Did you come here because you’re 0-2 and looking for help on the Week 3 Waiver Wire? Me too. But, I won’t tell you how many leagues I’m winless in, so you read further than this sentence.
Now that we’ve trucked along with big names in the first two weeks to get comfortable, maybe it’s time for a different approach. Or maybe you’re killing it and need the secret stashes or hookups to continue prospering.
Last week, I told you to continue with established players unless they bring a second consecutive dud. Week 3 is the time to pull the plug on guys like Amari Cooper and fill the position with someone such as Adam Thielen, who is rostered in 33% of leagues, according to CBSSports, and will take the field with a new quarterback this week.
In its second season, Roto Street Journal presents the top five sleepers of each week. Maybe it’s guys you haven’t heard of. Maybe they’re rookies or on a new team? Maybe they’re filling in for an injury? Regardless, these picks ended up on the right side of the ball more often than not last season.
Let’s be honest, do you really need to be told to start Derek Carr who’s averaging 30 fantasy points per game against a bottom-feeder Eagles pass defense in Week 3?
But what you may need is that extra oomph to start someone you’re on the fence with. You also may have taken a gamble in the draft and feel depleted at a position and are looking to slyly slide someone in this week. And let’s be honest, this happens most weeks.
Last week, we saw Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert, Commanders’ RB Austin Ekeler, Seahawks’ RB Zach Charbonnet, Lions’ WR Jameson Williams, and Rams’ WR Demarcus Robinson make the list.
Herbert, Ekeler, Williams, and Charbonnet hit double digits, while Robinson did not muster much. However, I’ll take four out of five, won’t you?
To help you out, I’ll give you my top five fantasy football Week 3 Sleepers and Streamers, and why.
Editor’s Note: These selections, aside from QB, rank lower than a Tier 4 on The Wolf’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
Brock Purdy, QB, Los Angeles Rams
vs San Fransico 49ers
While The Wolf has Brock Purdy as the No. 11 quarterback in Tier 3, I have a hard time agreeing with that, especially with one touchdown through two games against the Jets and Vikings.
My argument as to why he shouldn’t be ranked so high and why he is a sleeper this week are the same. Purdy is without RB Christian McCaffrey, likely without No. 1 receiver Deebo Samuel, and possibly without tight end George Kittle.
However, they’re playing a divisional game against a team that is also without key pieces.
Once WR Cooper Kupp left Week 2, the Rams struggled moving the ball against a lackluster Cardinals team, surrendering 41 points and scoring just one touchdown.
Los Angeles will be without Kupp and Puca Nacua again, making this game a more of a rags than riches story.
In his past two games after a loss, Purdy combined for 526 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, breaking the 20-point threshold twice. I’m not ready to count out Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings – who if you remember, had multiple key catches and a touchdown in last season’s Super Bowl. Jennings has been with the 49ers for three full seasons now, so San Francisco still sees value in him despite not being a household name.
My concern for Purdy is that it’ll be a low-scoring game or he’ll lose touchdowns in the ground game. But, San Francisco can expose Cobie Durant and a washed Tre’Davious White on the corners, so I’ll risk it for the biscuit.
Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
vs Washington Commanders
If you took the chance at drafting the new bell-cow in Cincinnati, you’re still waiting for the payoff. But I think that changes against Washington at home.
A touchdown saved Zack Moss in Week 1 as it boosted his 44 yards to a double-digit fantasy showing. But in Week 2, he amassed just 34 yards. However, Moss garnered three more carries in Week 2 than Week 1 and saw a 80% snap share.
Washington has allowed Giants’ RB Devin Singletary 95 yards on 16 carries. They did better against Tampa Bay’s Rachaad White in Week 1, but the Bucs didn’t need White to beat the Commanders easily.
Ja’Marr Chase has yet to wow this season and his counterpart, Tee Higgins, has yet to play. I’m hoping the Bengals can trust Moss more – I mean why did you go out and sign him for multiple years if you couldn’t – and become a two-dimensional team. Wideout Andrei Iosivas has been a nice diamond in the rough, but he isn’t the answer to Cincinnati’s offensive problems. Moss is. He could (should) have his most carries of the season so far in prime time and I’m hoping that leads to positive results.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
@ Las Vegas Raiders
Carolina named Andy Dalton the starting quarterback for the Panthers for at least Week 3. It was music to my ears, which means it was definitely music to Adam Thielen’s.
Dalton has prior experience playing in a game with Thielen, as well as an entire year on the team together, whereas No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson has no game chemistry.
Carolina lost to Seattle last season, but by no poor effort of Thielen. He collected 14 balls for 143 yards and a touchdown.
It’s also important to note that Thielen quietly had a 1,000-yard season during his first season with the Panthers last year, too. He only found the end zone four times, but that’s something that can be built upon with Dalton – hopefully an opportunity the two will get as the season ensues.
Greg Dortch, WR, Arizona Cardinals
vs Detroit Lions
This could be the third straight game the Lions allow 100 yards or more in the slot.
Greg Dortch burned me in this series last year (I never forget these things), but I’m giving him a shot at redemption.
While Dortch is a different receiver talent-wise than both Cooper Kupp and Chris Godwin, this is strictly a matchup call.
In Week 1, Kupp amassed 110 yards and a score on 14 catches (21 targets), and in Week 2, Godwin secured 117 yards and a score on seven catches (eight targets). And how quickly we forget – Dortch led the Cardinals in targets opening weekend.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
vs Detroit Lions
Skylar Thompson is starting in place of Tua Tagovailoa, and during injury time during Week 2, we saw Jonnu Smith as a frequent target of his.
The tight end position hasn’t been relevant in Miami for a few years, but the Dolphins signing Smith was move in the right direction to change that. Smith was mainly used as a blocker in Week 1, but had six receptions (seven targets) last week, averaging 8.8 yards per catch.
We also saw Patriots tight end Hunter Henry dismantle the Seahawks’ defense for eight catches (12 targets) and 109 yards. New England knew to exploit that position against Seattle – an area it has struggled in in recent seasons – as Henry had just three targets in his other two games played this season.
If people thought Tagovailoa sometimes underthrew receivers, there are even more questions about Thompson’s arm. I expect players with short-field roles to benefit in the short-term with Thompson under center.
