Waiver wire pickups to replace Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley

This week’s waiver wire focuses primarily on trying to replace the Browns’ All-Pro running back. Nick Chubb who suffered a serious knee injury Monday night and is likely done for the year and Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who is expected to miss several weeks with an ankle injury. Chubb is one of the best running backs in the league and a favorite among the fantasy football community thanks to his stellar production year after year. Prayers for Chubb and all NFL players battling injuries!

Chubb and Barkley were first-round picks in almost every fantasy draft this summer and it will be difficult to find someone to replace their production, but we have to try. The obvious choices are your main backups.

After Chubb fell, Jerome Ford entered the game and scored a touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion (the octopus). Ford later had a 71-yard run. For the Giants, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell are the wives, but it appears Breida has a slight edge in early work based on Sunday’s usage after Saquon left the game. Brightwell should be added in deeper leagues.

Lions running back David Montgomery is also expected to miss a few weeks, and if he can’t go Sunday, Craig Reynolds could see more work in the running game for Detroit (sorry, Jahmyr Gibbs is a fan).

Last weeks waiver wire article Prioritized quarterback Jordan Love, running backs Gus Edwards and Kyren Williams, wide receiver Puka Nacua and tight end Sam LaPorta, all of whom turned in strong performances for the second straight week. Check to see if they haven’t already been caught in your league, and those who are signed up for less than 40% of ESPN leagues will also be mentioned again here.

Let’s do it.

Week 3 Waiver Wire Runners

Jerome Ford (CLE): FAAB up to 25%

The Browns’ second-year running back didn’t do much as a rookie, after all, he was playing behind Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and even D’Ernest Johnson. But Hunt and Johnson are now off the list, putting Ford in the driver’s seat (car pun intended?). In the first half against the Steelers, Ford caught two passes for 11 yards and a touchdown and then ran in the two-point conversion. In the second half he showed off his speed with a 71-yard run but was tackled at the one-yard line. Pierre Strong Jr. saw some action in the second half and scored a touchdown from the one-yard line. Hassan Hall is also on the list, but if Chubb actually finishes the year, Cleveland is expected to add a veteran free agent, such as Kareem Hunt, who is obviously very familiar with the Browns offense.

Kyren Williams (LAR): FAAB up 21%

Cam Akers was a healthy zero and the saga continues. This could be your last chance if you don’t pick Williams after we suggested it last week. Rumors say Akers is back on the trade block, and who knows if the Rams will bring in a new running back (maybe Jonathan Taylor?), but for now, Williams is back on the roster in what is shaping up to be a Surprisingly good Rams. offense. Williams ran for 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries on Sunday and was also active in the passing game, catching six of his ten targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the 49ers. Williams is the RB2 of the season heading into Monday Night Football, only behind Christian McCaffrey.

Zack Moss (IND): FAAB up 16%

The Colts have decided on their bell cow running back after Moss played all but one snap in Week 2. Rookie Evan Hull is on the injured list, Deon Jackson has been ineffective and Jonathan Taylor won’t return until at least two more weeks. . Even when JT returns, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back with the Colts, so Moss is worth adding if you’re looking for a running back. After racking up 88 rushing yards, catching his four targets for another 19 and scoring a touchdown, Moss was the RB9 heading into Monday Night Football.

Gus Edwards/Justice Hill (BAL): FAAB up 11%

This looks like a caucus in Baltimore without JK Dobbins. Perhaps most importantly, however, Melvin Gordon was not a factor. Edwards rushed ten times for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Hill ran 11 times for 41 yards. Either player could have success on a weekly basis, with HIll likely the top pass catcher.

Roschon Johnson (CHI): FAAB 3%

The talented rookie RB took snaps from D’onta Foreman in the two-minute drill Sunday after the veteran was healthy. Khalil Herbert benefited the most from Foreman’s absence, but it’s worth leaving Johnson, a tough running back with receiving talent, who could carve out a more prominent role as the season progresses. Roschon Johnson spent much of his college career behind Bijan Robinson at UT; otherwise we would probably already be included in most leagues.

Others to consider: Matt Breida (NYG), Craig Reynolds (DET), Gary Brightwell (NYG), Kareem Hunt (FA), Leonard Fournette (FA)

Week 3 Waiver Wire Quarterbacks

Jordan Love (GB): FAAB up 7%

Love made this list last week and makes it again this week after a solid follow-up performance. Love has thrown three touchdowns in each of his first two games, and the Packers have scored the second-most points so far this season, behind only the Cowboys. Perhaps even more impressive is that Love has been without receiver Christian Watson in both games and was without Aaron Jones in Week 2. Love has yet to throw an interception, and the matchup with the Saints next week should be favorable.

CJ Stroud (HOU): FAAB up 3%

Stroud came alive in Week 2, despite losing three of his five offensive linemen. Stroud completed 30 of his 47 attempts for nearly 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns, all without throwing a single interception, and completed passes to eight different receivers. Catches should improve as the line recovers, and he’s a good backup for the next few weeks. With the Texans expected to have negative game scripts for most of the season, Stroud could be a waiver winner in Houston’s dynamic offense.

Sam Howell (WSH) FAAB 1%

Howell’s matchup with the Bills this weekend isn’t great, but I like Howell’s trend going forward. Howell completed passes to ten different receivers for 300 yards and two touchdowns in an upset victory against the Broncos in Week 2. At UNC, in his senior season, Howell ran for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns on 183 attempts. Not only does Howell have a good arm, but he also has the mobile edge that could be a big help for your fantasy team. Howell ran for a score in Week 1 against the Cardinals.

Others to consider: Gardner Minshew (IND)

Week 3 Waiver Wire Wide Receiver

Nathaniel “Tank” Dell (HOU): FAAB up 9%

Dell tank fired in all my banks this weekend. I hope you hid it too. Dell consistently outplayed his coverage in preseason action, and we were promised we’d see more of Dell once WR Noah Brown went on IR. The Texans kept their promise. Dell caught seven passes for 72 yards and a score against the Colts, and veteran WR Robert Woods filled in in Brown’s absence. Dell played 77.2% of the snaps, ahead of Nico Collins, who played 67%. He also ran 41 routes and saw ten targets, slightly ahead of Collins. This bodes well for Dell’s future use. The Texans landed Dell in the third round even though the receiver had 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns in his third and final year in Houston, and his 19 missed tackles were among the top 25 in the country. With the Texans often expected to play with negative game scripts, Dell is an excellent addition.

Josh Reynolds (DET): FAAB up 8%

Reynolds made the list last week, and he does so again today after turning in a two-touchdown, five-catch, 66-yard game in Week 2. He owns a 20.3% target rate through the first two games and should be the WR2. in Detroit, at least until Jameson Williams returns.

Tutu Atwell (LAR): FAAB up 8%

Everyone was so excited about Puka Nacua that they may have overlooked Atwell, who still is and ranks seventh in the league with 196 receiving yards heading into Monday night’s games. Atwell is the depth target of this surprisingly powerful Rams offense.

Marvin Mims (DEN): FAAB 3%

We needed a healthy Jerry Jeudy for a Marvin Mims breakout game. Kidding. Mims caught only two passes, but for 113 yards and a touchdown. Mims only ran six routes, but he’s a fun hideout, much like Giant rookie Jalin Hyatt, who caught both of his targets for 89 yards on Sunday.

Jayden Reed (GB): FAAB 3%

With Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs limited, the rookie receiver had a good day, scoring two touchdowns despite catching just four of his eight targets for 37 yards. He was targeted on 33.3% of his routes and is worth adding to this promising Green Bay offense.

Others to consider: Jalin Hyatt (NYG), Robert Woods (HOU), Jonathan Mingo (CAR)

Tight End of Week 3 Waiver Wire

Hunter Henry (NE): FAAB up 9%

This could also be their final call to put Hunter Henry on waivers, as Henry is now a fantasy TE2 behind only TJ Hockenson. Will it calm down? Probably. But for now, the fact is that Bill O’Brien is using it effectively. Henry has 11 catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns through the first two weeks.

Logan Thomas (WSH): FAAB 2%

Thomas’ matchup this weekend is not good with the Bills and he is also in concussion protocol. Keep Thomas on your radar, though. He is a talented receiver who runs a route more than 50% of the time. He led the team with eight targets in Week 1, and Thomas scored a touchdown in Week 2 before leaving the game early to enter concussion protocol.

Jake Ferguson (DAL): FAAB 2%

The matchup with the Cardinals is fantastic for the Dallas tight end this weekend. Ferguson found money Sunday against the Jets and was targeted four times. He caught three passes for 11 yards, but that number could be better against a Cardinals defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to the position in 2022, and has allowed the third-most receiving yards to tight ends 10 in the first two games of the season.

Others to consider: Luke Musgrave (GB)