Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 3: Stroud, Wicks, Spears among top options

At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.

Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.

With a brutal run on quarterback injuries in Week 2 -- Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart -- there's a need for the position in deeper leagues and 2QB/superflex formats. So, that's where we'll start, with four available quarterbacks to check out. Plus, I have a group of wide receivers, with two ascending players and a high-upside target. As always, we'll hit on the running backs and tight ends, while ending with a defense in a prime matchup.

Quarterbacks

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (36.4% rostered; at Colts)

Stroud would be a fringe QB1 for me in shallower leagues this week if Nico Collins (hamstring) is cleared to go. Even if not, I still see value here as a streaming option versus an Indianapolis Colts defense that ranks in the bottom five against QBs, giving up a league-worst 337.5 passing yards per game. Stroud has scored at least 16 fantasy points in both games this season, and the Texans will look to create more offensive balance against the Colts after attempting 55 passes in their Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Stroud can be started in deeper formats.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (26.9% rostered; at Commanders)

I'd get Darnold (glute) in the lineup this week if he's ready to roll, given the matchup versus the Washington Commanders. This defense gave up four touchdown passes to Dak Prescott in Week 2 and has allowed a league-high seven through two games. Darnold will take his shots to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And if Darnold isn't cleared, then I would pick up Drew Lock (3.7% rostered). The Seahawks' No. 2 quarterback threw three touchdowns and accumulated 21.4 fantasy points against the Arizona Cardinals last week.

Geno Smith, New York Jets (6.0% rostered; at Lions)

Smith hasn't produced big numbers over his first two games (12.4 fantasy PPG), and he has thrown only one touchdown pass. But the matchup works here versus a struggling Detroit Lions defense, one that is missing its difference-makers in the secondary. Detroit has given up a league-high 32.0 fantasy PPG to opposing quarterbacks. Sure, Smith isn't on the same level as Josh Allen, who scored 40.82 points versus the Lions last week. However, Smith will have opportunities to attack coverage voids Sunday at Ford Field.

Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (8.8% rostered; at Saints)

Cousins is your deeper-league flier this week, and he's playing pretty good football. He has scored 17.0 fantasy PPG thanks to three touchdown passes in each game this season, and he's attacking multiple levels of the field. Cousins, who should be viewed as a ball distributor in Klint Kubiak's offense, faces a Saints defense that ranks in the middle of the pack versus opposing quarterbacks (15.6 fantasy PPG). Cousins can start in deeper, 2QB/superflex formats.

Wide receivers

Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (41.3% rostered; at Bears)

We wrote about Wicks in this space last week, and we'll keep going back to the Eagles' ascending receiver until he hits that 50% rostered threshold. Wicks caught five of six targets for 74 yards in the Week 2 win over the Titans, and he has scored at least 12 points in both games played. I like the matchup Monday night versus a Bears defense that has surprisingly been more man-heavy in coverage this season.

Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (33.0% rostered; at Lions)

Mitchell has locked down the No. 2 role opposite Garrett Wilson. In the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Mitchell caught six of a team-high 12 targets for 63 yards (12.3 points), and he's averaging 29.5 routes run per game. Plus, Mitchell has big-play ability on vertical throws (40-yard catch in Week 1). Get him in the lineup for the matchup with the Lions.

Kayshon Boutte (12.4% rostered) and Xavier Hutchinson (3.5% rostered), Houston Texans (at Colts)

If Collins is out for Sunday's game in Indianapolis, managers can look to add Boutte or Hutchinson for the week. In the Week 2 loss to the Bengals, tight end Dalton Schultz paced the Texans, catching 12 of a team-high 14 targets; however, Boutte (three of five, 37 yards) and Hutchinson (three of nine, 37 yards) got their looks, too. I'd lean toward Hutchinson, due to his inside/outside flex and third-level ability.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (39.0% rostered; at Saints)

Tucker is your boom/bust target for the week. Last Sunday in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Tucker scored 22.9 points, catching five of seven targets for 119 yards and a score, which included two grabs of 40 or more yards. Tucker can roll, and Cousins is willing to target him down the field. But in Week 1? Tucker caught two of four targets for only 27 yards. You are taking the upside here with Tucker versus the New Orleans Saints, but there is some risk given how Cousins spreads the ball.

Running backs

Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (31.6% rostered; at Commanders)

Let's keep an eye on the status of Jadarian Price for this one. Price left the Week 2 win over the Cardinals because of a shoulder injury, which allowed Wilson to close out the game. Wilson, who finished with 92 yards on 21 carries, would be in line for a bump in volume if Price can't go. However, the Seahawks use a split-backfield approach, which still keeps Wilson in play as a deeper-league flex if both are on the field this Sunday versus the Commanders.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (48.2% rostered; at Giants)

Spears has an ankle injury worth watching this week, as does starter Tony Pollard. Assuming both are up for Sunday's game versus the Giants, Spears fits as a deeper-league option with some upside due to his receiving ability. He had seven carries for 41 yards in the Week 2 loss to the Eagles, while adding two receptions for 29 yards (9.0 points).

Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (44.6% rostered; vs. Cardinals)

Black continues to get touches as the No. 2 in San Francisco behind starter Christian McCaffrey. In the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, Black had seven carries, compared with McCaffrey's 10. Though Black didn't produce big numbers (3.6 YPC), it's more about the weekly usage. Black has 21 carries this season and could be in a fourth-quarter-volume role this Sunday if the 49ers get a lead on the Cardinals. He's a deeper-league flier.

Tight ends

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (21.5% rostered; vs. Bengals)

Freiermuth is a deeper-league target as the underneath/middle-of-the-field outlet for Aaron Rodgers. Freiermuth has caught nine of 10 targets this season, with five targets in both games played, and the Bengals rank in the bottom 10 versus opposing tight ends.

Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers (13.5% rostered; at Bills)

Managers can pick up Gadsden due to the expected volume jump with fellow Chargers tight ends Charlie Kolar (forearm) and David Njoku (IR, fibula) out. Gadsden has caught all five of his targets this season for 50 yards and a touchdown. He showed his ability to produce last season, as he recorded six games of double-digit points. You are hoping for Gadsden to use his catch-and-run ability versus the Bills. And this one could be a shootout.

Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (9.1% rostered; at Browns)

The volume has been limited for Waller (six targets over two games), but you're going with the scoring upside here. Waller caught two touchdowns in the Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons -- both on end zone throws from Bryce Young -- and this Panthers team is scoring points (71 in two games). Waller is a deeper-league flier versus the Cleveland Browns this week.

D/ST

Cincinnati Bengals (29.4% rostered; at Steelers)

This upgraded Bengals defensive front is all over the tape, and I love the matchup against a Pittsburgh offense that is struggling to create explosive plays and protect the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has been sacked six times in two games, while averaging only 204 yards passing. The Bengals had four sacks last week in the win over the Texans, and they took away the ball four times versus the Bucs on opening weekend. Get them in the lineup.