Updated September 24, 2026
Week 3 Waiver Wire 2026: Pickups, FAAB Bids & Injury Updates
Denzel Boston is the first receiver to check. Oronde Gadsden has a new opening at tight end. And the Denver running back everyone wanted Tuesday needs a fresh look.
Reviewed . Published Thursday evening after the usual first waiver run. If your league has already processed claims, check these players as free agents before spending anything. The bids below are for leagues where another auction or claim is still required. Advice assumes a typical 12-team redraft league with PPR or half-PPR scoring; quarterback bids assume one starting QB. Check the latest injury report before submitting a claim.
Week 3 waiver priorities and FAAB ranges
| Player | Use | Remaining FAAB |
|---|---|---|
| Denzel Boston WR · CLE | First receiver to check | 12–20% |
| Adonai Mitchell WR · NYJ | PPR depth with a target-volume case | 8–14% |
| Oronde Gadsden II TE · LAC | Tight end help after injuries ahead of him | 5–10% |
| Emanuel Wilson RB · SEA | RB depth; price the committee | 5–10% |
| Dontayvion Wicks WR · PHI | Affordable receiver depth | 4–8% |
| Tre Tucker WR · LV | Upside flex; expect uneven weeks | 4–8% |
| Bryce Young QB · CAR | Check first if you need a quarterback | 3–7% |
| Tyler Shough QB · NO | Another starting-QB replacement | 3–7% |
The ranges are Squawk's editorial starting points, not measured winning bids, roster-percentage estimates, or a consensus survey. They assume the player is available and you have room to add him. Use the low end with a strong bench; consider the high end when he addresses an immediate weakness.
Denzel Boston: first receiver to check
Boston finished Week 2 with 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. His 55-yard score followed another long touchdown in the opener. Browns Week 2 numbers · September 20.
That is enough to earn a bench spot with a path into your flex. It is also a reason to keep the price sensible: long touchdowns have done a lot of the work. Put him first among these receivers if you need upside, then make sure the player you would drop offers less.
Bid check: 12–20% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $10–$16.
What could change the call: Two splash plays do not establish a weekly scoring floor. More routine catches would make him easier to start without needing another deep touchdown.
If you miss out: Adonai Mitchell is the next check if you prefer a recent target-volume case. Do not keep raising Boston's bid just because he tops this list.
Adonai Mitchell: ppr depth with a target-volume case
Mitchell drew 12 targets in Week 2, according to Seattle's weekly fantasy guide. Seahawks Week 3 fantasy guide · September 22.
Twelve chances to catch the ball are a good reason to investigate a receiver still sitting on waivers. He is a sensible fallback for a manager who needs another usable PPR option. Start near the bottom of this range if he would be your fifth receiver.
Bid check: 8–14% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $6–$11.
What could change the call: One busy game is still one game. The case weakens if that involvement disappears; targets help only when a player keeps earning them.
If you miss out: Dontayvion Wicks is another modestly priced receiver to check. Keep the same conditional drop on alternative claims where your platform allows it.
Oronde Gadsden II: tight end help after injuries ahead of him
The Chargers announced Monday that David Njoku and Charlie Kolar were headed to injured reserve. Gadsden caught two passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Chargers injury update · September 21. FantasyData · Week 2 game log.
The attraction is the opening in the tight end room. If your starter is hurt or you have been cycling through low-volume options, Gadsden is worth adding before we see how the new rotation works. Do not price him as an established every-week starter yet.
Bid check: 5–10% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $4–$8.
What could change the call: A thinner depth chart does not guarantee a large target share. His two-target Week 2 gives us little evidence of a reliable reception floor.
If you miss out: Check Pat Freiermuth's availability, or keep your current tight end if he already has a dependable role. This is not an automatic upgrade over a healthy starter.
Emanuel Wilson: rb depth; price the committee
Wilson carried 21 times for 92 yards in Seattle's 31–7 win at Arizona, after just two carries in Week 1. Jadarian Price returned to the practice field Wednesday following his shoulder injury. Seahawks · Wilson's 2026 game log. Seahawks · Wednesday injury update, September 23.
Add Wilson if your bench is short on running backs. That workload is useful evidence that Seattle will use him, but the lopsided game and Price's practice return argue against bidding for an uncontested starting job.
Bid check: 5–10% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $4–$8.
What could change the call: Price's availability and the game situation can change Wilson's workload sharply. Wilson had no receptions in Week 2, so there was no receiving cushion if the carries dried up.
If you miss out: If you need a certain Week 3 starter, keep looking through your league's available players. Spending more cannot remove the committee risk.
Dontayvion Wicks: affordable receiver depth
Wicks caught five of six targets in Week 2. Seattle's Week 3 guide notes Dallas Goedert's knee injury as context for Philadelphia's receiving options. Seahawks Week 3 fantasy guide · September 22.
He belongs on the fallback list when the headline receivers have already been claimed. A small bid makes sense if he replaces a bench player you never expect to use.
Bid check: 4–8% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $3–$6.
What could change the call: An injured teammate creates an opening, not a promised allocation of targets. Keep the investment small until the involvement proves repeatable.
If you miss out: Tre Tucker offers a different kind of bet: a big-play receiver whose week-to-week output can swing. Choose the kind of bench option your roster actually needs.
Tre Tucker: upside flex; expect uneven weeks
Tucker's Week 2 line was five catches on seven targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. His two-game total is seven catches on 11 targets. Core Football Labs · 2026 game log.
He is worth a low-cost add when your bench needs a player who can make a big play. He is a shakier purchase if you need a quiet, dependable points floor every Sunday.
Bid check: 4–8% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $3–$6.
What could change the call: The first two games already show the range of outcomes. Do not turn the 119-yard game into a weekly yardage expectation.
If you miss out: Prefer Mitchell if both are available and you value the recent volume case. A free-agent add is particularly attractive if Tucker cleared your league's first waiver run.
Bryce Young: check first if you need a quarterback
Carolina's Monday report puts Young at 648 passing yards and six passing touchdowns through two games. Panthers Monday report · September 21.
If your starting quarterback is hurt, Young is worth checking before reaching for a temporary backup elsewhere. He is also worth comparing with Tyler Shough on the same wire. In a one-QB league, spend for a player you will actually start.
Bid check: 3–7% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $2–$6.
What could change the call: A hot opening fortnight is not a promise of three touchdowns every week. If your healthy starter is already strong, this bid may be better saved for another position.
If you miss out: Shough is the next availability check. In superflex or two-QB leagues, these small one-QB bids do not apply; scarce starting quarterbacks can justify much larger offers based on the alternatives.
Tyler Shough: another starting-qb replacement
Shough has 662 passing yards through two games, the total cited in Carolina's league comparison and Seattle's Week 3 preview. Panthers · two-week passing comparison, September 21.
He belongs in the same first round of availability checks as Young. If both are free agents, compare the matchup and your scoring settings before submitting a bid for either. There is no need to win two quarterback claims for one open lineup spot.
Bid check: 3–7% of your remaining budget. With $80 left, that is approximately $2–$6.
What could change the call: The early total includes overtime, so it should not be treated as a clean two-game weekly average. A passing-yardage lead alone does not settle a fantasy ranking.
If you miss out: If both Young and Shough are gone, look for a confirmed starter. Do not bid on an injury replacement until you have checked whether the usual starter is returning.
How to set the actual bid
- Identify the player you would drop and whether the new player helps your starting lineup or only the bench.
- Convert the percentage using your remaining balance. Do not mistake a percentage of $80 remaining for the same number of dollars from a $100 starting budget.
- Check your league's prior winning bids and tie rules. A suggested range cannot predict what another manager will offer.
- Set alternative claims with the same conditional drop where your platform supports it. Check processing order so multiple successful bids cannot leave you with unintended moves.
- Review the latest injury news and completed games before your league's actual claim deadline.
More weekly waiver editions
The role check matters more than the trend
An add spike shows interest. To decide whether it should become your claim, look for playing time, routes, targets and backfield opportunities. The Reddit Hype Index describes discussion; Coach DNA adds historical context. Neither guarantees next week's workload.
Use the FAAB calculator for a signal-based comparison with your budget and selected week. It can differ from this dated editorial shortlist as new information arrives. For rolling priority or platform rules, start with how the waiver wire works.