Week 3 Waivers + Someone to Blame - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/22
The hosts recap a chaotic Monday night Giants-Rams game (Jackson Dart's MCL injury, Malik Nabors' shoulder, Devontae Adams' big game) before diving deep into Week 3 waiver wire targets across every position. They debate injury-prone labels, backfield committees behind banged-up starters, and highlight breakout streamers like Tyler Shough and Bryce Young.
This Week 3 waivers episode from the Fantasy Footballers is built around a wave of week-two injuries reshaping the backup running back and tight end markets, plus two under-the-radar streaming quarterbacks the hosts believe have real staying power. Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright spend most of the show translating Sunday's chaos into concrete pickup priorities rather than just recapping box scores.
The arguments
Jonah Coleman is intriguing but not worth heavy FAAB unless you own J.K. Dobbins. Mike is highest on Coleman's talent, noting he outplayed Tyler Badie once Dobbins went down and looked like a three-down back in college. Jason pushes back that Coleman barely played the first three quarters even with R.J. Harvey out, so the touch share isn't guaranteed, and both agree it's only a big bid if Dobbins is on your own roster given his repeated hamstring/health issues.
Emmanuel Wilson, not Jonah Coleman, is the running back the hosts want everyone to roster. Mike calls him a must-add in 100% of leagues, arguing the Jaydon Blue/backfield committee for Kenneth Walker's team is falling apart, Wilson looked explosive (21 carries, 92 yards), and he plays in an offense they trust. Both hosts frame this as a priority pickup now, before Walker gets hurt and Wilson becomes a bidding war.
Denzel Boston and Dontavion Wicks are in a tier above every other receiver on the wire. Andy leans toward Boston as his true WR1 target — elite snap share, touchdown-heavy college profile, and rookie pedigree that historically predicts sustained breakouts. Jason counters he'd take Wicks first because Dak's offense is more proven and Wicks' role should grow with George Kittle out, but both agree the gap between this pair and the rest of the board is significant.
Tight end is unusually deep right now, led by Oronde Gadsden and Terrance Ferguson. The hosts single out Gadsden (Chargers' clear TE1 with Njoku and Kohler on IR) and Ferguson (whose value could outlast Puka Nacua's uncertain hip/groin situation) as clear adds, with Darren Waller's red-zone role rounding out the tier. Mike adds Juwan Johnson as a lower-priority streaming option for teams getting zero tight end production.
Tyler Shough and Bryce Young are legitimate rest-of-season streaming quarterbacks, not one-week plays. Jason cites Shough's historic passing volume (comparable to 2015 Tom Brady) and points to Jordan Tyson's eventual return as reason for real optimism, while flagging Las Vegas' pass rush (Max Crosby) and New Orleans' banged-up offensive line as this week's risk. Mike backs Bryce Young in Carolina off his league-leading pass rate over expectation and weapons in Chuba Hubbard, Tetairoa McMillan, and Jalen Coker, calling Cleveland's defense a soft matchup.
Drew Lock is the streaming play of the week given JSN's absurd target share. Andy notes Jaxon Smith-Njigba is commanding a 44% target share, which the hosts say makes any competent passer startable, with Washington up next as a favorable matchup.
Alec Pierce and Marvin Harrison Jr. are drop/bench candidates for different reasons. Mike says Pierce should be cut outright or stashed only in an empty IR slot given the likely surgery and long recovery, while Andy and Jason debate Harrison's lack of effort on underneath routes versus a legitimate scheme explanation (Trey McBride dominates the short game) — both agree he's frustrating enough to earn "Meowvin Harrison" status as this year's early Cat of the Year.
What it means for your roster
- Add Emmanuel Wilson in all leagues immediately — treat as a 100%-priority pickup, not a stash for later.
- Bid meaningfully on Jonah Coleman only if you own J.K. Dobbins; otherwise keep the FAAB spend minimal.
- Prioritize Denzel Boston or Dontavion Wicks over every other receiver on waivers — Boston for higher ceiling, Wicks if you want the safer/better offense.
- Grab Oronde Gadsden and Terrance Ferguson now, especially if you roster Puka Nacua or Devontae Adams, since both project as legitimate starts if the injuries linger.
- Stream Tyler Shough or Bryce Young at quarterback for multiple weeks, not just this one — both hosts view them as rest-of-season options, with Shough facing tougher risk this week due to Las Vegas's pass rush.
- Drop or IR-stash Alec Pierce; bench or sell low on Marvin Harrison Jr. given the route-effort concerns, even if the offensive logic partly excuses him.
“He is a liar, liar fan... there's a pair of pants on fire.” — Andy Holloway
Players in this episode
↓ Status for Week 3 is uncertain with reports ranging from hip to groin/sports hernia concerns.
→ Dealing with a neck stinger and getting an MRI; if he misses time, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley would split work (Bigsby the rushing role, Shipley the passing role).
↓ Considered a hold over drop, but not a preferred start the next two weeks (vs Jacksonville, at Buffalo) given lack of A.J. Brown for an extended stretch.
→ On an unsustainable workload pace, making his backup Emmanuel Wilson a priority handcuff.
↓ Popped his shoulder out and back in, finished with just one catch for one yard in a disastrous game.
↓ Suffered an MCL sprain and will miss time after an MRI; wanted to return to the game despite the injury.
↑ Went for 8 catches, 195 yards and 2 TDs with Puka Nacua out, showing he can be the alpha receiver even amid injury-prone concerns.
↓ Needs to be managed carefully due to recurring injury issues, compared to fragile 'Laffy Taffy.'
↑ Ranked RB10/11 through two weeks with receiving touchdowns both games as part of a reborn Panthers offense.
→ Reported to be fine after a hamstring scare, but hosts flag him as historically injury-prone.
↓ Named early leader for 'Meowvin Harrison'/Cat of the Year for perceived lack of effort on some routes despite talent, tied to limited role behind Trey McBride.
↑ Becomes the clear TE1 for the Chargers after Njoku and Kohler landed on IR.
→ Cleared concussion protocol and will start vs. Buccaneers; considered a viable streamer despite recent injury history.
↑ Leading the league in passing volume with historic efficiency numbers through two games; hosts regret earlier trading/dropping him and view him as a potential rest-of-season starter.
↓ Attempting to rehab a heel/ankle injury to avoid surgery; hosts recommend dropping him rather than stashing given long recovery outlook.
→ Took over in the 4th quarter after J.K. Dobbins' injury, showing three-down ability, but hosts are cautious on price given Dobbins/Harvey could return healthy.
↑ Second in pass rate over expectation with 8.9 YPA, backed by weapons like Jalen Coker, Tetairoa McMillan, Waller and Hubbard; strong stream vs. Cleveland's struggling secondary.
↑ Filled in well (6-54-1) and could retain value beyond Puka's return; would be a top overall pickup if Puka needs surgery.
→ Would be preferred over Shipley if Barkley sits, due to expected touchdown upside once Eagles return to normal game script.
↑ Named the top wide receiver waiver pickup with elite snap share and touchdown ability (5-95-1), one of only two rookie WRs with 90%+ snaps and a TD in each of first two games.
↑ Called the best handcuff addition of the week behind Kenneth Walker; must-add given Walker's massive workload and Wilson's strong performance (21 carries, 92 yards).
↑ Sneaky WR add with 12 targets (6-63) in a pass-heavy offense expected to trail often, giving him deep-shot upside.
→ Flashed big games historically (3 TDs, 145 yards in a past week 3) but considered boom/bust; good matchup this week vs. Saints.
↑ Alternate top-tier WR pickup, benefiting from Dalton Kincaid/Goddard-type TE injury opening up more looks in a strong offense.
↑ Named starter for Thursday night vs. Packers, expected to be a clear upgrade over Cooper Rush, boosting Drake London and Kyle Pitts outlooks.
→ Continues finding the end zone near-weekly despite modest yardage, seen as a touchdown-dependent streaming option.
→ Signed by the Colts as a competent complementary receiver with prior chemistry with Daniel Jones.
↑ Currently the highest-rated passer through two weeks, benefiting from JSN's 44% target share; recommended as a streaming option regardless of who starts (Lock or Darnold).