Week 3 2021/2022 Season

Some weeks there is a clear cut player to pick up on the waiver wire and others there is not. This week, week 3, there isn’t that player who is 20% owned or less on fantasy sites. Waivers need to look like they are in line to be a top fantasy player going forward.  

Last week we had Elijah Mitchell, who went for 19 carries and 104 yards with a touchdown in week 1. 

In week 2, he still received 17 carries. It looks like Mitchell will continue to get the majority of the carries for the foreseeable future. 

There is still value to be found on the waiver wire in week 3 but we will have to look a little deeper.  

We’ll also cover players to sit or start who are considered to be fringe plays in your lineup every week.  

Finally, we will look closely at some players 1 on 1 where we will compare them as the better week 3 play.

The Best Value on the Wavier Wire for Week 3

This week, we start off with wide receivers. WR’s offer to be the best opportunity to get the best value here on the waiver wire.  

The first pick up at receiver is the third option on the Minnesota Vikings.  

That is KJ Osborn who has received 15 targets over the first two weeks. 

In week 2 he brought in five catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.  

Osborn won’t overtake Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen anytime soon. However, there is plenty to go around in Minnesota this year. At current pace Cousins is throwing 49 passes, like he did in week 1.  

Osborn looks like he will be a pretty good option every week depending on matchup. Looking at Osborn’s points total and the fat that he is less than 10% rostered on most sites.  

Is Rondale Moore Fantasy Relevant?

A receiver that could be even better than Osborn to pick up now is the Arizona Cardinals rookie second round pick in Rondale Moore.  

Moore has 13 targets on the year and turned those into 11 catches with 114 yards in week 2 alone.  

It looks like Moore has already taken over as the wide receiver 2 on the Cardinals behind Deandre Hopkins. With a quarterback who could compete for the passing yards title this year in Kyler Murray. Moore may be already owned in your league as he’s over 50% rostered.  

Is AJ Green Still Fantasy Relevant?

Another option on the same team though is AJ Green who is 25% owned. Green is probably a better pickup in standard leagues because his value is pretty touchdown dependent.   

RB’s on Waivers Week 3

Now let’s move on to running back where we have to look harder to find good value on the week.  

The first is a running back who is currently in a timeshare situation with a top 10 drafted fantasy running back in Ezekiel Elliott.  

That running back to pickup is Tony Pollard who has been outplaying Elliott so far this year.  

Pollard ran for 109 yards on 13 carries, compared to Elliott who received 16 carries but only got 71 yards out of them.  

It’s not that Elliott is playing terribly, but Pollard is just doing better fantasy wise.  

13 carries is more than top fantasy running backs. Such as Austin Ekeler, Alvin Kamara, and the same as Chris Carson received in week 2.  

Pollard also out-did Elliott in the passing game in week 2. Pollard had 3 catches for 31 yards compared to Elliott’s 2 for 26.  

Is JD McKissic a Sleeper?

If available in your league, the next back to pickup is JD McKissic. McKissic may have been dropped last week or never owned at all.  

McKissic is currently owned in about 40% of leagues. It is worthwhile if you can add him in a ppr league.  

JD McKissic won’t get you much production on the ground, 4 carries for 10 yards in week 2, but in the passing game he is very dynamic.  

Last week McKissic recorded 5 catches for 83 yards against the Giants. In a 1 point ppr league would be 13.3 points right there. 

Also, those 10 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown got a whopping 20.3 points on the week.  

This won’t be an every week thing. However, he could be a good option to plug in for games where they will be in high scoring matchups. Or possibly playing from behind where Washington needs a pass catching back.  

QB Waivers Week 3

There are a few options at quarterback who look like good pick-ups if you need help at quarterback. Maybe you had one of the quarterbacks who got injured in week 2.  

The first is Daniel Jones who was a big part of the Giant’s running game. Jones totaled 95 rushing yards and he should have had more as one touchdown run of his was called back.  

Until Barkley is fully unleashed in the run game. Jones looks like he could do some damage on your fantasy team with that added running bonus.  

The other quarterbacks to consider are Derek Carr, Taylor Heinicke, and Kirk Cousins. All these QB’s are also 30% owned or less on most sites.

Week 3 TE Wavier Wire Pickups

At tight end you’re not going to find many to pick up who aren’t pretty highly owned already.  

Maxx Williams is one of those lesser owned guys who had a big week 2 with 7 catches on 7 targets for 94 yards. 

Williams is likely a TE fluke game but may be worthy of a pickup for bye weeks. Or on a hunch that he could continue to put up bigger numbers than we are accustomed to seeing from him.  

In Williams first game he only had one target and no catches so time will still tell if he can be consistent enough to be rostered.  

Jared Cook was a big tight end add last week. Cook may be dropped by some of those owners as he only had 3 catches for 28 yards. However, he got a touchdown called back on a holding call in week 2.  

Currently, Cook is about 50% owned on most sites but that was about a 30% increase from week one.  If he is still available, definitely pick him up.

WR’s on Waivers for Week 3

Running it back to wide receivers again for the sit or start portion we have some breakout players in week 2 who look like good plays going forward.  

In week 3 we still like Courtland Sutton, who was lowly ranked in week 2, but went off for 9 catches and 159 yards receiving.  

In week 3 Sutton gets an even better situation in facing the New York Jets. With Jerry Jeudy still out of the lineup, he should continue to eat up targets for big yardage.  

The Broncos have surprisingly been getting it done through the air big time this year and this week should be no different.  

Golladay or Shepard in Week 3 Waivers?

The New York Giants brought in Kenny Golladay for big money but Sterling Shepard continues to be the go to guy for Daniel Jones and New York.  

Shepard has had 7 and then 9 catches in the first two weeks for a combined total of 207 receiving yards and a touchdown.  

This week he gets to face the Atlanta Falcons who have given up 32 and 48 points in their first two games.  

Shepard probably won’t be the only start from the Giants this week but for a guy drafted outside 

of the top 100, he looks like a top 20 wide receiver play again in week 3.  

Sit Brandin Cooks

A tough sit at wide receiver should be Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans. Cooks has been a beast so far this season. 

However, now starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor is out and Davis Mills will be filling in. Mills threw just 8 completions on 18 attempts passing last week.  

The Texans also play a Carolina defense that allowed only 111 passing yards in week 2.

Start Chase Edmonds

Circling back to running back, we look at some top plays you should try to get in your lineups this week.  

The first start is the Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds.  

The Cardinals have been throwing a ton. Edmonds hasn’t gotten the carries he’s deserved with his inspiring play this year.  

Edmonds is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and also has 9 catches for 72 yards in two games, yet he only has 20 total carries.  

This week the Cardinals get the Jaguars who they should be able to easily handle. This should allow Edmonds to get 15+ carries as they run the clock.  

Look for him to get 18+ fantasy points with the addition of his pass-catching ability in a ppr league.  

Start Barkley for Breakout Week

A running back who has been severely struggling to get going is Saquon Barkley.  

As mentioned earlier with Sterling Shepard, the Giants face the Atlanta Falcons who have given up 80 points in two weeks.  

If there was ever a week for Barkley to be unleashed so he can get that confidence back, it would be this week. 

Sit all Texans

Not to pick on the Falcons and the Texans this week but Mark Ingram looks like he should be a sit, along with all of the Texans offense.  

They face that tough Panthers defense and Ingram doesn’t provide much value outside of getting a ton of carries for minimal yards.  

Ingram is extremely touchdown dependent. The Panthers have only allowed one rushing touchdown so far this season and none to running backs.

Start Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts is a quarterback you are going to want to start this week.  Hurts had a rough go at it against one of the best defenses in the NFL, the 49ers, in week 2. 

Now Hurts gets the Cowboys who have been torched for 379 and 338 passing yards in each of the first two games.  

Hurts should have a big day through the air but also will add those extra points running the ball.  

The Eagles should be in attack mode offensively all game in a 52 point betting total. For the Eagles they will be in a close game or behind throwing the ball.

Sit Taylor Heinicke  

An unfortunate sit this week will have to be Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke had another great performance in week 2 with 336 passing yards but that was against the New York Giants.  

Heinicke was one of the most added quarterbacks coming into week 3. However, he can’t be trusted just yet against a Buffalo team that allowed zero points and under 185 yards passing the week prior.

Start Robert Tonyan

Robert Tonyan had a disastrous week 1, along with all of the other Green Bay Packers. This caused him to have a low ranking for tight ends coming into week 2.  

The Packers used Tonyan a couple of times as a playmaker on short screens. 

Tonyan caught a strike down the middle from Rodgers for a 22 yard touchdown which translated into a good fantasy game. 

In week 3 Tonyan faces a tough San Francisco defense but they allowed 8 catches, 97 yards, and a touchdown to tight end TJ Hockenson in week 1.  

Start Dallas Goedert

Another tight end to start is Dallas Goedert as the Eagles will be without Zach Ertz in week 3.  

Sit Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas may be a sit for the first time this season as he would come in the rankings for tight ends just outside the top 12.  

This is mostly due to a very tough matchup against the Bills but if you have another tight end option, this may be the week to use him.

Is Deebo Samuel a Sell High?

Now looking at some 1 on 1 player comparisons for the week, we start again at wide receiver.  If you drafted Deebo Samuel you are probably pretty happy with his first two weeks of production.  

Deebo had a monster game one and then in game two he still managed 6 catches for 93 yards and 8 rushing yards in a game where the 9ers only scored 17 points.  

Samuel gets a pretty good matchup against Green Bay who was getting beaten in the Lions’ pass game until the rain downpour started.  

Starting Deebo over a receiver like Robert Woods, who has taken a backseat to Cooper Kupp so far this season. Or Allen Robinson who has struggled to get going, could be a good play.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR’s

Still taking a shot on either Tampa Bay guy in Chris Godwin or Mike Evans would be advisable over Samuel and even Courtland Sutton looks more appealing this week.  

Is Marquis Brown now a WR2?

This season, Marquis Brown has come into his own after being drafted fairly late as the 40th to 45th receiver was taken in most drafts.  

After some strong play he should be surpassing some of the wideouts in your starting lineups.  Brown gets the Lions who were torched for 314 yards from Jimmy G, which is a lot for him, and 41 points by the 9ers and then gave up 35 points and 4 passing touchdowns to the Packers.  

He seems like a better play due to his ability to seemingly always have at least a couple big plays than an early standout such as Antonio Brown and Allen Robinson.  

Brown had a monster week 1 but will more than often take a backseat to Godwin, Evans, and Gronk.  

Robinson was drafted as a top 10 receiver but has not been so great due to some below average quarterback play thus far in Chicago.  

Sterling Shepard looks to be a slightly better play than Brown, especially in ppr, due to the amount of targets he has been receiving and his matchup.  

Consider Samuel ahead of Brown for the same reasons as Shepard.

Is Antonio Gibson a buy low?

Antonio Gibson was drafted in the 1st or 2nd round of many leagues but has not been playing like it due to his lack of involvement in the pass game.  

JD McKissic has filled that pass catching role and Gibson has been struggling a bit to get it going on the ground as well.  

Some players on your bench you may consider over Gibson, who has a rough matchup against Buffalo this week, is Ty’Son Williams or Chase Edmonds, who was mentioned earlier.  

Ty’Son Williams or Chase Edmonds?

Williams was probably undrafted, depending on when your draft took place, and Edmonds was likely a 4th or 5th round pick, but both could be in line for better games than Gibson.  

Williams gets a great matchup and has been making the most of his carries with 6.5 yards per carry on average.  

Edmonds may have the best running back matchup you can get against the Jaguars and he too is outpacing Gibson in yards per carry as well as receiving.  

Big Name RB’s yet to Breakout

Ezekiel Elliott has not been terrible but the timeshare situation with Pollard hurts his value a bit.  Zeke still looks like a decent play but some players that should be ranked ahead of him in week 3 are Najee Harris and Chris Carson.  

Both Harris and Carson fall into good matchups and will receive the bulk of the carries which should be between 15 to 25.  

The same can’t be said for Elliott who has Pollard getting 10+ carries per game and taking away work in the passing game.  

Still you should play Elliott over running backs such as Joe Mixon or David Montgomery as Elliott still has big play ability and is not a total sit this week.

Is Tom Brady a Sell High?

At quarterback, Tom Brady has been tearing it up the first two games.  He has so many weapons that each week he has to pick and choose who he wants to get 100+ yards.  

This has made him a great fantasy play for a quarterback not drafted that high in a lot of leagues.  

Brady looks like a better play in week 3 than Josh Allen. Allen was drafted either as the 2nd or 3rd quarterback but fell into a tough matchup and Buffalo should be looking to get back to the run game that did wonders for them in week 2.  

Also, playing Brady over Aaron Rodgers should pay off as he now finds himself in a tough game against the 9ers after a breakout performance on Monday Night Football.  

Still, some quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson and Justin Herbert should be in spots to smash this week. As well as the usual suspects at the top of the rankings in Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray.  

Brady will be good this week but those players can offer more with the matchups they were scheduled or with the extra points from their rushing ability. 

Hold Gronk or Sell High?

Rob Gronkowski has been an absolute beast so far this year with 4 receiving touchdowns in just two games.  

Gronk remains ranked just inside the top 10 at 9 or 8 in most rankings due mostly to his lack of targets and big play ability.  

Gronkowski is very dependent on touchdowns and his longest play of the season is just 20 yards.  

If you drafted Gronkowski as your number 2 tight end some of these guys may be better bets this week.  

Is George Kittle a Bust or Buy Low?

One is George Kittle who has done basically nothing this year, but in this game against the Packers he should be needed to do a lot more and could have a breakout game here.  

TJ Hockenson or Mark Andrews?

Another guy is TJ Hockenson who proved to be matchup proof torching the 9ers and Packers for big games so far.  

Still, Gronk should be a better play than Mark Andrews who has struggled to get involved and find the end zone so far and also should be a better bet than Logan Thomas who finds himself in a nightmare matchup.

Week 3 Waivers Summary

3 weeks into the season we’re starting to see production from players drafted well after round 10. We’re also seeing far less production than some high drafted players, particularly the round 2 WR’s. Ridley, A.J. Brown and Robinson are too good not to improve their numbers ROS. 

We’re only 3 weeks into the 17 week season. Make sure you get the waivers you need, but avoid any panic trades.