5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 3

Top-40 RB Rankings - Week 3

Fantasy Football Waiver Adds - Week 3

Fantasy Football Waiver Adds - Week 4

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Colton Peters
NFL

Week 3 is in the books, but the NFL injury gods aren’t done yet. Before we dive into waivers, let’s quickly recap the biggest news:

Arizona RB James Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury. That’s a tough break, as the 30-year-old running back has been one of the highest-volume and most reliable fantasy options over the last few years and the heart of the Cardinals’ offense.

Staying with the ankle theme, it was announced this morning that Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb will officially miss time—opening up opportunities for WR George Pickens. Chargers RB Najee Harris has also been ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.

Last night, in one of the roughest Sunday night games we’ve seen in a long time, Giants RB Tyrone Tracy went down hard on the sideline with a shoulder injury. During the broadcast, it was reported he was immediately sent for X-rays, but no update has been provided from the Giants. Meanwhile, Bucs WR Mike Evans suffered his usual yearly hamstring setback, and Commanders WR Terry McLaurin sustained a quad injury, his first significant issue in over four years.

For additional potential Week 4 pickups, check out ASL founder Leonard LaPadula's Streamers For The Desperate - Week 4 or ASL's Chris Hexter's Injuries & Opportunities - Week 4.

With that, let’s jump into this week’s wire.


Quarterbacks

Geno Smith (28% Rostered, Yahoo)
Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith absolutely lit it up this week. The Vegas Vet (let’s make that nickname stick) went 19-of-29 for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. Although the Raiders fell short, Smith looked like his old Seattle self, finishing with 26.1 fantasy points as a borderline streaming option. He also may have finally found another reliable target in WR Tre Tucker, who you’ll read about later. Looking ahead, the Chicago defense is allowing an astonishing 24 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. If you need a one-week band-aid, get Geno.

Marcus Mariota (6% Rostered, Yahoo)
The Oregon Ducks legend reminded us why he always has a spot in the league. Mariota went 15-of-21 for 207 yards, added 40 more on the ground, and scored two total touchdowns, finishing as QB5 for the week. What stood out was not just his efficiency through the air but also the way he uses his legs as a weapon, keeping defenses off balance and creating scoring opportunities for his playmakers. If starting QB Jayden Daniels misses another game, Mariota remains a viable streamer. The upcoming matchup with Atlanta isn’t ideal, but his rushing upside makes him worth considering.

Justin Fields (75% Rostered, Yahoo)
Even though Fields is likely already highly rostered, he’s worth a look. With all the QB injuries last week, many players may have dropped him. Pair this with his poor Week 2 performance, and you have an opportunity to capitalize this week. Assuming Fields clears concussion protocol, he has top-five upside in Week 4. The Jets face a Miami team that just went all-in to beat the Bills' QB Josh Allen in prime time. The Dolphins are giving up the most combined fantasy points to quarterbacks and running backs. Pair this with Fields’ elite rushing ability, and there’s a path to a number-one overall finish.


Running Backs

Trey Benson (52% Rostered, Yahoo)
Last week, I told you to grab Benson. If you did, congratulations—you may have stumbled upon a potential league winner. With incumbent RB James Conner out for the year, Arizona will look to the second-year Florida State back to carry the load. For reference, Benson ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 216 pounds. With WR Marvin Harrison Jr. forgetting he has hands, expect the Cardinals to lean on the run game and give QB Kyler Murray stability. Benson looked great in relief Sunday, including a 29-yard touchdown run. Pick him up wherever he’s available.

Woody Marks (9% Rostered, Yahoo)
Houston RB Woody Marks is a wait-and-see play. Starting RB Nick Chubb doesn’t look like his former self after multiple injuries, and every time Marks touches the ball, he brings juice. After starting 0-3, the Texans may need to go back to the drawing board to generate explosive plays. In Week 3, Marks had eight total opportunities, doubling Week 2. He also played in 48% of snaps, up from 27% the previous week. Marks isn’t flex-worthy yet, but is worth stashing for potential impact as the season progresses.

Ollie Gordon (19% Rostered, Yahoo)
The Dolphins' rookie workload increased, and he made the most of it. The offseason hype was intense, and starting RB Devon Achane’s first two weeks quieted the noise. Miami clearly needs a bigger, more powerful back, and at 6’2”, 225 pounds, Gordon provides that. In Thursday night’s game against the Bills, Gordon rushed nine times for 38 yards and a touchdown, including a 16-yard run showing his physical tools and power. Achane is prone to missing time, so having Gordon stashed could save your season. Consider him a high-end handcuff moving forward.

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Wide Receivers

Tre Tucker (4% Rostered, Yahoo)
Las Vegas WR Tre Tucker dominated Week 3, catching 8 passes for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns—insane for someone rostered in only 4% of leagues. He acted as a safety valve for QB Geno Smith, making the most of his opportunity. As a smaller wide receiver, expect Tucker to assume a vintage Hunter Renfrow Raiders role. He’s a strong flex option against the Bears, who currently give up the most fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Tory Horton (2% Rostered, Yahoo)
For the second straight week, Seattle WR Tory Horton impressed. The rookie had 4 targets for 3 receptions and a touchdown, outpacing veteran wideout Cooper Kupp and averaging 15.5 yards per reception. His punt return was also electric. Two total touchdowns in just his third career game? Horton is a difference-maker. If star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba ever gets banged up, Horton immediately moves into low WR2 territory. If you have bench space, he’s a high-ceiling flex.

Calvin Austin (17% Rostered, Yahoo)
Steelers WR Calvin Austin continues to shine on tape, even if box scores don’t always reflect it. In Week 3, he went 3 receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown, showing chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers when plays break down. He flashed last year and now has an improved situation with Rodgers. His speed and route-running make him a consistent option, particularly in quick-strike or red-zone situations. Not an every-week starter but a matchup-based flex worth monitoring.


Tight Ends

Chig Okonkwo (31% Rostered, Yahoo)
The Titans need to get QB Cam Ward more help, and Chig has always been above average in that regard. With little competition for targets, Ward relies on him as a safety blanket. Okonkwo saw six targets and caught five on Sunday. Touchdowns haven’t come yet, but the usage is encouraging. With Houston next and CB Derek Stingley Jr. likely focused on WR Calvin Ridley, Okonkwo could see a bigger role. He provides a solid floor in a tight end landscape that’s otherwise bleak.

Hunter Henry (60% Rostered, Yahoo)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. New England Head Coach Mike Vrabel went back to watch last year’s tape and said, “Fire up the big man.” QB Drake Maye continues to lean heavily on Henry, who had 11 targets for 8 receptions, 90 yards, and two touchdowns in Week 3, with his frame making him an elite red-zone option. With Carolina up next (a team that struggles against tight ends), Henry is a strong streaming option and belongs in starting lineups.