Kenny Rogers’ advice in his 1978 song “The Gamblercan apply to fantasy football. In the former No. 1 country hit, Rogers sings,
You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away and know when to run.” In an NFL context, fantasy football managers ought not to hold on too tightly to some of the players on their teams that may be holding them back from greater success. As early as Week 2, some underperforming players have emerged as candidates to cut from fantasy rosters. But which underperformers are safe to cut without giving league-mates an advantage on waivers? USA TODAY Sports has compiled a list of five players worth considering dropping for other waiver claims heading into Week 3.
In Week 1, we saw plenty of scoring. In Week 2, well, not so much. At least early on. That limits the number of quality options off the waiver wire, so in some cases, you’ll need to get creative as a fantasy football manager. But with injuries and players stepping up, we were able to throw together a handful of solid pickups to consider as we head into Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.
Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season sent fantasy football managers into scramble mode. The injury bug, long the most feared villain of this realm, reared its ugly head over and over again. The carnage may not even be complete yet, and those impacted already include the likes of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Washington Commanders signal-caller Jayden Daniels and Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce. This won’t make things easy to navigate in Week 3, so managers must be at their lineup-setting, waiver wire-working best. To help with that, we’re here with early rankings and waiver targets at the three marquee positions.
It’s rare for a fantasy football waiver wire week to get an “A” grade in this article. Far more often, we lament the lack of quality waiver options. Week 3 gets an A-minus, but hey … it’s still an A. This is indeed a good week for waivers. There are a couple of widely available gems who’ll spark vigorous FAAB bidding. There are appealing options at the always-in-demand running back position. There are a number of worthwhile additions at wide receiver. There are some decent streaming options at the other positions. Alas, it often takes injuries to create a bounty of attractive waiver options. Productive, heavily rostered fantasy assets get hurt, and fantasy free agents are tasked with filling the void, so they become productive assets themselves. Unfortunately, there were quite a few injuries in Week 2, which means it’s going to be a busy week of waivers.
After a high-scoring debut week, fantasy managers couldn’t wait for Week 2. Unfortunately, this week was highlighted by many impactful injuries, sloppy play, and low scores. That will result in a very active waiver wire and a busy week for fantasy players. Let’s get to it! I’ll be here each week for a breakdown of the top waiver wire targets and players it’s time to get off your squad. For this year, the recommended additions will be available in more than 60% of Yahoo fantasy football leagues, while the Drop List will consist of players rostered in at least 50% of leagues. Each position group will also include a Watch List. If your league is deeper with larger rosters, this is the spot for you.
Bryce Young
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers (32% rostered on Yahoo): Plenty of fantasy football managers may be in need of a QB fill-in if Caleb Williams (hamstring) is out long-term and/or Jayden Daniels (elbow) suffered another serious injury. Young could also be more than just a fill-in or streamer for your team. Through two weeks, he’s been one of the more impressive QBs in the NFL. He followed up 32.44 fantasy points in Week 1 vs. the Bears with 24.08 points against the Falcons on Sunday in a blowout win. Young has thrown for three TDs in each game this season and could have back-to-back top-five fantasy QB finishes.
Dave Canales
It took a bit, but Young looks legit and head coach Dave Canales has a lot to do with that. It also helps that Young has plenty of talent around him in the passing game with Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and red-zone target Darren Waller (2%), who caught two TDs versus Atlanta. The Panthers offense looks fun and has two plus-matchups in the Browns and Lions up next. Young is a solid streamer the next few weeks.
Jonah Coleman
Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN): 26% Rostered. Next Opponents: LAR, @SF, @LAC. True Value: some FAAB. What a difference a week can make. At this time last week, Jonah Coleman enthusiasts were glum that he got only three offensive snaps.
Jakobi Meyers
Waiver wire players to drop: Week 3. WR Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars. Meyers looked like a breakout fantasy star heading into this year. After he landed with the Jaguars at last year’s trade deadline, the former Raiders wideout produced enough to warrant serious FLEX consideration every week. Even in Week 1, Meyers still seemed to be trending in a generally positive direction for fantasy because of the touchdown he caught.
