It’s Week 2 of the NFL season, and we already have big waiver wire news. Puka Nacua is out at least four weeks, Christian McCaffrey missed Monday Night Football, Jordan Love is hurt, and more! It stinks, but don’t give up as the Week 2 fantasy football waivers have a few options coming to your rescue.
HEADS UP
- Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
- Listed in order of preference — I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
- RB backups have a separate secondary list based on only if the lead option got hurt
- No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
- Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
WORRY REPORT
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
- Caleb Williams, QB, CHI — 🦆🦆 — Only Bryce Young had a higher OFFTGT% (26.7 to 24.1), and while Anthony Richardson and Jayden Daniels were third and fourth (21.1% and 20.8%), they both run and carry fantasy value there, whereas Williams (and Young) won’t see nearly the rushing boost.
- Zamir White, RB, LV — 🦆🦆🦆 — We had concerns with White’s limited passing game use, but Alexander Mattison cut into the rushing work a bit too with five carries to White’s 13. White will struggle to have RB2 value outside games the Raiders are favored in or when they can keep it close.
- Drake London, WR, ATL — 🦆🦆🦆🦆 (all for Kirk Cousins) — Faced one of the worst matchups. Normally, that would be a cause for patience, but Kirk Cousins being unable to drop back comfortably, run play action, etc. is a significant concern. Maybe Cousins is playing normally in a few weeks, but this is enough to warrant a few ducks.
- Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, ARI — 🦆 — Rookie wideouts struggle quite a bit in their debuts, and there was miscommunication on the first target, and Kyler Murray didn’t see Harrison for a would-be, wide-open, easy touchdown. There will be better days, and I’m not thinking of benching Harrison yet.
- Terry McLaurin, WR, WSH — 🦆🦆— The game plan included a lot of short and quick reads with McLaurin playing wide a majority of the time. I don’t understand taking away a strength of Daniels’ game, but the excitement for McLaurin’s “best quarterback yet” is a bit stifled by the play-calling.
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF — 🦆 — Kincaid ran the second-most routes — only Keon Coleman had more — on Bills dropbacks, so while it was concerning to see just two targets, better days are ahead with that kind of use.
POWER UP PLAYERS
(Scale 1-5: more mushrooms = more excitement)
- J.K. Dobbins, RB, LAC — 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — He’s healthy! Okay, Dobbins might only be 90% of his former self with a lower-than-desired top speed on his touchdown run, but if Dobbins can look this good at 90%, Top 20 running back value in this offense is in play as he gets “healthier.”
- Tony Pollard, RB, TEN — 🍄🍄 — Pollard ran as the lead with Tyjae Spears operating similarly to last year (21 routes, 29 snaps). Pollard even ran 17 routes, but the concern is Spears being the lead on passing downs and the Titans playing from behind more frequently.
- Alec Pierce, WR, IND — 🍄🍄 — Adonai Mitchell had two big plays (potential touchdowns) left on the field, so we might be looking at the Colts wideouts differently if not for a few things. That said, you can’t ignore Pierce’s day, but you also can’t ignore just three targets. Pierce can hold onto his big-play upside, but it’s better to look at him as a Gabe Davis type and not the Colts’ true No. 2 — in fact, Mitchell was the only one with an end zone target.
- Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC — 🍄🍄 — Few, if anyone, likes McConkey more than I do, and it’s exciting to see him lead the Chargers in receiving. Get excited but be cautious as well, as Joshua Palmer was still the clear No. 1, and Quentin Johnston ran as the No. 2 with DJ Chark out. McConkey played mostly in three-wide and in the slot, which limits his ceiling… a bit. So while you should keep the excitement in check for now, McConkey could be the best Chargers wideout before long.
- Isaiah Likely, TE, BAL — 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — Likely looked better than Mark Andrews. There’s no denying that. However, Andrews isn’t fading into the night, as he still ran more routes than Likely and is far from toast. On that note though, Likely lined up as the in-line tight end more than Andrews did (50.0% to 20.8%), so this isn’t merely the Ravens treating Likely as a wideout. Andrews and Likely can coexist, and it’s not out of the realm that Likely could have the better season given his ability.
STREAMING QUARTERBACKS
- Baker Mayfield, TB
- Justin Fields, PIT
- Geno Smith, SEA
- Derek Carr, NO
- Daniel Jones, NYG
- Sam Darnold, MIN
WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS
- Jordan Mason, SF — Couldn’t have gotten a better fill-in performance… well, maybe if the first touchdown wasn’t called back… and unfortunately, unless Mason was your Christian McCaffrey backup, you likely couldn’t swap him in. Nevertheless, Mason tops every option in case the 49ers decide they can be patient with CMC and wait another game for his return. If we knew CMC was playing in Week 2, Mason would fall back to above Justice Hill.
- J.K. Dobbins, LAC — See: Power Up Players. Dobbins will put his name in the Top 20 if he’s back to 100%.
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA — Here if Kenneth Walker misses time. If not, bump him down behind Tank Bigsby,
- Jaylen Wright, MIA — Here if De’Von Achane misses time. Jeff Wilson was in the mix, but Wright fills the Achane role better. If Achane is fine, bump Wright down behind Tyler Allgeier.
- Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN — McLaughlin ran more as the lead than Javonte Williams. Neither did much, but never turn your nose up at a running back with 50%+ of the backfield touches.
- Bucky Irving, TB — Looked good in his debut, though if Irving is going to push Rachaad White, it looks to be more as a runner than pass-catcher.
- Justice Hill, BAL — Derrick Henry had 92.9% of the rushing attempts, but Hill had a 8-6-52 line as a receiving option and looks to have RB3/Flex value in half and full-PPR.
- Tank Bigsby, JAX — Maybe the Jaguars were serious this time with easing off Travis Etienne a bit.
- Alexander Mattison, LV — The clear passing game option and ate into White’s rushes too.
- Ty Chandler, MIN — Sprinkled in a bit less than Mattison, but in a similar situation and could see more passing game work against tougher opponents.
- Jamaal Williams, NO — Back to sharing the work with Alvin Kamara but low floor in games he doesn’t score a touchdown.
- Rico Dowdle, DAL — No Dalvin Cook, so for now, Dowdle is still the complement to Ezekiel Elliott.
- Chuba Hubbard, CAR — Miles Sanders saw every third drive, and both were disappointing. Don’t know how you start either, but if one got hurt, maybe the volume returns.
- Samaje Perine, KC — Just one touch, but Perine was a late preseason addition. Still worth stashing.
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL — And Bijan Robinson managers celebrated across the land. Allgeier is a top-end backup.
- Miles Sanders, CAR — See: Hubbard.
- Khalil Herbert, CHI — The Bears offense stunk, but Herbert is next up… for now.
- Emanuel Wilson, GB — Until MarShawn Lloyd is healthy, Wilson is the complement and backup to Josh Jacobs.
- Pierre Strong, CLE — Next up for the Browns until Nick Chubb returns.
- Blake Corum, LAR — While the Kyren Williams concerns have been put to rest, he’s still a bit of an injury risk, so stash Corum.
- MarShawn Lloyd, GB — I still like Lloyd’s talent over Wilson, but Lloyd isn’t in the mix yet.
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — Here if Breece Hall were to miss time.
PURELY NEXT MAN UP RANKS
(if an injury ahead of them)
- Jordan Mason, SF
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Samaje Perine, KC
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA
- Tank Bigsby, JAX
- Bucky Irving, TB
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Ty Chandler, MIN
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Khalil Herbert, CHI
- Jamaal Williams, NO
- MarShawn Lloyd, GB
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Antonio Gibson, NE
- Trey Sermon, IND
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG
- Dalvin Cook, DAL
WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS
- Joshua Palmer, LAC — The Chargers passing game was weak, but Palmer ran a route on nearly 100% of the dropbacks. Better games are ahead.
- Rashid Shaheed, NO — Led the Saints in TmTGT% (20.8), and while that won’t be the norm, it was nice to see Shaheed targeted on three of four third downs, as well.
- Demarcus Robinson, LAR — Lest you forget the run Robinson had with the Rams last year. Puka Nacua is out for at least four weeks, making Robinson a must-grab.
- Tyler Johnson, LAR — Ran 91.7% of the routes without Nacua on the field with 21.2 TmTGT% and fits the Nacua role more. I have Robinson higher, but don’t overlook Johnson — you can even bid modest on Robinson and be happy with Johnson as a fallback.
- Romeo Doubs, GB — Doubs was the only Packers wideout to top 73.0 Route% (89.2) and is well worth the stash while we wait for Jordan Love to return — he would rank first if Love wasn’t missing time.
- Mike Williams, NYJ — Limited snap count for sure, but once Williams is up to 100%, he’s in play as a WR3, possibly even Top 25.
- Jakobi Meyers, LV — Meyers will continue to be a WR4 this season.
- Brandin Cooks, DAL — With Jake Ferguson ailing a bit and Jalen Tolbert not pushing for the No. 2 role, Cooks is a fine matchup-based WR4.
- Gabe Davis, JAX — Davis was the single-receiver option, which is good for his value and makes him worth a grab in case Christian Kirk falls to No. 3.
- Jalen McMillan, TB — I told you he knew how to get open! Now, if we don’t see 2-3 touchdowns left on the field!
- Adonai Mitchell, IND — Still grabbing and stashing Mitchell. Mitchell is a missed target or two from being the most-added wideout in fantasy this week. Still, he’ll be inconsistent since he’s coming off the field in two-wideout sets.
- Alec Pierce, IND — See Power Up Players.
- Adam Thielen, CAR — As mentioned last week, Thielen is in play as a WR4.
- Greg Dortch, ARI — Just fourth — including Trey McBride — in Route% (68.4) but second in TmTGT% (25.8). Murray trusts Dortch.
- Curtis Samuel, BUF — This is either too high or too low. Samuel might have been buried at receiver because he missed significant time this preseason. Or, he could have already lost his job to Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins.
- Andrei Iosivas, CIN — The Bengals offense was a disappointment, and Iosivas is better suited as the Tyler Boyd replacement and not Tee Higgins, as seen. Assuming Higgins is back, Iosivas is in play as a WR4.
- Darnell Mooney, ATL — Well, if you see the Worry Report, you know that Mooney might be waiting a few games before Cousins can hit him deep. Stash where you can for the future.
- Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG — Volume is needed, but the opportunity to be second in targets with Malik Nabers commanding top coverage is there.
- Jerry Jeudy, CLE — Running fewer routes than Elijah Moore, but Jeudy spent more time out wide and was the only other receiver to see a red zone or end zone target besides Amari Cooper.
- Mack Hollins, BUF — Deep stash, but while we wait to see if Curtis Samuel is worth holding, Hollins could find his way into the top three options and be Gabe Davis-like with boom/bust WR4 value.
- Noah Brown, WSH — The Commanders clearly don’t have a No. 2 option right now, as Luke McCaffrey is a fine slot/No. 3, similar to Iosivas. Once Brown is acclimated, he has the upside as a WR3… if the offense opens up and doesn’t keep Jayden Daniels running a Bo Nix offense.
- Ja’Lynn Polk, NE — Third in the wideout order for now, but we were likely waiting for Drake Maye to take over anyway.
- Jalen Nailor, MIN — With Jordan Addison sidelined, Nailor is next up, but you’d have to be pretty desperate.
- Devaughn Vele, DEN — I don’t expect Bo Nix to throw 42 times a game, and even if so, I don’t expect Vele to go 8-for-8, and even if so again, Nix throws it shorter than those Dr. Pepper scholarship game contestants.
- Jordan Whittington, LAR — Made noise in the preseason, and as mentioned above, sometimes mid-game adjustments for injuries don’t include the plan for a full game. Whittington is likely behind both Robinson and Johnson, but he’s worthy of a flier just in case.
- Roman Wilson, PIT — Van Jefferson was worth a stash in case, but like the Commanders, the No. 2 wideout answer isn’t rolling yet.
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
- Isaiah Likely, BAL — pick up as a starter
- Taysom Hill, NO
- Colby Parkinson, LAR
- Hunter Henry, NE
- Juwan Johnson, NO
- Tyler Conklin, NYJ
- Mike Gesicki, CIN
STREAMING DST
Week 2
- SEA at NE
- LAC at CAR
- HOU vs CHI
- DEN vs PIT
- IND at GB
- JAX vs CLE
- GB vs IND
Week 3
- LV vs CAR
- HOU at MIN
- TB vs DEN
- GB at TEN
- TEN vs GB (if Malik Willis)
- CHI at IND
- LAC at PIT
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
