Waiver Wire Tuesday: Fantasy Football Week 3 Pick Ups
- Joseph McLaughlin
- Sep 16, 2025
- 3 min read
We are only two weeks into the NFL season, and things have already gotten hectic. Injuries to star players and surprise performances leave a lot of options on the waiver wire this week. Fret not, fantasy managers, here are some players that can help your team out now. There will be one from each position group.
Quarterbacks:
Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts) - I know, Jones was here last week, but he proved that week one against the Miami Dolphins was no fluke. Jones completed 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and 1 touchdown, while getting another touchdown on a quarterback run. The performance gave him 22.84 PPR points against the league’s best defense, which was an admirable performance. If you are in a superflex league, Jones is likely already taken, but in a one-quarterback league, Jones looks to be a fantastic pickup moving forward.
Jake Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) - I know I said there would be one player per position group this time, but I wanted to include another option for superflex league players. The addition of Jake Browning is not a bad move. With Joe Burrow out for the foreseeable future with a toe injury, Browning will take the reins of the Bengals offense. He led the team to a comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and has been placed in this position before. In 2023, he scored an average of 19 PPR points in the final eight games of the season. He could do well for Joe Burrow managers this season as he is familiar with Cincy’s dynamic offense.
Running Back:
Cam Skattebo (New York Giants) - Skattebo, the product of Arizona State, who dazzled in the college football playoff last year, made his debut as the starting running back for the Giants on Sunday. He led the Giants in rushing for 45 yards on 11 carries with a rushing touchdown. It was a solid performance that wouldn’t blow anyone away, but it seems to be the start of something bigger. With the Giants putting up over 500 yards of offense against the Cowboys’ defense, Skattebo could get a bigger share of that offensive firepower in the future, making him a good addition to one’s backfield.
Wide Receiver:
Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos) - Franklin had a great performance against the Colts on Sunday. He caught eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, making him the Broncos’ receiving leader by a mile. Franklin was drafted in the same class as Denver quarterback Bo Nix, and they built a strong rapport while at Oregon. Expect that connection to grow as the season unfolds.
Tight End:
Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders) - A lot more people have Ertz rostered than some of these guys on this list; however, his roster percentage still sits below 50% in most leagues. That means there is a good chance he could still be out there for you. Ertz had a great night against a tough Packers’ defense, catching six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, leading his fellow receivers in yards. Look for him if you are thin at the tight-end position. Ertz seems to be a reliable option for a lot of managers.
Defense/Special Teams:
Packers’ Defense - Speaking of the Packers’ defense, they looked good this time against Washington. The addition of Micah Parsons makes this defense a scary one to face, even for the likes of Jayden Daniels. They held the Commanders to 230 total yards and 18 points. If you have not picked up this defense yet and have the chance to, do it now. They might not be on the waiver wire much longer.
Thank you for reading!
Remember to check our page for more sports writing content. I release these Waiver Wire articles every Tuesday, contribute to fantasy position power rankings each week, and write Patriots spotlight features on their players every Friday.
@JoeMclaughlin04 on X
-Joseph McLaughlin
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