Advertisement

Fantasy football: Geno Smith, Carson Steele among top add/drops for Week 3

Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (pictured) is set to receive more work because of an ankle injury sustained by starter Isiah Pacheco. File Photo by Jon Robichaud/UPI
Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (pictured) is set to receive more work because of an ankle injury sustained by starter Isiah Pacheco. File Photo by Jon Robichaud/UPI

MIAMI, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Geno Smith and Carson Steele are among my fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season.

Sam Darnold, Bucky Irving, Mike Gesicki and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense/special teams are among my other targets.

Injuries, breakout performances and other factors have cleared the way for several players to warrant a spot on fantasy football team benches or maybe even placement in starting lineups.

My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less. Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 3:

ALL-ADD TEAM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is among my fantasy football waiver wire targets. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is among my fantasy football waiver wire targets. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI

QB | Geno Smith, Sam Darnold; RB | Carson Steele, Ty Chandler, Bucky Irving; WR | Alec Pierce, Quentin Johnston; TE | Mike Gesciki; D/ST | Tampa Bay Buccaneers; K | Greg Zuerlein

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (L) totaled seven catches for 91 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (L) totaled seven catches for 91 yards in a Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. File Photo by John Sommers II/UPI

QB | Derek Carr; RB | Braelon Allen, Rico Dowdle; WR | Khalil Shakir, Romeo Doubs; TE | Hunter Henry; D/ST | Las Vegas Raiders; K |; Daniel Carlson

TOP DROPS

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce imitates the Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce imitates the Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI

QB | Tua Tagovailoa; RB | Justice Hill; WR | Marquise Brown; TE | Cole Kmet; D/ST | Miami Dolphins; K |; Graham Gano

QUARTERBACK

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (R) logged 59 yards from scrimmage on 11 touches in Week 2, but could be in line for a major role going forward. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (R) logged 59 yards from scrimmage on 11 touches in Week 2, but could be in line for a major role going forward. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI

Geno Smith totaled 327 passing yards and a score in the Seattle Seahawks' win over the New England Patriots, finishing the week as a Top 10 fantasy football quarterback. He also accounted for two scores in Week 1.

This week, the Seahawks will face a Miami Dolphins team that could struggle to move the ball because of the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. I expect the Seahawks to dominate this home matchup, with Smith throwing at least two touchdowns. He is a serviceable streaming option.

RUNNING BACK

Carson Steele should be the top waiver wire priority this week. The Kansas City Chiefs rookie totaled just nine carries for 26 yards through his first two games, but is in line for a major workload boost because of injured starter Isiah Pacheco's departure from the lineup.

The Chiefs' roster also features veteran running back Samaje Perine, but I prefer Steele because of a likely role as a goal-line ball carrier. The Chiefs should consistently find themselves in the red zone, giving a lot of scoring opportunities to this rookie. I wouldn't start Steele until his role is more clearly defined, but he is worth a bench spot.

WIDE RECEIVER

Alec Pierce is my top wide receiver target. The Indianapolis Colts playmaker totaled three catches for 125 yards and a score in Week 1. He followed that performance with five catches for 56 yards and a score in Week 2.

Pierce played 53 of the 56 (95%) offensive snaps in the Colts' Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the most among any Colts skill position players. Look for his high usage and production to continue in Week 3, when the Colts take on the Chicago Bears, who just allowed 135 yards and a score to Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins.

Pierce can be plugged in as a low-end WR3 in leagues with at least 14 teams, but only if you are desperate for production from the position.

TIGHT END

Mike Gesicki is among the tight ends I would target. The Cincinnati Bengals veteran hauled in seven catches for 91 yards in Week 1. He also was targeted four times and nearly scored a touchdown in Week 1.

The Bengals desperately need a victory, and their offense appears to be working into form. Look for quarterback Joe Burrow to continue to utilize this 6-foot-6 playmaker, especially in Week 3 against a Commanders defense that allowed six passing scores through the first two games of the season.

Gesicki should be added to rosters in leagues that require starting a tight end.