# Mike Fanelli: In their Week 3 waiver-wire column, Fanelli said Rico Dowdle and Zay Flowers would both sit out Sunday while Adonai Mitchell plays, and that Jaylen Warren would take over as Pittsburgh's lead back. **Claimed:** Sep 26, 2026 **Pundit:** Mike Fanelli — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-fanelli **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/09/6-fantasy-football-waiver-wire-pickups-injury-replacements-week-3-2026/ 4 checkable claims — 3 availability calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room. > While Jaylen Warren will take over as the lead running back, Heidenreich should see meaningful touches as a change-of-pace option and in the passing game. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - “Fantasy players need to check Sunday’s game-day inactive report after Mitchell suffered a finger injury in practice earlier this week. Yet, he is expected to play on Sunday. (Week 3)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - “While Zay Flowers was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, fantasy players shouldn’t expect him to play on Sunday... Baltimore will likely keep Flowers out of the lineup again this week (Week 3)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - “Unfortunately, Rico Dowdle didn’t practice at all this week after suffering a toe injury in Week 2 and likely won’t play on Sunday. (Week 3)” - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Adonai Mitchell — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/adonai-mitchell - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Zay Flowers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zay-flowers - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Rico Dowdle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rico-dowdle - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Jaylen Warren — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-warren ## What others said about the same people - Bryan DeArdo on Joey Porter Jr.: The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a6edcb85-bcff-47cb-ba7d-e09dc7549fe1 (scored 0) - Rich Eisen on Aaron Rodgers: Eisen ranked their top five most impressive Pro Bowl campaigns of the season, topped by Sam Darnold, and predicted that Sunday would be Aaron Rodgers' last game with the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/55a977f9-9670-42fa-ba2f-141be02f583c (scored 0) - Albert Breer on Jacoby Brissett: Breer argues the Jaguars should be taken very seriously, seeing a path to 13 wins and the AFC's No. 1 seed with a first-round bye, and they expect the Jacoby Brissett trade to Baltimore to be completed within a day. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c51d9762-3ca3-4143-9372-bf508348053f (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Jacoby Brissett: In a Week 9 recap, Jahnke expects Mark Andrews to remain Baltimore's lead tight end but says rookie Matt Hibner is more likely than Josh Cuevas to eventually overtake them, and they anticipate the Ravens acquiring Jacoby Brissett to start at quarterback. They also suggest Brian Thomas Jr. may have played their final game for Jacksonville ahead of the trade deadline. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15c4c161-616c-4ed8-be6d-ad326cc50853 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Mike Florio on Jake Moody: Florio expects Jake Moody to be promoted from Baltimore's practice squad to the 53-man roster if Tyler Loop lands on injured reserve. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/886a925c-c92f-46d9-a318-6203a5064de7 (scored 0) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Parker Hurley on Deebo Samuel Sr.: Hurley argued the 49ers' real deadline need was a pass-catching tight end rather than a receiver, and stated that Deebo Samuel will be available to play this week for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ae5291fa-ecc5-4950-9235-fba7a9bbbcd1 (not settled) - Ethan Hurwitz on TreVeyon Henderson: Hurwitz laid out that Henderson's IR placement rules the running back out through Week 14, with Week 15 against the Chiefs the earliest possible return, and suggested the season may already be finished given the Patriots' limited return-to-play designations. Hurwitz also projected Rhamondre Stevenson continuing as the lead back with Corey Kiner and Lan Larison taking on larger offensive roles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/90dc59fd-f9cd-4003-8198-8469fd45d62e (not settled) - Bill Huber on Lukas Van Ness: Huber reasoned from the fact that neither Arron Mosby nor Nyjalik Kelly was elevated that edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, listed as questionable with a back injury, would be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game against the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4a68970a-3ae8-46c4-a395-298520a3614b (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez argued the 49ers should have rested newly acquired receiver Keenan Allen against Dallas since Allen will go the whole 2026 season without a bye, but expects Allen to suit up and play every game starting with Sunday's game versus the Cowboys. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fb08e172-6694-4e55-a092-2b59e28fa9a2 (not settled) - Alain Poupart on Chris Bell: Poupart expects wide receiver Chris Bell to be inactive for the Week 10 game at Indianapolis because of a knee injury, with Jalen Reagor elevated in place of Bell. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cec7fbf1-6192-474f-9d80-f1efb9574ce8 (not settled) - Jose Sanchez on Keenan Allen: Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ee391462-23a7-487d-ae3f-667d892af236 (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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