Waiver Favors™: 2023 Week 3 Fantasy Football Pickups
By Ha Kung Wong Week 3 Fantasy Football Pickups
Twitter: @FBGarbageTime
As I do every year over the last 11 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors™ article! And I’m assuming if you’re reader right now, you’re in your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 3 of the 2023 fantasy football season that hopefully will keep your team running. You’re welcome. Again.
As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.
C.J. Stroud
QB – Houston Texans – 20% Owned
C.J. Stroud had another good day surprisingly beating the Jaguars by completing 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards and 2 TDs and no interceptions, also rushing 3 times for 14 yards. Keep in mind this the same Jaguars defense that kept Patrick Mahomes in check in Week 2. He’s now thrown for at least 242 yards in each of his first three contests without an interception. If you’re looking for backup QB in 12-team leagues or deeper or need a second QB in any two QB leagues, feel free to pick him up.
| Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Rush | Rush | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Date | Week | Tm | Opp | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds |
| 1 | 2023-09-10 | 1 | HOU | BAL | 28 | 44 | 63.64 | 242 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| 2 | 2023-09-17 | 2 | HOU | IND | 30 | 47 | 63.83 | 384 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 Games | 58 | 91 | 63.74 | 626 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
De’Von Achane
RB – Miami Dolphins – 40% Owned
There was a ton of hype around De’Von Achane in the preseason, but then an injury holding him out of Week 1 derailed what everyone thought would be a hot start. Then he played in Week 2 to the tune of just 9 yards on 2 touches, and he fell further off the radar. Well, turns out the Dolphins offense pretty good as they decimated the Broncos to the tune of 70 points. And although starter Raheem Mostert had 4 total TDs, so did Achane, racking up 18 carriers for 203 yards and 2 TDs and 4 receptions for 30 yards and 2 more TDs. Part of this might have been garbage time, but he’s clearly good and probably has solidified a consistent part of the Dolphins offense going forward. Pick him up in all 10-team leagues or deeper.
Adam Thielen
WR – Carolina Panthers – 47% Owned
Adam Thielen is one of those guys we just wrote off once he left the Vikings, and after a poor showing in Week 1 with Bryce Young, we all felt validated. But then in Week 2 he caught 7 of 9 targets for 54 yards, a TD and 2 PT conversion from Young and we started to wonder whether we should pay more attention. Well, I’m here to tell you that we were wrong, we do need to pay attention. In Week 3, with Andy Dalton behind center, Thielen caught 11 of a whopping 14 targets for 145 yards and a TD. Clearly, moving forward, it doesn’t matter who throws to him, Thielen can make it happen. Pick him up in all 12-team leagues or deeper.
Tank Dell
WR – Houston Texans – 30% Owned
As mentioned above, Stroud looks good. And fellow rookie Tank Dell also looks good. After catching 7 of 10 targets for 72 yards and a TD in Week 2, he managed to lead the Texans in receptions, receiving yards and targets by snagging 5 of 7 targets for 145 yards and a TD in Week 3. Dell is on the rise and he’s worth grabbing in all 12-team leagues or deeper.
Jayden Reed
WR – Green Bay Packers – 21% Owned
With Christian Watson out, Jayden Reed has stepped up big time catching 4 of 8 targets for 37 yards and 2 TDs in Week 2 and catching 3 of 7 targets for 63 yards. He did get 2 endzone targets that perhaps he should have caught, but the important thing to realize is that Reed has Jordan Love‘s trust and so should you, even if Watson returns. Pick him up in all 14-team leagues and deeper.
Quentin Johnston & Joshua Palmer
WR – Los Angeles Chargers – 32% & 2% Owned
Mike Williams was having a huge day before suffering a knee injury that required him to be carted off the field and into the locker room. He’s getting an MRI Monday and there are fears that he may be done for the season. If he is, that’s a real shame, but that also means others may have to step up.
Joshua Palmer was the one to step up this last weekend catching 4 of 7 targets for 66 yards and a TD. But Quentin Johnston was a 1st round pick so I can’t imagine that he won’t also get more opportunities. Palmer may have the better floor but Johnston likely has the better ceiling. Pick up both in all 12-team leagues and deeper.
UPDATE (9/25/23) – Mike Williams is confirmed out for the season with an ACL tear.
UPDATE for Monday Night Football
Check back for the update after Monday Night Football!
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