A rash of quarterback injuries is sending many fantasy football managers to the waiver wire for a Week 3 starter and pushing the ‘draft only one QB’ strategy to the breaking point early in the season.

It’s not just Joe Burrow being forced to the sidelines. Fellow quarterbacks Justin Fields, J.J. McCarthy and Jayden Daniels could be out this week — and possibly longer. So where can fantasy managers turn? And what other players have shown enough potential over the first two weeks of the season to make an impact the rest of the way?

Here are some of the top pickup options on the fantasy waiver wire for the coming week.

Fantasy football quarterbacks to add for Week 3

Due to the wide variance in types of leagues and individual team needs, the players listed here include their availability rates in Yahoo leagues, which may or may not match rates on other platforms. (Suggested bid values based on $100 free agent acquisition budget for the season.)

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (19% rostered)

Through the first two weeks of the season, Jones has led an offense that has yet to end a drive with a punt. He’s the No. 1-ranked fantasy quarterback — throwing for 588 yards and two touchdowns, while also scoring three TDs on the ground. What universe are we living in? If you suddenly need a starting QB for this week, Jones will help you keep up without missing a beat. (Recommended FAAB bid: $18)

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (28%)

Stafford is likely the second-best quarterback option this week. He was frequently overlooked in drafts due to concerns about his back (and his age), but he’s come out firing for the 2-0 Rams. Stafford does have a pair of excellent wideouts at his disposal in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, so the potential for big weeks does exist. (FAAB bid: $10)

Russell Wilson, New York Giants (5%)

After throwing for 450 yards in an overtime loss to Dallas, Wilson currently leads the NFL in passing yards. It’s doubtful he can continue that level of production for an extended period, but if you need a temporary fix, he’s probably going to help more than Aaron Rodgers or Bryce Young. (FAAB bid: $5)

Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers and Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (0%)

If you don’t want to spend big and don’t necessarily need a long-term replacement, these two backups have proven they can get the job done in non-spectacular fashion. Jones may only start for one more week, but he gets the Arizona Cardinals at home in a favorable matchup.

Browning, meanwhile, looks like the Bengals’ starter for the rest of the season. He has better weapons than Jones does and also has some sneaky rushing value. If you want to play the streaming quarterback game, these two fit the bill. (FAAB bid: $2)

Other fantasy football players to add for Week 3

WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (23%)

Robinson thrived alongside star wideout Malik Nabers in the Giants’ shootout in Dallas, catching eight of 10 targets for 142 yards and a score. Best known as a possession receiver, he broke open for a deep TD as part of his career day. The Giants’ inability to run the ball will lead to a lot of pass-heavy games, so Robinson should have some sustained value. (FAAB bid: $9)

RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars (55%)

A Tank Bigsby trade has given the rookie fourth-rounder a chance to show off his skills. Travis Etienne is perhaps even more solidified as the Jags’ lead back, but Tuten made the most of his increased touches with 42 yards on eight carries and an 8-yard TD reception. He’s one of several rookie running backs who saw their workloads increase in Week 2. And Etienne isn’t the most durable guy, either. (FAAB bid: $8)

WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (4%)

The second-year wideout led the Broncos in catches vs. Indianapolis with eight for 89 yards and a touchdown. With top receiver Courtland Sutton seemingly invisible, Franklin has become the go-to target for QB Bo Nix through the first two games, pulling in 12 of his 15 targets. (FAAB bid: $7)

WR Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (8%)

One of Week 2’s top highlights was the amazing scramble and across-the-field touchdown pass by rookie Titans QB Cam Ward. But don’t overlook who was on the receiving end of that ridiculous play. The rookie fourth-round pick caught four passes for 56 yards in Week 2, including a one-handed gem that was even more impressive than the TD. The Titans will likely be forced to pass a lot this season, so get on the train to stately Ayomanor now. (FAAB bid: $6)

RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fantasy managers certainly took note of White’s performance on Monday night, especially the part where he — and not Bucky Irving — was in to score the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run. Irving is still the unquestioned starter, but White made a case for more touches by rushing for 65 yards on 10 carries, and looking good doing it. (FAAB bid: $5)

WR DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens (9%)

Hopkins hasn’t been targeted very often, but he’s still managed to come up with some big plays. He has a touchdown catch in both games so far, despite only four total receptions. (And he very nearly scored on one other.) The 33-year-old provides a nice complement to Zay Flowers in the passing game and could easily assume TE Mark Andrews’ role as Lamar Jackson’s favorite red-zone target. (FAAB bid: $4)

WR Hunter Renfrow, Carolina Panthers (1%)

You can call him ‘Carolina Bluey’ after his unusual free agent signing, but the veteran wideout caught a pair of touchdown passes in Week 2 and has clearly outplayed presumed No. 2 wideout Xavier Legette. Not bad for someone who didn’t even play in 2024. (FAAB bid: $3)

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (2%)

Another impressive Panthers pass-catcher, Sanders was the team’s second-leading receiver at Arizona with seven grabs for 54 yards. After last week’s bumper crop of tight ends, he’s the only worthwhile name to add to the list — though Juwan Johnson, Harold Fannin Jr. and maybe even Zach Ertz could still be available in shallower leagues. (FAAB bid: $2)

RB Chris Rodriguez/Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders (4%)

Someone has to pick up the carries left by Austin Ekeler’s season-ending Achilles injury. Although Rodriguez hasn’t been active for either game so far, he could see significant playing time going forward. McNichols is a candidate to take over third-down responsibilities. Meanwhile, Jacory Corskey-Merritt was a preseason darling but only had four carries for 17 yards in Week 2. (FAAB bid: $2)

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Clemson is in a spot few would have realistically envisioned heading into the 2025 college football season.

After appearing at No. 6 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, the Tigers dropped to 1-2 after a heartbreaking 24-21 loss on Saturday, Sept. 13 to Georgia Tech, which kicked a game-winning 55-yard field goal as time expired. The Tigers opened their season with a top-10 loss to LSU, then needed to overcome a 16-0 deficit to beat unranked Troy 27-16 in Week 2.

The early-season stumbles have raised questions about why Clemson has thus far failed to meet expectations, and what it means for a program that has fallen off slightly from its championship heights in the late 2010s.

In the face of those concerns, the team’s head coach is more than happy to defend his record.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 16, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney was asked if criticisms of himself and his team this season are something he has taken personally. Swinney insisted he hasn’t been affected by them, citing his Christian faith as something that has kept him grounded. He proceeded to passionately rattle off his accomplishments and boast about what the program has done under his watch.

“We’ve had a lot of success here and it hasn’t been perfect,” Swinney said. “I thrive in the battle, honestly. I have my whole life. … Perspective is important. If they want me gone, if they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way because that’s all we’ve done is win. If they’re tired of winning, we’ve won this league eight of the last 10 years.

‘Is that not good? I’m just asking. Is that good? I don’t know if that’s good or not, to win your league eight of out 10 years, to go to the playoff seven out of 10 years, being in four national championships, winning it twice.”

Indeed, Swinney has been one of the most decorated college football coaches this century, helping turn Clemson into an improbable juggernaut.

A solid program that failed to win at least 10 games in 20 consecutive seasons from 1991-2010 has won nine ACC titles, appeared in the College Football Playoff seven of the 11 years in which it has been staged and, most notably, won two national championships under Swinney.

Since taking over as interim coach in the middle of the 2008 season, Swinney has gone 181-49. That includes a 162-34 mark since the start of the 2011 season, during which Clemson has only finished a season with fewer than 10 wins once — and even then, it went 9-4.

In recent years, the Tigers haven’t been the consistent national power they were for so much of Swinney’s tenure. They’ve made the playoff only once in the past four seasons and have lost at least three games in each of the past four seasons. This season’s 1-2 start has dropped them to 2-4 in their past six games going back to the final stretch of the 2024 season.

Though Swinney’s far from anything resembling a hot seat, he issued a warning for those who may want Clemson to make a change at head coach.

“If Clemson’s tired of winning, they can send me on my way,” he said. “But I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach. Hell, I’m 55. I’ve got a long way to go. Y’all gonna have to deal with me for a while.”

This season’s margins have been close, with Clemson’s two losses coming by a combined 10 points. Both defeats came against teams, No. 4 LSU and No. 19 Georgia Tech, currently ranked in the top 20 of the Coaches Poll. The Tigers have had slow starts before, too. In 2014, they started 1-2 before finishing the season 10-3. More recently, they were 2-2 in 2021 only to finish 10-3.

It’s one of many reasons Swinney isn’t panicking.

“Yeah, we’re a little down right now,” he said. “Take your shots. But I’ve got a long memory, in case y’all don’t know. We’ll be all right. We’ll bounce back. This is a program built to last. It always has been, always will be.

‘I’ll just say that if you don’t believe in us because we’ve lost two games in the last three, you didn’t believe in us anyway, so it don’t matter. You weren’t all-in anyway. If you’re all-in, you burn the ships, man. There ain’t no exit strategy.”

The status of the proposed fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis – under scrutiny because of the weight discrepancy between the two fighters – has grown murky.

Rick Thompson, chairman of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (GAEC), told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, Sept. 16 that the promoter had withdrawn their request for event permits and rule waivers required to hold the event in Georgia.

The promoter was Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Paul and business partner Nakisa Bidarian.

“I believe it’s in the public’s interest to know that because they’ve been promoting something they should not have been,’’ Thompson said when reached by USA TODAY Sports.

In fact, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, tickets still were available for purchase online and the fight still was listed on the State Farm Arena event calendar, to be held Nov. 14. MVP announced the fight, which is supposed to be carried by Netflix, on Aug. 20.

MVP did not respond to questions about the fight submitted by email and text message.

One rule waiver MVP had requested would have addressed the weight discrepancy between Paul and Davis. Paul weighed in at 199½ pounds for his last fight and Davis weighed in at 133¾ pounds for his last fight.

The GAEC commission is scheduled to meet Thursday and was expected to vote on MVP’s requests. MVP needed the votes of three of the five commissioners for approval, and the chairman – one of the five commissioners – adamantly opposed the rule waiver that would have modified restrictions on the allowed weight difference between fighters. 

“They probably evaluated a situation, knew that their weight differences were too much,’’ Thompson said.

Thompson said he was notified of MVP’s decision Tuesday by GAEC executive director Matt Woodruff.

In an interview with USA TODAY Sports Sept. 8, Thompson blasted the fight, calling it ‘the dumbest (expletive) I’ve ever heard.’ He also said he didn’t think Paul was a competitive fighter.

But on Tuesday, Thompson said he hoped MVP could reconsider holding the proposed undercard for the Paul-Davis bout in Atlanta.

“We would love for the undercard to still fight in the state of Georgia,’’ he said. “We believe the undercard is something people would like to see.’’

On Sept. 2, USA TODAY Sports reported that the proposed fight between Paul and Davis had hit an apparent snag.

This story was updated with new information.

AI-assisted summary
• Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, reportedly speaks with the team’s offensive coordinator multiple times a week.
• Brady’s involvement with the Raiders has raised conflict of interest concerns due to his role as FOX’s lead NFL analyst.
• The NFL has adjusted its rules, allowing Brady to join production meetings virtually, though he cannot visit other teams’ facilities as a broadcaster.
• Raiders head coach Pete Carroll downplayed reports of Brady’s deep involvement in game planning, but confirmed they talk regularly.

During the nightcap of the Week 2 ‘Monday Night Football’ doubleheader on ESPN, which was a Los Angeles Chargers 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN’s Peter Schrager – reporting from the sideline six minutes into the game – said Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly speaks with Tom Brady, a Raiders minority owner, two to three times per week.

‘They go through film. They go through the game plan,’ Schrager reported. ‘And Brady is a luxury for the coaches. Who else has an owner who has been there and done that?’

The ESPN cameras cut to Brady, wearing a suit and tie, sitting in the coaches’ box. Broadcasters Chris Fowler and Dan Orlovsky noted the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s presence, with Orlovsky saying ‘it seems he’s very involved.’

As FOX’s No. 1 game analyst, Brady’s arrangement could present a conflict of interest, as he’s responsible for covering the other 31 NFL teams. Here is what we know about Brady’s involvement with the Raiders and how that affects his broadcasting.

Change to ‘Brady Rules’ means he can be in production meetings

During the 2024 regular season, Brady’s first as a broadcaster after a quasi-gap year between playing and announcing, the three-time MVP was not allowed to attend production meetings, either in person or virtually. He also could not excessively criticize the officials or other teams.

That changed before Super Bowl 59, in which the Philadelphia Eagles throttled the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22; Brady joined the production meetings before that matchup. And he can do so virtually in the 2025 season, except he remains barred from visiting other team’s facilities in his capacity as a broadcaster.

“I think we are going to be responsible and very focused on making sure we have the right rules and guidelines in place, but also allow people that are covering our game and bringing our game to 20 or 25 million people on a weekly basis, are able to do that in the best way and sort of how do we thread that needle?” NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said on a conference call with reporters Sept. 2.

Schroeder added: “(We will) make sure he has the opportunity to do all his homework that he wants to do to be, you to do what he did last year, which was do a great job covering our games and telling the story of our games week to week for all our fans. So we feel really good about the rules and guidelines and that we have in place for this year. And I think we’ll continue to stay focused about how we look at those and of all of them where it makes sense going forward.”

How involved is Tom Brady with the Raiders?

In October 2024, the league approved a 10% sale – for $220 million – of the Raiders to Brady and his partner, Tom Wagner. (Each owns 5% of the team.)

Before the Super Bowl in February, Brady said on a conference call that ‘my ownership interest in the Raiders is just much more of a long-term, kind of behind-the-scenes type role.’ (Showing up to the coaches’ box in a suit wasn’t exactly subtle.)

‘I’m there to support the team and the leadership and the overall vision for the success,’ he said.

‘I think the best part for me is I love football so much,’ Brady added. ‘And the fact that I get to be involved with it for the rest of my life and to showcase this great game, not just as a broadcaster, which is obviously one way, but in a limited partner role with an organization, it’s something I hope a lot of other players get the opportunity to do.’

The Raiders’ primary owner is Mark Davis, son of the late Al Davis.

What are NFL, media saying about Tom Brady’s conflict of interest?

At his annual Super Bowl news conference, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Brady checked in multiple times throughout last season to make sure he was properly following the rules.

“I think he’s serious that he separates these two and he doesn’t put the league or anyone in a position of conflict,” Goodell said.

Brady will call the Dallas Cowboys-Chicago Bears matchup on Sunday, Sept. 21; the Raiders then host the Bears on Sept. 28. The NFL said he was sitting in the booth in his capacity as a Raiders limited partner.

‘There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches’ booth or wearing a headset during a game,’ NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement.

‘Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings,’ the statement said. ‘He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel. He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple of times, including the Super Bowl. Of course, as with any production meeting with broadcast teams, it’s up to the club, coach or players to determine what they say in those sessions.’

ESPN analyst Marcus Spears panned the optics during ‘Get Up’ on Tuesday.

‘It’s abhorrent for me for his job. I love it for his team … this should not happen with him being a commentator of NFL football games,’ Spears said. ‘It actually questions the integrity of the NFL.

‘Now, teams have to be smart and not divulge information on the call.’

Pete Carroll downplays Tom Brady’s Raiders involvement

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll was asked about Schrager’s report and said ‘that’s not accurate.’

‘That’s not accurate,’ the Super-Bowl-winning coach repeated. ‘We have conversations. I talk to Tom, Chip talks to Tom, regularly. We have a tremendous asset. We all get along. We respect each other. We just talk about life and football a little bit and whatever it becomes. He has great insight. We’re lucky to have him as an owner.’

Brady isn’t the only owner donning a headset to gain an understanding of what the coaches are saying during games. Carlie Irsay-Gordon, who owns the Indianapolis Colts with her two sisters, has done so for multiple seasons.

How does Tom Brady’s Saudi Arabia flag-football announcement factor into all of this?

It doesn’t, really. But it was all in a busy Monday for TB12.

As part of his work on behalf of Fanatics, Brady on Monday announced his spearheading of a flag football tournament that is set to take place on March 21, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The round-robin competition will feature features a star-studded list of NFL players participating, including: Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Myles Garrett, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyreek Hill, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rob Gronkowski.

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to the field, get the competitive juices flowing alongside some of the game’s brightest stars and iconic legends, and bring a truly unique global sports event to fans everywhere during Riyadh Season,’ Brady said in a statement.

Brady had teased the announcement during FOX’s NFL pregame show.

How much is FOX paying Tom Brady?

FOX is paying Brady $375 million over a 10-year deal ($37.5 million per year).

AI-assisted summary
• Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino revealed he has been dealing with a liver disease for nearly a decade.
• Marino was diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, after feeling fatigued.
• The former quarterback has made lifestyle changes, including more exercise and dietary adjustments.

Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino has revealed he’s been dealing with a liver disease for nearly two decades, but that by making adjustments to his lifestyle he believes his prognosis is ‘gonna get better and better and better.’

In an interview with People magazine, the former Miami Dolphins quarterback said he first began feeling ‘a little fatigued’ in 2007, and found out after a routine checkup that he had metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH.

The condition, formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is caused by an excess of fat cells accumulating in the liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

‘The doctors right away said that can be reversible, it can be taken care of, but, mainly for me, they were saying, like, ‘You gotta work out. You got to lose weight,” Marino told People.

Marino, 64, says he now exercises more regularly than he did after his playing days ended. And he’s made major adjustments to his diet after doctors told him to ‘cut back on the wine and pizza and candy, ice cream, those kind of things.’

When Marino retired in 2000 after 17 seasons with the Dolphins, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (61,361), completions (4,967) and touchdown passes (420). He was the league MVP in 1984, a nine-time Pro Bowler and the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season.

Marino was a first-ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.