Week 3 waivers have run. The blind bids are processed, the big FAAB swings are done, and the players everyone was buzzing about Wednesday morning are on new rosters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
But the work isn’t over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Once your league’s waiver run finishes, whoever is left becomes a first-come, first-served free agent<\/strong>. No bidding. No waiting. The first manager who clicks “add” gets the player. That makes this the most overlooked window of the entire week, and the managers who check it first are the ones who win it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n That’s what this column is for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n I’m Jonathon, a 17-year commissioner at Masters Fantasy Football Leagues. Over nearly two decades of running and watching dynasty leagues, I’ve seen the same mistake over and over: managers treat the waiver wire as valuable only when a clear breakout star is sitting there.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n That mindset leaves value on the table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n In dynasty fantasy football, some of the most important adds are the players still available after the initial feeding frenzy. These players may already have a role, could see that role expand, or simply have enough talent and opportunity that they shouldn’t be free agents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n None of the players below are guaranteed league-winners. Dynasty rarely works that way. But if they’re available in your league right now, they’re worth a serious look before someone else grabs them for free.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n At Masters, our dynasty formats are built for exactly this kind of long-term roster management: 21-man rosters<\/a>, three-round rookie drafts<\/a>, and a structure that rewards managers who keep acquiring value year after year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Every blind-bidding window produces drama. A running back gets 15 touches and suddenly eats half someone’s FAAB budget. A wide receiver scores a touchdown and gets treated like the next superstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Then the bidding ends, the dust settles, and the free agent pool looks different.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n That’s when the leftovers get interesting. Maybe a player was overlooked. Maybe he had a quiet Week 1 and people stopped paying attention. Maybe he’s behind an established starter, or one injury away from a completely different dynasty valuation. These are the situations worth acting on while the players are free.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Ownership: approximately 11%<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n AJ Dillon is rostered in only about 11% of leagues. The former second-round pick of the Green Bay Packers has already proven he can handle an NFL workload. In 2021 he topped 800 rushing yards on fewer than 190 carries, showing the efficiency and physical style that first made him an intriguing dynasty asset.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Now in Carolina, the picture has shifted. Jonathan Brooks is out again, which changes the backfield math. The Panthers’ offense has shown signs of life, and Dillon’s build gives him a realistic path to meaningful work, whether as a short-yardage and goal-line option, a touchdown vulture, or a bigger share of the carries if injuries pile up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n You’re not adding Dillon because you expect him to be your RB1 tomorrow. You’re adding him because the price is zero and there’s a clear path to more opportunity. At 11% owned, he belongs on every dynasty manager’s short list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Ownership: approximately 29%<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Tyquan Thornton is easy to dismiss. He saw one target and caught nothing in Week 1, and he sits at roughly 29% ownership. Dynasty managers should resist that urge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n In Week 2 against the Colts, Thornton caught all four of his targets for 86 yards, and two of those catches came on third-and-long. He hauled in a 45-yard grab on 3rd-and-11 to set up a go-ahead touchdown, then a 30-yard catch on 3rd-and-12 in overtime to keep the game-winning drive alive. He did that while playing less than 60% of the snaps.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n That tells you something: when Patrick Mahomes needs a big play downfield, he’s looking Thornton’s way. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy haven’t locked down the receiver room so completely that Thornton is shut out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Thornton doesn’t need to become the Chiefs’ WR1. He needs continued targets and the chance to turn them into big plays. One injury or usage change could change his trajectory fast. At 29% owned, he’s worth claiming before the rest of your league notices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Ownership: approximately 51%<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Keon Coleman sitting on roughly half of dynasty free agent lists is surprising enough that you should check your league right now. The former second-round pick is only in his third NFL season and just posted a clean 6-catch, 6-target, 63-yard game in one of the league’s more potent offenses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n With a 6-foot-3 frame and a big catch radius, Coleman has the physical tools that made him a highly regarded prospect. Questions about maturity and consistency have followed him, but those concerns don’t erase the underlying talent or the environment he’s in. Young receivers sometimes need the right supporting cast and coaching to take the next step.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n The dynasty community can be impatient with developing wideouts. When the instant 100-yard, two-touchdown breakout doesn’t come, players get dropped. Coleman still has draft capital, physical tools, and recent efficiency on his side. If he’s available, don’t assume your league has moved on for good.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Ownership: approximately 37%<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n This is the deepest name on the list, which is exactly the point of digging through the leftovers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Demond Claiborne is a rookie sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest with legitimate 4.3 speed. He was a healthy scratch in Week 1, but the Minnesota backfield changed quickly. Jordan Mason fractured his thumb, had surgery, and landed on injured reserve, which keeps him out at least through the Vikings’ Week 6 bye. Aaron Jones is now the lead back, and at 32 years old he will need someone to spell him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Claiborne isn’t the automatic answer. Ball security has been his biggest problem going back to college, and veteran DeeJay Dallas is his main competition for backup work. But the door is open, and speed like his is exactly what an aging backfield lacks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n At 37% owned, Claiborne is a pure stash. Sometimes the best dynasty adds are the ones you make before the rest of the league decides what a player will become.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n This is where dynasty separates itself from redraft. In redraft you chase immediate production. In dynasty you ask different questions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Players like the ones above are worth adding even when they aren’t household names, because you’re buying possibility rather than certainty. And in the first-come, first-served window, you’re doing it without spending a dollar of FAAB or a draft pick. The only cost is a roster spot. That’s a very different risk calculation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n The biggest mistake isn’t always missing the obvious player. Often it’s assuming the wire is empty once the waiver run closes. It isn’t. There are still overlooked names, players who were dropped, players who had one quiet week, and players waiting for their opportunity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n The difference now is speed. During blind bidding, everyone gets a fair shot. In first-come, first-served, the manager who checks first wins. Log in early.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n AJ Dillon. Tyquan Thornton. Keon Coleman. Demond Claiborne. None are guaranteed stars. All four have real reasons to be on your radar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n At Masters Fantasy Football Leagues, dynasty isn’t just a talking point. We’ve been running fantasy football leagues since 2008, and this is our 19th season. Masters has filled more than 20,000 leagues, paid out over $34 million to winners, and has never folded a dynasty league.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Our dynasty formats feature 21-man rosters, three-round rookie drafts, and long-term roster management that puts every decision in the hands of the general manager. You’re not just setting a weekly lineup. You’re building an organization: deciding when to buy, when to sell, when to rebuild, and when to grab a free agent before everyone else sees what you see.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Ready to build your dynasty?<\/strong> Join a Masters dynasty league today<\/a> or browse all open leagues<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Waivers have run. That doesn’t mean the free agent pool is empty. It means it’s time to look a little harder, and a little faster.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n You don’t need every player to become a star. You need to identify the players whose situations can change. Six weeks from now, the guy sitting at 11% ownership today could be the name everyone is fighting over. If you grabbed him for free, that’s the kind of quiet move that reshapes a dynasty roster.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Dig through the leftovers. Just get there first.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n In dynasty fantasy football, the waiver wire is a year-round tool for acquiring long-term roster value, not just short-term production. Redraft managers usually chase immediate points. Dynasty managers weigh opportunity, age, draft capital, and upside that may not show up for weeks or months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Once your league’s waiver period is processed, any player still unclaimed becomes a free agent. From that point, the first manager to add him gets him, with no bidding and no waiver priority. That’s why checking the free agent pool right after waivers clear is one of the easiest edges in dynasty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Low ownership often means the market has undervalued a player’s role or upside. Dillon’s physical profile and Carolina’s backfield injuries, plus Thornton’s big-play production for Kansas City in Week 2, create free upside that can pay off if their opportunity grows.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Yes. Coleman is still a young former second-round pick with size, recent target efficiency, and a strong offensive environment. Managers who wait for perfect production often miss developing receivers before their roles solidify.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Stash backs whose path to playing time opens because of an injured or aging veteran, especially when the cost is only a roster spot. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve and Aaron Jones at 32, Claiborne is a classic low-cost lottery ticket, not a must-start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Assuming the wire is dead once the obvious names are gone. Many valuable long-term assets stay available because they had a quiet week or sit behind established starters. Checking the free agent pool as soon as waivers clear separates proactive dynasty managers from reactive ones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe Dynasty Waiver Wire After Week 3 Blind Bidding<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
AJ Dillon \u2014 RB, Carolina Panthers<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Tyquan Thornton \u2014 WR, Kansas City Chiefs<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Keon Coleman \u2014 WR, Buffalo Bills<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Demond Claiborne \u2014 RB, Minnesota Vikings<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
The Dynasty Free Agent Rule: Don’t Just Chase Last Week’s Points<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
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Don’t Assume the Waiver Wire Is Dead After Wednesday<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Masters Fantasy Football Leagues \u2014 Build Your Dynasty<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Final Word From the Commish<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Dynasty Waiver Wire Week 3 FAQ<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
What is the dynasty waiver wire, and how does it differ from redraft?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
What does first-come, first-served mean after waivers run?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Why are low-ownership players like AJ Dillon and Tyquan Thornton worth adding in Week 3?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
Is Keon Coleman still worth adding in dynasty leagues at around 50% ownership?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
When should I stash a deep dynasty running back like Demond Claiborne?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
What is the biggest dynasty waiver wire mistake after the early weeks?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n