Matt Bowen Sep 25, 2026, 06:48 AM ET Close Matt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on "NFL Matchup." After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons. 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.

Quarterbacks 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 Commanders. This defense gave up four touchdown passes to Dak Prescott in Week 2 and has allowed a league-high seven through two games. Darnold will take his shots to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

And if Darnold isn't cleared, then I would pick up Drew Lock (3.7% rostered). The Seahawks' No. 2 quarterback threw three touchdowns and accumulated 21.4 fantasy points against the Arizona Cardinals last week. Geno Smith, New York Jets (6.0% rostered; at Lions)Smith hasn't produced big numbers over his first two games (12.4 fantasy PPG), and he has thrown only one touchdown pass.

But the matchup works here versus a struggling Detroit Lions defense, one that is missing its difference-makers in the secondary. Detroit has given up a league-high 32.0 fantasy PPG to opposing quarterbacks. Sure, Smith isn't on the same level as Josh Allen, who scored 40.82 points versus the Lions last week.

However, Smith will have opportunities to attack coverage voids Sunday at Ford Field. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (8.8% rostered; at Saints)Cousins is your deeper-league flier this week, and he's playing pretty good football. He has scored 17.0 fantasy PPG thanks to three touchdown passes in each game this season, and he's attacking multiple levels of the field.

Cousins, who should be viewed as a ball distributor in Klint Kubiak's offense, faces a Saints defense that ranks in the middle of the pack versus opposing quarterbacks (15.6 fantasy PPG). Cousins can start in deeper, 2QB/superflex formats. Wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (41.3% rostered; at Bears)We wrote about Wicks in this space last week, and we'll keep going back to the Eagles' ascending receiver until he hits that 50% rostered threshold.

Wicks caught five of six targets for 74 yards in the Week 2 win over the Titans, and he has scored at least 12 points in both games played. I like the matchup Monday night versus a Bears defe...