ASL's founder, Leonard LaPadula, is wrapped up in some exciting personal matters and can't write this weekly article, so I am filling in with a quick summary.

This is Leonard, I just updated the article. In Week 3 my teams when 2-1, so for the season my record is 8-1. My team that lost this week left a ton of points on the bench... Sam Darnold, 25.05 FPs; Aaron Jones, 25.80 FPs; Malik Nabers, 28.20 FPs My biggest mistake was starting Rachaad White (8.50 FPs) over Malik Nabers. In my dynasty league I had Jauan Jennings sitting on my bench with a whooping 46.50 FPs.

Oh well, that's fantasy football for you, but I can't complain overall. On the positive side, the fact that I have a lot of points sitting on my benches is a sign that my teams have solid depth.

Week 3 was an intriguing and interesting week for sure. There were some wins, some losses, and some situations where I had no clue what was happening. 

Leonard previously mentioned in one of his articles about how important it is to own your league's waiver wire and elaborated on that in  How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire.

If you are familiar with the format of my "Streamers for the Desperate" articles, then skip the following introduction.

I name this article as such because it is generally for deeper roster leagues (18-to-24-man rosters) and as the season progresses, especially in the 24-man roster leagues, the pickings can get very thin. For example, you won't see Bo Nix (QB, Car) in this article because he isn't available in Leonard's leagues. However, you will see him in Alex Cuilla's article, Week 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds because he is less than 50% owned in Yahoo leagues.

I list the players that are available on waivers in my three leagues and generally that scored more than 10 fantasy points (PPR). The players with an asterisks are available in my 24-man roster league. As we get deeper into the season, no matter how slim the options, I always list a couple available players for each position from my 24-man league.

I have loosely ranked the players but you need to decide which players are right for your team. Your criteria for deciding will be different depending on your need and if you are in a redraft, keeper or dynasty league.

The ranking in parenthesis after each player is the strength of the Week 3 opponent against that position. So a "1st" indicates the most difficult opponent for that position, and a "32nd" indicates the weakest opponent against that position.

As much effort as it is, I make waiver requests every week for all of my teams. I don't just try to fill in obvious immediate needs, but look to make my team better to the last man on the roster. A deep roster creates resilience against injury. It also results in other teams having less good options, increasing the opportunity to trade to teams that truly are desperate and thereby build my draft pick arsenals.

For example, in my dynasty league I came in 2nd place last year, I had have the 3rd highest fantasy points in the league after Week 2, I have 10 rookies on my roster (two are on IR) and still I have arsenal of three 1sts, two 2nds, one 3rd picks for 2025 and three 1sts, three 2nds and five 3rds picks for 2026. Active waiver wire participation has been a big part of building that arsenal.

Quarterbacks

• ^*Andy Dalton, Car v Cin (17th) - Dalton completed 26 of 37 attempts for 3 TDs and 319 yards in Week 3. He is expected to remain the starter in Week 4.
• Will Levis, Ten @ Mia (5th) - Levis continued to improve in Week 3, completing 26 of 34 passes for 2 TDs. However, he also had 2 interceptions and a lost fumble. Coach Callahan has committed to keep Levis as the starter into Week 4.
• Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, Pit @ Ind (20th) - Steelers head coach Tomlin indicated that Fields will remain the starting QB at least until Wilson is fully healthy. With the Steelers off to a 3-0 start and Fields completing 25 of 32 with 2 TDs (one passing and one rushing) and 1 Int, there is a possibility Fields keeps the starting job even after Wilson is healthy.
• Gardner Minshew, LV v Cle (12th) - Minshew should remain a solid QB2 for fantasy purposes.
• Skylar Thompson, Mia v Ten  - Thompson is currently listed as questionable for this matchup, but if he plays, he should slot in as a solid spot starter for Week 4.
• ^*Jacoby Brissett, NE @ SF (18th) - Behind a horrible Patriots o-line against one of the league's best pass defenses, Brissett was terrible in Week 3. It can only be better in Week 4, worth a spot on your roster only as a last choice.
• ^*Malik Willis, GB v Min (9th) - Willis played well in Week 3, but Jordan Love will be back next week.

Running Backs

• Emanuel Wilson, GB v Min (6th) - Wilson remains behind Josh Jacobs on the Packers depth chart, but his Week 3 performance of 12 carries for 50 yards and two targets for 35 yards and a TD is bound to result in more opportunities going forward.
• Justice Hill, Bal v Buf (24th) - Hill had 5 carries for 33 yards and 2 receptions for 21 yards. Hill is the Ravens best pass-catching back.
• Ty Johnson, Buf @ Bal (5th) - Johnson saw increased volume in Week 3, 3 carries and 3 catches including a TD. He seems to have carved a role for himself as a change of pace back.
• Roschon Johnson, Chi v LAR (24th) Johnson led the bears in rushing in Week 3 with 8 carries for 30 yards and 4 receptions out of 5 targets for 32 yards. He has been clearly outperforming D'Andre Swift and he seems to be in position to carve out a larger role for himself.
• ^*Tyler Badie, Den @ NYJ (8th) - Badie had 9 carries for 70 yards in Week 3. He is back on the practice squad, so it remains to be seen if he will be moved up again for Week 4. He might be worth a stash on your roster in deeper leagues.
• Miles Sanders, Car v Cin (17th) - Sanders showed some signs of life in Week 3 because of his 1 TD. However, he is averaging only 3.1 yards per carry. Dalton taking over as QB might increase Sanders' opportunities, but expect him to remain a marginal flex option going forward.
• Jaleel McLaughlin, Den @ NYJ (8th) - McLaughlin rushed 5 times for only 7 yards and a TD. He also had on reception. Except for the TD, Tyler Badie outplayed McLaughlin so it remains to be seen how the Broncos backfield will shake out.
• ^*Kyle Juszczyk, SF @ NE (16th) - Juszczyk is averaging 2 receptions per game. That is a very low volume of touches, but it is more than nothing.

Receivers

• Jauan Jennings, SF v NE (27th) - Wow - Jennings broke out big time in Week 3 showing unexpected potential with 11 receptions on 12 targets for 175 yards and 3 TDs for 46.5 fantasy points in PPR leagues. He sits behind Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the depth chart and certainly won't keep the same pace going forward, but he is worth a place on dynasty rosters and deep roster leagues.
• Diontae Johnson, Car v Cin (9th) - Johnson came alive with a monster game with Andy Dalton as QB. It's hard to tell if his Week 3 performance of 8 receptions out of 14 targets for 122 yards and a TD is only a one-off or the start of something exciting. Johnson is only 28 years old and was an every week starter in 2020 and 2021.
• Tre Tucker, LV v Cle (18th) - The sophomore Tucker got a well-deserved bump-up in volume in Week 3, catching 7 of 9 targets for 96 yards and a TD in Week 3. However, 4 of those targets were in garbage time. Still, as a sophomore, Tucker is still developing, and doing well with the opportunities he has been given, so it seems reasonable he will continue to see more opportunity going forward.
• Andrei Iosivas, Cin @ Car (21st) - This sophomore WR is getting consistent volume averaging 3.3 receptions, 18.3 yards, and 1 TD per game. He is definitely worth a stash in deeper leagues.
• Allen Lazard, NYJ v Den (1st) - Lazard has now scored 3 TDs in three games, and caught all three of his targets for 48 yards in Week 3. The chemistry between Lazard and Aaron Rodgers from their time as Packers continues to be reignited, so it is reasonable to expect Lazard's role to increase going forward.
• Jalen Nailor, Min @ GB (17th) - Nailor has been filling in nicely for Jordan Addison, since Addison was injured in the 3rd quarter of Week 1. Addison could be back in Week 4, but if Addison remains out, Nailor is a solid flex option. 
• Devaughn Vele (R), Den @ NYJ (11th) - This rookie showed promise in Week 1. He has been out with a rib injury since. He is worth a stash to see what role he carves out for himself once he is healthy.
• Darnell Mooney, Atl v NO (15th) - Mooney caught all 8 of his targets for 66 yards in Week 3. It seems that, as a Falcon, Mooney is starting to get consistent moderate volume.
• Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG v Dal (8th) - Robinson caught 7 of his 8 targets for 61 yards in Week 3. Robinson is the clear No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers, but has not had consistent volume to be counted on as more than a deep flex fill-in, especially against a stout Cowboys defense in Week 4.
• ^*Kavontae Turpin, Dal @ NYG (19th) - Turpin caught all 3 of his targets for 51 yards and a TD. With Brandin Cooks struggling, Turpin could see a larger role going forward.
• ^*Calvin Austin III, Pit @ Ind (28th) - It's hard to see Austin's Week 3 performance of 4 receptions for 95 yards and a TD as anything more than a one-off. Worth keeping an eye on.

Tight Ends

• *Noah Fant, Sea @ Det (5th) - Fant has a nice uptick in volume, catching 6 of 6 targets for 60 yards in Week 3. 
• Chigoziem Okonkwo, Ten @ Mia (17th) - Okonkwo has caught all 7 of his targets in the first three weeks. He should continue to see consistent light volume with the upside of a TD going forward.
• *Brenton Strange, Jac @ Hou (6th) - Strange is only a viable flex option if Evan Engram remains injured in Week 4.

Kickers

• Blake Grupe, NO @ Atl (32nd)
• Wil Lutz, Den @ NYJ (29th)
• Tyler Bass, Buf @ Bal (31st)
• Austin Seibert, Wsh @ Ari (6th)
• Matt Prater, Ari v Wsh (13th)

Defense / Special Teams

• Green Bay Packers v Min (12th)
• New Orleans Saints @ Atl (14th)
• Kansas City Chiefs @ LAC (15th)
• Denver Broncos v NYJ (4th,5th)
• Minnesota Vikings @ GB (4th)

^*Available in my league with 24-player rosters