Week 3 is (almost) in the books!
If you’re new to this column, we’re getting a super-early jump on waivers by looking at the performances from Sunday’s early slate as well as Thursday.
The Tuesday morning waiver wire navigation can get overwhelming. Hopefully, this gives us some perspectives to ponder through the next 24 hours of football.
As always, we’re looking at players rostered in fewer than ~40% of leagues.
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Week 4 Early Waiver Wire Pickups
Matt Breida (RB – NYG)
Rostered: 26.3%
Per Nathan Jahnke, Matt Breida took 21 of the 24 first half running back snaps for the New York Giants on Thursday. If Saquon Barkley misses more time with his ankle-not-high-ankle-actually-yes-high-ankle sprain, Breida should see the majority of work for the Giants. I’m not entirely sold on what Breida brings to the table talent-wise, so temper your expectations and waiver priority/FAAB dollars. Since November 2020, Breida has rushed for 20 or more yards on a single attempt just once.
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
Rostered: 15.6%
True story: I traded CEH for De’Von Achane in a league on Friday. I thought I was getting my Raheem Mostert handcuff!
Wow. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a fantasy rookie ascension quite like this.
Will he put up 53.3 PPR points every week? I’m leaning towards no.
That being said, Achane is as high a priority waiver addition as there is.
Raheem Mostert will continue to be involved. Mostert is an explosive, reliable veteran with plenty of goodwill with Head Coach Mike McDaniels. However, he is notoriously injury-prone. Even with Mostert healthy, Achane’s explosiveness should be enough to make him a weekly RB2/flex option with potential to exceed that role as the season moves along.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU)
Rostered: 22.5%
Tank Dell has arrived. Texans fans have been singing his praises from the moment he was drafted in the third round this year, and rightfully so. Dell finished with 27.5 points today, bringing his totals through three games to 15 catches, 251 yards and two touchdowns.
Dell has the potential to be boom-bust, as does any big play threat in an ambiguous receiver room on a football team that’s unlikely to win many games. However, the rookie was getting rave reviews this preseason and is living up to the hype. He’s a weekly flex play, provided you understand the volatility.
Marvin Mims (WR – DEN)
Rostered: 8.6%
He’s a rookie deep threat on a team that looks as though they’ll be playing from behind quite a bit. Stop me if you’ve heard this before. His seven total receptions this season have yielded 195 yards and a touchdown. He should be rostered, but expect volatility if you’re starting him.
Joshua Palmer (WR – LAC)
Rostered: 0.7%
Palmer is a near-exclusively “if Mike Williams misses time” claim. Mike Williams was carted off the field, and Palmer finished with 14.6 points.
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
Rostered: 3.1%
The 2023 third round pick has 24 targets through three weeks. The fantasy scoring hasn’t been there in spades, but that start to his rookie season is promising enough to warrant his being added in most leagues.
Romeo Doubs (WR – GB)
Rostered: 27.2%
I’m not pouring significant waiver priority or dollars into Doubs because Christian Watson’s return is impending, and the Packers’ plethora of young receivers could eat at his target share. However, he’s averaging 6.7 targets per game through three weeks, making him fantasy-relevant.
Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)
Rostered: 31.7%
Remember when rookie tight ends were irrelevant in fantasy football? Yeah, neither do I. LaPorta, with 18 receptions in his first three career games, should be rostered in every format.
Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)
Rostered: 13.4%
I get it, his fantasy scoring isn’t spectacular, and Christian Watson should be back soon. However, the 2023 42nd overall pick has looked the part and is seeing plenty of opportunity via snaps and routes run. The Green Bay receiving corps is so ambiguous that it’s only a matter of time before Musgrave has a breakout game and is rostered by anyone without a top-tier tight end.
Donald Parham (TE – LAC)
Rostered: 0.4%
The Madden community knows this man simply as Par-HIM. When it comes to goal line targets, Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert agrees. Parham has three touchdowns on the season. He’s still exclusively a deep-league or TE-premium add. However, if Gerald Everett were to miss time for any reason, Parham becomes an intriguing prospect. The 6’8 TE has oozed with mismatch potential since the Chargers signed him in 2020.
C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU)
Rostered: 10.8%
At this point, Stroud is a matchup-dependent QB1. The Texans look like a team hell-bent on throwing the football, and Stroud is undoubtedly a fantasy benefactor. He has a solid mix of receiving weapons and is putting up these numbers with an extremely banged-up offensive line. Starters along the offensive line coming back should only help Stroud going forward.
Minnesota Vikings D/ST
Rostered: 2.1%
The minimally-rostered Vikings get the Carolina Panthers next weekend. Whether it’s Bryce Young or Andy Dalton at the helm, any defense facing the Panthers should be considered.
Seattle Seahawks D/ST
Rostered: 13.2%
The Seahawks take on the Giants in Week 4. The Giants have turned the ball over five times and are averaging just over 14 total points through three games.
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