As if Week 1 wasn’t bad enough with the myriad of injuries on the football field, Week 2 had even more casualties in store. In turn, this week’s waiver-wire activities will be busier than last week’s, meaning fantasy football managers will be scouring the free-agency market for the best value to replace their prized yet injured picks on draft day.

Nitrobetting is here to take your bets into the end zone this 2023 NFL season. Let’s take a closer look at the hottest waiver wire targets in fantasy football heading into Week 3.

Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets in 2023 NFL Week 3

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Our top waiver targets of the week ⤵️https://t.co/05jZ54nDLU

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 19, 2023

Quarterback

Desmond Ridder – Falcons

• Pct. Owned: 2.3%

Most of the Falcons’ early success this season can be attributed to their strong running game, but some credit has to go out to quarterback Desmond Ridder as well. Ridder finished with 20 fantasy points during Atlanta’s win over the Packers, as the former third-round pick out of Cincinnati threw for over 237 yards and a passing touchdown to go with 10 carries for 39 rushing yards and another score.

Ridder will get a get chance to continue his upward fantasy output in Week 3 with a desirable matchup against the Lions in Detroit. The Falcons are currently (+3.5) road underdogs, which opens up the possibility that Ridder will be called upon to engage in a shootout with the Lions like what Seattle’s Geno Smith and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes had just gone through with relative success. He’s also a must-add at this point for two-QB leagues looking to add even more depth at the position.

Running Back

Zack Moss – Colts

• Pct. Owned: 32.1%

Former Bills running back Zack Moss made his season debut in Week 2 and immediately took over the role of Indy’s lead back with how well he performed. The 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year racked up 18 carries for 88 rushing yards and a TD while also hauling in all four of his targets for 19 receiving yards.

With rookie starting quarterback Anthony Richardson having suffered an injury, the Colts will likely lean heavier in the running game in the short term. And even though Jonathan Taylor’s return is about two weeks away, Moss still has high handcuff upside potential for the rest of the season, especially if Taylor fails to replicate his 2021 breakout campaign.

Matt Breida – Giants

• Pct. Owned: 1.1%

Another RB who’s benefitting from a major injury this past week is journeyman Matt Breida, as Saquon Barkley (ankle) will be out for about a month. The 28-year-old veteran backup has barely seen action this season but will be thrust into the starting role given how few options the G-Men have at the position.

Sure, New York’s former sixth-rounder Gary Brightwell is in the conversation, but Breida is the more proven commodity that the Giants would be foolish not to give the latter the start and more snaps in Week 3. Throughout his six-year NFL career, Breida averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 14 touchdowns – eight rushing, six receiving – as the dependable pass-catching back will be a sought-after pickup across the fantasy waiver wires this week.

Wide Receiver

Marvin Mims Jr. – Broncos

• Pct. Owned: 7.2%

The Broncos’ offense has finally come to life after a dismal showing in 2022. An immediate beneficiary of this offensive resurgence is rookie wideout Marivin Mims Jr., who led all Denver receivers in Week 2 with his 113-yard receiving performance.

Granted, Mims’ stellar afternoon came in just two huge-yardage gains; a 60-yard TD catch and another 53-yard bomb from Russell Wilson. Still, the 21-year-old Oklahoma product fits nicely into the WR3 role that injured Tim Patrick held in 2022, and Mims’ massive boom potential as seen this past week could surpass even Patrick’s respectable fantasy production for the past couple of seasons. It also doesn’t hurt that the Broncos utilized Mims in the running game with two carries for 10 rushing yards to further give upside to his fantasy value moving forward.

Tank Dell – Texans

• Pct. Owned: 3.8%

Another rookie wide receiver made his presence felt this past weekend, as the two-time first-team All-AAC selection Nathaniel “Tank” Dell had his breakout showing for the Texans. The local graduate out of Houston gave the home fans in Week 2 some optimism for their team despite losing to the Colts, as Dell finished with a team-high 10 targets to go with seven catches for 72 yards and his first NFL receiving touchdown.

The Texans have a nice mix of receivers surrounding first-round pick C.J. Stroud (384 passing yards in Week 2), and Dell is a fellow newcomer whom Stroud has instantly clicked with. Dell is averaging 10.8 yards per catch thus far and will be a solid pickup for fantasy managers in deeper leagues with enough room to spare on the bench.

Tight End

Zach Ertz – Cardinals

• Pct. Owned: 47.3%

Speaking of bad NFL teams, the Cardinals can still qualify for that distinction yet would still have to be praised for giving the Giants a huge scare in Week 2. That being said, it’s quite surprising that one of Arizona’s best offensive weapons this season thus far has been veteran and former fantasy stud, Zach Ertz.

At 32 years of age and four years removed from his last Pro Bowl appearance, Ertz has shared his experience with the rebuilding Cards, who got back-to-back six-reception outings from their tight end. Ertz now has a total of 118 targets for 77 receiving yards through two weeks, which is above average for the TE position. Arizona is currently an overwhelming (+12.0) underdog in its Week 3 clash against the Cowboys, which should translate to plenty more opportunities for Ertz to produce solid fantasy numbers as the Cards are expected to play catch-up against Dallas.

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