Did the NFL score all of the fantasy points in Week 1?
Scoring wasn't hard to come by in the opening week, but the opposite couldn't be more true in Week 2. Unless you started Mother Nature, of course. Weather dominated the day and rain soaked multiple games across the slate. If it wasn't weather, it was injuries. If it wasn't injuries, it was upsets.
Perhaps the only guarantee for fantasy football managers in Week 2 is that you'd walk away upset by what transpired on the gridiron.
Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Jayden Reed and Saquon Barkley were some of the headliners who exited with an injury throughout the day, leaving fantasy managers scrambling as the page gets ready to turn to Week 3.
The waiver wire will try to help you plug those holes
in your lineup, but it might not be easy. Luckily for everyone involved, it's still early in the season and roles are still being defined. That means we can take a flier on some players before they officially break out.
Here are eight players worth claiming on waivers this week.
Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire targets
QB Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (Rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues)
Fittingly, the young season has been kind to Young. Carolina's offense is averaging 35.5 points per game through two weeks, scoring at will and most of that has come courtesy of the quarterback. Young has six passing touchdowns and one rushing score after two weeks, with no signs of slowing down. Carolina will take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 and a banged-up Detroit Lions defense in Week 4, so Young's fantasy relevance should remain at an all-time high.
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 48% of Yahoo leagues)
If you didn't board the Shough bandwagon after Week 1, there are still seats available heading into Week 3. You better act fast though because seats are filling up. The Saints signal-caller showed off his arm for fantasy value in the opener before showcasing his rushing ability in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens.
With a matchup against the Raiders on deck, Shough is primed for another productive day at the office. He remains a sneaky quarterback option with much higher upside than he gets credit for.
RB Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (Rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues)
J.K. Dobbins suffered an injury in Week 2. In other words, water is wet and the sky is blue. The injury bug is always looming with Dobbins around and that left the door cracked open for someone to take advantage. Since Dobbins was sidelined with a hamstring injury, Coleman was in position to take advantage. The rookie moved up the depth chart after RJ Harvey was ruled out ahead of the game with a hamstring injury of his own. Coleman's path to fantasy relevance is already clear. He becomes a priority add for Week 3.
RB Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers (Rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues)
MarShawn Lloyd hasn't impressed as the starter in Josh Jacobs' absence. It opened the door for Johnson to take advantage against the New York Jets and he led the team with eight carries. That isn't a big number, but it may be a sign of things to come for the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back. Consider Johnson a speculative add this week with the potential for his role to grow even more.
WR Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (Rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues)
Mitchell leads the Jets with 15 targets through two weeks. Yes, you read that right. It's a surprising stat for a team that also features Garrett Wilson, but it shows how far Mitchell has come as a player. Seemingly a throw-in with draft picks in the Sauce Gardner trade, the receiver has developed into a weapon for Frank Reich's offense. He hasn't found the end zone yet, but it is coming. And when he does, it'll be too late for you to add him.
WR Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns (Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues)
Two touchdowns in two weeks. Boston was expected to be behind KC Concepcion on the depth chart, but the second-round pick has held his own so far. Despite the surprising win, the Browns are still a team that will trail a lot this season. It means that Boston will continue to have some favorable game scripts. With five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, Boston's role will keep growing.
WR Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (Rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues)
Where in the world is Brock Bowers? The star tight end returned to practice ahead of Week 2 but didn't play. His status is unclear for Week 3 and that means someone like Tucker could continue to play a big role. He finished Week 2 with five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, reminding everyone of his big-play ability. The Raiders offense has been effective in the early going and Tucker is a player worth adding while we wait to see who can sustain the production on a week-to-week basis.
TE Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues)
He's back. Waller was a touchdown machine last season, collecting six touchdowns in nine games. To frame it a different way, 25% of Waller's receptions in 2025 were touchdowns. That number is at 40% in 2026 now that Waller has two touchdowns and five catches. He probably won't score every week, but touchdowns can be the difference-maker for a pesky tight end position. If you're fine with the potential for a goose egg on the scoresheet, then Waller is a fine candidate to pick up as a touchdown-dependent option.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football waiver wire Week 3: 8 players to pick up
