NFL Waiver Wire Picks: Week 3
QB: CJ Stroud – Houston Texans
-7.4% rostered
-21.46 points against Indianapolis Colts
-30/47 for 384 yards and 2 TD
CJ Stroud has shown that he has a quick learning curve. In just 2 weeks in the NFL, he has shown that he knows what it takes to be an NFL QB. It does not matter who you are playing against, throwing for 384 yards against an NFL team is incredible. So incredible, in fact, that Justin Fields (who has played in 29 games) has not even done it once. Some other stats to consider – CJ Stroud currently has more passing yards than Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. He has a higher completion percentage than Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. Stroud has more completions than Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa and a higher passer rating than Matthew Stafford and Daniel Jones. Up next, he faces a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has some holes in its secondary.
RB: Jerome Ford – Cleveland Browns
-9.1% rostered
-24.1 points against Pittsburgh Steelers
-16 carries for 106 yards. 3 receptions for 25 yards and a TD
Unfortunately, Nick Chubb suffered a gruesome injury that will leave him out for the rest of the season. Jerome Ford, however, stepped up in his stead and did an amazing job. The Browns are a run first team and have been since Kevin Stefanski took over. With the added struggles of Deshaun Watson, the Browns run game will get a lot more work with Jerome Ford being the main beneficiary.
WR: Tank Dell – Houston Texans
-3.8% rostered
-20.2 points against Indianapolis Colts
-7 receptions on 10 targets for 72 yards and a TD
Tank Dell was pretty much hand selected by CJ Stroud to be a Texan. On draft day, Stroud (#2 overall pick) urged Texan GM Nick Caserio to pick Dell if he was available and Caserio did just that. Stroud’s confidence and chemistry with Dell is paying major dividends as Dell has shown that he is Stroud’s primary read and go to guy. Up next Dell and the Texans play the Jaguars in what promises to be a high scoring affair.
TE: Hunter Henry – New England Patriots
-34.6% rostered
-17.2 points against Miami Dolphins
-6 receptions on 7 targets for 52 yards and a TD
I was so close to having Hunter Henry be my TE waiver wire pick last week but ultimately decided against it. That was a mistake. But I hope I’m atoning for it now with his 2023 debut into my waiver wire article. Henry has shown great chemistry with Mac Jones. 6 targets in week 1 and 7 targets in week 2 is huge for TEs. The fact that he has caught all but 2 of those 13 targets is great for fantasy point totals. He is currently sitting as the #2 TE on the year with #3, Evan Engram, scoring 12 points less than Henry. Up next the Patriots play a Jets team that seems to be on it’s heels after the Aaron Rodgers injury.