Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3: The Sneaky WR and PPR RB to Add

Two road games? No problem for the 49ers.

San Francisco's big 41-17 win at Cincinnati moves them to 2-0 on the season behind several big fantasy performances.

The 49ers gashed the Bengals on the ground for 259 rushing yards at 6.2 yards per carry. Running backs Matt Breida (121 rushing yards, 10.1 yards per carry) and Raheem Mostert (83 rushing yards, 6.2 per carry) will certainly be waiver wire targets.

But who else should you be eyeing headed into Week 3? Let's take a closer look.

Note: We've limited their recommendations to players owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.

Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

Ownership: 48%

If you are looking for a quarterback, Garoppolo should certainly be a consideration. His 297 passing yards and three touchdowns make him a solid Week 3 streaming option for owners who saw Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees go down with injuries on Sunday.

Garoppolo has a favorable matchup against Pittsburgh in San Francisco's home opener before the team's Week 4 bye. And then the schedule really opens up: Cleveland (home), Washington (away), Carolina (home) and Arizona (away).

Garoppolo is a strong one-week streaming option with later-season QB1 value.

Josh Allen, Bills

Ownership: 40%

The Bills have also opened the season with two road wins in the same stadium: Buffalo followed up its Week 1 win over the Jets with a convincing 28-14 victory vs. the Giants.

Allen threw for pedestian 253 yards and one touchdown but also tallied 21 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Allen is essentially just a one-week pickup with a very favorable home matchup against Cincinnati on Sunday. With the Patriots looming in Week 4 and a bye in Week 6, Allen serves as a waiver pickup only for those owners who are 0-2 and desperate for a win.

Allen has weekly QB1 upside, given his rushing ability.

Running Backs

Chris Thompson, Redskins

Ownership: 48%

If you are in need of a PPR running back, Thompson should merit serious consideration.

With Derrius Guice on out for at least eight weeks after meniscus surgery, Thompson will be a focal point of the offense moving forward.  Through two games, Thompson is on pace for 144 targets and 96 receptions.

Whether the quarterback is veteran Case Keenum or rookie first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, Thompson is a reliable target on short-to-intermediate routes.

He's a strong RB2 in PPR formats with RB1 upside.

Carlos Hyde, Texans

Ownership: 43%

While fantasy owners may not like Carlos Hyde, it certainly appears the Houston coaching staff does. Hyde received 20 carries in the Texans' 13-12 win over Jacksonville, finishing with 90 rushing yards (4.5 ypc). Backfield mate Duke Johnson finished with only six carries for 31 yards and zero receptions.

Hyde has been a non-factor in the passing game with only one total target this season, but he currently ranks sixth among all running backs with 172 rushing yards.

Keep in mind, Hyde also projects to receive the goal-line work in an explosive Texans offense. Like it or not, Hyde is a low-end RB2 for the foreseeable future.

Jaylen Samuels, Steelers

Ownership: 35%

The importance of this waiver pickup is dependent on James Conner's knee injury. In the three games last year that Conner missed, Samuels averaged 109.3 total yards and 16.9 PPR fantasy points.

Unlike Thompson and Hyde, Samuels has shown the ability to excel in both the running and passing game and would greatly benefit from Pittsburgh's third-best offensive line per Pro Football Focus.

Per Sharp Football, the Steelers have the fifth-easiest schedule in the league against the run. If Conner misses significant time, Samuels becomes the top waiver priority for those teams in need of a running back.

Raheem Mostert, 49ers

Ownership: 16%

The 27-year-old Mostert had 151 total yards and a receiving touchdown in San Francisco's big Week 2 win.

While he serviceable against the Steelers at home, Tevin Coleman is projected to return after San Francisco's Week 4 bye week.

Mostert has marginal standalone value now and handcuff upside.

Frank Gore, Bills 

Ownership: 16%

He may be 36 years old, but Frank Gore continues to produce. Gore logged 19 carries in the Bills' win over the Giants, finishing with 68 yards and a touchdown.

"Old man Gore" is the goal line back for a Buffalo team that was projected to have the seventh-easiest schedule of rushing defenses at the beginning of the season (Sharp Football).

After Buffalo's Week 6 bye, the Bills play three consecutive home games against Miami, Philadelphia, and Washington. While Gore will contend with exciting rookie Devin Singletary for touches, his experience and support of the coaches give Gore RB3 value with RB2 upside moving forward.

Jamaal Williams, Packers 

Ownership: 7%

Lost in the big day from Green Bay running back Aaron Jones (150 total yards and one touchdown) was Jamaal Williams' efficiency in the passing game. Williams caught three of his four targets, including a 15-yard TD.

Williams has marginal value now but would elevate to a solid RB2 if Jones were to get injured.

Wide Receivers

DK Metcalf, Seahawks

Ownership: 48%

This will be the only time DK Metcalf appears in this column, as his ownership will soar above the 50% barrier. The athletic rookie posted a three catches for 61 yards and a TD, which followed last week's solid outing (four receptions for 89 yards).

Metcalf has shown instant chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson and is especially dangerous when Wilson freelances outside of the pocket.

Metcalf is a solid WR3/Flex play for the remainder of the seasons as Seattle's clear WR2.

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs

Ownership: 40%

No Tyreek Hill?  No problem for Kansas City.

The rookie wide receiver with 4.33 speed, caught four of six targets for 61 yards, including this 42-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes.

With Hill out for 4-6 weeks, Hardman should be a top waiver wire target for any team looking for a wide receiver. The Chiefs play five of their next seven games at Arrowhead Stadium.

Hardman is a WR3/Flex play until Hill returns.

Geronimo Allison, Packers

Ownership: 32%

After five targets, four receptions, and a touchdown, fantasy owners should take note that quarterback Aaron Rodgers may have started to look Allison's way.

As the primary slot receiver in an explosive Green Bay offense, Allison is always a reasonable play tethered to Rodgers.

Green Bay plays four of its next five games at home, including two against poor pass defenses (Philadelphia and Oakland). Allison is a low-end WR3/Flex option.

James Washington, Steelers

Ownership: 29%

This is a sneaky (and somewhat risky) add that could pay-off in a big way. With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to miss the remainder of the season, Washington could see his preseason connection with fellow Oklahoma State teammate Mason Rudolph rekindle.

Veteran wide receiver Donte Moncrief (11 targets, three receptions, seven receiving yards) has done nothing as the Steelers starting WR2. Washington has flashed his playmaking ability with Rudolph over the past two seasons.

With a Pittsburgh team at 0-2 and in desperate need of explosive offensive players, Washington could become a low-end WR3 play if his chemistry with Rudolph can translate.

Marquise Goodwin, 49ers

Ownership: 20%

Goodwin disappointed me with his 1-catch, 7-yard performance against the lowly Buccaneers in Week 1. But his big-play ability gives him a high ceiling, as we saw on Sunday, when he posted a 3/77/1 line in San Fran's 41-17 win over Cincinnati.

As long as wide receiver Dante Pettis maintains non-existent production (zero Week 2 targets), Goodwin is a dangerous WR3/Flex option in all formats.

Goodwin is currently behind rookie Deebo Samuel, but he can be acquired for minimal FAAB with San Francisco's Week 4 bye on the horizon.

He is a stash-and-keep waiver wire option this week.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers

Ownership: 14%

Guaranteed to be one of the biggest Week 3 waiver targets, rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel appears to have grabbed the WR1 mantle in San Francisco.

Samuel led the 49ers in targets (7), receptions (5), receiving yards (87), and caught his first NFL touchdown pass on Sunday.

As an 86th-percentile SPARQ-x athlete, Samuel should be targeted in all formats as a potential WR2 tethered to Jimmy Garoppolo in Kyle Shanahan's high-scoring offense.

Cole Beasley, Bills

Ownership: 6%

In PPR-formats, you could a lot worse than Cole Beasley as a bye-week WR3. He is on pace for 104 targets and 72 receptions after posting four receptions and 83 receiving yards against the Giants.

Beasley is a nice, cheap PPR injury replacement target with back-to-back home games on the horizon.

Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs

Ownership: 6%

Sure to be a top Week 3 waiver target, fantasy drafters should temper expectations for Robinson moving forward.  Even after a massive showing against the Raiders — six receptions, 172 receiving yards, and two touchdowns — it's possible Robinson was just a one-week boom.

With rookie Mecole Hardman, Travis Kelce, and Week 1's overall WR1 Sammy Watkins still in the picture, it will be hard to trust Robinson as anything more than a low-end WR3/Flex option until he shows more consistency.

Preston Williams, Dolphins

Ownership: 2%

Somebody has to be the WR1 in Miami, and right now it looks like undrafted Colorado State product Preston Williams. In a horrific 43-0 loss to New England, Williams led the Dolphins in targets (6) and receiving yards (63).

If you are desperate, Williams is a bye-week replacement WR3 in deep leagues.

Tight End

Jason Witten, Cowboys

Ownership: 15%

Jason Witten has two touchdown receptions through the first two Cowboys games. Yeah, I know, I can't believe it either. Witten is only averaging four targets per game, but he's serving as a viable red-zone target, which enough to warrant consideration as a waiver add in a shallow tight end fantasy pool.

With the Dolphins coming to Big D in Week 3, Witten must be at least considered as a tight end play regardless of format.

Will Dissly, Seahawks

Ownership: 3%

If you have come this far, you must really be desperate. Dissly got five targets in Seattle's 28-26 win at Pittsburgh, and produced five receptions, 50 yards, and two touchdowns.

His schedule is decent with a home game against the Saints followed by a road game at Arizona, making him a reasonable pickup for a TE-needy team.