It's never too early to look at fantasy football roster help on the waiver wire, and heading into what's sure to be another busy week of league transactions in Week 3, it's important to know how much of your FAAB budget to bid on projected top pickups, such as Jerome Ford, Zack Moss, Justice Hill, Roschon Johnson, Tony Jones Jr., Josh Reynolds, Tutu Atwell, Tank Dell and Zach Ertz, among many others.
Sporting News Fantasy is here to provide advice on pickups all season long and help you prioritize your action items to improve your roster for the short- or long-term. Here's a ranking and projected FAAB bid for all of the key free agents going into Week 3:
WEEK 3 FANTASY: Top pickups | Trade advice
Week 3 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Russell Wilson, Broncos (Yahoo! league availability: 49%). Wilson dropped 308 yards and three TDs through the air and also added a team-high 56 yards on the ground against Washington in his most Seahawk-like game ever as a Bronco. In more true, old-school Seattle form, he's also is throwing to a whole bunch of dudes. He is starting to feel it with Sean Payton, and his duel with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami in Week 3 has more shootout potential. (Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget)
2. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (Yahoo! league availability: 86%). Mayfield is looking good and his fantasy output has been almost even in two games (20-plus points in six-point TD leagues). He's feeling it with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rachaad White, Cade Otton, and others with good protection. Could he be this year's Geno Smith, working with Smith's old QB coach Dave Canales? Quite possibly, but he is Baker and it could come crashing. If he delivers in Week 3 vs. the Eagles' suddenly reeling pass defense, one might need to say he's "Purdy legit." (Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget)
3. Mac Jones, Patriots (Yahoo! league availability: 77%). If you were skeptical about Mac after he lit up the Eagles' defense at home, he followed that up by throwing for an ugly 231 yards and a TD opposite Tua on the Dolphins' defense at home. You can't stream him (unless you're in a superflex) against the Jets in Week 3, but he should be rostered in 12-team leagues as a matchup-based QB2. (Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget)
4. Desmond Ridder, Falcons (Yahoo! league availability: 95%). Ridder was better in reality in Week 2 vs. the Packers with 237 yards and a TD through the air and 10-36-1 on the ground. Those are very Marcus Mariota-esque, best-case numbers. He should have deep-league stream appeal on the road vs. the Lions. (Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget)
5. Gardner Minshew, Colts (Yahoo! league availability: 99%). You cannot stop Minshew Mania in Jacksonville, Philly, or Indy. It looks like the mustachioed mensch will start at least one game for a concussed Anthony Richardson. The matchup seems brutal in the Ravens, but there can be enough garbage time vs. a shaky secondary for him to be a deep-league superflex. (Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget)
WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 3 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Jerome Ford, Browns (Yahoo! league availability: 85%). He was a premium handcuff behind Nick Chubb and now has to take over with Chubb suffering a major knee injury on Monday night in Pittsburgh. Ford has flashed second-year promise to the point D'Ernest Johnson and Kareem Hunt didn't need to be re-signed. There's a chance the team brings back Hunt or adds another back, but Ford is the clear first next man up in a strong rushing attack with former Patriot Pierre Strong behind him on the depth chart. Ford also showed he can be an adept receiver with his TD vs. the Steelers. (Projected FAAB bid: 20-25% of total budget)
2. Kyren Williams, Rams (Yahoo! league availability: 39%). Cam Akers was made inactive after his bad Week 1 in favor of Williams carrying the load. Williams rushed for another 52 yards and scored two combined TDs in a brutal matchup with the 49ers, but the bonus was also 10 targets in a negative game script, leading to six catches and 48 more yards. The Rams' offenslve line looks good overall, and he's the man now. Just be wary because he's a smaller back who can get hurt if overworked. (Projected FAAB bid: 13-15% of total budget)
3. Matt Breida, Giants (Yahoo! league availability: 99%). Speaking of smaller backs, Breida for is the best play from the G-Men in the short term for however long Saquon Barkley (ankle) is out again. Gary Brightwell or Eric Gray could push for more work, but right now the seasoned understudy Breida figures to go to work. He'll try to match what Williams did in Week 3 against the 49ers nasty D on Thursday night. (Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget)
4. Zack Moss, Colts (Yahoo! league availability: 48%). Moss is worth gathering for sure as the Colts' now-healthy, clear-cut top choice to fill in for Jonathan Taylor. He took advantage of the sweet Texans matchup for 18-88-1 plus a solid four catches for 19 yards. The Ravens are much tougher in Week 3, but he's a volume-based RB2 option. (Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget)
5. Justice Hill, Ravens (Yahoo! league availability: 56%). Hill rushed 11 times for 41 yards and caught all three of his targets vs. the Bengals for 12 more yards. Even though Gus Edwards hit paydirt, as expected, Edwards, Hill, and Lamar Jackson are even in the rushing committee. Hill is involved enough to consider, especially with the Colts next. (Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget)
6. Roschon Johnson, Bears (Yahoo! league availability: 62%). The rookie from Texans looks like the Bears' most complete back between him, Khalil Herbert, and D'Onta Foreman. He deserves a bump in work, and 0-2 Chicago may want to see what he can do with a bigger workload soon. The Chiefs in Week 3 is a good time to try it for them. (Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget)
7. Tony Jones Jr., Saints (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). Jones took over the backfield on Monday night when Jamaal Williams (hamstring) got hurt with rookie Kendre Miller already hamstrung. Jones scored his first-ever TD and has a chance to be an ultimate one-game streamer with Alvin Kamara suspended for one more game. The matchup vs. the Packers is terrific in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget)
8. Craig Reynolds, Lions (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). The thigh bruise for David Montgomery will keep him out for a few games. Reynolds is the fill-in power complement to Jahmyr Gibbs, starting with an OK spot at home vs. Atlanta. (Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget)
9. Tyjae Spears, Titans (Yahoo! league availability: 83%). Derrick Henry had more of a Derrick Henry-esque game against the Chargers, but everyone can see that Spears is special and would explode should Henry be shelved with age and injury. He's the classic high-upside handcuff stash. Get him while he's still cheap or close to free. (Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget)
10. Ty Chandler, Vikings (Yahoo! league availability: 95%). This is a bit of a stash, too, as the Vikings can't be too thrilled about Alexander Mattison's production in limited work that also includes fumbling. Chandler didn't challenge Mattison much for the job in camp, but at 0-2, the Vikings might be more willing to get a more youthful spark soon. (Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget)
11. Pierre Strong, Browns (Yahoo! league availability: 99%).Strong was acquired in a trade from New England, which chose to go get Ezekiel Elliott as a backup instead. Strong will be there just in case Ford falters or also gets hurt. (Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget)
WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 3 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Josh Reynolds, Lions (Yahoo! league availability: 88%). Reynolds has had two terrific games with Jared Goff, scoring twice on the Seahawks in Week 2. He's been seen as the best No. 2 to Amon-Ra St. Brown until Jameson Willams returns, but that's selling the former Rams short. Josh is locked in well with Goff and has a clear weekly role in the offense. (Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget)
2. Tutu Atwell, Rams (Yahoo! league availability: 75%). Puka Nacua may be the pickup of the year already in Week 1, but this other young Rams wideout didn't go quite as hot ahead of his Week 2 vs. the 49ers. Tutu danced to 7-77 on nine targets after going 6-119 on eight targets in Seattle. He is bound to fade a little like Nacua if/when Cooper Kupp returns, but for now, Atwell is a fantasy WR2 in a pass-happy Rams' offense that's executing well. Nacua and Atwell are making sure they will be the busy options after Kupp. (Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget)
3. Skyy Moore, Chiefs (Yahoo! league availability: 51%). If someone let the Skyy fall in your league after his disappointment in Week 1, they can be now called a bit hasty. Patrick Mahomes got Travis Kelce back and treated all the wideouts as committee dudes. but Skyy had the clutch line with 3-70-1 on four targets. The kid can destroy the Bears in Week 3 with enough chances. (Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget)
4. Jayden Reed, Packers (Yahoo! league availability: 90%). Reed, a dynamic rookie from Michigan State, put up 4-37-2 on eight targets on the Falcons as Christian Watson (hamstring) sat again, serving as Jordan Love's scorer du jour. The Packers seem a little Chiefs-y in week-to-week with wideouts, but should Watson's injury nag and drag, Reed can be valuable as a deep-league WR3 with some more good matchups on tap. (Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget)
5. Tank Dell, Texans (Yahoo! league availability: 95%). Dell was quiet in his rookie debut but got busier vs. the Colts with 7-72-1 on 10 targets from C.J. Stroud. With Stroud passing for good numbers, Dell has a good shot to remain the second key target behind Nico Collins. (Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget)
6. Marvin Mims, Broncos (Yahoo! league availability: 77%). Sutton and Jeudy who? Mims, a big-play rookie from Oklahoma, made two of the four big plays for Russ vs. the Commanders, with a crazy simple 2-113-1 line on his two targets. At 0-2, the Broncos might be more youth movement-y, too, with Mims getting more looks at those "regular" veterans' expenses. (Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget)
7. Jalin Hyatt, Giants (Yahoo! league availability: 88%). This big-play rookie from Tennessee had a Mims-like 2-89 (minus the TDs) on his two targets against the Cardinals. New York can't just run its offense through Darren Waller, Isiah Hodgins, and Darius Slayton. Hyatt has the most upside and needs more looks that aren't just deep shots. (Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget)
8. Nelson Agholor, Ravens (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). With Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) going down, Agholor ended up operating as the second wideout to Zay Flowers with a 5-63-1 on six targets. He's not exciting, but they do like him in Todd Monken's offense for his versatility (Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget)
9. Mack Hollins, Falcons (Yahoo! league availability: 99%) Arthur Smith started liking Drake London again in Week 2 but still forgot about Kyle Pitts for the most part. Hollins? He did 3-60 work on the Packers on six targets. He is a deep-shot dart throw to stream in deep leagues if needed vs. the Lions. (Projected FAAB bid: 5-0% of total budget)
10. Brandon Johnson (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). Johnson was the poor man's Mims with 2-66-2 for Wilson vs. Washington on three targets. Will it continue? Who knows? Probably not. But maybe. The Dolphins do give up some big pass plays. (Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget)
Week 3 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Zach Ertz, Cardinals (Yahoo! league availability: 90%). The 10 targets in Week 1 didn't add up to much against the Commanders, but then he went 6-for-56 on eight targets vs. the Giants in Week 2. That's plenty of veteran work to plug him into lineups in deep leagues despite a tougher NFC East reunion matchup vs. Dallas in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget)
2. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (Yahoo! league availability: 98%). Otton was a draft afterthought, but with Mayfield playing well, he's the third-best option (or tied with Rachaad White) behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The talented athletic target was on point in Week 2, catching all six of his targets for 41 yards to earn more looks going forward. Otton has the juiciest early TE matchup in the league vs. the Eagles in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget)
3. Hayden Hurst, Panthers (Yahoo! league availability: 65%) Hurst will be a matchup-based stream. Week 1 vs. the Falcons was great: Monday night vs. the Saints might not be. The Seahawks look pretty nice for him again for 6-60 work in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget)
4. Dalton Schultz, Texans (Yahoo! league availability: 49%). Schultz isn't the big-time security blanket as expected for C.J. Stroud, who seems very confident spreading the ball all over the field to wide receivers, but his seven targets, four catches, and 34 yards were a little encouraging for increased usage ahead of the Jaguars in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 1% of total budget)
5. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (Yahoo! league availability: 62%). Ferguson had to deal with Dalton Schultz and Peyton Hendershot last season. Now, it's less Hendershot and some rookie Luke Schoonmaker. Ferguson still scored in Week 2 vs. the Jets with limited work from Dak Prescott and has a nice matchup in Arizona in Week 3. (Projected FAAB bid: 1% of total budget)
6. Cole Turner, Commanders (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). Sam Howell is throwing a ton to the tight end. He was locked into Logan Thomas before the latter's concussion at Denver. Don't go for Downton Abbey's John Bates, but rather the young upside athlete as a desperate deep-league TE2 flyer. (Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget)
Week 3 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Yahoo! league availability: 61%). The Bears have hemorrhaged defensive points to the Packers and Buccaneers. Fields is struggling and their offensive line is breaking down when not being able to run. Matt Nagy will have fun watching this disaster from the other side.
2. Seattle Seahawks (Yahoo! league availability: 92%). They busted against the surprising Rams in Week 1 and were fortunate to get a pick-six in a shootout with Jared Goff and the Lions in Week 2. Now, they get Bryce Young on a short week in a hostile road environment.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (Yahoo! league availability: 85%). The Jaguars rocked in Week 1 vs. the Colts and weren't actually too bad vs. the Chiefs (reality-wise) in Week 2. They're back to a smash vs. another division foe as they host the Texans in Week 3.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (Yahoo! league availability: 42%). The Raiders' offense is looking bad so far with Jimmy Garoppolo not getting much rushing support, and injuries are piling up in the receiving corps. In what should feel like a home game in Las Vegas, expect T.J. Watt and friends to light it up with prime-time energy on Sunday night.
