Faraz's Week 3 Waiver Wire Targets

Faraz Siddiqi
Sep 17, 2024
5 min read

Updated: Sep 22, 2024

The 2024 season is back, and we’re already looking at the waiver wire. Here are the top options available in more than 50% of fantasy football leagues.

Waiver Wire Targets:

Samaje Perine (RB - Kansas City Chiefs) - 25% FAAB
- Without Isiah Pacheco for the next 6-8, maybe longer, with a fractured fibula, I’m probably favoring these Chiefs RBs more than any other waiver wire pickup this week especially if you need an RB - but it’s a tricky situation - this backfield is going from a workhorse situation to a timeshare, and it could be annoying one. Carson Steele can score two goal-line TDs this week, and then next week Samaje Perine catches 5 balls for 57 yards and a receiving TD, and he was the better play.
- Role-wise, I think Steele will get most of the carries even though he did fumble last week, it’s worth noting Andy Reid doesn’t punish players for that right away - he gives them a chance to learn from it, so I wouldn’t ding him for that when you’re trying to choose between the two - he’s going to get the first crack at the early down work, but I do think Perine will mix in on the ground, and he will be their primary passing down back, and run the most routes in the coming weeks once he gets acclimated to the playbook.
- We saw the Jerick McKinnon role flourish here, and Samaje Perine is a big back so it doesn’t seem apples to apples, but Perine was one of the most efficient pass-catching RBs last season - and I can see why Andy Reid wanted him on this team. If I’m looking for a short-term add and just need an RB play this week, I’m probably going with Carson Steele - he’ll also likely have the first crack, so if he performs, it’ll be hard to take the job away from him. And it is worth noting that in terms of yards after contact/att, missed tackles forced/att in college - he was up there among the high-volume backs. So there is some precedence of him being good. But long term, once Perine gets involved, I can see him being the guy you want, assuming the Chiefs end up being a more pass-first team. I think one of the reasons why they were willing to run the ball so much is because they had someone like Isiah Pacheco - but now that they don’t, I can see them putting the ball more in Patrick Mahomes’ hands, which means Perine can see more of the money touches - and as we know, one target is 2.5x more valuable than a carry in PPR.
Carson Steele (RB - Kansas City Chiefs) - 25% FAAB
Josh Downs (WR - Indianapolis Colts) - 20% FAAB
- Downs is a very good WR and was reportedly Anthony Richardson’s favorite target in camp even over Michael Pittman, and this offense is really missing something that he’s comfortable with. Stashing him for now, but he got a full practice in on Friday and could have a full week of practice this week.
Hunter Henry (TE - New England Patriots)
- Went 8 for 109 on 12 targets in Week 2 and has an 85% route participation through two weeks.
Quentin Johnston (WR - Los Angeles Chargers) - 15% FAAB
- Johnston is currently tied with Ladd McConkey for the team lead in target share (25%), and received at a 32% target share in Week 2, which resulted in 2 TDs… keep in mind that such a high target share on a low volume passing offense isn’t always going to yield great results, but it looks like Greg Roman knows how to use Johnston, and he’s worth an upside grab this week.
Jerry Jeudy (WR - Cleveland Browns)
Cam Akers (RB - Houston Texans) - 10% FAAB
- It looks like Joe Mixon avoided a serious ankle injury, but he is going to be monitored throughout the week. With Dameon Pierce out this past Sunday with a hamstring injury (apparently not serious), Akers will probably be my best bet at the guy who will replace Mixon this week if he doesn’t go. Akers had 8 touches in Mixon’s absence on Sunday night.
Mike Williams (WR - New York Jets) - 10% FAAB
- Williams didn’t have the production, but he did run a route on 73% of Aaron Rodgers’ dropbacks compared to only 19% in Week 1. That is a serious increase, and that could increase to a point where he’s actually getting targets on Thursday night. I’d love to wait and see with him on my bench, but there’s some upside here.
Ty Chandler (RB - Minnesota Vikings) - 10% FAAB
- Chandler took his 10 carries for 82 yards this past Sunday, and he’s not too far behind Aaron Jones in the rushing share. He had more carries than him in Week 2, and is sitting at 39% of the rushing attempts for the season compared to Jones’ 49%. He’s usable if you’re desperate at RB or in your flex.
Braelon Allen (RB - New York Jets) - 2% FAAB
1. Allen ended up with 30% of the rushing attempts in a close Jets game, and looked really good with his touches. He ended up with a TD on the ground, and one through the air. I wouldn’t expect this level of TD efficiency, but it is worth noting that he’s getting touches, and he might have the ability to remain efficient. Great handcuff, too.
Bucky Irving (RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 5% FAAB
- White dealt with a groin injury during the game on Sunday, but he was able to return.
Jalen Tolbert (WR - Dallas Cowboys)
- Full-time role as the clear WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb. Can the targets stick? 9/6/82 in Week 2.
Derek Carr (QB - New Orleans Saints)
Tyler Allgeier (RB - Atlanta Falcons)
Alec Pierce (WR - Indianapolis Colts)
Demarcus Robinson (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
- The most dependable play with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out is probably Demarcus Robinson. Tyler Johnson will be out there running routes as well, and he’s a deep flex play, but the player who I think has the most variance but also the most upside is Jordan Whittington. He played very well in the preseason, he’s Kupp’s direct backup, and he ran every route once Kupp was out of the game. Whittington's 15% targets/route run was also the highest among the WRs who had more than 40% route participation
D'Onta Foreman (RB - Cleveland Browns)
- After being an afterthought in Week 1, D’Onta Foreman created a timeshare with Jerome Ford and actually doubled Ford’s carries with 14 carries despite Ford being more efficient. Foreman ended up being on the field for both of their goal line snaps. This backfield can’t be trusted next week.
Jauan Jennings (WR - San Francisco 49ers)
- Could see some extra opportunity on short to intermediate targets with Deebo and CMC out.
Colby Parkinson (TE - Los Angeles Rams)
Zach Ertz (TE - Washington Commanders)
Rico Dowdle (RB - Dallas Cowboys)
- Dowdle is being used, but there isn’t much production coming out of the Cowboys backfield. He was targeted 5 times in a negative game script, but he has a pretty low ceiling as things stand now
Tyler Johnson (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Antonio Gibson (RB - New England Patriots)
Geno Smith (QB - Seattle Seahawks)
Tank Bigsby (RB - Jacksonville Jaguars)