Free agents: Schultz, Coleman highlight top options for Week 3

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  Eric KarabellSep 21, 2026, 12:02 PM ET

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  Eric Karabell is a senior writer covering fantasy football, baseball and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of the FSWA Hall of Fame, a BBWAA baseball Hall of Fame voter and author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments."

Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!

Top pickup options at every position

Looking for the top recommendation at each skill position? Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 3, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid.

Tyler Shough, QB, Saints (rostered in 49.7% of leagues, 10-15% of your FAB)

Last week's most recommended QB remains available in barely more than half of ESPN's standard leagues, though likely not for long after yet another solid performance (22.38 points) in a road win against the mighty Baltimore Ravens. This week, the New Orleans Saints host the unbeaten Las Vegas Raiders. Ignore the records. It's a positive matchup. Shough looks like more than a streamer, too, especially since the NFC South doesn't exactly feature top defensive teams and the Saints haven't played any division games yet.

Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos (15.2% rostered, 10-12% FAB)

Starter J.K. Dobbins (hamstring) wasn't doing so much when he left the game in the second half, having scored just 3.6 points, and the rookie Coleman helped spark the offense with his 14.8 points, including a touchdown run. Coleman, a fourth-round pick from Washington, barely played in Week 1, but now he may be his team's starter for this week against the Los Angeles Rams -- pending the status of Dobbins and RJ Harvey (also a hamstring issue) -- and perhaps beyond.

Denzel Boston, WR, Browns (26.4%, 8-10% FAB):

The rookie Boston scored a touchdown in a blowout Week 1 loss. It was nice, but not really a reason to trust him in Week 2. Then he scored another TD on Sunday. Now, he is quite intriguing, even considering Cleveland's QB situation. Boston is averaging 22 yards per reception through two games. If you wish to invest in a Browns receiver, Boston is the top option over fellow rookie KC Concepcion (57.6%) and the quite invisible Jerry Jeudy (22.1%).

Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans (21.3%, 2% FAB):

Schultz was the main (and perhaps only) beneficiary of the Nico Collins (hamstring) injury, catching 12 passes for 140 yards, achieving 26 fantasy points. No other member of the Houston Texans reached six catches or 40 receiving yards. We really shouldn't be so surprised, though. Schultz ended last season with 82 receptions -- tied for third among tight ends -- and 10th at the position in fantasy points. He may lack the upside of other top tight ends, but his is a relatively high floor, whether Collins plays or not.

Other quarterbacks

Jordan Love, Packers (44.7%, 10% FAB): Love is a bit more rostered now than he was last week, and those who relied on him enjoyed a modest 13.8 fantasy points on Sunday. Love completed only 16 passes for 145 yards, though two of those throws went for touchdowns. Why recommend Love? The Packers host the seemingly dreadful Atlanta Falcons this week. If you need a QB in Week 3, Love remains a solid streamer.

Bryce Young, Panthers (34.3%, 5% FAB): Young has started the season with consecutive three-TD performances, though it remains a bit difficult to tell if this is a true breakout or just the fruit of a friendly early-season schedule. After all, he has faced the Chicago Bears and the Falcons. Perhaps Young really is a QB1 option this season. It seems unlikely, but one can do worse than look his way for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns.

Kyler Murray, Vikings (49.9%, 3% FAB): Veteran Carson Wentz had his chance against what everyone said was a terrible Bears defense -- and he could not produce even a single touchdown. His Minnesota Vikings won the game, but Wentz did little to prove he should start in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Murray, who should be recovered from a concussion. That said, be forewarned: Murray is no sure thing, either.

Deep-league options/streamers

Sam Darnold, Seahawks (20.1%, 3% FAB): Darnold (glute) was injured in Week 1, but word is he should be ready for this week, and the Seattle Seahawks boast an attractive matchup with the Washington Commanders. Darnold was good enough to finish 14th in QB scoring last season -- and you may recall that he won a Super Bowl.

Cam Ward, Titans (7.2%, 1% FAB): Ward scored 20.02 points in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He also matched his previous career total (over 18 games) with a pair of rushing touchdowns. It seems unlikely that Ward boasts a new, sudden skill nobody knew about and that he will continue to find the end zone on the ground, but Ward may be someone's streamer in Week 3 against the New York Giants.

Marcus Mariota, Commanders (0.1%, 1% FAB): Starter Jayden Daniels injured his non-throwing elbow (again) and will miss significant time. Mariota started eight games in lieu of Daniels last season, with occasional but unreliable fantasy success, as he rushed for at least 40 yards on four occasions. Still, this is not a great Washington offense. You should not consider streaming Mariota in Week 3 against the Seahawks.

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (1.6%,1% FAB): Penix (knee) may be cleared to make his 2026 debut this Thursday at Lambeau Field. That's the good news. The Falcons have not played well so far, but Penix is more skilled than career reserve Cooper Rush. Still, while the Falcons have reasons to trust Penix this week, fantasy managers do not.

Tyson Bagent, Bears (0.1%, 1% FAB): Bagent, in his fourth NFL season out of Division II's Shepherd University, started four games as a rookie in 2023 and nary a one since Caleb Williams was drafted. Bagent should start this Monday night, at home against the Eagles, and perhaps quite a bit beyond that. Williams suffered a hamstring injury of (as of yet) unclear severity. Bagent does not come recommended for Week 3, but if Williams is out long-term, his Superflex investors may have no choice but to make a claim here.

Other running backs

Alvin Kamara, Saints (37.5%, 5% FAB): Kamara missed Week 1 recovering from a knee sprain, but he scored 7.2 points on Sunday -- most of it due to his five receptions. The problem is that those catches totaled a mere seven yards. In total, Kamara's 14 touches resulted in just 22 yards, leading one to believe Kamara isn't good anymore. Still, volume matters, and Kamara saw a bit more of it than starter Travis Etienne Jr. Kamara is one of the preeminent pass-receiving RBs of this era, so if he can stay healthy, at least you can expect him to remain involved.

Tank Bigsby, Eagles (15.2%, 3% FAB): Starter Saquon Barkley (shoulder) barely played in the team's last-second win in Nashville, ultimately scoring a mere 3.0 fantasy points on his five touches. Bigsby turned his 15 touches into 11.8 points, mostly because of a short touchdown run. He wasn't so impressive either because Philadelphia's offensive line is a surprising problem, but Bigsby is likely ahead of Will Shipley on the depth chart. If Barkley is compromised or misses Week 3, Bigsby becomes a reasonable flex option.

Deep-league options/streamers

Tyjae Spears, Titans (49%, 1% FAB): Neither Spears nor starter Tony Pollard has shined over the first few weeks. Spears broke a 27-yard run against the Eagles, but he has had only four receptions in two weeks. We expect more.

Emanuel Wilson, Seahawks (0.4%): Wilson relieved an injured Jadarian Price (chest) and rushed for 92 yards on 21 carries. We can neither presume Price will be out long-term nor that the Seahawks will commonly lead by so many points that they can ride any running back for so much volume. However, Wilson is a proven, veteran option.

Other wide receivers

Rashod Bateman, Ravens (24.2%, 2% FAB): Someone must catch the Lamar Jackson passes with both Zay Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) sidelined. Bateman and TE Mark Andrews combined for 13 of Jackson's 21 completions and 16 targets, albeit in a surprising loss to the Saints. If Flowers misses more games, Bateman would be a WR3 option for Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Tre Tucker, Raiders (24.5%, 1% FAB): Tucker delivered a terrific first half in the win over the Los Angeles Chargers, catching four out of five targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 22.9 fantasy points. Then again, Tucker scored only 4.7 points in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. Which performance tells us more? It will be tough to rely on Tucker each and every week, especially considering the team's QB situation. Still, he did finish last season among the top 40 WR scorers.

Deep-league options/streamers

Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles (26.4%): Wicks accrued 73 receiving yards in Week 1, piquing our collective interest, then reached 74 yards against the Tennessee Titans, catching five out of six targets. The Eagles offense remains a work in progress, but Wicks is clearly a key part of it.

Adonai Mitchell, Jets (17%): Mitchell's stats look a bit like those of Wicks, in that he isn't his team's top WR option, but he has reached 60 receiving yards in each game. Perhaps he continues his success this coming week in Detroit.

Keon Coleman, Bills (1.7%): Coleman, 23, has been quite the enigma in his young career, but few debate his talent. Starter DJ Moore (shoulder) may miss some time and Coleman caught six passes for 63 yards in Week 2. Give him a look over teammate Joshua Palmer.

Other tight ends

Darren Waller, Panthers (2.9%, 2% FAB): Waller had a Week 1 TD catch called back due to a penalty, otherwise he would have been rostered in more leagues for Week 2. Then he caught a pair of touchdowns on Sunday. Waller boasts only five targets through two weeks, so this is dangerous. Last season for the Dolphins, 25% of his 24 receptions were touchdowns. Fantasy managers should always be cautious with TD-dependent options, but perhaps the Carolina Panthers will target Waller more moving forward, too.

Oronde Gadsden, Chargers (2%, 2% FAB): Gadsden caught a TD pass in the loss to the Raiders. He should be in line for more targets after David Njoku (knee) left the game prematurely. Gadsden showed breakout possibility as a rookie, so it seems odd that he has seen only four targets through two weeks. Perhaps more are coming.

Defense

Packers D/ST (20%): The Green Bay Packers played better in Week 2 than in their opener, holding the New York Jets to only 17 points. Still, this really isn't about Weeks 1 or 2. The Packers host the Falcons in Week 3. The Falcons may get their top QB back, but this will still be a favorable matchup.

Panthers D/ST (3.6%): Yes, this is the same defense that was torched for 59 points by the Bears in Week 1. The Panthers rebounded on Sunday, dominating the Falcons and scoring 24.0 fantasy points. This week, the Panthers face the Browns. It's another matchup play. (The Saints (2.6%) against the Raiders would be another one.)