I’ve been analyzing fantasy football for about 10 years now, and I really can’t remember more injuries to start a season than this.
The waiver wire is your friend.
At FTN Fantasy, we have a Waiver Wire Tool that ranks the top waiver adds of the week,while also recommending the amount of FAAB you should use on each player. And every Tuesday, I’ll break down the top five players listed in the tool, giving you the best case for each highly ranked player. With all of the key injuries impacting fantasy rosters, being able to add key players off waivers is as crucial as ever.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 3
1. Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
Yahoo! 63%, ESPN 45%
Not only should Shaheed be added in all leagues, but he should be started as a WR3 most weeks. Klint Kubiak has given this Saints offense new life with his uptick in pre-snap motion and play-action, and Shaheed is being utilized all over the formation. The Saints have climbed from 32nd in pre-snap motion in 2023 to first this year and Shaheed now has long touchdown grabs in consecutive weeks. Up next? A matchup with a vulnerable Philadelphia secondary.
2. Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Yahoo! 69%, ESPN 62%
The efficiency wasn’t great, but Charbonnet drew the start and logged over 95% of the snaps Sunday. He handled 19 touches and since entering the NFL, Charbonnet is now averaging 19 touches and nearly four targets per game in three starts for the injured Kenneth Walker, who may miss a few more games. Charbonnet can be trusted as a volume-based low-end RB2/FLEX option as long as Walker is sidelined.
3. Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Yahoo! 42%, ESPN 14%
The Rams have almost no one left to catch passes. Cooper Kupp has joined Puka Nacua on injured reserve, and with the way this defense is looking right now, Matthew Stafford should be dropping back to pass quite a bit.
4. Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Yahoo! 5%, ESPN 2%
With Isiah Pacheco out for the foreseeable future, Steele is going to have to take on a larger role for the Chiefs. He was already getting some high value, short-yardage carries with Pacheco healthy and should now be the early down option for a Patrick Mahomes-led offense. I doubt his workload mirrors Pacheco’s but 12-plus touches per game and goal line work are likely.
5. Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Yahoo! 16%, ESPN 63%
Mooney caught three passes for 88 yards and a touchdown Monday, and with the Falcons using even more 11 personnel, he should remain plenty involved. Kirk Cousins also looked a lot better against the Eagles, which is a positive sign for this Atlanta offense as a whole.
Check the FTN Waiver Wire Tool for the full Week 3 waiver wire advice.