNF game and is ruled out, expected to miss some time; exact timetable unknown.
↑ Monster game with 195 yards, two TDs, and a 33% target share as Stafford's clear top target with Nacua out.
→ Dealing with a shoulder injury (negative X-rays) that opened the door for Emmanuel Wilson; hosts note Seattle seems reluctant to give him a true full-time role even when healthy.
↑ Looked like his elite self without Nacua, dialing it up to DeVonta Adams for a huge game.
↓ Left Monday's game with a hamstring injury; hosts note his history of being efficient but constantly injured, expected to miss more time despite saying he'll play all year.
↑ Leads the NFL in passing yards through two weeks and has been a top-4 fantasy QB since Week 10 last year; still available in ~50% of leagues, a must-add given his schedule (Raiders, Falcons, Vikings, Giants).
↑ Berry's preseason sleeper; with both J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey banged up with hamstring injuries, Coleman played 83% of snaps after Dobbins left, scoring a TD and looking like a three-down back who deserves a top waiver priority add.
↑ Second-best fantasy QB this season, averaging 27+ points and 324 passing yards per game under new play-caller Brad Idzik; hosts believe the offensive philosophy change is real and worth buying despite past skepticism.
→ Caught 6 for 51 and a TD with a 30% target share; hosts see him as a strong streaming option only when Nacua or Adams is out, not when both are healthy due to a crowded tight end rotation.
↑ Would immediately become a top-12 RB if Saquon Barkley (dealing with a stinger) misses time; out-touched Will Shipley 15-9 and averages 5.3 YPC in his Eagles career, hosts say he should be rostered in 100% of leagues.
↑ Has 95% route participation, WR15 in utilization score, and 100% of Browns' end zone targets this season; hosts say he's surpassed Jerry Judy/Concepcion as the top Browns WR to roster.
↑ Played 79% of snaps and out-touched George Holani 14-4 after Jadarian Price left with a shoulder injury (negative X-rays); hosts like him as a flex play at Washington if Price sits.
↑ Has the highest target share on the Jets (25%) through two weeks with 60+ receiving yards in both games; favorable matchup vs. a leaky Lions secondary makes him a strong Week 3 flyer.
→ Led Packers in rush attempts in Week 2 and looked good enough to earn more playing time, though hosts remain skeptical given Green Bay's poor offensive line; deep-league add only, with Marshawn Lloyd still viewed as the lead back.
→ Leads the Raiders with an 81% route rate and 24% target share in Week 2, but Ronis cautions his history of boom-bust performances means he's a riskier long-term add.
↑ Posting 12+ fantasy points in both games with a 15.7 average depth of target and 60% deep targets, emerging as a WR3 with upside behind Sean Mannion in a favorable upcoming schedule.
↑ Top-10 in tight end utilization score through two weeks and looks like a solid mid-tier streaming option, especially if Michael Pittman remains out.
↑ Scored two touchdowns Sunday and, despite low overall usage (touchdown-or-bust profile), is valuable in a Panthers offense trending up with Bryce Young.
↑ With David Njoku and Charlie Kolar both placed on IR, Gadson (Arroyo referred to as 'Aranda Gadsden' in transcript) is a top tight end streamer given the Chargers' top-8 tight end target share and his strong yards-per-target rate.
→ Rusty in his first start filling in for Dart, but expected to improve with a full week of practice reps with the starters ahead of a favorable stretch (Titans, Cardinals, Washington).