The first two weeks of the NFL season have been interesting, to say the least.  With your real NFL Teams, you’re either thrilled or upset.  In terms of fantasy football, you either think your team is done at 0-2 or you’re on your way to winning your league’s championship.  We can all agree that injuries certainly played a role in the first two weeks of the season, which makes the waiver wire important for fantasy managers dealing with injured players.  The waiver wire also helps teams improve fantasy managers’ rosters to stay competitive in leagues.

With that being said, here are some waiver players you should consider picking up for your fantasy teams.

Week 3 Wavier Wire Pickups

Kirk Cousins, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

Kirk Cousins has been in the league for almost 15 years and has proven himself a respected, consistent QB for the teams he’s played for.  At times, he’s also shown to be a productive fantasy QB, and after his first two games with the Las Vegas Raiders, he’s showing what he’s capable of as a fantasy player, making him a hot waiver-wire target.  

To start the season, he’s thrown 3 TDs in back-to-back games, showing he can provide reliable production for fantasy managers who need a QB.  With the Raiders off to a 2-0 start to the Klint Kubiak era, Cousins is nowhere near getting benched anytime soon for first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza.  Think of it: he’s put up great numbers without star TE Brock Bowers, meaning that his upside could grow.  

Cousins is only rostered in 6% of leagues, per FantasyPros.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets

As the New York Jets are still finding themselves on offense, AD Mitchell has made a name for himself as the Jets’ established WR2 behind Garrett Wilson.

With rookie first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. sidelined with an ankle injury, he is the unquestioned second option behind Garrett Wilson.  Mitchell saw a team-high 12 targets, which turned into 6 receptions for 63 yards against the Green Bay Packers after an efficient 3-reception, 60-yard game in Week 1.  In the Jets’ upcoming games, they face the Detroit Lions and then the Chicago Bears in Week 4, both teams that have struggled heavily against the pass. 

According to Fantasylife.com, Mitchell averaged 0.23 targets per route run (TPRR) through the first two weeks of the season.  FantasyPros says he’s rostered in only 15% of leagues.

Emmanuel Wilson, RB, Seattle Seahawks 

Emmanuel Wilson always showed promise in Green Bay, but was the RB2 behind Josh Jacobs.  Now with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson is sharing carries with rookie Jadarian Price.  But after Week 3, Wilson might have more workload in the future after Jadarian Price got banged up.  

In Week 2, against the Arizona Cardinals, Wilson exploded for 92 yards on 21 carries, showing he can shoulder the load when called upon.  According to Yahoo Sports, Wilson is a borderline low-end RB2 in fantasy, as Seattle is a 6.5-point favorite over the Washington Commanders.  They also mentioned that Zach Charbonnet is expected to return in October, so Wilson will have a short window to make an impact for your fantasy team.  But as of right now, he’s worth the pickup.

Wilson is rostered in only 1% of leagues, per Fantasypros.

Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns

In a crowded WR room in Cleveland, Denzel Boston stands out from the rest.  The Cleveland Browns rookie WR has scored a touchdown in his first two NFL games and is quickly carving out a primary role in the offense.  

He opened his career with 2 receptions for 59 yards and a score in Week 1, then followed it up with 5 receptions for 95 yards and a TD on a team-high 7 targets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.  His target share jumped from 4 targets in Week 1 to 7 targets in Week 2, and he has led the team in snaps and routes.  If Boston keeps it up, he has an opportunity to become the team’s WR1.  He’s only rostered in 35% of leagues, per FantasyPros.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

With Saquon Barkley sustaining a shoulder stinger against the Tennessee Titans, Tank Bigsby will be the next man up in the Eagles’ backfield.  With Barkley set to get an MRI, his Week 3 status against the Chicago Bears is in jeopardy.  Once Barkley left, Bigsby saw 15 touches for 38 total yards and a crucial 2-yard TD run.  

We must not forget Will Shipley, who can mix in for passing work, but Bigsby will command a heavy rushing workload and projects as an instant RB2 if Barkley misses time.  Bigsby is rostered in 27% of leagues, per FantasyPros. 

Darren Waller, TE, Carolina Panthers

After spending most of the off-season preparing for his next opportunity, the Carolina Panthers came calling and signed Darren Waller as a late training camp addition, as they were thin at TE.  In his second game with the Panthers, the veteran TE showed that he’s still capable of playing at a high level in the league and could contribute to your fantasy teams as a waiver-wire target. 

In Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, Waller contributed in a 34-3 blowout win where he caught all of his 3 targets for 33 yards and scored two TD catches.  TE is hard to find in fantasy; Waller’s reliable production is hard to find, making touchdown-dependent options like him an attractive waiver wire pickup.  FanDuel notes that his poor overall target volume creates a low weekly floor, but the touchdown upside is there.  Waller is only rostered in 5% of leagues, per FantasyPros.

Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

With Brock Bowers out, Kirk Cousins is looking for the next man up in the Raiders offense, and Tre Tucker was that guy.  After Tucker’s Week 2 performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he put up 5 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown (22.9 fantasy points), Tucker is a hot waiver wire pickup heading into Week 3.

Tucker has shown he is a big play threat, turning a deep reception into a 40-yard touchdown catch.  He led the team with 7 targets and 5 receptions in Week 2, showing he can be a primary read in the passing game.  Be cautious, though, because he has a history of occasional spike weeks rather than steady, every-week volume.  Also worth noting: when Bowers returns, he’ll likely command most of the targets away from Tucker.  Tucker is still worth picking up and stashing on your bench if needed to be put in your fantasy lineups.

Tucker is only rostered in 28% of leagues, per Fantasypros.

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams

Last night’s Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants was interesting in many ways. For the Rams, Davante Adams played like he hadn’t skipped a beat, and Aaron Donald suited up for the first time in two years. The Rams were coming off an Australia trip where they did not look like Super Bowl-contending selves, and yes flying their 24-30 hours before certainly had an affect, and it showed as the Rams looked more in sync with each other. Stafford was playing with out Puka Nacua, so it was the next man up for the Rams. Davante Adams stepped up for sure, but another player that made a mark in the game was TE Terrance Ferguson

Terrance Ferguson is a hot waiver-wire target because he broke out with 6 receptions for 54 yards and a TD on 9 targets in the Rams’ MNF game against the New York Giants. His athleticism is off the charts, with his vertical speed and an extensive route tree, often being used out wide or in the slot like a giant WR rather than a traditional blocker.

Ferguson is a waiver-wire pickup. He’s only rostered in 17% of leagues, per FantasyPros.