fantasy football waiver wire Week 3

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 3

Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 3 pickups.

The season rolls right along into Week 3. We hope you’re 2-0, but regardless, there are key decisions to make as bye weeks inch closer and closer.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive linemen

DE Patrick Jones II, Minnesota Vikings

Jones has begun a breakout season through two weeks. He had 5 career sacks in three years entering the year, and he has 4 sacks in the first two weeks. He has 13 tackles and a forced fumble to go with it. Make him an elevated option on waivers.

DE Keion White, New England Patriots

While his torrid pace is unlikely to last, White is one of the top DL in fantasy from the first two weeks. He had four tackles, a forced fumble and 2.5 sacks in Week 1. The second-year pro followed it up with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in Week 2; look his way in all conventional formats.

Linebackers

LB Germaine Pratt, Cincinnati Bengals

He could have been drafted in deeper leagues, but he’s getting the job done without a lot of flair. He has increased his tackle output every year in the league, topping it off with 118 last season, and Pratt is off to a fast start with 24 tackles through two games. If he’s out there, change that.

LB Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets

After a ho-hum, four-tackle Week 1, Sherwood emerged with 12 tackles and a pass defense last week. Sherwood becomes a prime candidate this week, because MLB C.J. Mosley missed practice Monday due to a toe injury. The Jets play the New England Patriots Thursday night, and Sherwood makes a banger of a play.

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LB Henry To’oTo’o, Houston Texans

The second-year man has flashed his versatility through two weeks. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was one of the best linebackers of the last 25 years, and he has clearly worn off on the former fifth-round pick. To’oTo’o has 20 tackles, 1 sack, and a PD.

Defensive backs

S Chamarri Conner, Kansas City Chiefs

Conner plays in a lot of nickel packages, and he has flashed through two weeks. He had six tackles in Week 1 and really showed his potential in Week 2. He had six tackles, a sack, and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

CB Alontae Taylor, New Orleans Saints

The former second-round pick’s game lines will pop out your eyeballs. He had six tackles, 3.0 sacks, and a pass defense in Week 1. He backed it up with nine tackles in Week 2. Corners are dicey, but you can’t deny his hustle, especially if Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) misses more time.

CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants

The third-round rookie is making plays early in his career. He had four tackles and forced a fumble in Week 1, notching 12 tackles and a sack in Week 2. Pick him up to see what’s in store against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 3

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 3.

Two weeks down, and now is the time when you worry less about where you drafted someone and start to plug holes on waivers if that player underperforms.

Defensive Linemen

DE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

The No. 2 overall pick started slowly with just one assisted tackle in his first pro game, but he made a statement in Week 2. He had six total tackles and three sacks against the Washington Commanders. That is sure to get Minnesota’s attention as they scheme to block him this week, but he should be picked up in all leagues that require two defensive linemen. He’s owned in many leagues, though someone may have dropped him after the lackluster Week 1 showing.

DE Trevis Gipson, Chicago Bears

This one is strictly for deep leagues or to put on the watch list elsewhere. Gipson broke through for two sacks against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. He had three tackles in Week 1, and he’s doing all of this in limited time. He has played in just 36 percent of the snaps thus far, but that’s about to change. He really utilized the attention placed on DE Robert Quinn opposite of him to his advantage.

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Linebackers

LB Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts

Franklin has been gobbling up the tackles in MLB Shaquille Leonard’s (back) absence through two weeks. He had eight tackles in Week 1 and 10 in Week 2. Leonard should be week-to-week at this point, which will nerf Franklin’s stock a little bit, but he is still good depth to have.

LB Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers

Showing shades of Luke Kuechly, Luvu followed up a strong Week 1 with 10 solo tackles in Week 2. Luvu, 26, had a career-high 43 tackles last season, and he could eclipse that mark in the first month as he has 16 total tackles in the early going.

Defensive Backs

SS Kamren Curl, Washington Commanders

Curl missed the first two weeks with a thumb injury, which allowed second-year man Darrick Forrest to amass 15 tackles. Curl has been cleared to return this week, and he needs to be owned in all formats. Since he was banged up, he was dropped or undrafted in a lot of shallow leagues. He averaged 93.5 tackles in his first two seasons and should come close to that again with the extra game in the schedule.

CB Nate Hobbs, Las Vegas Raiders

Hobbs has filled the stat sheet in the first two weeks. In the opener, he had nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass defense. In Week 2, he racked up 11 total tackles. Can he continue to tackle at this rate as a corner? Probably not. However, he makes for great depth or potential trade bait.

12 waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 3

Here are your waiver wire targets for Week 3 of fantasy football.

After what seemed to be a low-scoring opening week for fantasy football, Week 2 offered some extremely explosive performances.

As roles begin to get settled, the waiver wire may not be as chaotic moving forward. But between injuries and poor performances, scouring the waiver wire for the top additions is still the best path to maintaining a championship-caliber team.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% mark (25% availability) as the threshold. We also will be giving FAAB suggestions based on a $1,000 budget. Take it for what it is: a suggestion. You can go higher or lower at your own discretion.

If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!

Here are 12 waiver wire targets entering Week 3 of fantasy football: