Early fantasy football waiver wire adds for Week 3

Time to get ready to attack Week 3’s fantasy football waiver wire! And boy are you gonna need to be attacking the waiver this week. It seems like half the NFL got injured this week so there will be plenty to monitor moving into Week 3.

With most of the games this week complete, here is an early look at 11 players — all under 50% rostered — who you should be targeting and working hard to get onto your fantasy team for Week 3 (percent rostered in Yahoo leagues).

QB Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars (32% rostered)

For the second week in a row Minshew balled out, this time tossing 339 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans. Minshew has now thrown three touchdowns in each game this season and looks to be thriving in Jay Gruden’s offense. If you lost Jimmy Garoppolo or Drew Lock or your quarterback is painfully average, think about upgrading to Minshew.

RB Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers (20% rostered)

Raheem Mostert has started the year as the 49ers clear lead back but he left Sunday with an injury. Tevin Coleman came in and saw the lion share of work, carrying the ball 14 times for 12 yards and two catches for 28 but he also got banged up this game. Meanwhile, McKinnon carried the ball three times for 77 yards and a touchdown and is still healthy. He’s a boom-or-bust player, but if he gets more touches moving forward, that’s more opportunity for him to boom.

RB Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins (14% rostered)

For the second week in a row, Gaskin led the Dolphins backfield in touches, carrying the ball seven times for 46 yards and catching six balls on seven targets for 36 yards. Gaskin has now seen reliable work in both the ground game and though the air to start the year and is worth rostering in deeper leagues, especially if you’ve lost a running back to injury.

RB Dion Lewis, New York Giants (2% rostered)

Speaking of injuries, unfortunately Saquon Barkley tore his ACL Sunday against the Bears which means Dion Lewis is now the starting running back in New York. In Barkley’s absence, Lewis stepped in and carried the ball 10 times for 20 yards, a touchdown, and had two catches on two targets for 26 yards. Those numbers are obviously far from great, but adding a starting running back off waivers is a no-brainer, even if it’s for a team as bad as the Giants.

WR Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans (42% rostered)

Many expected Davis to shine again in Week 2 after a strong Week 1 and with A.J. Brown out for the week. While he was outshined by fellow receiver Adam Humphries (five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown), Davis still managed to put up a solid fantasy performance, catching three of his five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. With a juicy matchup against the Vikings on the horizon, Davis is well worth rostering for Week 3 and starting even if A.J. Brown suits up for the game.

WR Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (21% rostered)

Gage has now seen at least eight targets and scored a touchdown in each of the first two weeks. It seems as though this Falcons offense is going to throw the ball 50+ times and put up points each and every week and that is terrific for fantasy managers. Get yourself a part of this explosive passing game before it’s too late! (Unless of course you were smart and drafted Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley, in which case, enjoy your fantasy season!)

WR Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (5% rostered)

With Ben Roethlisberger back under center, the Steelers offense seems to be back to their usual ways of scoring on big plays through the air. Claypool only saw three targets Sunday, but one of those was an 84 yard touchdown down the left sideline. Claypool is clearly the third receiver on this team behind JuJu Smith-Schuster and Dioante Johnson, but he’s early connection with Roethlisberger is promising and the speedy rookie has the chance for a big play anytime he touches the ball.

WR Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (2% rostered)

It’s time to give Cole the respect he deserves. After catching all five of his targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Cole backed it up this week by catching all six of his targets (team leading) for 58 yards and another touchdown. It seems Cole and Gardner Minshew have a connection brewing and it’s one you want to have on your fantasy team.

TE Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers (6% rostered)

Reed is nothing more than a quick fix right now but he’s well worth rostering if George Kittle is unable to suit up again for Week 3. In Kittle’s place, Reed caught six of his seven targets for 49 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 against the Jets. With so few healthy pass catchers (and just players in general) in San Fran, Reed is a lock for another large workload if he gets the start this coming week.

TE Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals (1% rostered)

C.J. Uzomah left Thursday night against the Browns with what turned out to be a season-ending injury and Sample stepped in to record seven catches on nine targets for 45 yards. The tight end position seems to be a premier spot in the Bengals offense as Uzomah and Sample combined for 15 targets and 11 catches Thursday night.