Waiver Wire Targets for Week 3 (2021)

Tyler Heil

I will continue to highlight players that are below 55% Consensus roster percentage between 3 major platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, and Sleeper)

Quarterback

Quarterback is one of those have or have not positions. If you have a top 10 guy you’re rolling him out every week. If you don’t, you’re keeping a close eye on the wire each week. Here are four guys with solid week 3 matchups that you will be able to stream.

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders, Consensus Roster Percentage 21.30%, Week 3 vs. Dolphins

Derek Carr has done nothing but looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the league for the first 2 weeks of the season. If he can be the QB9 through two weeks while starting 2-0 against the Ravens and the Steelers I will not doubt him against the Dolphins.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 45.3%, Week 3 vs. Seahawks

The Vikings have put up 57 points through the first two weeks of the season placing Captain Kirk firmly at QB8 on the year. The Seahawks do not present a very intimidating opposition in the defensive secondary (19th best according to Pro Football Focus), and therefore we should continue to see the Vikings WR trio light it up with Kirk slinging the ball all over the place.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants, Consensus Roster Percentage 14.9%, Week 3 vs. Falcons

The realization that Danny Dimes is a weapon in the running game might finally be dawning on Jason Garett. He showed some real improvement in the passing game last week against Washington, but he continues to impress when he takes off with the ball. A 6 to 7 point rushing baseline is always going to be a cheat code when it comes to fantasy quarterbacking.

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, Consensus Roster Percentage 49.8%, Week 3 @ Browns

Fields is likely the top season-long add left with Andy Dalton going down to injury. Fields will likely struggle in his first start but he will have a nice rushing baseline and should be able to take advantage of a brand spanking new Browns defense that is still finding its sea legs and figuring out how to work as a unit.

Running Back

Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons, Consensus Roster Percentage 13.0%

Yeah, I said it! The moment 9 years and 5 teams in the making. Cordarrelle Patterson is finally fantasy relevant and it FEELS SO GOOD! This has been staring us in the face all year and it is time to accept it. The Falcons are rolling with 2 backs and Patterson is one of them. With 21 touches and two touchdowns through 2 weeks it looks like Patterson is going to continue to get volume week in and week out in relief of Mike Davis.

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles, Consensus Roster Percentage 41.1%

Gainwell’s Roster Percentage took a massive 26.9% jump from week 1 to week 2. That jump is still not big enough, he has 19 touches through the first 2 weeks and has reaffirmed that Boston Scott is no longer a contributor to this offense. Gainwell will continue to earn more work throughout the season and earn more of a 1B spot to Miles Sanders rather than the 2A role he currently has.

J.D. Mckissic, Washington Football Team, Consensus Roster Percentage 37.3%

I’m not sure anyone but J.D. and his family wanted to see him vulture Antonio Gibson last week but here we are. J.D. Mckissic is back, and he likely won’t be a weekly flex but he is going to be a constant threat to have multiple receptions per week and is worth a roster spot, particularly if you are looking to handcuff Mr. Gibson.

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 34.7%

Dalvin Cook looked like he was going out of the game multiple times on Sunday but he still managed to finish the game and is now dealing with a sprained ankle. I’m not sure if he is going to miss but adding his high-end handcuff as a speculative add could very well be a worthwhile waiver claim to make.

Wide Receiver

Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals, Consensus Roster Percentage 38.6%

Christian Kirk threw us off the scent last week, don’t let it happen again. Rondale is a souped-up version of the best-case scenario that this team had in mind when they drafted Andy Isabella 3 years ago. He is showing what he is capable of every single time he touches the ball with his shiftiness and his deceptive power. If he is on your waiver wire go get this man, and don’t mess around.

Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts, Consensus Roster Percentage 25.7%

Pascal is here to stay and you might as well get used to it. He is solidly the Colts WR2 behind Michael Pittman and is going to continue to see a lot of targets on a weekly basis. I might not be leaping at the opportunity to play Jacob Eason’s WR2 but we can hope that Carson Wentz will be back sooner rather than later.

Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders, Consensus Roster Percentage 9.6%

Not every claim is going to win your league for you, but when I referenced experienced fantasy managers making hay in week 3 this is the kind of guy I am talking about. He might finish the season as WR40 because he never has a game greater than 15 fantasy points. Other than Darren Waller, Renfrow is this teams go-to chain mover and he is going to continue to find a way to be open after a 5-yard slant on 3rd and 6 four times a game.

K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 5.3%

After Irv Smith went down prior to the season everyone was wondering which tight end was going to step up and take over that role. In a surprising development to all of us, the answer was none, instead, it was Osborn. Osborn hasn’t had unsustainable numbers thus far, he is the third leading target on the team, predictably behind Thielen and Jefferson. Grab Osborn and throw him on the back of your roster as a weekly flex and as one of the few wide receiver handcuffs in the NFL.

Tight End

Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers, Consensus Roster Percentage 51.9%

The Chargers continue to have 4 very clear top targets in the passing game and with as well as Herbert has played thus far this season that team only putting up 37 points feels inconsistent to that level of play. More points will come for this offense and Jared Cook is going to play a role in those increased points.

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, Consensus Roster Percentage 37.3%

One reception for zero yards is certainly not encouraging, but we should continue to see increased usage for Kmet. Jimmy Graham is a non-factor in this offense and Kmet is going to find himself open with Mooney and Robinson keeping the opposite team’s defensive secondary occupied.

Tight End, Cleveland Browns, Consensus Roster Percentage <50%

No that is not a typo or a place filler. Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield have no idea which one of these tight ends is going to play a big role on Sunday, so how are we supposed to? You think Hooper is going to have 8 catches for 60 yards? Play him. You think Harrison Bryant is going to end up in the endzone this week? Play him. You think David Njoku is going to turn into the team’s primary downfield receiver with no Landry or Beckham? Play him. All I know is this talented position group is going to have 10+ targets between them every single week.

Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks, Consensus Roster Percentage 41.9%

This offense is continuing to look like a 2 man show in the receiving game. Everett could start to carve out a role in this passing game and is worth a speculative add if you have a burner roster spot. I cannot however recommend starting him quite yet.

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