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- Week 2 Waiver Targets
By :: Tony Kneepkens (@tonytk44)
These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week who are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues as of Sunday evening. Priorities and FAAB recommendations are meant to differentiate between some of the options available and are assuming 12-team, single-QB, fantasy formats.
It’s not the strongest week for waivers, with no high-priority recommendations. I will be looking to save my FAAB and hopefully improve my waiver priority in most of my own leagues, but there are still some solid, widely available options for short-term lineup help and/or longer-term speculation.
QB Pickups
Daniel Jones, IND, Week 2 vs DEN
Jones had a great Colts debut, passing for 272 yards and a TD and rushing for 26 yards and two more TDs against an overmatched Miami team. He spread the ball around seven different pass catchers but focused most of his attention on Michael Pittman (6/80/1) and rookie TE phenom Tyler Warren (7/76).
Low-priority add. Jones is my favorite QB pickup based on his dual-threat upside, but he has a matchup to avoid against the elite Broncos defense this week. He’s still worth a stash to see how he handles himself against Denver and if Warren and/or any of the Colts young WRs continue to ascend this year.
3% or less of FAAB.
Michael Penix Jr., ATL, Week 2 at MIN
Penix threw for 298 yards and a TD and added a useful 6/21/1 rushing line in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay. He peppered one-time top-10 picks Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson with 30 of his 42 pass attempts. London left the game with a shoulder injury and is considered day-to-day. WR2 Darnell Mooney missed Week 1 with injury and is rumored to be close to a return.
Low-priority add. I like adding Penix as a second QB option for teams with a lower-end starter to allow you to play your favorite each week based on matchups. He looks comfortable leading a talented offense in his second year and has a decent short-term schedule (at MIN, at CAR, home vs. WAS) before a Week 5 bye.
3% or less of FAAB.
Longer-term QB stash:
Jaxson Dart (NYG) - Russell Wilson floundered in his Giants debut, and while the calls for Dart have already begun, the Giants insist Wilson is their starter this week in Dallas. Dart seems certain to start games at some point and appears to have a fantasy-friendly skill set based on preseason usage.
RB Pickups
Trey Benson, AZ, Week 2 vs CAR
Benson, a second-year back who was the 66th pick in last year’s NFL Draft, handled 40% of the Cardinals Week 1 RB carries. He rushed for a team-high 69 yards, highlighted by an explosive 52 yard run, and added a catch for six yards. Veteran RB James Conner handled the rest of the RB carries and caught four passes, including a TD.
Medium-priority add. It’s exciting to see this early-season usage from a talented young RB, and the team seems to have big plans for him. This week’s opponent, Carolina, just allowed Jaguars RBs to rush for 173 yards on 25 carries, including a 71-yard run. Benson might be in Flex consideration already this week in a favorable matchup and has massive contingent upside backing up his veteran teammate Conner.
10-20% of FAAB.
Dylan Sampson, CLE, Week 2 at BAL
Sampson, a rookie fourth-round pick, handled 12 of 21 RB carries and was one of four Browns to receive 8+ targets from QB Joe Flacco, catching all eight of his. He accumulated 93 scrimmage yards in all, impressive usage for a rookie RB who happens to be the youngest player in the NFL this season.
Medium-priority add. The complication here is the presence of the Browns’ even higher-drafted rookie RB, second-rounder Quinshon Judkins. Judkins recently signed his rookie contract, adding to a crowded RB room that also includes veteran Jerome Ford. Sampson showed enough in his pro debut to be rostered in all formats until this backfield shakes itself out.
5-15% or less of FAAB.
Kenneth Gainwell, PIT, Week 2 vs SEA
Gainwell, an offseason FA signing, had seven of the Steelers’ 19 RB carries and four of their six RB targets but only 23 scrimmage yards in Week 1. He played to a nearly even touch split with teammate Jaylen Warren (13 touches, 59 scrimmage yards) in a back-and-forth 34-32 win over the Jets.
Low-priority add. We have to consider adding any RB with a 44% RB opportunity share like Kenny had in his team debut. It was strong usage, but Warren was more effective with his own touches and rookie third-round RB Kaleb Johnson (one carry, minus-2 yards) seems likely to have his role expand as the season progresses.
3% or less of FAAB.
Some additional RB bench stashes to consider:
Tyler Allgeier (ATL) - Handled 10 of 22 RB carries Week 1. A skilled backup/complementary RB on a solid Falcons offense.
Bhayshul Tuten (JAX) - While he’s over 50% owned, Tuten’s fantasy outlook just got a significant boost with Monday’s trade of Tank Bigsby to the Eagles, considering both the opportunity it creates and the statement it makes about the team’s faith in the rookie fourth-round pick. Consider adding him if available.
DJ Giddens (IND) - The majority of the rookie’s 12 carries were in mop-up time, but he showed he is the clear #2 RB in Indy.
Blake Corum (LAR) - Primary backup on a good (and RB-friendly) offense.
Jaydon Blue (DAL) - Healthy scratch in Week 1, but the explosive rookie runner is worthy of a stash to see if his role ever changes (exists), at least until the bye weeks start to hit.
IR stash candidate(s): Tyjae Spears (TEN)
WR Pickups
Hollywood Brown, KC, Week 2 vs PHI
Hollywood turned his league-leading 16 targets into a 10/99 stat line in the Chiefs’ season-opening loss in Brazil. He was afforded more opportunities when Xavier Worthy left a few plays into the game with a dislocated shoulder after a violent collision over the middle.
Medium-priority add. Worthy has been deemed “day-to-day,” and with Rashee Rice suspended for the next handful of games, Hollywood should have every opportunity to remain one of Patrick Mahomes’ top few targets for the foreseeable future.
10-20% of FAAB.
Quentin Johnston, LAC, Week 2 at LV
QJ led the Chargers in receiving yards (79) and caught a pair of TDs in their Week 1 victory. Justin Herbert threw 26 of his 34 passes to Johnston, Keenan Allen, and Ladd McConkey, and only six passes to non-WRs. Allen is another fine addition himself, but he’s rostered in slightly more than half of leagues.
Medium-priority add. QJ’s role as a top-three passing game option for one of the league’s best QBs should not be overlooked. This is the type of WR I like to have on my bench to play in certain matchups or to cover bye weeks.
10-20% of FAAB.
Kayshon Boutte, NE, Week 2 at MIA
Boutte led (or tied) the Pats in targets, catches, and receiving yards on Sunday, starting and playing alongside Stefon Diggs in two-WR sets. He’s shown some good chemistry with second-year QB Drake Maye. Boutte’s last four regular-season receiving lines have been 6/103, 7/117/1, 4/26, 5/95/1.
Medium-priority add. Boutte has a strong role with an ascending QB. My biggest knock on him as a priority waiver addition is the sheer number of WRs on the New England roster and the way they feature multiple RBs and TEs in their passing game.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:
Calvin Austin III (PIT) - Caught four of six targets for 70 yards, including one of QB Aaron Rodgers’ four TD passes.
Cedric Tillman (CLE) - Had his solid 5/52/1 opener ruined by a costly drop that was intercepted to end the game.
Jayden Higgins (HOU) - The rookie second-round pick led the Texans with just 32 receiving yards in an ugly Week 1 loss to the Rams.
Rashod Bateman/DeAndre Hopkins (BAL) - Lamar Jackson threw only 19 passes in Week 1, but six of them (31%) went to these two, along with one of his passing TDs, a sick one-handed snag by Hopkins.
Tyquan Thornton/JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) - Combined for seven catches and 96 yards in the KC opener. Seems likely these two will make up the rest of the Chiefs’ three-WR set with Hollywood if Worthy misses games.
IR stash candidate(s): Jalen Coker (CAR)
TE Pickups
Brenton Strange, JAX, Week 2 at CIN
Strange, a 2023 second-round draft pick, led the Jags in receiving yards last week, catching all four of his targets for 59 yards. He was one of four players with four or more targets from Trevor Lawrence.
Medium-priority add. Strange is my favorite TE pickup of the week to make immediate starts, but there are a few other solid TE options widely available. There were several injuries to starting-caliber fantasy TEs last week, so be prepared for competition if you have a favorite.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Harold Fannin Jr., CLE, Week 2 at BAL
Fannin, a rookie third-round draft pick, was a legendary college producer and immediately stepped into a team-high nine targets from Joe Flacco in Week 1. He was featured in Cleveland’s gameplan after playing and being rested with other key starters during the preseason.
Medium-priority add. While the talented rookie TE has shown he has an immediate role, I prefer to add him as a longer-term stash to monitor than as an immediate spot starter.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Juwan Johnson, NO, Week 2 vs SF
Johnson led the Saints with eight catches and 76 yards in Week 1. Only WR Chris Olave had more than his 11 targets from QB Spencer Rattler, who threw 46 passes in his season debut.
Low-to-medium priority add. Another reasonable option to fill in for an injured or ineffective TE starter after drawing nearly 24% of team targets in the Saints’ season-opening loss.
10% or less of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:
Chig Okonkwo (TEN) - Chig drew the third-most targets from rookie QB Cam Ward in their season-opening loss in Denver.
Jonnu Smith (PIT) - Caught a team-high five passes, including a TD in Week 1, but for just 15 total yards.
Noah Fant (CIN) - Tied a team high with five targets and caught a TD in his team debut.
DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 2)
Rams (at Titans)
49ers (at Saints)
Cowboys (home vs Giants)
Packers (home vs Commanders)
Patriots (at Dolphins)