It was a sloppy Week 1, but we are all glad to have football back. However, the injury bug reared its ugly head, and several players went down last week. Notably, both JK Dobbins and Aaron Rodgers look lost for the season with a torn Achilles. If you’re here, you likely need a running back, and the good news is that there are plenty of solid options on the waiver wire heading into Week 2. Here are my favorites at QB, RB, WR, and TE.
Quick Note: All players listed are available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. While not everyone plays on ESPN, studies show most do. So, if they’re available there, they’re likely available on your platform. Pick ‘Em Up!
Week 2 Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love (84% Available)
As always, I wouldn’t spend a ton of FAAB or blow my priority on QB unless I was desperate. There will still be plenty of QBs in free agency after waivers run. That said, Love looked good this week. He threw for 245 yards and three TDs, all without arguably his best WR. Things don’t get much more challenging this week with a road trip to ATL, and Love should be a top-10 QB yet again.
Brock Purdy (75% Available)
I’m not sure how much more film we need on Purdy before we realize that he’s legit. Against a good Steelers defense, he dropped 220 yards and two TDs. That was good enough for a QB9 finish in Week 1, and it might be time just to consider him a top-10 fantasy option.
Running Backs
Kyren Williams (89% Available)
The entire preseason was full of reports that Williams would be a 1b to Cam Akers instead of a true backup. Week 1 rolls through, and Williams scores two TDs on just seven fewer touches than Akers. Plus, Williams saw the only RB targets in the game. When adding RBs early on, you’re hoping their role is sustainable. Williams’ role could grow as the season progresses.
Tyler Allgeier (86% Available)
In contrast to Williams, Allgeier’s role will shrink because Bijan Robinson is as good as advertised, but there are plenty of touches to go around on the league’s highest-rushing team. Allgeier had 18 touches to Robinson’s 16, but even if that levels out to 20-14 in favor of the rookie, Allgeier will still be a weekly Flex option.
Kenneth Gainwell (78% Available)
It was a little surprising how available Gainwell was in most leagues. All preseason reports were that he would be the lead back, and in Week 1, he was very much the lead back. Eventually, D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny will get more involved, but you don’t leave starting RBs on waivers for eventualities.
Roschon Johnson (78% Available)
While he didn’t do a ton in his first game as a pro, Johnson had one stat that makes him worth an add in deeper leagues. He led the RBs and tied for the team lead with seven targets. If he is going to be the receiving back here, he could gain value as the season progresses.
Gus Edwards / Justice Hill / Melvin Gordon (at least 80% Available)
You probably want a piece of the Baltimore running game. The issue is: Which piece? Justice Hill scored two TDs in Week 1 and will go for the most FAAB, but can he hold off Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon for the entire season? Probably not, and I’m not even sure he’ll do it in Week 2. I would need a deep roster to add any of these guys because, chances are, we’re looking at a committee. However, if you pick the right one to lead that committee, you have excellent TD upside.
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Wide Receivers
Romeo Doubs (80% Available)
In just about any league size, the WR2 for the Green Bay Packers should be rostered far more than 20%. Factor in that he could even be the team’s WR1, and this just feels like a mistake. It’s going to cost you more to fix that mistake after a two-TD Week 1.
Zay Jones (70% Available)
It took just one week for Jones to show he is still going to be a part of this offense. He was a top-30 WR last season and just dropped 5-55-1 in the opening game.
Puka Nacua (97% Available)
If you didn’t know his name before last week, you know it now. You also don’t follow Club Fantasy closely enough because I’ve been screaming about this guy and Kyren Williams. With 15 targets last week, he tied Tyreek Hill for the most in the league. While Cooper Kupp is out, Nacua will lead this team in receiving. Add him, even if it’s just for three more good weeks.
Kendrick Bourne (97% Available)
Bourne had a huge opening week, with 11 targets, six catches, and two TDs. Even when Devante Parker returns, Bourne’s role is still safe. He is the fastest WR on this team and will have a place in this offense. They won’t all be top-10 weeks, but he should be a Flex consideration moving forward.
Robert Woods (97% Available)
I was ready to write Robert Woods off, but CJ Stroud disagrees. He targeted Rob Forest 10 times in Week 1, and Woods caught six balls for 57 yards. The most important thing is that when Stroud was rushed, he looked for Woods first, and that will carry over to more games.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry (95% Available)
The lack of a true WR1 plays in Henry’s favor in New England. He scored a TD last week and was targeted six times. There is a non-zero chance we see him return to 2021 form, where he finished as the TE10 in fantasy. He happened to be the overall TE1 to open the season.
Hayden Hurst (95% Available)
Like Henry, Hurst plays on a team with no WR1. That kind of makes him the WR1. He led the team with seven targets in the game, which should be a regular occurrence moving forward. Throw in the occasional TD, and he’ll be a top-5 option, as we saw in Week 1
Sam LaPorta (65% Available)
Rookie tight ends take time, but LaPorta started strong. He finished the Thursday game catching all five targets thrown his way for 39 yards. It was not a great performance, but it was still good enough for TE8 on the week. That says a lot about fantasy TEs, but LaPorta is a breakout waiting to happen.
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