Week 3 waiver wire: how the pickups scored

Quarterback leaders came from shorter lists

Among the broad waiver articles, Thraen and Cooper each averaged 18.7 half-PPR points at quarterback, with 2 recommendations apiece. Fitzmaurice averaged 18.0 on 6 recommendations, ahead of Nick Mariano of RotoBaller at 16.6 on 17. Michael Fabiano of Sports Illustrated Fantasy averaged 15.6 on 7, while Boone’s 1 recommendation returned 13.6. The lead therefore belonged to shorter lists, not the largest quarterback selection. Those recommendation counts describe the published samples; the supplied positional summaries do not separately specify complete-result counts. ^{[2][3][1][6][7][4]}

The highest-scoring individual measured add nevertheless came from Mariano: Geno Smith scored 26.0 half-PPR points. That result deserves explicit credit to Mariano’s RotoBaller article, but it answers a different question from the group average. Having the highest individual score did not give Mariano the highest quarterback average among the broad articles. The distinction matters when judging advice: a standout recommendation and the scoring performance of a source’s full positional selection are related observations, not interchangeable measures. ^[6][2][3]

Fitzmaurice’s leads looked different at running back and receiver

At running back, Fitzmaurice averaged 4.9 half-PPR points from 10 recommendations, followed by Mariano at 3.3 from 22. Fabiano and Cooper each averaged 1.8, with 5 and 3 recommendations respectively; Thraen averaged 1.6 on 5, and Boone 0.7 on 4. Fitzmaurice’s lead was clear in the recorded averages, although the leading return was still 4.9. These figures measure immediate scoring outcomes. They do not establish why the adds produced those scores or provide a measure of risk. ^{[1][6][7][3][2][4]}

Wide receiver offered less separation. Fitzmaurice averaged 6.8 half-PPR points on 8 recommendations and Mariano 6.5 on 29. Thraen and Fabiano each averaged 6.2, on 5 and 8 recommendations; Boone and Cooper each averaged 6.0, on 3 and 4. The same sources occupied the leading places as at running back, but the receiver averages were more closely grouped. For a reader reviewing receiver advice, that makes the precise ordering less revealing than the combination of similar recorded returns and substantially different list sizes. ^{[1][6][2][7][4][3]}

Tight end reversed the source order

Boone led the broad-article tight end results at 10.0 half-PPR points on 2 recommendations. Cooper followed at 7.9 on 4, with Mariano at 6.1 on 9. Fabiano averaged 4.0 on 4 recommendations, Thraen 3.8 on 2, and Fitzmaurice 3.0 on 5. This was not the same ordering seen at running back or receiver. Boone’s tight end result is consequently more informative for evaluating that part of his article than a blended average covering all his recommended positions. ^{[4][3][6][7][2][1]}

The revealing contrast is between Boone and Fitzmaurice: the source leading the running back and receiver averages finished behind the other broad articles at tight end, while Boone led this position. That supports a position-specific reading rather than an overall service verdict. It also leaves a narrow basis for judging the tight end leader: Boone’s figure accompanies only 2 recommendations. The supplied scope warns that a weekly average can swing on a single player, which is particularly relevant to such a short list. ^[4][1][5]

Defense showed separation; kicker coverage was limited

Thraen led the broad-article defense results, averaging 12.5 half-PPR points on 2 recommendations. Mariano averaged 6.4 on 8, Fabiano 4.3 on 3, and Fitzmaurice 3.8 on 5. The leading defense average stood apart from the other recorded averages, but it came from the shortest published selection in this comparison. The evidence supports identifying Thraen as this week’s leader within that group, without treating the size of the scoring difference as proof of a lasting advantage. ^{[2][6][7][1][5]}

Kicker results provide a more limited comparison among the supplied broad articles. Fabiano averaged 8.0 half-PPR points on 3 recommendations, Fitzmaurice 6.3 on 4, and Cooper 5.5 on 2. Fabiano therefore led the measured kicker group, adding another distinct positional leader to the report. There are no supplied kicker results for the other broad-article authors, so this is a comparison of the available kicker samples, not a ranking that places every tracked author at the position. ^[7][1][3]

Streamer results answer a narrower question

The dedicated FantasyPros streamer articles should be read separately from the broad waiver selections. Mike Fanelli’s quarterback article averaged 18.9 half-PPR points, with complete results for 2 of 3 recommendations. Ryan Kirksey’s tight end article averaged 2.2, with all 3 recommendations complete. Jacob Herlin’s defense article averaged 5.9, with all 8 complete. Their shared measurement is target-week scoring, but their different positions prevent those averages from serving as a meaningful leaderboard of streamer authors. ^[8][9][10]

There is no same-position peer article within this supplied streamer group, so the results establish outcomes rather than a competitive winner at each streaming position. Target-week points address immediate production; they would not by themselves establish the value of a stash or handcuff whose intended payoff lies beyond that week. No player-level result explicitly labeled speculative or handcuff is supplied here. Accordingly, this report cannot identify a strongest measured add in that category or assess it using a separate longer-horizon measure. ^{[8][9][10][6][5]}

What to carry into the next advice check

Coverage also matters when reading these outcomes. Mariano had complete results for 76 of 85 recommendations and Fitzmaurice for 36 of 38. Fabiano had 26 of 30, Thraen 14 of 16, Cooper 13 of 15, and Boone 9 of 10. Those are article-wide completion counts, not positional denominators. Keeping that distinction visible avoids implying that every recommendation contributed to every reported average, and shows why the available evidence is more extensive for some articles than others. ^{[6][1][7][2][3][4]}

The practical takeaway is to inspect the position and advice type relevant to the decision, rather than promote a blended weekly average into an overall trust ranking. These articles were recorded after their waiver deadlines: this is an account of how the advice played out, not a head-to-head race captured in advance. One week remains a small sample. Fan50’s waiver-wire hub carries season results by advice type for a wider view; this report establishes the observed positional leaders, while leaving their persistence unresolved. ^[5]

Sources

1. Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Players to Add, Stash & Drop (Week 3) · Checked November 5, 2026
2. Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3 (Fantasy Football) · Checked November 5, 2026
3. 2026 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 3: Denzel Boston, Jonah Coleman Top Picks · Checked November 5, 2026
4. Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 3: Jonah Coleman, Tre Tucker among top targets to add · Checked November 5, 2026
5. fan50.app · Checked November 5, 2026
6. Week 3 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Football Pickups Include Jonah Coleman, Tank Bigsby, Emanuel Wilson, Keon Coleman, Rashod Bateman, Tre Tucker, Oronde Gadsden, more · Checked November 5, 2026
7. Week 3 Fantasy Waiver Wire: Target Denzel Boston, Jonah Coleman · Checked November 5, 2026
8. Fantasy Football QB Streamers & Waiver Wire Targets (Week 3) · Checked November 5, 2026
9. Fantasy Football TE Streamers & Waiver Wire Targets (Week 3) · Checked November 5, 2026
10. Let’s Stream Defenses: Week 3 (2026 Fantasy Football) · Checked November 5, 2026