Fantasy Football Sneaky Waiver Wire Pickups, Starting for Week 3 (2024)

The regular season is just two weeks into the season and many teams are looking for the eject button. I have a team whose entire bench consists of injured players. But no one wants to hear you complain. So why bother?

What you need to do is do your best to keep your team afloat over the next few weeks. If you can stay around .500, you're in the playoff race. And when your team gets healthy, all you have to do is jump in and win it all.

You may need to be aggressive with waivers, but that's when you need your FAAB the most. These pivot options are designed to help you keep the ship afloat until your starters return.

Be sure to check out all of our 2024 fantasy football rankings:

Sneaky starts and pivot options

If you need a QB…

Baker Mayfield is the QB1 over two weeks. He would be a great pivot option for anyone in need of a QB. What I particularly like is that he runs more. He ran for over 20 yards in both games and threw for a rushing touchdown last week. Combined with the matchup and weapons at his disposal, he is a top streaming option and can quickly become a weekly starter.

Derek Carr is the QB2 through two weeks with at least 21 fantasy points in every game so far. I'm rooting for this Saints offense because of the offensive change – they've gone from having the least movement and play action in the NFL to having one of the highest rates (literally the highest for play action).

This is a change we can embrace. Carr is in play in a potentially high-scoring game against the Eagles, who have allowed the fourth-most pass yards and second-most touchdowns since the start of last season. He's a great pivot option.

#Saints attack

2024
– Movement on 72% of plays (11th in NFL)
– Play action on 50% of passing plays (most in the NFL)

2023
– Movement on 38% of plays (31st in NFL)
– 14% game action (least in the NFL)

That explains A LOT

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 16, 2024

Justin Fields hasn't had a big fantasy day yet, but he plays well in real life. It's also worth noting that he had a 51-yard pass and a touchdown callback last week. Still, the potential is always great because of what he can achieve with his legs. Last week he ran for 57 yards, which equates to nearly 150 passing yards. That’s what keeps him in the game on a weekly basis.

Sam Darnold played well in his first two starts with the Vikings. It turned into a big fantasy day in Week 2, scoring nearly 20 fantasy points. He has multiple passing TDs every game and what I love is he ran for 32 yards last week. This week he faces the Texans, who are a tough secondary, but a trailing Darnold could throw more than we've seen so far. It is in play as a streaming option.

If you need a RB…

Samaje Perine And Carson Steele are both in play until we get answers in the Chiefs backfield. I prefer Perine as he should have a clear handoff role and will likely see some local involvement as well. But Steele is a big-bodied defender who has juice and the Chiefs are a fan of theirs, which brings him into the game. If you're desperate, you can go the Kareem Hunt route.

RB Carson Steele explains what Andy Reid talked to him about and what role he could play on Sunday night pic.twitter.com/BN9oHomm56

— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) September 18, 2024

Cam Akers is in play if Joe Mixon is out this week. Last week he carried the ball seven times for 32 yards. More importantly, he looked the part. With Mixon ailing and Dameon Pierce dealing with a hamstring injury, Akers would be a clear option in a draw in the starting lineup. Volume is becoming more important in fantasy, especially with so many teams trying to overcome injuries right now.

D'Onta Foreman played just two fewer snaps than Jerome Ford last week. But he saw twice as many carries, 14 compared to Ford's seven. He also saw a target and finished with a total of 51 yards. It wasn't a great day, but the volume is encouraging. There should be another game this week against the Giants where the Browns will play with a lead. If so, I expect Foreman to take the time again. That brings him into play this week.

Ty Chandler had more carries than Aaron Jones last week. He converted his 10 carries into 82 yards, compared to nine carries for 32 yards for Jones. His efficiency could be enough to factor him into the game plan. He's explosive and while we don't see him heavily involved in the passing game yet, we know he can contribute there too. If you're diving a little deeper, it's an option you can take advantage of.

Bucky Irving continues to be the more effective runner than Rachaad White. This is partly because Irving is a good runner and partly because White is not. But White can also be used in the passing game. Right now, Irving is more of a floor game, but if more volume came his way, we could see the ceiling.

If you need a WR…

Quentin Johnston Last week, they led the Chargers' receivers in snaps (69 percent), routes (19), targets (six), catches (five), yards (51) and touchdowns (two). This year, he leads them in targets, air yards and end zone targets and was Justin Herbert's first man on 39 percent of passes – the third-highest rate in the NFL, according to Fantasy Points Data.

I believed he would come out of college, and now it looks like the Chargers are going to use him more in a way that suits his strengths. He is a strong choice if you need an injured replacement.

Quentin Johnston wins, stacks and then attacks the ball in the air to HBO for Justin Herbert? He helped a brother with an imperfect throw. THIS is what this Chargers offense consistently NEEDS from him. pic.twitter.com/aBnoWM45AT

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 15, 2024

Rashid Shaheed just keeps going. He had 169 yards and two touchdowns on just nine targets. The ground may not be the safest, but it has the potential to win your week every time it takes the field. With Derek Carr and the Saints offense operating so efficiently, Shaheed certainly comes into play as a key option.

Alec Pierce has started. After finishing as a WR10 in Week 1, he was a WR20 in Week 2. He leads the Colts in deep targets and air yards. While the floor may not be safe, we're aiming for the top when it comes to replacing injured players, and Pierce brings a lot of that.

The Colts offense will always play the long ball as long as Anthony Richardson is healthy. I'm putting Pierce in a lot of lineups this week as an injured replacement.

The more I look at Colts WR Alec Pierce, the more I realize we failed to fully evaluate this guy who played with noodle-armed QBs for two years. With Richardson's bazooka, Pierce's depth speed is finally unlocked. pic.twitter.com/IqNannpauC

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) September 18, 2024

Jalen Nailor has only five targets this year, but he has turned them into 75 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad. But with Jordan Addison likely out again and Justin Jefferson's status uncertain, he could be Sam Darnold's No. 1 right out of the gate. If Jefferson is out, that would put Nailor in the lineup in Week 3.

Jauan Jennings has been very efficient in his role as the 49ers WR3 so far this season. But with Deebo Samuel Sr. out for a few weeks, Jennings should see an increase in volume. The floor isn't very safe, but it brings advantages in a fantastic matchup against the Rams. Los Angeles allowed the most yards and touchdowns to receivers lined up outside. The Rams also allowed the most of both on deep passes to the receivers on the perimeter.

The Rams are currently depleted at receiver with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined. Last week, none of the fill-in receivers had more than four targets. But it was like that Demarcus Robinson Who had a long catch and played the most snaps and routes. That makes it the top option for me. Tyler Johnson was the WR2, followed by Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. For the floor, I arrange them in this order. If you are looking for an uptrend, Whittington seems to be your best bet.

If you need a TE…

Hunter Heinrich led all tight ends with 12 targets last week and was second in air yards (79), behind only Brenton Strange (81). He caught eight of them for 109 yards – good for 18.9 fantasy points and a TE2 finish.

He leads the Patriots in targets, catches, receiving yards, air yards and end zone targets. Not only does the Elite roster have him in the game as a quick starter, but he could also become a weekly starter for your short-handed, needy teams.

Which TEs do coaches design plays for?

TE leader in first reading target share (per @FantasyPtsData):

Trey McBride – 28%
Brock Bowers – 27%
Evan Engram – 25%
Hunter Henry – 25%
Mike Gesicki – 25%

— Jake Tribbey (@JakeTribbey) September 16, 2024

Mike Gesicki He almost caught a touchdown in Week 1. A huge touchdown followed in Week 2, catching seven of nine targets for 91 yards. Nine scores and 91 yards from a tight end and people just want to write it off. Don't make this mistake. He looked like a focal point in the Bengals' offense with Tee Higgins sidelined. He's a strong pivot option at the weakest position in the game.

Jonnu Smith finished last week as a TE6 and scored over 11 fantasy points. In total, he caught six passes for 53 yards. While the Dolphins' passing attack will be much more volatile, there is a chance that there is chemistry between Skylar Thompson and Smith. I wouldn't recommend him as a direct starter, but if you're looking for a plug-and-play option outside of the waiver wire, you can do worse than Smith.

Colby Parkinson is purely a piece of theater from which one hopes to gain volume. Things didn't work out in Week 2 as he only saw two targets, but he ran the third-most routes on the team and is the lead tight end. The floor is low, but this is just a deeper play that you hope gets volume from a good QB.

Be sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.

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