Hopkins, Browning, Tuten among top add/drops for Week 3
UPI

Hopkins, Browning, Tuten among top add/drops for Week 3

DeAndre Hopkins and Bhayshul Tuten are among UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler's top fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 3 of the NFL season.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) enter the field to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI UPI Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning could provide fantasy football QB1 value going forward. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI UPI Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is among my fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 3. File Photo by Kevin M. Cox/UPI UPI Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs catches a touchdown pass in front of Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil on Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI UPI Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (pictured) is a fantasy football lottery ticket due to his usage and potential value as an RB1 if starter Bijan Robinson sustains an injury. File Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI UPI

MIAMI, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- DeAndre Hopkins and Bhayshul Tuten are among my fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 3 of the NFL season.

Jake Browning, Romeo Doubs and the Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams are among my other targets.

Check out my full list of waiver wire targets below if you need replacement options for injured starters. Injuries, breakout performances and other factors have cleared the way for several players to warrant a spot on fantasy football team benches or maybe even in starting lineups.

My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less.

Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 3:

ALL-ADD TEAM

QB | Jake Browning, Tua Tagovailoa; RB | Bhayshul Tuten, Tyler Allgeier; WR | DeAndre Hopkins, Romeo Doubs, Troy Franklin; TE | Zach Ertz; D/ST | Seattle Seahawks; K | Matt Prater

HONORABLE MENTIONS

QB | Russell Wilson, Trevor Lawrence; RB | Ray Davis, Cam Skattebo, Chris Rodriguez Jr.; WR | Wan'Dale Robinson, Kayshon Boutte, Cedric Tillman; TE | Juwan Johnson; D/ST | Indianapolis Colts; K | Matt Gay

...

TOP DROPS

QB | Joe Burrow; RB | Austin Ekeler; WR | DeMario Douglas; TE | Mike Gesicki; D/ST | New York Jets; K | Younghoe Koo

QUARTERBACK

Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Browning are my top quarterbacks on this week's waiver wire. I don't expect immediate elite production from either passer, but they have streaming value and can be used in good matchups.

Tagovailoa got off to a glacially slow start, with just 114 yards, a score, two interceptions and a lost fumble in a Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He rebounded with 315 yards, two scores and an interception in Week 2.

This week, Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins will battle the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. Tagovailoa failed to throw more than one touchdown pass in seven of his previous nine starts against the Bills, but eclipsed 200 passing yards five times so far in the rivalry.

I expect the Dolphins to get behind early in this game, forcing Tagovailoa to air it out. The Dolphins quarterback has a great shot to eclipse 200 passing yards and could end the week as a Top 14 play if he throws multiple touchdown tosses.

Browning is set to be the Cincinnati Bengals' starting quarterback for the foreseeable future after Joe Burrow sustained a turf toe injury in Week 2. Like Burrow, he will be throwing to one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFL.

Browning threw for more than 225 yards and/or accounted for multiple touchdowns in all seven of his starts in 2023-24, the last time he took over for Burrow as the Bengals' starting quarterback. He eclipsed 300 passing yards in three of those games and accounted for multiple scores six times during that span.

Look for Browning to have similar production this year, but maybe not immediately. The Bengals will travel for a matchup against a tough Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 3. The Vikings allowed just one passing score through their first two games. They also surrendered just 210 passing yards to Caleb Williams and 135 to Michael Penix Jr.

...

Browning, who has another tough matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 4, needs to be rostered, but I would hold off on starting him immediately. He can be counted on for fringe QB1 production in good matchups and is a terrific bye week replacement.

RUNNING BACK

This week's running back pool is a bit weak in terms of immediate value, but the position can't be ignored. Those who drafted or picked up Jordan Mason in earlier weeks are now reaping the benefits of securing a starting running back due to the injury to Vikings starter Aaron Jones.

This trend will continue as more running backs sustain inevitable ailments throughout 2025. As a result, you should target as many high-end backup running backs as you can for your bench. Bhayshul Tuten and Tyler Allgeier are my top targets.

Tuten has worked his way up the Jacksonville Jaguars' depth chart due to secure a backup role behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. Etienne is off to a stellar start, with Top 10 fantasy football production so far in 2025.

The Jaguars also have been giving more looks to Tuten, who scored his first career touchdown in Week 2, when he also logged 74 yards from scrimmage. Tuten, who saw just four offensive snaps in Week 1, was in for 18 in Week 2. I expect his role to increase even more going forward.

He also could become a starter at some point this season if Etienne sustains an injury. At this point, Tuten can't be trusted as a fantasy football starter, unless you are in an extremely deep league, but is an essential bench addition if you are hoping to find a useful asset at the position.

Like Tuten, Allgeier is listed second at the running back position on his team's depth chart. The Atlanta Falcons veteran has been involved in the offense and totaled the 16th-most fantasy points among running backs in Week 2, when he totaled 80 yards from scrimmage and a score on 17 touches.

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The Falcons led for much of their Week 2 win over the Vikings, allowing Allgeier to get more carries late in the game, but he should continue to get at least 10 touches on a weekly basis. He also could turn into a viable fantasy football starter at some point this year if Falcons starter Bijan Robinson, one of the most utilized running backs in the NFL, sustains an injury.

WIDE RECEIVER

Quarterback and wide receiver are probably the deepest positions on this week's waiver wire. DeAndre Hopkins and Romeo Doubs are my two favorite receiving options.

Hopkins, who went undrafted in some leagues, is a Top 16 fantasy football option so far this season. The veteran pass catcher logged just two receptions in each of his first two appearances, but found the end zone in both games.

Hopkins is likely a touchdown-or-bust play due to his role in a run-heavy offense, but I expect the Baltimore Ravens, who scored 41 points in each of their first two games, to continue to play in shootouts.

This week, the Ravens will battle the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Look for another active evening for Hopkins, who I expect to haul in more than two catches. He also has a great shot to find the end zone for a third-consecutive week. Hopkins and the Ravens will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, which could be another high-scoring matchup.

Hopkins has a very low floor for fantasy football points, but can return low-end WR2/high-end WR3 value if he finds the end zone.

Doubs has provided WR3 value through two weeks, with five catches for 96 yards and a score for the Green Bay Packers. He drew a total of nine targets during that span, but I expect his looks to increase going forward due to the fractured collarbone Packers starter Jayden Reed sustained in Week 2.

...

Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes in each of his first two starts of 2025. He also averaged 240 passing yards over that span. Doubs likely needs to find the end zone to return WR2 value, but I like his chances in this high-octane Packers attack.

TIGHT END

Zach Ertz is my top tight end target for Week 3. The Washington Commanders veteran scored the second-most fantasy points among tight ends through two weeks. Ertz logged nine catches for 90 yards and two scores over that span. He found the end zone in each of his first two appearances and should continue to see red zone looks going forward.

Ertz, who drew 13 targets, the sixth-most among tight ends, can be plugged in as a TE1 until further notice. This week, the Commanders also will take on a Las Vegas Raiders defense that allowed 66 yards to Hunter Henry in Week 1 and a score to Will Dissly in Week 2. Look for at least 50 receiving yards and several scoring chances from Ertz in Week 3.

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