playEric KarabellSep 21, 2026, 04:47 PM ETCloseEric Karabell is a senior writer covering fantasy football, baseball and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of the FSWA Hall of Fame, a BBWAA baseball Hall of Fame voter and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments.”Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsEach Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!Top pickup options at every positionLooking for the top recommendation at each skill position?
Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 3, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid. Tyler Shough, QB, Saints (rostered in 49.7% of leagues, 10-15% of your FAB)Last week’s most recommended QB remains available in barely more than half of ESPN’s standard leagues, though likely not for long after yet another solid performance (22.38 points) in a road win against the mighty Baltimore Ravens. This week, the New Orleans Saints host the unbeaten Las Vegas Raiders.
Ignore the records. It’s a positive matchup. Shough looks like more than a streamer, too, especially since the NFC South doesn’t exactly feature top defensive teams and the Saints haven’t played any division games yet.Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos (15.2% rostered, 10-12% FAB)Starter J.K. Dobbins (hamstring) wasn’t doing so much when he left the game in the second half, having scored just 3.6 points, and rookie Coleman helped spark the offense with his 14.8 points, including a touchdown run.
Coleman, a fourth-round pick from Washington, barely played in Week 1, but now he might be his team’s starter for this week against the Los Angeles Rams — pending the status of Dobbins and RJ Harvey (also a hamstring issue) — and perhaps beyond. Denzel Boston, WR, Browns (26.4%, 8-10% FAB):The rookie Boston scored a touchdown in a blowout Week 1 loss. It was nice, but not really a reason to trust him in Week 2. Then he scored another TD on Sunday.
Now, he is quite intriguing, even considering Cleveland’s QB situation. Boston is averaging 22 yards per reception through two games. If you wish to invest in a Browns receiver, Boston is the top option over fellow rookie KC Concepcion (57.6%) and the quite invisible Jerry Jeudy (22.1%).Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans (21.3%, 2% FAB):Schultz was the main (and perhaps only) beneficiary of the Nico Collins (hamstring) injury, catching 12 passes for 140 yards and achieving 26 fantasy points. No other member of the Houston Texans reached six catches or 40 receiving yards.
We really shouldn’t be so surprised, though. Schultz ended last season with 82 receptions — tied for third among tight ends — and 10th at the position in fantasy points. He might lack the upside of other top tight ends, but his is a relatively high floor, whether Collins plays or not.Other quarterbacksJordan Love, Packers (44.7%, 10% FAB): Love is a bit more rostered now than he was last week, and those who relied on him enjoyed a modest 13.8 fantasy points Sunday. Love completed only 16 passes for 145 yards, though two of those throws went for touchdowns.
Why recommend Love? The Packers host the seemingly dreadful Atlanta Falcons this week. If you need a QB in Week 3, Love remains a solid streamer.Bryce Young, Panthers (34.3%, 5% FAB): Young has started the season with consecutive three-TD performances, though it remains a bit difficult to tell if this is a true breakout or just the fruit of a friendly early-season schedule. After all, he has faced the Chicago Bears and the Falcons.
Perhaps Young really is a QB1 option this season. It seems unlikely, but one can do worse than look his way for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns.Kyler Murray, Vikings (49.9%, 3% FAB): Veteran Carson Wentz had his chance against what everyone said was a terrible Bears defense — and he could not produce even a single touchdown. His Minnesota Vikings won the game, but Wentz did little to prove he should start in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Murray, who should be recovered from a concussion. That said, be forewarned: Murray is no sure thing, either.Deep-league options/streamersSam Darnold, Seahawks (20.1%, 3% FAB): Darnold (glute) was injured in Week 1, but word is he should be ready for this week, and the Seattle Seahawks boast an attractive matchup with the Washington Commanders.
Darnold was good enough to finish 14th in QB scoring last season — and you might recall that he won a Super Bowl.Cam Ward, Titans (7.2%, 1% FAB): Ward scored 20.02 points in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He also matched his previous career total (over 18 games) with a pair of rushing touchdowns. It seems unlikely that Ward boasts a new, sudden skill nobody knew about and that he will continue to find the end zone on the ground, but Ward might be someone’s streamer in Week 3 against the New York Giants.Marcus Mariota, Commanders (0.1%, 1% FAB): Starter Jayden Daniels injured his non-throwing elbow (again) and will miss significant time. Mariota started eight games in lieu of Daniels last season, with occasional but unreliable fantasy success, as he rushed for at least 40 yards on four occasions.
Still, this is not a great Washington offense. You should not consider streaming Mariota in Week 3 against the Seahawks.Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (1.6%,1% FAB): Penix (knee) has been cleared to make his 2026 debut this Thursday at Lambeau Field. That’s the good news. The Falcons have not played well so far, but Penix is more skilled than career reserve Cooper Rush.
Still, while the Falcons have reasons to trust Penix this week, fantasy managers do not.Tyson Bagent, Bears (0.1%, 1% FAB): Bagent, in his fourth NFL season out of Division II Shepherd University, started four games as a rookie in 2023 and nary a one since Caleb Williams was drafted. Bagent should start this Monday night, at home against the Eagles, and perhaps quite a bit beyond that. Williams suffered a hamstring injury and is week-to-week. Bagent does not come recommended for Week 3, but if Williams is out long term, his superflex investors might have no choice but to make a claim here.Other running backsAlvin Kamara, Saints (37.5%, 5% FAB): Kamara missed Week 1 recovering from a knee sprain, but he scored 7.2 points Sunday — most of it due to his five receptions.
The problem is that those catches totaled a mere 7 yards. In total, Kamara’s 14 touches resulted in just 22 yards, leading one to believe Kamara isn’t good anymore. Still, volume matters, and Kamara saw a bit more of it than starter Travis Etienne Jr. Kamara is one of the preeminent pass-receiving RBs of this era, so if he can stay healthy, at least you can expect him to remain involved.Tank Bigsby, Eagles (15.2%, 3% FAB): Starter Saquon Barkley (shoulder) barely played in the team’s last-second win in Nashville, ultimately scoring a mere 3.0 fantasy points on his five touches.
Bigsby turned his 15 touches into 11.8 points, mostly because of a short touchdown run. He wasn’t so impressive either because Philadelphia’s offensive line is a surprising problem, but Bigsby is likely ahead of Will Shipley on the depth chart. If Barkley is compromised or misses Week 3, Bigsby becomes a reasonable flex option.Deep-league options/streamersTyjae Spears, Titans (49%, 1% FAB): Neither Spears nor starter Tony Pollard has shined over the first few weeks. Spears broke a 27-yard run against the Eagles, but he has had only four receptions in two weeks.
We expect more.Emanuel Wilson, Seahawks (0.4%): Wilson relieved an injured Jadarian Price (chest) and rushed for 92 yards on 21 carries. We can neither presume Price will be out long term nor that the Seahawks will commonly lead by so many points t
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