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We're two weeks into the season and the running back situation on waivers is already dire. You simply won't get much help there at the moment unless you play in shallower leagues or have inattentive league mates. The focus shifts to quarterback, where those who took a chance on Trey Lance now find themselves looking for someone to stream or potentially start the rest of the way.
Below, you will find the top waiver wire options at each position with an analysis of their values, both immediate and long-term. We will look only at players who are rostered in 50% or fewer leagues, according to Yahoo! Players are listed in order of priority.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons - 11% rostered
The former No. 2 pick has never been the type to boom in fantasy. He is mostly an efficient but uninspiring game manager with some rushing upside. He's been just that over the first two games with Atlanta, throwing for 215 yards in Week 1 and 196 in Week 2. The rushing numbers buoyed him against New Orleans when he ran for 72 yards and a TD but that was absent against the Rams. Keeping in mind that he won't face nearly as tough of a defense in Seattle next week, Mariota should have enough appeal to be a solid and safe streaming option.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions - 22% rostered
Goff may not ever be the best real-life quarterback but he's getting the volume to be a strong streamer in fantasy. He threw for four touchdowns in Week 2 and seems to have a legitimate target magnet in Amon-Ra St. Brown. Just imagine how good this offense might be once Jameson Williams is active.
Goff will have his ups and downs largely based on the game script. In the case of Week 3, he may have plenty of pass attempts trying to match blows with Kirk Cousins. The last time Goff faced Minnesota in Week 13 last season, he threw for 296 yards and three TDs. With a better receiving corps at his disposal, Goff is a good choice to replace Trey Lance, as odd as that sounds.
Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts - 44% rostered
We knew Michael Pittman Jr. was good. We didn't know he was the key to the entire Colts' passing offense. Without their top wideout, Matt Ryan looked lost. He barely completed 50% of his passes for 195 yards and threw three interceptions against the Jags. Oh, and they didn't score a single point.
So why keep any hope alive for Ryan? First, Pittman should be back next week as his quad injury wasn't deemed to be a long-term issue. Second, they return home to face the Chiefs next week. They will have no choice but to go full throttle with the passing game to keep pace. It looks like the Colts need another playmaker at receiver so I'm lowering expectations on Ryan for the rest of the season but he is still streamable if needed.
Joe Flacco, New York Jets - 1% rostered
Look, you may not want to admit that a 37-year-old quarterback leading the Jets is worth your attention but facts are facts. He's thrown for 300 yards in each of the first two games. Rookie receiver Garrett Wilson is looking like a budding star already. The Jets face the reeling Bengals, who are the embodiment of a Super Bowl hangover. I wouldn't go so far as to start Flacco in a one-QB league, but he looks like a strong play in Superflex leagues.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers - 2% rostered
Looks like there won't be a QB controversy in San Fran after all. We don't have a full diagnosis on Trey Lance's injury but the fact he was carted off and had his lower leg put in an air cast immediately is a bad sign. That led to the league's highest-paid backup being inserted into the game and he was ready.
Jimmy G came in smiling as Trey Lance was carted off pic.twitter.com/mvVVK8c0of
— Paul McMillan (@paultmcmillan) September 18, 2022
I wouldn't run out to add Jimmy G unless Trey Lance was my quarterback and the waiver wire was very thin. Last season, he threw for 20 TDs and averaged 254 yards per game. That's adequate but not league-winning stuff in fantasy. There is absolutely no rushing upside either. A road matchup with Denver is not the place to start Garoppolo but those in dire need may have no choice.
Others to consider: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints (50% rostered); Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (18% rostered)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders - 47% rostered
You know the waiver wire is thin when the top option is a rookie who hasn't played a snap yet. With the way Washington's ground attack has looked, it seems as if Robinson can easily take over the RB1 job when he's ready to return. You'll have to be patient and keep him stashed for a couple of weeks but his IR eligibility makes that easier to do.
Mark Ingram II, New Orleans Saints - 30% rostered
Ingram was the ground game with no Alvin Kamara in Week 2. He looks to have a little juice left, averaging six yards per carry. He only saw 10 carries as the Saints struggled to move the ball consistently and faced one of the best run defenses in the league. They'll have an easier time against the Panthers next week. If Kamara is a full go, that makes Ingram mostly a handcuff or deep-league play. If Kamara sits out, Ingram might be the best option at RB for Week 3 in a decent matchup with Carolina.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 13% rostered
After being inactive in the opener, Allgeier was forced into action due to Damien Williams' placement on the injured reserve list. He saw a healthy amount of carries (10) and tied Cordarrelle Patterson for the team lead. Unfortunately, he only managed 30 rushing yards and didn't see a single target. The rookie has some long-term upside but is mostly someone to watch and pounce on in case Patterson gets banged up.
Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals - 10% rostered
It's possible James Conner doesn't miss time, as his ankle injury hasn't been deemed severe as of now. If he is limited in Week 3, the Cards will look to backups Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams to fill the void. Both saw eight carries and Williams outgained Benjamin 59-31. That's because Williams ripped off a 30-yard run late in the game. He also scored on a one-yard dive during the Cardinals' fourth-quarter comeback.
So why Benjamin over Williams? It'll likely be Benjamin who steps up first based on the early depth chart and usage in Week 2. In reality, it'll be a timeshare and hot-hand situation but I feel slightly better about Benjamin's path to touches.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers - 5% rostered
Kyle Shanahan likes to play things close to the vest, especially when it comes to the running game. We got a pretty clear indication of who the RB2 is right now, though. Jeff Wilson Jr. was the starter and will continue to be as long as Elijah Mitchell is out. Between the two rookies behind him, Tyrion Davis-Price got 14 carries while Jordan Mason didn't touch the ball. But it was revealed on Monday that Davis-Price has a high-ankle sprain that will cost him 4-6 weeks so it's all Mason now. The presence of Deebo Samuel keeps his ceiling fairly low even if he does get more snaps, however, so don't go crazy spending up on him in PPR leagues.
Others to consider: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - (34% rostered); Isaih Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (29% rostered); J.D. McKissic, Washington Commanders (15% rostered); Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (15% rostered); Darrel Williams, Arizona Cardinals (3% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets - 21% rostered
Garrett Wilson has arrived. Didn't take long. He's already making Elijah Moore's fantasy managers nervous.
Garrett Wilson, Week 1 + 2
PPR Points: 9.2; 30
Target share: 14.0%; 32.6%
Total PPR Points: 39.2
Total Target Share: 22.0%Elijah Moore, Week 1 + 2
PPR Points: 9.9; 6.5
Target share: 12.3%; 11.6%
Total PPR Points: 16.4
Total Target Share: 12.0%— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) September 19, 2022
Wilson did more than score his first NFL touchdown in Week 2. He enjoyed his first 100-yard game and led the team by far with 14 targets.
Since that clearly wasn't good enough, he also scored his second TD to win the game with less than a minute left.
This picture of Garrett Wilson silencing the crowd in Cleveland after scoring the game winning TD is FIRE
🤫✈️🔥 pic.twitter.com/xZ7E95uslG
— 𝙅𝙀𝙏𝙎 𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼🛫 (@NYJets_Media) September 19, 2022
Needless to say, Wilson is a must-add in any format and a top priority no matter who you have on your roster. Be prepared to bid heavily in FAB leagues.
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills - 48% rostered
With Buffalo playing on Monday night, McKenzie is a player you may be able to add before waivers run for Week 3. He's an ideal plug-and-play in place of Gabe Davis if needed. That said, he has standalone value even when Davis is active. He only saw three targets for two catches in the first contest of the year but he did find the end zone. It's better to prioritize receivers on good offenses and receivers attached to elite QBs; McKenzie finds himself in both situations.
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots - 39% rostered
For two straight games, Meyers has led the Pats in targets. That's only logical considering he led the team by a wide margin last year with 126 targets; the next closest was Hunter Henry with 75. He was moving the chains all game long against the Steelers, catching nine balls for 95 yards. The big knock on Meyers is that he doesn't score touchdowns. He had all of two TD last year and hasn't scored yet in 2022 despite all the looks he gets. He is a solid floor play in full PPR leagues but loses a lot of luster in standard. Maybe a matchup with the hapless Ravens secondary will fix that.
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders - 42% rostered
While he's overshadowed by Garrett Wilson this week, Dotson found the end zone again after cashing in twice in his debut. Dotson is proving to be a red-zone threat even if the yardage totals aren't high with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel also commanding targets. The Commanders may not keep up this level of passing production much longer so be prepared for a letdown if Dotson doesn't reach the end zone.
Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers - 27% rostered
There's a decent chance that Keenan Allen comes back for Week 3, which would hurt Palmer's value. That's not a guarantee based on Allen's recent injury history, though. Palmer caught a touchdown on Thursday night and will always have an upside as long as he's catching passes from Justin Herbert. It would be a stretch to put him in fantasy lineups for PPR leagues if Allen is active. Consider him a potential Flex play if Allen doesn't suit up or a depth piece with boom potential for the rest of the season.
Noah Brown, Dallas Cowboys - 1% rostered
Noah Brown > CeeDee Lamb
Statistically, this checks out. After two games, Lamb has a total of nine receptions for 104 yards while Brown has 10 receptions for 159 yards and a TD.
Lamb has garnered 11 targets in each of the first two games and is obviously the WR1 in Dallas but he hasn't been as effective as Brown. Until Michael Gallup is active, we should assume Brown continues to be a factor in this passing game. If Dalton Schultz proves to be injured, Brown's stock goes up even more.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants - 10% rostered
The Giants' pass offense won't be a thing of beauty this year. Someone has to catch passes, though. Rookie Wan'Dale Robinson is yet to return from a knee injury and Kadarius Toney is looking more like a bust each passing week. Shepard is the leading target so far and that may hold true all season.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans - 25% rostered
Lovie Smith said he wanted to get Dameon Pierce and Nico Collins more involved and he held true to his word. After seeing just three targets in Week 1, Collins saw nine in Week 2 and wound up as the leading receiver with 58 yards. The passing game as a whole wasn't particularly sharp in Mile High Stadium but they'll have a better path to production in Chicago next week. Collins could jump onto the Flex radar for PPR leagues.
Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots - 10% rostered
Of all people, Nelson Agholor had the play of the day.
Nelson Agholor just Moss'd Ahkello Witherspoon for a 44-yard TD pic.twitter.com/rCIkyqtv9U
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 18, 2022
He bailed out his QB on that throw and turned it into a big play but he wasn't done there. Agholor finished with 110 yards on six receptions in a win over Pittsburgh.
Coming off a quiet performance in the first contest and a disappointing 2021 in New England, it's tempting to ignore this as an outlier performance. It could mean something, however, as Kendrick Bourne is barely active these days and DeVante Parker is not part of the offense whatsoever. Agholor has always had the big-play ability. I don't necessarily trust Mac Jones' ability to get him the ball in stride regularly but he'll have his moments.
Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders - 0% rostered
We knew Hollins had won the third spot in the Raiders' receiving corps but he would still be behind a trio of target hogs in Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and TE Darren Waller. Now, Renfrow's status could be in question as he is in the concussion protocol. Hollins was already active in Week 2, catching five of eight targets for 66 yards. That was better than Renfrow and Adams on all counts. That's unlikely to continue but if Renfrow is ruled out for Week 3, then Hollins becomes an intriguing streamer.
Others to consider: Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans (42% rostered); Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (34% rostered); Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (13% rostered); Corey Davis, New York Jets (13% rostered); Richie James, New York Giants (1% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars - 27% rostered
Trevor Lawrence took a big step forward in his second start of the season, completing 25 of 30 passes in a surprising blowout win over the Colts. Eight of those attempts were directed to Engram, who led the team with seven receptions. With Christian Kirk looking like a good investment and fellow tight end Dan Arnold doing very little, Engram appears to be a solid low-end TE1.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals - 16% rostered
With Tee Higgins active all game and leading the team in receiving Week 2, Hurst was less involved than in the season opener. He saw a fair amount of targets with seven but his five receptions only amounted to 24 yards. The Bengals look like a completely different offense than the one that rolled through the AFC playoffs a few months ago. Hurst still has upside in certain matchups and their Week 3 opponent, the Jets, is one of those. He remains a strong streamer.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets - 2% rostered
After two games, Conklin has 10 receptions on 16 targets. That's encouraging volume at a position that typically lacks it. C.J. Uzomah missed the last game with a hamstring injury but he was active in Week 1 and did nothing. It looks like Conklin is the guy at TE for a team that is passing a ton and actually finding the end zone.
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders - 13% rostered
Carson Wentz won't stop throwing touchdowns and Thomas was on the receiving end of one against the Lions. The Commanders now have an embarrassment of riches at receiver with Jahan Dotson looking legit and Curtis Samuel back to form alongside Terry McLaurin. That will lower Thomas' weekly ceiling in terms of target share, making him a streamer more so than a weekly starter.
Others to consider: Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (38% rostered); Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (13% rostered); Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (6% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Dallas Cowboys Defense - 41% rostered
They made it through Tampa Bay and Cincinnati without giving up 20 points to either and collected eight sacks in the process. Now, fantasy managers can enjoy watching Micah Parsons tee off on Daniel Jones this coming week. The Giants are averaging 20 points per game and are not a threat to put up big numbers on offense.
Kansas City Chiefs Defense - 36% rostered
It's hard to imagine that the Colts look as bad as they did in Week 2 again. But we know Matt Ryan can give up both interceptions and sacks. If KC gets out to an early lead as they often do, Chris Jones and co. could pin back their ears and go after Ryan.
Atlanta Falcons Defense - 0% rostered
They've given up 58 points in two games, which explains why they are literally unowned on Yahoo! Despite that, Atlanta did generate points with a safety, two INT, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown. All of that came in a road game with the Rams. When they travel to Seattle next week, there's a good chance they allow far fewer points.
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