Have you been hit by the QB bug? Are your tight ends underperforming? Sitting at 0-2 and desperately need to inject some fresh talent into your lineup? Well look no further. We’re breaking down the top waiver wire adds and drop candidates for Week 3 in full PPR redraft leagues — the players who can help you turn the tide, and the ones you need to cut loose. While the waiver pool isn’t exactly overflowing with can’t-miss options this week, the top 6 names below offer far more upside than the bottom half. Let’s get into the pickups who could get your season back on track.
- Juwan Johnson (TE, Saints) 15% Faab – Johnson has been Spencer Rattler’s favorite target. He ran a route on 91% of Rattler’s dropbacks through Week 2, hauling in 13 catches for 125 yards and a touchdownespn.com. That’s 20 targets (24% of the offense) and 8.4 FPPG, a very solid tight end output so far. With a lockdown share of team targets and no injury concern, Johnson is a low-end TE1 in PPR formats. He’s already rostered in roughly 48% of leaguesespn.com, but his volume makes him worth adding if available.
- Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, Giants) 10% Faab – Robinson is seeing a ton of volume from Russell Wilson. Through two games he has 18 targets (14 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD)bigblueview.com, including a monster 8/142/1 line in Week 2seahawks.comespn.com. His 25% target share matches his 2024 role, but in a Giants offense forced to pass a lot. He’s currently rostered ~30%espn.com and should be prioritized, especially in full-PPR. Wilson’s aggressive downfield approach gives Robinson upside.
- Tyler Allgeier (RB, Falcons) 10% Faab – Allgeier has back-to-back games with 10+ carries, flashing fantasy upside in Atlanta’s ground-heavy schemenbcsports.com. He scored a TD on 16 carries for 76 yards in Week 2nbcsports.com. Even as the Falcons’ clear RB2 behind Bijan Robinson, his volume and TD work make him a worthy stash or spot starter. He’s rostered about 34% of leaguesespn.com. He should be owned in deeper leagues or if your RB situation is thin.
- Elic Ayomanor (WR, Titans) 8% Faab – The rookie leads Tennessee in targets among non-Ridley WRs. In Week 2 he paced the team with 6 targets (4 rec., 56 yards, 1 TD)nbcsports.com. He and Calvin Ridley both saw 22% target shares. Ayomanor has gone from deep-only looks in Week 1 to a more complete game, and is on an ascending trajectory. He’s virtually unowned (~8% rosteredfantasypros.com) despite that breakout. With future opportunity (Cam Ward is still learning), Ayomanor is a high-upside flier, especially in PPR where his volume can pay off.
- Daniel Jones (QB, Colts) 5% Faab – “Danny Dimes” or “Indiana Jones” has quietly been a top-5 QB through two games. He threw for 588 yards, 2 passing TDs and added 2 rushing TDs in a 2–0 start. The Colts are committed to him, and he was a QB3 at 22.8 points vs. Denverespn.comespn.com. He’s rostered only 21.4% of ESPN leaguesespn.com (even lower on Sleeper/Sleeper). In 1‑QB redraft leagues he’s a must-add now, providing both passing and rushing upside with a favorable next schedule.
- Troy Franklin (WR, Broncos) 6% Faab – Franklin has earned a starting role opposite Jerry Jeudy. In Week 2 he led Denver with 31 routes, 9 targets and 8 catches for 89 yards and a touchdownnbcsports.com. Sean Payton appears to have locked him into a top-2 role after an early-scoring start. He’s barely rostered (single digits), but his usage makes him a hidden gem. He should be grabbed in all deeper formats.
- Cedric Tillman (WR, Browns) 4% Faab – Tillman is building on two strong performances. He has a touchdown catch in each of Cleveland’s first two games (15 targets total)seahawks.com. The Browns trust him in the red zone, and if Joe Flacco remains the QB, Tillman should keep seeing volume in what may be a pass-heavy offense. He’s rostered ~46%si.com, but his upside (especially in PPR) is why he remains one of the top waiver wire WRs.
- Kayshon Boutte (WR, Patriots) 4% Faab – Boutte has flashed big-play ability early. He caught 6 passes for 103 yards in Week 1 and scored a TD in Week 2seahawks.com as the most productive Pats receiver in both games. New QB Drake Maye clearly trusts him. Boutte is rostered about 40%si.com and is a good upside target in deeper leagues. (Stefon Diggs is working back from injury but Boutte looks like Maye’s favorite downfield threat.)
- Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Browns) 5% Faab – Fannin has seen a surge in playing time (70% snaps Week 2) and is now the clear TE1 if David Njoku misses time. In Week 1 he was TE6 in PPR scoring (5/63 receiving) and even though Week 2 volume dipped, his snap share jump is promisingfantasypros.com. With Flacco targeting his tight end heavily and rumors swirling around Njoku, Fannin (rostered 43%fantasypros.com) is a high-upside add for tight-end needy teams.
- Dontavion Wicks (WR, Packers) 3% Faab – Wicks’ usage jumped with Jayden Reed out (Reed is expected to miss ~2 months). In Week 2 Wicks ran a team-high 12 slot routes. While he only caught 1 pass, the volume is there if Christian Watson or Reed are injured. He’s barely rostered, but keep an eye on him given the injuries in Green Bay.
- Tyjae Spears (RB, Titans) 3% Faab – Spears is injured (on IR with an ankle injury)espn.comespn.com, but if he returns (possible Week 5), he’ll enter a Titans backfield that wanted to use him more even when healthy. He’s rostered only ~29%espn.com due to the injury, but he’s worth holding onto if you’ve got space (Pollard’s backup role).
- Josh Palmer (WR, Bills) 2% Faab – Palmer has stepped into a more prominent role in Buffalo’s passing game. In Week 2 (with Josh Allen injured) he led the team with 61 yards, and he added 47 yards on 2 catches in Week 2espn.com. With Kyle Williams and Keon Coleman behind him, Palmer is the clear WR3 on Buffalo. He’s only rostered 13%espn.com, so he’s a dart throw with upside in deep or PPR leagues given Allen’s trust.
Each of these players has some combination of recent volume, injury news (positive or negative), and upside to warrant a waiver claim in PPR/redraft formats.
Week 3 Drop Candidates (≥50% rostered)
If your league allows dropping, consider moving on from these underperformers who are still widely rostered:
- J.J. McCarthy (QB, Vikings) – McCarthy looked very shaky in two starts and just suffered a high-ankle sprain, likely costing him 2–4 weeksespn.com. Yet he remains rostered in 64.7% of leaguesespn.com. Given the injury and limited upside behind Minnesota’s young OL, he’s a reasonable cut candidate.
- C.J. Stroud (QB, Texans) – Stroud has been disappointing (0 TDs and 1 INT in Week 1) and Houston’s offense looks stuntedrotoballer.com. He’s rostered about 62%espn.com, but there are better immediate options (e.g. Daniel Jones, Michael Penix Jr., etc. on waivers). With an 0-2 start, Stroud’s confidence could wane.
- Kaleb Johnson (RB, Steelers) – The rookie burst onto waivers expectations but has so far played almost zero role (only 1 carry in two games). His roster rate is 74%profootballnetwork.com. With Jaylen Warren healthy and leading, Johnson has no standalone value. Unless you’re a hardcore stash manager, he’s droppable.
- Tank Bigsby (RB, Eagles) – The newly acquired Bigsby was thought to be Philly’s RB2 handcuff, but he has no role in the offense so far. He’s rostered 57%profootballnetwork.com (likely from draft buzz) but is an easy drop now that AJ Dillon is entrenched as Barkley’s backup until Will Shipley returns.
- Matthew Golden (WR, Packers) – The high-drafted rookie has underwhelmed (no TDs, minimal volume) while lesser talents see looks. He’s rostered 82%profootballnetwork.com but not earning playing time (Jayden Reed’s injury did not help him, either). With other target options in GB (Doubs, Wicks) stepping up, Golden can be passed on.
- Jayden Reed (WR, Packers) – Reed re-aggravated a collarbone injury in Week 1 and won’t return soon. Still, he’s rostered 58%. Until he’s healthy, his roster spot can go to a contributor. Reed will return, but likely not until mid-season.
- Mark Andrews (TE, Ravens) – Andrews has gotten off to a terrible start (no TDs, marginal yardage) and hasn’t been on the field much. He remains rostered in 96% of leagues thanks to draft standing, but this is his lowest fantasy production ever. With the Ravens using multiple TEs and Isaiah Likely returning, you can consider benching or dropping him for a hot pickup.
- Evan Engram (TE, Titans) – Engram is constantly injured (4 catches so far this year for 33 yards) yet somehow is rostered 85%. He’s just serving as a note rather than a contributor; consider benching or moving on until he proves he can be productive in this offense.
- Hunter Henry (TE, Patriots) – Henry leads NE’s tight ends but is buried behind a crowded WR room. He’s rostered 58.2%espn.com because of name value, but with minimal early stats (5 catches, 75 yards in 2 games) and stiff WR competition, Henry is expendable in most formats.
- Colston Loveland (TE, Bears) – The rookie has been healthy, but Chicago doesn’t target him in the passing game much yet. He’s rostered 58% largely on draft capitol. Until he sees targets, he’s droppable.
In summary, those drop candidates above are widely held but underperforming or injured. Unless you need a deep stash or want to bank on recovery, most can be dropped in favor of immediate contributors on waivers.
Sources: Usage stats and roster percentages are from ESPN player pages, FantasyPros, NBCSports and team sourcesespn.comespn.comnbcsports.comespn.comseahawks.comfantasypros.comsi.comprofootballnetwork.comprofootballnetwork.comespn.com. These include the latest Week 2 performances, injury news, and Sleeper/app ownership data.