Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups Highlighted by Jonah Coleman, Adonai Mitchell, Bryce Young

Fantasy football managers are about to hit the waiver wire with an urgency seldom seen outside of holiday-season shoppers.

Needs are unfortunately urgent after a particularly rough Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season on the injury front, and waiver-wire reinforcements aren't exactly available in unlimited supply.

There are, however, at least a handful of compelling candidates, so the most savvy waiver shoppers could be rewarded with plug-and-play replacements. We're here to spotlight three such potential sources of relief who happen to be available in more than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, per FantasyPros .

Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos (32% Rostered)

What a difference a week makes, right? Coleman, a fourth-round rookie out of Washington, effectively no-showed in the opener (three snaps, no touches) and then stole the spotlight in Week 2, leading the team in rushing yards (39 on 10 carries) and scoring the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

Context, of course, helps explain the dramatic change. RJ Harvey didn't suit up due to a hamstring injury, and J.K. Dobbins exited early with a hamstring injury of his own. The possibility that one or both of these ailments linger a bit might make Coleman the top overall waiver target this week.

While his season-long utility is certainly up for debate, the chance for even short-term duties in a featured role gives him game-winning upside for as long as he controls this backfield. Coleman, who also caught all three of his targets for another 19 yards, offers the kind of understanding, pass protecting and reliable receiving to serve in a three-down capacity.

Coleman averaged 5.5 yards per carry over four collegiate seasons and tallied 27 touchdowns during his final two.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets (15% Rostered)

Two games into the 2026 season, Mitchell has already impressed with both volume and efficiency.

In Week 1, he managed to turn three targets into three receptions for 60 yards. In Week 2, he saw a team-high 12 targets and corralled half of them for 63 yards.

The Jets have a standing need for a true WR2 next to Garrett Wilson, and that role clearly belongs to Mitchell with first-round rookie Omar Cooper Jr. stuck on injured reserve (ankle).

If Mitchell can expect similar volume to this moving forward, he feels almost guaranteed to deliver big outings, at least in the near future. Over the next two weeks, he'll tussle with a Detroit Lions defense that has allowed 658 passing yards and six passing touchdowns and then a Chicago Bears defense that let Bryce Young throw for 361 yards and three scores in the opener.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers (30% Rostered)

Young, the first overall pick in 2023, has teased the fantasy community before, but what if his scorching hot start actually proves sustainable? Because he'd be a certified fantasy star if it does.

His 648 passing yards ranked second-most in the NFL. His six touchdown passes put him in a four-way tie for first. His 81.4 QBR—not a fantasy metric, obviously, but an indicator of his overall play—sits sixth overall .

Young might have the playmakers around him to keep this offense humming. Tetairoa McMillan is a true WR1, a healthy Jalen Coker looks like a legitimate WR2 and veteran tight end Darren Waller just turned three targets into three receptions for 33 yards and two scores.

The schedule could be working in Young's favor, too. In Week 3, he'll face the Cleveland Browns, who allowed Trevor Lawrence to throw for four scores in Week 1, and in Week 4, he'll draw Detroit's aforementioned leaky defense.