We had our first wave of significant fantasy football injuries. Unfortunately — especially for SuperFlex leagues — most came at the quarterback position. Don’t worry, as I’m here to offer waiver wire options, both for quarterback streamers and some running back and wide receiver pickups. In fact, we have a few must-add options in Week 3.

Heads Up

• Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
• Listed in order of preference: I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
  • RB backups have a separate secondary list based only on whether the lead option got hurt
• No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
• Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
• Emojis for brevity
  • 😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him, or don’t
  • 🫡 = Next Man Up but with deeper startability

Worry Report
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)

• Justin Fields, NYJ: 🦆🦆 — Of course, a week after I said, “You have to roll with the good and bad with Fields, as you can’t predict his performances. So, make him your QB if you can handle it,” Fields plays poorly, and is now in concussion protocol. Fields was on his way to potentially having his worst game as a full starter since Week 18 of 2023, but I would still have considered him a QB1 against the Buccaneers (and he will be if cleared). The single-digit games will come, but the 20+ point ones outweigh them. Again, it’s a matter of whether you can stomach it.
• Kyren Williams, RB, LAR: 🦆 — Williams ceded snaps to Blake Corum in Week 1 but also had a few more touches in Week 2 (90.5 RBTouch% for Williams, down to 79.2% in Week 2). I’m still not concerned, as that’s still Top 10 for the week, and the Rams were solidly in control for four of Corum’s five touches. This is more about Corum clearly being the No. 2.
• Brian Thomas, WR, JAX: 🦆🦆 — I rewatched every BT7 target this year. Yes, he made a “business decision” in Week 2, but he’s far from the first wideout to do so. And, yes, there were clear drops early in Week 1 and on the fourth-down play in Week 2. Sure, he made the mistake of turning upfield on both before completely securing the reception — both Thomas’ fault. The rest? Off target, knocked out of bounds (one each week) and good coverage were the issues. So, three of his 14 incompletions are completely his fault, which is worth one duck. Trevor Lawrence’s throws are another duck. In fact, only four wideouts (min. 10 targets) have a lower Catchable TGT% than Thomas’ 61.1%. That gets us to two ducks, and it also means I’m not panicking, but rather, buying low.
• Drake London, WR, ATL: 🦆 — Give the Vikings defense some credit (and some blame to the inability to stop the run). It’s one game. I’m far from worrying. It just came at a bad time with a nationally-televised game and the similarly drafted duo of Malik Nabers and Amon-Ra St. Brown going off in Week 2.

Power Up Players
(Scale 1-5: more Mario mushrooms = more excitement)

• Daniel Jones, QB, IND: 🍄🍄 — What does this say about the Giants? There are still some Jones mistakes, but they’ve been fewer, and the rushing upside hasn’t stopped. To that end, if Jones isn’t rushing for as many yards and fails to find the end zone, his decent — not great — passing may keep him from the QB1 tier that week. But the production is there so far.
• J.K. Dobbins, RB, DEN: 🍄🍄🍄 — Top 20 in RBTouch%, FPPG and Yards per Touch. RJ Harvey will improve as the year goes on, but Dobbins is a solid RB2 until further notice.
• Rome Odunze, WR, CHI: 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — Odunze: 96.4 Route%; DJ Moore: 90.5%  — Odunze: 29.9 TmTGT%; Moore: 16.4% (also, Olamide Zaccheaus 17.9%) — Odunze: 3 RZ targets, 3 EZ targets; Moore: 0 and 1 — Odunze: 20.5 FPPG on 20-13-165-3; Moore: 7.1 on 11-8-114-0 — Odunze is already the Bears’ WR1.
• Troy Franklin, WR, DEN: 🍄🍄🍄 — See below. Franklin is a great find already and must-add if still available.

Streaming Quarterbacks

• Daniel Jones, IND at TEN — Praise Shane Steichen. Blame the Giants. It doesn’t matter, because it’s working now.
• Jake Browning, CIN at MIN — Outside of Daniel Jones, no one has near-Joe Burrow upside, particularly with the matchup. In fact, only Jones and Browning are likely to come close to filling the Burrow void. Despite their risks, if I’m a Burrow team, I’d gamble on them long-term in 1QB leagues.
• Tua Tagovailoa, MIA at BUF — He’s a box of chocolates.
• Mac Jones, SF vs ARI — Spider-Man pointing meme with Brock Purdy.
• Michael Penix, ATL at CAR — Good rebound opportunity.
• Trevor Lawrence, JAX vs HOU — Not a great matchup, and Lawrence hasn’t improved much. Brian Thomas is dealing with a wrist injury.
• Carson Wentz, MIN vs CIN — Hasn’t thrown for over 163 yards since Week 5, 2022 (five games, including four starts, with 15+ attempts in that span).
• Cam Ward, TEN vs IND — Through two games, Ward has the fifth-highest OffTGT% (21.3) and lowest Catchable Percentage (67.2). Colts matchup helps, but it’s on Ward to improve.
• Bryce Young, CAR vs ATL — Young threw 55 balls, 18.2% which were Off Target (h/t FantasyPoints). Falcons defense is decent.
• Tyrod Taylor, NYJ at TB — Decent floor, modest upside.
• Marcus Mariota, WAS vs LV — Kind of a floor option.
• Joe Flacco, CLE vs GB — Rough Week 2. Still passing aplenty.
• Geno Smith, LV at WAS — Not the best rebound situation.

“Thou Shall Not… Pass!”

• Matthew Stafford, LAR at PHI
• Aaron Rodgers, PIT at NE
• Russell Wilson, NYG vs KC
• Sam Darnold, SEA vs NO
• Spencer Rattler, NO at SEA

Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. Cam Skattebo, NYG — Tyrone Tracy barely touched the ball late and in overtime. If the shift isn’t officially here yet, it’s coming soon.
2. Bhayshul Tuten, JAX — With Tank Bigsby gone, Tuten is the clear No. 2 and could see weekly RB3/Flex value if he’s seeing double-digit touches.
3. Woody Marks, HOU — Here purely on upside. Marks looks to have taken the No. 2 role, and that alone could lead to timeshare value (RB3 range). There’s the added future ceiling if the Texans see enough to give Marks the lead and timeshare Nick Chubb. 
4. Tyler Allgeier, ATL 🫡
5. Trey Benson, ARI 🫡
6. Blake Corum, LAR 🫡 — In thin weeks and great matchups, could be worth an RB3 flier play. More importantly, clearly the next man up for the Rams with Top 20 upside if Kyren Williams gets hurt.
7. Kenneth Gainwell, PIT — The lead with the lowest RBTouch% in the league?
8. Miles Sanders, DAL — Complete gamble each week but the No. 2 with weekly work.
9. Kyle Monangai, CHI — After just one touch in Week 1, Monangai had eight (34.8 RBTouch%), with nothing for Roschon Johnson in his return.
10. Jeremy McNichols, WAS — If the Commanders whittle down to a two-man timeshare, McNichols would come close to Austin Ekeler’s value in half and full-PPR.
11. Chris Rodriguez, WAS — He was supposed to see short-yardage and goal-line touches and will now be active. Not expecting much, but deeper leagues should take a flier just in case.
12. Zavier Scott, MIN — Who? The next RB behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Was seen as not a pure runner or receiver — as in, he’s decent at both, great at neither, but if something were to happen to Mason…
13. Najee Harris, LAC — Clear No. 2 for the Chargers and unlikely to have standalone value as such.
14. Ollie Gordon, MIA — Down to handcuff value. Whether it’s the offense, lack of confidence in Gordon, or whatever, the preseason excitement bubble has burst.
15. Tyjae Spears, TEN — Eligible to return in Week 5.
16. Jaydon Blue, DAL — Still inactive. Still long-term upside.
17. Tank Bigsby, PHI — Bigsby could be the next man up, but if Will Shipley gets healthy, he could lead, or most likely, this is a timeshare or even committee (A.J. Dillon too) in the event of a Saquon Barkley injury.

Purely Next Man Up Ranks
(if an injury ahead of them)

1. Tyler Allgeier, ATL
2. Trey Benson, ARI
3. Blake Corum, LAR
4. Brian Robinson, SF
5. DJ Giddens, IND
6. Ray Davis, BUF
7. Rachaad White, TB
8. Najee Harris, LAC
9. Tyjae Spears, TEN (injured)
10. Ollie Gordon, MIA
11. Woody Marks, HOU
12. Kareem Hunt, KC
13. Rico Dowdle, CAR
14. Tahj Brooks, CIN
15. Kendre Miller, NO
16. Jerome Ford, CLE

Junk Drop

• LeQuint Allen, JAX — Tuten is the two — Two-ten. He should have chosen 20 for his jersey number.
• Roschon Johnson, CHI — Maybe it changes in time, but Johnson is the No. 3 right now.
• Jerome Ford, CLE — Judkins wasn’t eased in, so it’s only getting worse — the time has ended for Ford.
• Kaleb Johnson, PIT — This is only for 10-teamers or shallower, and if you can’t cut anyone else. Johnson isn’t close to the mix, currently.

Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

1. Quentin Johnston, LAC — This should be the final week we see Johnston’s name. Rectify the fact he’s still under 60%.
2. Troy Franklin, DEN — Led in Route% in Week 2. Yes, ahead of Courtland Sutton. The connection is real… after all, he played with Bo Nix in college, and bunked together, and sat together at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and walked dogs together, and took long beach walks together…
3. Romeo Doubs, GB — The only constant we know for the Packers is that Doubs is a top-two option, especially with Jayden Reed out.
4. Kayshon Boutte, NE — Clearly the No. 1. Clearly showing the upside of his pre-injury self from college. Clearly ranking higher this week.
5. Cedric Tillman, CLE 😏 — No, I’m not counting on many more ricochet touchdowns. Also, tough matchup this week.
6. Darnell Mooney, ATL — A WR4 who’s back to 100% health.
7. Christian Kirk, HOU — If he returns, Kirk could be the answer for who’s No. 2. Jayden Higgins has seen two-WR work the most, but he’s still limited as the Texans (inexplicably) are playing the long game. You needed major OL help, drafted two Day 2 wideouts, fully guaranteed a contract for one, and barely play them both…?! Kirk is near the bottom if he’s not already practicing on Wednesday.
8. Elic Ayomanor, TEN — The first two games have made it very clear he’s the No. 2 for the Titans.
9. Hunter Renfrow, CAR — Until Jalen Coker returns, Renfrow looks to be the No. 2, especially with Xavier Legette’s struggles.
10. Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG — Half and full-PPR only, and we’ve been here before… Russell Wilson isn’t going to have elite Russ games every week.
11. Dontayvion Wicks, GB — Many expect the Reed injury to increase opportunities for Matthew Golden, but there is a chance the Packers aren’t ready for that, with Wicks stepping up as the No. 2.
12. Tyquan Thornton, KC — Only if Xavier Worthy is still out, and only if you think the lottery offers good odds.
13. Calvin Austin, PIT — This is the floor of the No. 2 in an Arthur Smith offense and with Aaron Rodgers. Still the No. 2.
14. Isaac TeSlaa, DET — If anything ever happens to Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams, look out.
15. Tory Horton, SEA — Still a long-term stash if anything happens to Cooper Kupp… or Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
16. Jayden Higgins, HOU — As mentioned, you can drop Higgins if you need the help. It’s clearly a long-term upside stash, but I know some teams might not have that luxury.

Stashes

• Brandon Aiyuk, SF — Weekly reminder to stash despite uncertain timeline.
• Jalen Coker, CAR — Like Tyjae Spears, an injury stash, as Coker now has a chance to return to the No. 2 role with outside work.

 Equipping Dislike

• Dyami Brown, JAX — Even though he’s “ahead” of Travis Hunter in the pecking order, that’s kind of a technicality and doesn’t change Brown being the Jaguars’ Rashod Bateman.
• DeAndre Hopkins, BAL — Rinse and repeat Week 1 — “He can’t keep getting away with this.”
• Devontez Walker, BAL — Said, “I see you, DeAndre Hopkins, now hold my beer.” Five routes. Two targets.
• Parker Washington, JAX — 17 routes on the year.

Junk Drop

• Xavier Legette, CAR — In fairness to Legette, only 58.3% of his targets have been catchable, but that’s still over twice as many as he’s caught (26.7% or 4-for-15).
• Marvin Mims, DEN — Sure, a touchdown, but from 62.8 Route% to 40.6% in Week 2.
• DeMario Douglas, NE — Like Mims, 73.6 Route% down to 36.7% and behind three WRs and two TEs.

Streaming Tight Ends

• Juwan Johnson, NO — As long as Spencer Rattler is at QB, Johnson is a top-two option for the Saints.
• Zach Ertz, WAS — As long as Daniels is starting, but not much of a hit if it’s Mariota.
• Ja’Tavion Sanders, CAR — Won’t see nine targets every week, but a matchup problem.
• Harold Fannin, CLE — It’s tight end, and 5-for-48 makes you a fringe TE1… sadly.

All of the next options have at least 76.8 Route% (more than Mark Andrews and Hunter Henry), and only Mason Taylor doesn’t have 9+ targets.

• Chig Okonkwo, TEN
• Jonnu Smith, PIT
• Brenton Strange, JAX
• Mason Taylor, NYJ

Junk Drop

• Mark Andrews, BAL — Lumiere here: drop him and chase production. It’s tight end. I won’t argue much, especially when… checks notes, rubs eyes, adjusts resolution, squints… Andrews has seven yards in two games.
• T.J. Hockenson, MIN — I’d wait a week if you can with Wentz at quarterback, but Jordan Addison is back next week. Wentz could surprise, though, and make Hockenson a Top 10 option even with Addison. That said, if he’s your TE2, at least try to trade him.

Streaming DST
(First team listed is streamer)

Week 3

• GB at CLE
• SEA vs NO
• NE vs PIT
• LAC vs DEN
• ATL at CAR
• IND at TEN
• CHI vs DAL

Week 4

• GB at DAL
• LAC at NYG
• NE vs CAR
• SEA at ARI

(Photo of Troy Franklin: Christine Tannous / USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)