Week 3 Top Waiver Wire Pickups: Jimmy G Leads The Way
San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance broke his ankle on Sunday and will miss the remainder of the season. Jimmy Garropolo is now the hottest free agent to scoop up from waivers heading into Week 3 of the fantasy football season. Other notable pickup options include Carson Wentz of the Commanders, RB Raheem Mostert of the Dolphins, WR Sammy Watkins of the Packers, and TE Evan Engram of the Jaguars. Let's dive in and take a look at the top players to considering adding off the waiver wire ahead of Week 3.
Quarterbacks
QB Jimmy Garropolo, San Francisco 49ers (6.96% Owned)
The most obvious waiver wire pickup heading into this week is Jimmy Garoppolo. In Sunday afternoon’s game, second-year QB Trey Lance broke his ankle. He is expected to undergo season-ending surgery which will make Garoppolo the 49ers starting QB for the rest of the season.
By virtue of this, everyone in your fantasy league (who is remotely paying attention to football on Sundays) will look to add Jimmy G to their bench and perhaps drop a backup. Still, if you need a better backup, go for it. Everyone who needs another QB should try to claim Garoppolo from waivers.
QB Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders (63.86% Owned)
Although the Commanders lost in Week 2, Carson Wentz had another impressive game. He completed over 65% of his passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He only threw one pick in the game, and finished with a 99.6 QBR. Through the first two Weeks of the 2022 NFL regular season, Wentz has completed 65.5% of his passes for seven touchdowns and three interceptions. While the Commanders’ receiving corps has certainly stepped it up in the first two games, Wentz is throwing the ball quite accurately. For a guy who many fantasy owners passed on in drafts, Wentz is not playing like the QB he was in Indianapolis last season. At the moment, Wentz has the second-most passing yards in the NFL. While he is only available in 30% of leagues, his Week 2 performance should be enough for people to no longer sleep on Wentz. It's time for fantasy football owners to wake up.
Running Backs
RB Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (41.87% Owned)
As a result of a rib injury which kept RB Alvin Kamara limited in Week 1, and out for the entirety of Week 2, veteran RB Mark Ingram got the nod against the Buccaneers on Sunday. In Week 2, Ingram had 10 carries for 60 rushing yards (6.0 AVG). While he did fumble the ball (and fumbled in Week 1), Ingram will continue to see a ton of touches if Kamara is out. Even if Kamara plays in Week 3, his injury could limit his play or affect his efficiency on the field. The Saints could ease him back into action in Week 3, which imeans Ingram should see upwards to 15 touches in Week 3.
RB Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins (67.14% Owned)
In second appearance as a Miami Dolphin, Mostert had another productive game in Week 2. He finished the game with 51 rushing yards and three catches for 28 receiving yards. While Tua Tagoovailoa linked up with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for a combined 22 receptions, 361 receiving yards, and four touchdown passes, Mostert was efficient in the running game and remains widely available on the waiver wire. Clearly, his experience as a veteran at the position is paying off for the Miami Dolphins despite their pass-heavy tailored offense.
Wide Receivers
WR Sammy Watkins, Green Bay Packers (13.07% Owned)
In Week 1, the Green Bay Packers failed to get any air offense going in a rough loss to the Minesotta Vikings. This Sunday, the Packers played their home opener on Sunday Night Football against the Bears, and Aaron Rodgers was able to link up with his route runners. Rodgers finished the night with 234 passing yards and two touchdowns. Watkins led all Packers receivers with 93 yards on just three receptions (55-yard catch was his longest). While it remains unclear who Rodgers’ top target will be moving forward this season, Watkins led the team in receiving yards and it wasn't even close. The wideout with second-most receiving yards on Sunday was veteran Randall Cobb, who finished the game with three receptions for 37 yards. In Week 3, expect Watkins to see more targets and for him to split the majority of the receiving yards with Romeo Doubs.
WR Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals (8.63% Owned)
With Deandre Hopkins suspended for PED use and out until Week 7, the Arizona Cardinals have had to dig a little deeper in their roster to create depth at wide receiver. Greg Dortch has emerged as the top wideout who’s shattered any expectations in the Cardinals’ first two games of the season. In Week 1, Dortch caught seven passes for 63 yards. This Sunday, Dortch hauled in all four of the balls thrown his way for 55 receiving yards and one touchdown.
This undersized receiver who’s worked his way onto the Cardinals’ active roster has taken advantage of every snap he’s been given. Through the first two weeks, he’s caught 11-of-13 targets from Kyler Murray, further demonstrating that Dortch is becoming an increasingly reliable target for Murray. Though fantasy owners will scramble to try to claim him for Week 3, he is available in more than 90% of leagues at the moment. There is also a solid chance that he is overlooked, being a player who had to work his way up the ranks in training camp to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster. Dortch is now a starter for the Cardinals, and is truly stepping up in a big and unexpected way. Make sure to look out for him if you’re in need of a WR to add to your bench.
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans (30.91% Owned)
This Sunday, WR Nico Collins was targeted nine times by Davis Mills. This comes after Week 1 where Collins caught two of three passes thrown his way for 26 yards. This week, he only caught four of the nine passes Mills threw his way but finished the game with the most receiving yards of any Texan. Collins finished the game with four more receiving yards than the Texans’ No. 1 WR, Brandin Cooks. While he caught less than 50% of Mills’ targets on Sunday, the fact that Collins was targeted so much more this week makes him an interesting free agent who is widely available. Ultimately, the Texans failed to get into the end zone on Sunday, and all of their nine points came from three successful field goal attempts. While Houston is a team with an unimpressive offense, Collins’ elevated role in Week 2 could indicate that he sees more targets per game this season than he did in Week 1 and become the Texans’ true second-best wideout. If this ends up being the case, Collins can definitely be added to fantasy benches. At the moment, Collins can be scooped from waivers in approximately 70% of fantasy leagues.
Tight Ends
TE Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars (23.23% Owned)
Tight End is a shallow position, and if you are in need of a player at that position from waivers it can be very difficult to find any value. In the case of now veteran TE Evan Engram, he had a more productive game in Week 2 with his new team than in Week 1. Engram is currently available in more than 75% of fantasy leagues and is earning his playing time. In Week 1, Engram still caught all four passes thrown his way for 28 yards. In the Jaguars 24-0 blowout victory over the Colts this Sunday, Engram caught seven-of-eight targets for 46 yards. That means that through the first two games of the season, Engram has a 91.6 Catch% (11-of-12 on receptions). For a guy who is widely available, that’s pretty solid. It’s also encouraging for Engram who certainly earned a reputation in New York as a guy who constantly dropped passes. Maybe he added a little glue to his gloves this season, but Engram is playing well for the first time since perhaps his rookie season.
TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (73.14% Owned)
Tyler Higbee had a big game in Week 2. He caught seven passes for 71 yards, finishing second in receiving yards only behind WR Cooper Kupp who finished the game with a staggering 108 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Higbee is available as a claimable free-agent in approximately 25% of fantasy football leagues. While there is a good chance you won’t find him on waivers, you should certainly take a look, especially if you are in need of a tight end.
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Defenses / Special Teams
D/ST Kansas City Chiefs (19.35% Owned)
Despite allowing 24 points to the Los Angeles Chargers at home, the Chiefs had 73 tackles including four tackles for losses and two sacks on Justin Herbert. Chiefs’ CB Jaylen Watson then had a 99-yard pick-six to ice to seal a 27-24 victory over Los Angeles and move to 2-0 to take the lead in the AFC West.
The Chiefs’ defense produced an average of 10.0 FPTS in Week 2, despite allowing 24 points. This defense can be claimed from waivers in more than 75% of fantasy football leagues at the moment.
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