Fantasy Football Week 3: Top Free Agent Quarterback Pickups

Daniel Jones of the Indianapolis Colts – Indiana Jones’ Last Call

If Jones is still on your waiver wire, this is likely your final shot. The Colts’ quarterback has piled up 3 rushing touchdowns, 2 passing scores, and a surprising amount of passing yardage to start the season. He’s under 30% owned in some leagues but playing like a weekly fantasy starter.

With Jonathan Taylor commanding defensive respect, Jones is free to operate in a balanced offense that keeps him upright—something he rarely experienced with the New York Giants. Against the Tennessee Titans this week, Jones projects as a top-12 fantasy QB with dual-threat upside. If he posts another 20+ point outing, he’ll be 80% owned by Sunday night.

Betting Angle: Sportsbooks have set his rushing yard props aggressively in the 30–35 yard range, but his anytime touchdown odds remain attractive given his goal-line usage. Against a Titans defense prone to QB scrambles, the over on both rushing yards and TD markets makes sense.

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Russell Wilson of the New York Giants– Fool’s Gold?

Wilson’s ownership spiked after a massive overtime stat line, but most of that production came in a single game script. The reality: he’s on borrowed time, with Jaxson Dart looming as the future starter.

This week, Wilson draws the Kansas City Chiefs, a matchup that could inflate his numbers if game flow forces volume. Still, the risk is sky-high. He’s worth a desperation spot start in 2QB or superflex formats, but the long-term value is shaky.

Betting Angle: Wilson’s passing yard props sit in the 225–235 range, but the market is volatile. If you’re betting overs, target attempts rather than yardage, since Denver could easily trail and force 35+ passes.

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Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers– Safe, But Capped

Rodgers is still hanging around in the 22% ownership zone after cooling off in Week 2. The Steelers’ defense has been leaky, which may actually force Rodgers into more volume than expected. The matchup with the New England Patriots is tricky, but Rodgers remains a mid-tier QB2 with stability if not much ceiling.

If you’re stuck between Rodgers and Wilson, Rodgers is the safer pivot. But if you’re chasing upside, Jones has the higher fantasy ceiling.

Betting Angle: Rodgers’ passing yard props are typically set in the 235–245 range, and the under has been the sharper side early in the season. For bettors, his best market may be interceptions thrown, especially against opportunistic defenses like New England.

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Spencer Rattler of the New Orleans Saints– The Wild Card

Through two games, rookie Rattler has looked poised for the Saints, keeping Chris Olave fantasy relevant and avoiding turnovers. That said, both starts came at home. Week 3 sends him into the fire at the Seattle Seahawks, where the environment is brutal for young quarterbacks.

Still, Rattler has flashed mobility and a willingness to take deep shots, giving him sneaky fantasy appeal in superflex formats. If he survives Seattle without imploding, his ownership will spike.

Betting Angle: Sportsbooks are treating Rattler conservatively, hanging passing yard props in the 190–200 range. This creates a potential buy-low scenario if you believe the Saints’ offense is better than expected. His over 0.5 passing touchdowns prop could offer value at plus money.

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Fantasy & Betting Verdict

• Daniel Jones is the priority add—he’s playing like a locked-in fantasy starter with rushing upside and betting value in prop markets.

• Aaron Rodgers is a safe fallback if you need a floor play.

• Russell Wilson is a short-term streaming option, but don’t chase last week’s box score.

• Spencer Rattler is the true lottery ticket—worth stashing if you’re in deeper leagues or want exposure to a potential breakout.

For fantasy managers and bettors alike, Week 3 is the last chance to grab Jones before he graduates from sleeper to must-start status.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.