Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 3: Stroud, Wicks, Spears among top options - ESPN

At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.

Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.

With a brutal run on quarterback injuries in Week 2 — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart — there's a need for the position in deeper leagues and 2QB/superflex formats. So, that's where we'll start, with four available quarterbacks to check out. Plus, I have a group of wide receivers, with two ascending players and a high-upside target. As always, we'll hit on the running backs and tight ends, while ending with a defense in a prime matchup.

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (36.4% rostered; at Colts)

Stroud would be a fringe QB1 for me in shallower leagues this week if Nico Collins (hamstring) is cleared to go. Even if not, I still see value here as a streaming option versus an Indianapolis Colts defense that ranks in the bottom five against QBs, giving up a league-worst 337.5 passing yards per game. Stroud has scored at least 16 fantasy points in both games this season, and the Texans will look to create more offensive balance against the Colts after attempting 55 passes in their Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Stroud can be started in deeper formats.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (26.9% rostered; at Commanders)

I'd get Darnold (glute) in the lineup this week if he's ready to roll, given the matchup versus the Washington