Week 3 is here, and you already know what that means: waiver wire time. Matty and I have been going through the games, looking at usage, production, and roles, and there are still a bunch of guys sitting out there that probably should not be available.
That’s really what we’re looking for with this list. We’re not going to give you a bunch of obvious names who are already rostered everywhere. We want the players who are still sitting on waiver wires and made us stop and pay attention through the first few weeks of the season.
Some guys are starting to carve out bigger roles. Some are producing way earlier than expected. And some are simply players where the opportunity is starting to line up and we think, Yeah, we need to take a shot on this dude.
At this point, we have a little more information than we did in Week 1 and 2, but it is still college football. Roles change fast, depth charts move, and production can come out of nowhere. That is exactly why staying aggressive on the waiver wire matters.
We went through the games, found the players we like, and now we’re going to tell you who we’re actually trying to add this week.
Quarterbacks
Matthew: Mason McKenzie (Boston College)
Rostered: 9%
McKenzie was a guy I was already on coming into the season, and through two weeks he’s basically done what you want from this type of add. He’s been sitting right around that 25 fantasy point range in back-to-back games, and when you go back and look at it, it doesn’t feel like it’s coming from anything fluky. It’s not one broken play or some random rushing spike carrying it. He’s just consistently putting himself in a position to score fantasy points.
The biggest reason I’m interested is how easy this is to trust week to week. You’re not sitting there guessing whether this is the right matchup or hoping he hits a ceiling outcome. He’s just giving you usable production, and that matters more than people think at QB. When you look ahead, the schedule lines up well enough where there’s a clear path for this to continue, especially if the offense keeps leaning on him the way it has early on.
He doesn’t need to turn into anything crazy to have value. If he just keeps doing what he’s doing right now, that’s more than enough for a waiver add at this position. I’d rather take that now and lock in the stability than wait another week and try to figure it out when more people start paying attention.
Kevin: Jayden Mandal, QB, Fresno State
Rostered: 0%
Mandal is basically free in C2C leagues right now, and I think he is one of the more interesting quarterback adds on the wire. He had a rough outing against USC, but I liked the way he bounced back against Sacramento State. Mandal completed 23 of 26 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground, finishing with over 30 fantasy points.
Obviously, Sacramento State is not the strongest opponent, but I think there is something worth chasing here because of how Fresno State is playing offensively. The offensive line has struggled to consistently create movement in the run game, and because of that we are seeing more bubble screens, quick perimeter throws, and opportunities to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers. That is good news for Mandal from a CFF perspective because those are easy completions that can turn into chunk plays.
I also really like Fresno State’s schedule. I think they are going to have to throw the football more this season than people expected, and Mandal should have plenty of opportunities to pile up production. At 0% rostered, there is basically no cost here. He does not need to become a weekly superstar to return value. If this passing volume continues, Mandal has a real chance to become a useful CFF quarterback, and I would rather add him now before another big game forces everyone else to notice.
Running Backs
Dear Readers,
If you’re looking to get a real head start in your dynasty, devy, or C2C leagues, consider joining either our Substack or the website. Both provide actionable, edge-driven content built to help you stay ahead of the field.
Substack is our most affordable option at just $7/month and gives you access to all of our written content.
For those who want everything in one place, the website offers three membership tiers ($8/$12/$16) and includes all written content plus exclusive tools, rankings, features, and community access.
However you choose to support us, we truly appreciate you being part of what we’re building and trusting us to help you win.
Be sure to check out Matty’s Substack as well!
