Week 2 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)

Long-awaited Week 1 is finally in the books and it certainly had its ups and downs. If you are new to fantasy football and Week 1 left you scratching your head, don’t worry. The first week of the NFL is always weird. This year is no exception to that rule, especially with an abbreviated training camp and no preseason games.

Your experience in fantasy football doesn’t change the fact that football is a violent sport and there will be injuries, perhaps more so this year than any other. Check out Matthew Betz’ Injury Recap Week 1 for a breakdown of these injuries and timetables to return.

It’s the beginning of the season so the waiver wire is stocked with talent available to claim for Week 2. If you are in deeper leagues, some of these names are likely rostered, but it never hurts to double-check.

Get a full breakdown of Week 2 Waiver pickups + QB Streamers to consider on the latest episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast.

WR Waiver Adds

Let’s start out with Darius Slayton of the New York Giants. He has been considered a “deep-threat” asset in the Giants’ offense, but he proved he is far more versatile than just stretching the field. QB Daniel Jones had pressure in his face all game from T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree and he needed to get rid of the ball quickly and often. Slayton seemed to be his preferred target, catching six receptions on nine targets for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He is rostered in 65% of ESPN leagues and 76% of Yahoo leagues, so he may not be available, but make sure you double-check. If you need WR depth, he is the guy to target.

The Atlanta Falcons spread the ball around in a prolific pass-happy offense, which led the NFL attempts with 54 and through the air with 434 yards in Week 1. Here is a fun fact to think about if you missed out on Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley at your draft. Russell Gage saw 12 targets, which is tied with both Jones and Ridley. Although he didn’t find the end zone this week, he did post 114 yards, just 16 yards fewer than Ridley. It’s very possible we see more of Gage in 2020 as defenses start scheming for Jones, Ridley, and RB Todd Gurley. He’s an excellent WR3 or Flex option in a high-flying offense that doesn’t intend to slow down any time soon.

We were all excited to see how QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would fare against the New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers started off on the right foot, but the offense went sideways as the game progressed. Eyes were on WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as well as how the run game would shake out with Ronald Jones and newly acquired Leonard Fournette. It seemed that only Brady had eyes for Scotty Miller, who popped up on fantasy radars in a big way during that game. He saw just one fewer target than Godwin and two more than Evans with 6 targets, five receptions, and 79 yards. If Brady continues with dink and dunk passes, Miller should play a big role in getting his QB out of hot water.

Darius Slayton, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 65% / Yahoo 76%)
@CHI, SF, @LAR
Week 1 vs PIT — 6/102/2 on 9 targets

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Parris Campbell, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 30% / Yahoo 22%)
MIN, NYJ, @CHI
Week 1 @JAX — 6/71/0 on 9 targets — 1/9/0 rushing

Mike Williams, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 49% / Yahoo 45%)
KC, CAR, @TB
Week 1 @CIN — 4/69/0 on 9 targets

Emmanuel Sanders, Saints (Rostered: ESPN 79% / Yahoo 74%)
@LV, GB, @DET
Week 1 vs TB — 3/15/1 on 5 targets

Russell Gage, Falcons (Rostered: ESPN 4% / Yahoo 2%)
@DAL, CHI, @GB
Week 1 vs SEA — 9/114/0 on 12 targets

Jalen Reagor, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 28% / Yahoo 38%)
LAR, CIN, @SF
Week 1 @WAS — 1/55/0 on 4 targets

Allen Lazard, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 25% / Yahoo 43%)
DET, @NO, ATL
Week 1 @MIN — 4/63/1 on 4 targets

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 8%)
DET, @NO, ATL
Week 1 @MIN — 4/96/1 on 6 targets

Robby Anderson, Panthers (Rostered: ESPN 68% / Yahoo 31%)
@TB, @LAC, ARI
Week 1 vs LV — 6/115/1 on 8 targets – 2pt conv

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Curtis Samuel, Panthers (Rostered: ESPN 48% / Yahoo 31%)
@TB, @LAC, ARI
Week 1 vs LV — 5/38/0 on 8 targets — 1/5/0 rushing

Scotty Miller, Buccaneers (Rostered: ESPN 5% / Yahoo 6%)
CAR, @DEN, LAC
Week 1 @NO — 5/73/0 on 6 targets — 1/6/0 rushing

Sammy Watkins, Chiefs (Rostered: ESPN 46% / Yahoo 49%)
@LAC, @BAL, NE
Week 1 vs HOU — 7/82/1 on 9 targets — 1/3/0 rushing

RB Waiver Adds

The running back position carried the most confusion in terms of roles and volume heading into Week 1 with nearly every NFL team sporting some sort of running back by committee. It was also the hardest hit with the injury bug.

After Monday night’s first game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New York Giants, it’s pretty clear Benny Snell needs to be added to your rosters. I hate to see it, but James Conner is dealing with an early injury (sprained ankle) and Snell got the lion’s share of the volume once Conner went down. He is also barely rostered in ESPN (15%) and Yahoo leagues (16%).

Colts RB Marlon Mack went down with a torn Achilles in Sunday’s game, surging optimism for GMs starting Jonathon Taylor. While I do think he’ll see a bulk of the workload, pass-catching back Nyheim Hines was featured often in the offense and became a target-favorite for QB Philip Rivers. He reminded me a lot of the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler and he should be featured in tandem with Taylor moving forward.

Speaking of the Chargers, my personal target for Week 2 is rookie Joshua Kelley. He worked side-by-side with Ekeler, rushing twelve times for 60 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t make as much of a splash as other waiver candidates like Hines and Malcolm Brown, but should be consistently used in the Chargers offense moving forward. He is only rostered in 11% of ESPN leagues and 13% of Yahoo leagues.

Benny Snell, Steelers (Rostered: ESPN 15% / Yahoo 16%)
DEN, HOU, @TEN
Week 1 @NYG — 19/113/0 – zero catches on 1 target

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Nyheim Hines, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 34% / Yahoo 21%)
MIN, NYJ, @CHI
Week 1 @JAX — 7/28/1 — 8/45/1 on 8 targets

Malcolm Brown, Rams (Rostered:  ESPN 8% / Yahoo 27%)
@PHI, @BUF, NYG
Week 1 vs DAL — 18/79/2 — 3/31/0 on 4 targets

James Robinson, Jaguars (Rostered: ESPN 29% / Yahoo 56%)
@TEN, MIA, @CIN
Week 1 vs IND — 16/62/0 — 1/28/0 on 1 target

Joshua Kelley, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 11% / Yahoo 13%)
KC, CAR, @TB
Week 1 @CIN — 12/60/1

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals (Rostered: ESPN 32% / Yahoo 41%)
WSH, DET, @CAR
Week 1 @SF — 6/26/0 — 3/19/1 on 5 targets

Corey Clement, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 8% / Yahoo 2%)
LAR, CIN, @SF
Week 1 @WAS — 6/19/0 — 2/2/0 on 2 targets

Boston Scott, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 55% / Yahoo 57%)
LAR, CIN, @SF
Week 1 @WAS — 9/35/0 — 2/19/0 on 2 targets

Jerick McKinnon, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 16% / Yahoo 11%)
@NYJ, @NYG, PHI
Week 1 vs ARI — 3/24/0 — 3/20/1 on 5 targets

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Frank Gore, Jets (Rostered: ESPN 3% / Yahoo 4%)
SF, @IND, DEN
Week 1 @BUF — 6/24/0

Peyton Barber, Washington (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 4%)
@ARI, @CLE, BAL
Week 1 vs PHI — 17/29/2

Adrian Peterson, Lions (Rostered: ESPN 21% / Yahoo 46%)
@GB, @ARI, NO
Week 1 vs CHI — 14/93/0 — 3/21/0 on 3 targets

Myles Gaskin, Dolphins (Rostered: ESPN 0% / Yahoo 1%)
BUF, @JAX, SEA
Week 1 @NE — 9/40/0 — 4/26/0 on 4 targets

TE Waiver Adds

Poor Mike Wright. His “my guy” and breakout-hopeful tight end, Blake Jarwin, looks to be out with a season-ending ACL tear. While this is devastating to morale (for Mike and the Cowboys) you probably drafted Jarwin as your TE2 or as a wait-and-see flyer. Fortunately, you have some options if you need some help at the TE position.

Despite a stout Denver defense, the Titans proved they are committed to the run this year with Derrick Henry. WR Corey Davis did have himself a game, virtually eliminating A.J. Brown from the fantasy world. However, it was TE Jonnu Smith who helped bail out QB Ryan Tannehill. Four of his 29 completions went to Smith, including a touchdown grab. The passing game looked shaky, but I don’t expect Davis to continue to produce in the offense as he did on Monday night. Brown should have a chance for redemption and Smith a chance to continue to shine against Jacksonville next week.

With WR Kenny Golladay of the Lions sidelined with an injury, it was second-year TE T.J. Hockenson and WR Marvin Jones who benefitted from his absence. Hockenson had a 100% catch rate on five targets for 56 yards and a touchdown, helping to create some much-needed chemistry for QB Matthew Stafford. Even when Golladay returns, Hockenson should be involved as an endzone target after rookie RB D’Andre Swift dropped a game-winning pass. When Stafford gets rolling with a receiver, he targets him early and often and Hockenson stepped up in a big way for Detroit in Week 1.

Noah Fant, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 84% / Yahoo 79%)
@PIT, TB, @NYJ
Week 1 vs TEN — 5/81/1 on 6 targets

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Jonnu Smith, Titans (Rostered: ESPN 22% / Yahoo 60%)
JAX, @MIN, PIT
Week 1 @ DEN — 4/36/1 on 7 targets

Dallas Goedert, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 27% / Yahoo 56%)
LAR, CIN, @SF
Week 1 @WAS — 8/101/1 on 9 targets

T.J. Hockenson, Lions (Rostered: ESPN 58% / Yahoo 74%)
@GB, @ARI, NO
Week 1 vs CHI — 5/56/1 on 5 targets

Logan Thomas, Washington (Rostered: ESPN .5% / Yahoo 2%)
@ARI, @CLE, BAL
Week 1 PHI — 4/37/1 on 8 targets

Chris Herndon, Jets (Rostered: ESPN 41% / Yahoo 52%)
SF, @IND, DEN
Week 1 @BUF — 6/37/0 on 7 targets

Jack Doyle, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 39% / Yahoo 26%)
MIN, NYJ, @CHI
Week 1 @JAX — 3/49/0 on 4 targets

Greg Olsen, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 9% / Yahoo 26%)
NE, DAL, @MIA
Week 1 @ATL — 4/24/1 on 4 targets

Jimmy Graham, Bears (Rostered: ESPN 9% / Yahoo 26%)
NYG, @ATL, IND
Week 1 @DET — 3/25/1 on 7 targets

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Remember to get the full breakdown of these Week 2 Waiver pickups + QB Streamers on the latest episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast. Also, remember to double-check the wire tomorrow (Wednesday) to see who your league-mates dropped.