Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended fantasy football waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Key injuries to monitor

• Joe Burrow (toe)

• Jayden Daniels (knee)

• Justin Fields (concussion)

• Aaron Jones (hamstring)

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones, Colts

Last week’s top quarterback pickup remains in this spot for at least one more week and is an even more confident add after seeing him deliver versus a tougher opponent. It may have been easy for some managers to dismiss Jones’ opening day performance against a struggling Dolphins defense, when he posted the second-most fantasy points among QBs. However, now we’ve watched him put up a strong outing on the Broncos — one of the league’s better defenses. Jones, who’s getting it done through the air and on the ground, is the QB7 with just the Monday night doubleheader left to be played. Moving forward, he’ll be in the conversation as a low-end fantasy QB1. 

Streaming options: Geno Smith at WAS (31% rostered), Michael Penix Jr. at CAR (40% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Trevor Lawrence vs. HOU (46% rostered), Sam Darold vs. NO (11% rostered), Russell Wilson vs KC (5% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Mac Jones vs. ARI (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Spencer Rattler at SEA (2% rostered), Matthew Stafford at PHI (27% rostered), Tua Tagovailoa at BUF (21% rostered), Aaron Rodgers at NE (28% rostered), Bryce Young vs. ATL (19% rostered), Jake Browning at MIN (1% rostered), Cam Ward vs. IND (19% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Tyrod Taylor at TB (0% rostered), Marcus Mariota vs. LV (0% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Jaxson Dart (6% rostered), Dillon Gabriel (0% rostered)

Running Backs

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier is not a threat to Bijan Robinson’s job, but he’s seen at least 10 touches in each of the first two games and is coming off an 80-yard, one-touchdown effort against the Vikings. He gets an even easier opponent next week in the Panthers, who he racked up a combined 177 scrimmage yards and a score on over their two regular-season encounters in 2024. In the right matchups like that, Allgeier is an RB3/flex while also being one of the highest-upside one-injury away backups. 

For the second straight week, the only running backs with potential to become starters in their offenses are just over the 50% rostered mark, which forces us to look elsewhere for intriguing pickups.

Cam Skattebo is above the 50% rostered mark but would be the No. 1 RB add if available.

Bhayshul Tuten is above the 50% rostered mark but would be the No. 2 RB add if available.

Trey Benson is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be the No. 3 RB add if available.

High-upside backups like Ray Davis (26% rostered), Najee Harris (36% rostered) and Blake Corum (8% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Kareem Hunt at NYG (26% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at NE (8% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jerome Ford vs. GB (35% rostered), Kyle Monangai vs. DAL (6% rostered), Miles Sanders at CHI (2% rostered), Jeremy McNichols vs. LV (0% rostered), Justice Hill vs. DET (3% rostered), Rachaad White vs. NYJ (36% rostered), Rico Dowdle vs. ATL (16% rostered), 

Upside stashes to roster: Ollie Gordon II (26% rostered), Jaydon Blue (22% rostered), Kendre Miller (4% rostered), Woody Marks (5% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered), AJ Dillon (1% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (4% rostered), DJ Giddens (7% rostered)

Deep stashes: Sean Tucker (2% rostered), Tahj Brooks (2% rostered), Dameon Pierce 2% rostered), Zamir White (1% rostered), LeQuint Allen Jr. (0% rostered), Isaiah Davis (0% rostered), Tyler Badie (0% rostered), Trevor Etienne (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (2% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Tyjae Spears (32% rostered), MaShawn Lloyd (3% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Troy Franklin, Broncos

In his second season, Franklin is emerging as a key piece in the Broncos’ passing attack and someone fantasy managers can immediately slot into their lineups. The 22-year-old posted career highs in almost every category during his 8-89-1 outing in Week 2, while adding another 11 yards on the ground. Part of me wants to be cautious about a receiver in an offense that’s been known to rotate players at that position, but we’re also waiting for someone else to step up alongside Courtland Sutton. With tight end Evan Engram looking like an early-season bust, Marvin Mims Jr. continuing to be a gadget guy and rookie Pat Bryant still working his way up the depth chart, Franklin is the player to target at the moment. He’ll continue to be a volatile WR3/flex until we see him repeat this performance, but he has a higher ceiling than anyone else in this section. 

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants

Robinson finished 10th in the league with 140 targets a year ago and has picked up where he left off with 18 targets through the first two games. His Week 1 stat line featured pretty standard Robinson numbers with six catches for 55 yards. A decent day that wasn’t making a huge impact on your fantasy lineup. In Week 2, his production exploded with eight receptions, 142 yards and a score — making him a top-five fantasy wideout with just two games remaining in Week 2. The key here is better quarterback play thanks to Russell Wilson. For all his flaws, Wilson has been able to inject some life into the Giants’ passing attack, helping Robinson unlock a new ceiling. He should be viewed as an upside WR3/flex until further notice. 

Darnell Mooney is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be my No. 1 WR add if available.

WR4/flex options: Elic Ayomanor vs. IND (8% rostered) 

Flex options: Romeo Doubs at CLE (16% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Christian Kirk at JAX (34% rostered)

Risky flex options: Cedric Tillman vs. GB (39% rostered), Kayshon Boutte vs. PIT (28% rostered), Tory Horton vs. NO (2% rostered), Malik Washington at BUF (2% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks at CLE (1% rostered), Joshua Palmer vs. MIA (25% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): KaVontae Turpin at CHI (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Marvin Mims Jr. at LAC (32% rostered), Dyami Brown vs. HOU (1% rostered), Alec Pierce at TEN (4% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs DET (38% rostered), DeAndre Hopkins vs. DET (9% rostered), DeMario Douglas vs. PIT (14% rostered), Calvin Austin at NE (22% rostered), Tre Tucker at WAS (3% rostered), Hunter Renfrow vs. ATL (1% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. KC (2% rostered), Michael Wilson at SF (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy):

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Tyquan Thornton at NYG (7% rostered), JuJu Smith-Schuster at NYG (7% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Isaac TeSlaa (9% rostered), Jayden Higgins (30% rostered), Tre’ Harris (6% rostered), Dont’e Thornton Jr. (16% rostered), Adonai Mitchell (1% rostered), Pat Bryant (2% rostered), Luther Burden III (14% rostered)

Deep stashes: Jordan Whittington (0% rostered), Jalen Royals (2% rostered), Jaylin Noel (1% rostered), Jaylin Lane (0% rostered), Parker Washington (0% rostered), Tylan Wallace (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Brandon Aiyuk (49% rostered), Jalen Coker (8% rostered)

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, Saints

My hesitation to go all-in on Johnson’s Week 1 performance (eight catches for 76 yards on 11 targets) was due to the 49ers defense, which is usually a difficult matchup for tight ends. Not in Johnson’s case. He followed up that big opening week with a 5-49-1 line on nine targets and is well on his way to another top-five weekly finish at the position. With the amount the Saints are throwing the ball, Johnson appears to be an excellent deep sleeper who everyone should be awake regarding now. If you need tight end help, I’d bid aggressively to get him. 

Harold Fannin Jr., Browns

Fannin had slightly fewer snaps and wasn’t quite as productive in his second outing with the Browns, but he still caught all five of his targets for 48 yards. Though the rookie will barely miss out on a second consecutive finish as a top-12 fantasy tight end, it’s a range he’ll be in more often than not this season. Just know that the matchup with the surging Packers defense in Week 3 isn’t the best spot to start him. 

Zach Ertz is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be my No. 1 TE add if available.

Streaming options: Chig Okonkwo vs. IND (31% rostered), Brenton Strange vs. HOU (31% rostered), Dalton Schultz at JAX (21% rostered)

Streaming options (if healthy): Isaiah Likely vs. DET (12% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. ATL (2% rostered), Theo Johnson vs. KC (5% rostered), Tyler Higbee at PHI (2% rostered), Mason Taylor at TB (7% rostered), Jonnu Smith at NE (37% rostered), Pat Freiermuth at NE (14% rostered), Cade Otton vs. NYJ (7% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Noah Fant at MIN (2% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. DEN (1% rostered), Michael Mayer at WAS (10% rostered), AJ Barner vs. NO (0% rostered), Jake Tonges vs. ARI (3% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Elijah Arroyo (3% rostered)

Defenses

Week 3 streamers

Packers D/ST is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be my No. 1 DST add if available.

Kickers

Week 3 streamers