Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups and Free Agent Adds – QB, RB, WR, and TE

With this week almost in the books, I'd like to welcome back to this year's first official fantasy football waiver wire article where I'll be looking at all the best players fantasy managers should be considering adding to their roster this week. It's difficult to make this article relevant to all the different kinds of leagues out there. There are different league sizes, scoring settings, and roster requirements, which can make things difficult. As a general rule of thumb, I'll only be looking at players with a rostership percentage of 50% or lower according to Yahoo! Some exceptions may be made for a player around 55%.

One thing I'll be adding this year is a category distinction for all players. This should help you figure out which players to add based on what your waiver wire goals are. Keep in mind, that players can qualify for multiple distinctions. Those distinctions will be as follows:

• BC: Breakout Candidate – This is a player who may not be startable yet, but has a good chance of breaking out and becoming a weekly starter at some point in the season. If you're not in need of a starter this week, these are the players you should be targeting off the waiver wire. This is someone like Amon-Ra St. Brown.
• WS: Weekly Streamer – This is a player who is not a weekly starter or even someone you cannot drop, but rather they are someone you can target if the matchup is right or if you're desperate for a one-time starter. This is likely to be a quarterback, tight end, or defense.
• DP: Depth Player – This is a player who reminds me of a quote from Badder Santa, "They can't all be winners, now can they?" Obviously, we'd all love to have breakout players, but it's also important to have quality depth players who can be started during bye weeks and be decent injury-replacement players. This is someone like Allen Lazard.
• DL: Deep League Add – This is for competitive 12-team leagues or larger.
• IF: Injury Fill-In – This is a player who will be a weekly spot starter during the starter's absence due to injuries
• MA: Must Add – This is a player who due to any number of circumstances now finds himself as a weekly fantasy starter and is someone fantasy managers should be adding to their teams.
• UH: Upside Handcuff – This is reserved for our running backs who could become prominent players if the primary starter gets hurt

If you have any specific waiver wire questions, give me a follow on X, formerly known as Twitter @RobFFSlayer, and don’t be afraid to reach out. I’ll be completing the waiver wire column all year here at RotoBaller and I hope to help as many as possible to win your fantasy football league.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!

 

Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals – 25% Rostered 

With our late-round draft picks, we should all be chasing upside. Who was the highest ceiling? You’ll find few players who have a higher ceiling than Murray. We are currently playing fantasy football in the age of the quarterback. Years ago, the strategy of waiting on a quarterback was excellent because there were so few that were true difference-makers. Those days are gone. Quarterbacks are putting up video game numbers and they’ve never been as valuable as they are today and Murray is one of those quarterbacks.

Which QBs have scored 25+ fantasy points at the highest rate since 2020? (regular season only)

- Baker with more ceiling games than Derek Carr
- Tannehill/Dak surprisingly high pic.twitter.com/CVOfmURrGV

— Jake Tribbey (@JakeTribbey) July 31, 2023

We all know the reason Murray isn’t being drafted right now. He’s recovering from a torn ACL and is questionable for Week 1. Some think he might not play at all. He’s going to play and it’s going to be sooner than most think. He’ll start the season on the PUP list, but I expect a return to action in Week 5. He may not run as much as he used to right away, but as a waiver wire, I’m not so much adding him for Week 5, but rather for Week 15. The previous tweet (what do we call them now?) showcased his weekly upside, but simply put, he’s been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks of all time on a PPG basis.

Here are the top 5 quarterbacks of all time in fantasy points per game, per @pfref:

1. Patrick Mahomes - 23.34
2. Josh Allen - 21.95
3. Deshaun Watson - 21.26
4. Kyler Murray - 20.44
5. Justin Herbert - 20.26

— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) August 25, 2023

If your league has an IR, Murray needs to be there. He’s got top-five upside and is one of the few quarterbacks who can compete with the Mahomes, Allen, Hurts, and Lamar’ Jackson's of the world. He was named a team captain, solidifying the belief he'll return and play this season.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers – 30% Rostered (WS)

Oops! The Packers did it again! Love in his first start as the team's starter was poised from the get-go and looked fantastic. Despite missing his best receiver Christian Watson and not having one receiver in his third year or later, Love didn't blink. With Watson out, Love was left leaning on fourth-round second-year player, Romeo Doubs, and rookies Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave. Despite this, Love still completed 15 of 27 passes and threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't throw any interceptions and added 12 yards on the ground. He finished with a 123.2 passer rating and 23 fantasy points. Not a bad start, especially considering he didn't have Watson.

Jordan Love out-performed Aaron Rodgers' 2008 week 1 debut as a starter in the following passing categories:

🔹Passing Yards
🔹Touchdowns
🔹Yards/Completion
🔹Yards/Attempt
🔹QB Rating

The same is true of Rodgers' 2022 week 1 performance, but that isn't too difficult. https://t.co/bEKQGRXWbn

— Ken Ingalls - Packers Cap 💰 (@KenIngalls) September 10, 2023

If you weren't a believer in Love before, you really ought to be now. I know was just the Bears, but to come in and play the way he did without his best-receiving option is nothing short of impressive. If you're in a two-quarterback or Superflex league, Love should be a priority add. Love also looks like a capable backup quarterback in typical 12-team, one-quarterback leagues.

Sam Howell, Washington Commanders – 23% Rostered (WS)

It wasn't a perfect Week 1 performance and it was just against the lowly Arizona Cardinals, but the potential is there for Howell. He completed 19 of 31 passes and finished with 202 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also lost a fumble but was able to add 11 rushing yards and a rushing score. Receiver Terry McLaurin didn't look 100%, but once he is, Howell will have a strong group of pass-catchers at his disposal which will help make his job easier.

Sam Howell rushing TD! His passing TD came after he kept a play alive with his legs

He is a waiver wire target - kept saying all offseason I think he’d be a value for however many games he starts cause the rushing ability

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 10, 2023

Howell has some Konami-code upside after rushing for 828 yards and 11 scores in his final season at the University of North Carolina. With Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy coming over from Kansas City, fantasy managers should be excited about the new-look Commander offense.

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints – 38% Rostered (WS)

In his first game with the Saints, Carr looked pretty comfortable. He finished with 23 completions out of 33 attempts, showing excellent efficiency. He ended with 305 yards, one score, and one interception. Carr is a complete zero when it comes to what he brings with his legs, which immediately lowers his ceiling, but with Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Juwan Johnson, and eventually, Alvin Kamara, Carr has a whole arsenal of weapons that could help make Carr a quality QB2 and worthwhile streamer or backup quarterback.

The Saints have one of the easiest schedules in the league and when you combine that with the weapons he has at his disposal, Carr looks like he could be a quality QB2 this season. The return of Kamara will give the Saints' offense even more firepower.

Others to consider: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10% Rostered, Mac Jones, New England Patriots – 8% Rostered, Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams – 29% Rostered, Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers – 38% Rostered, Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans – 7% Rostered

 

Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles – 46% Rostered (MA)

We're going to keep this short and sweet. Gainwell is the starting running back for the Philadelphia Eagles and not just the starting running back. This wasn't a committee. He was a clear workhorse. No one else mattered. Forget about whatever it is you think about Gainwell. It doesn't matter because the coaches clearly feel very confident in his ability. Free agent signee Rashaad Penny was a healthy scratch and D'Andre Swift, whom they acquired in a trade, was nothing more than a backup. If Gainwell is available on your waiver wire, he's worth a very, very hefty bid.

Kenneth Gainwell played 62% of the snaps, had 14 of the 16 RB carries and 4 targets. He is the Philly RB to start until we see otherwise

D'Andre Swift played 28% but had just 1 carry and 2 targets for all of 3 yards

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 10, 2023

He'll be running behind the best offensive line in the NFL. The Eagles' offense will finish as a top-10 unit in points and yards. If Gainwell is going to continue to dominate touches and snaps like he did this past weekend, he's going to be a top-20 running back. He’s a must add for all league sizes.

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams – 4% Rostered (MA)

After the way Cam Akers closed the 2022 season it was fair to expect him to be a workhorse running back, at least in Week 1. However, head coach Sean McVay had different plans. There's been a steady drum beat for Williams throughout the offseason, but what happened in their game against the Seahawks could not have been expected. Williams was the clear lead back in terms of snaps played and looks to be the preferred Rams' running back moving forward.

#Rams Week 1 RB Usage

- Kyren Williams: 67% snaps, 15 carries, 2 targets, 54 yards, 2 TD
- Cam Akers: 33% snaps, 22 carries, 0 targets, 29 yards, 1 TD

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 10, 2023

Not only did Williams play the vast majority of the snaps, he was significantly more effective with his touches. Despite having seven fewer touches, he had 25 more yards and found the end zone twice to Akers' once. While fantasy managers should hold their expectations in check since it's hard to believe the Rams' offense is as effective as it was today, at least it looks like it'll at least be competent. Akers will still play a role, but after Williams dominated the snaps, there seems to be the potential for Williams to further distance himself. He’s another RB3 that should be added in most leagues.

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens – 3% Rostered (MA)

J.K. Dobbins has the worst injury luck. After a brutal knee injury in 2021, it seemed as though he was well on his way to a big 2023 season. However, that sentiment did not last very long. In the first half of their Week 1 game, Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles, which will end his season. Hill and Edwards will be the primary runners for the duration of the 2023 season. Presently, it seems as though Hill is slightly ahead of Edwards.

Non-J.K. Dobbins #Ravens RB Usage in Week 1

- Justice Hill: 29% snaps, 8 carries, 0 targets (9 yards, 2 TDs)
- Gus Edwards: 22% snaps, 8 carries, 0 targets (32 yards)

Hill will be more in demand on the waiver wire cause the TDs... but I'm not ready to quit the Gus Bus

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 10, 2023

While Hill was the one who found the end zone twice, it was Edwards who was more efficient. They each received eight carries, but Edwards finished with 32 yards to Hill's nine. Neither player was targeted in the passing game. Edwards has been the more efficient player throughout their career, which might make him the better long-term bet, but Hill, at least right now, looks like he'll be the team's 1A running back. He’s worth an add in any 10+ team league and will be a RB3 in the upcoming weeks.

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens – 19% Rostered (MA)

We've already touched on Dobbins' torn Achilles injury and the split the Ravens used between Edwards and Hill following the injury, but what we didn't really talk about was Edwards' career efficiency. He has a career 5.1 yards per carry average and Baltimore has often made him a part of their offense, even when Dobbins was healthy. Hill is in his sixth season and has yet to have more than 60 carries or 275 rushing yards in any season. Because of that, it's hard to believe that Edwards won't be very involved in the week-to-week game plan now that Dobbins is done for the season.

Edwards is likely looking at 10–15 carries a game right now and it's certainly within the range of outcomes that Edwards becomes the lead back for the Ravens this season. He's been far superior to Hill as a runner and even though Hill appears to be currently ahead of Edwards on the depth chart, that doesn't mean that's how it'll be for the remainder of the season. Edwards has a great chance to provide RB3 value.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers – 48% Rostered (UH, DP)

It's unlikely Pittsburgh gets dominated as badly as they did this past weekend against the 49ers. Due to that, it's hard to know just how much of what happened this past weekend fantasy managers can actually take from. However, what we do know is that Warren was the more efficient runner than Najee Harris last season. He also started to take passing-game work away from Harris last season, which is something that we saw carry over into Week 1.

#Steelers Week 1 RB opportunities (carries + targets):

Jaylen Warren - 9
Najee Harris - 8

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 11, 2023

Harris played just eight more snaps than Warren, but Warren out-targeted Harris six to two. This offense looked sharp in the preseason and it's fair to expect them to be much better as the season goes along. The 49ers have one of the best front seven's in the NFL and the Steelers are incorporating a few new offensive line starters this season, so it’s fair for their running game to have stalled.

There were reports that stated Harris was going to be the primary running back, but that's not what happened this past weekend. Fantasy managers saw a 1A and 1B situation, making Warren an appealing waiver wire add. He has the potential to become Pittsburgh's primary running back this year if Harris’ chronic inefficiency woes continue or worsen. At the very least, he's one of the best handcuffs in all of football.

De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins – 48% Rostered (BC, UH)

Achane was an extremely effective running back in college. The Dolphins are extremely weak at running back. They currently employ Raheem Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, and Jeff Wilson Jr. Mostert is 31 years old and has a long injury history. Ahmed is just a guy and Wilson is currently on IR. Achane is likely to be active in Week 2 and could find himself as the prime backup to Mostert. He'll have an immediate opportunity to make an impact and with such little competition ahead of him, it wouldn't be surprising if Achane plays his way into a role where fantasy managers will be considering starting him.

The Miami offense is an up-tempo, fast-paced offense that will present all their players with plenty of fantasy upside. Achane may already be the best pass-catching running back the Dolphins have on their roster. He's not quite startable yet, but fantasy managers, if they have the roster spot, should be adding him to their teams in the event he can work himself into an 8-12 touch role. That could happen as soon as next week. He’s just an RB4 right now, assuming he’s healthy enough to play in Week 2, but there’s potential for him to be an RB2/3 if he becomes the Dolphins’ primary running back at any point of the season or even if he’s just the 1B behind Mostert.

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears – 16% Rostered (DL, UH, BC)

Johnson is just a rookie and despite it being Week 1, Johnson still led the Chicago backfield in snaps. It's an encouraging sign for the rookie and it gives hope that he could play his way into a fantasy-relevant role. The Bears' offense looked lost in Week 1, but the Packers' defense played great, and Chicago, for all of its struggles in the passing game, had a fantastic running game last season.

#Bears Week 1 RB opportunities (carries + targets):

Khalil Herbert - 14
Roschon Johnson - 12
D'Onta Foreman - 8

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 11, 2023

Johnson can't be started yet, but he's an upside stash right now. The new regime did not draft Herbert but did bring in Johnson in this year's NFL draft. They may be inclined to want to see what they have in their rookie and that could eventually mean an expanded role. This is even more likely if Chicago struggles to win football games.

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars – 48% Rostered (UH, DP)

Bigsby was one of the biggest winners this preseason and there were some whispers that he could potentially take Etienne's leadback role in Jacksonville. At the very least, there was talk that he could make this a 1A/1B backfield, but that didn't come to pass this past weekend. It was all Etienne, but that doesn't mean Bigsby shouldn't have your attention.

Elite usage for Travis Etienne in Week 1:

- 80% snap rate
- 18 of 26 RB rush attempts (69%)
- route run on 24 of 35 dropbacks (69%)

But, the goal-line work did go to Tank Bigsby.

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 10, 2023

He's still one of the better handcuffs in fantasy football and it's possible his role grows as the season rolls along. When the Jaguars did get close to the end zone, they gave the ball to Bigsby who was able to punch it in for the score. He does seem to have the lead for short-yardage situations, which should give him some higher scoring potential, especially on what appears to be a very potent offense. While he's not someone you can start anytime soon, he's a very talented player who could earn additional work as the season goes along.

Bigsby did have two big mistakes in his first NFL game - a fumble and a dropped pass that turned into an interception. Those plays aren’t going to help his role grow, but the coaching staff seems pretty locked into him being the clear No. 2 back, which is a good sign.

Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts – 48% Rostered & Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts – 7% Rostered (DL, DP)

Rookie Evan Hull injured his knee and it's unknown the severity at this time. This left primarily just Jackson at running back this weekend with Moss ruled out due to his arm injury. Moss had returned to practice the prior week, so there's a good chance he'll be active in Week 2. The Colts' running backs combined for just 25 rushing yards in Week 1 against Jacksonville, which significantly lowers the upside in this backfield.

In Week 2, it's likely the Colts will employ a running back by committee approach, which will lower the appeal of Jackson and Moss. However, both of these running backs could flirt with 10+ touches in any given week. The offense and its efficiency make neither player a very appealing option, which is why they're both classified as only deep league and depth players. They shouldn't come near starting lineups unless you're in a deeper league and in a pinch, either due to injuries or eventual bye weeks. There should be an enough volume that, at least, gives them a shot to find the end zone, but this offense is going to struggle and the split workload limits any upside.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 4% Rostered (DL, UH, BC)

Maybe, just maybe Rachaad White isn't good. He struggled mightily as a rookie and a lot of that got written off due to their injured offensive line. He was also given a pass because all of the Tampa Bay running backs struggled, so it wasn't just a "him" problem, it was an "everyone" problem. However, White really struggled in Week 1 despite what appeared to be a positive matchup against a Minnesota defense that was one of the worst last season. Not only that, but Tampa never fell out of contention in this game. That meant they never had to abandon the run, but none of it mattered. White was awful.

Rachaad White recorded *NEGATIVE-38* rush yards over expectation today, per @NextGenStats.

Would have been tied for the fourth-worst RYOE game of the entire 2022 season.

— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) September 10, 2023

Tucker was an insanely productive college player who was expected to be drafted sometime in Round 3-5 but eventually went undrafted due to a heart condition and the concern that he might not be able to play. He signed with Tampa and was eventually fully cleared. Over the offseason, he worked his way up the depth chart and now finds himself as the backup running back behind White. If White continues to struggle, Tucker is not your typical undrafted free agent. He's a legit player who had over 3,000 scrimmage yards and 27 touchdowns over his final two years in college.

Others to consider (Pure Handcuffs): Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers – 4% Rostered (DP, UH)

 

Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options

Nico Collins, Houston Texans – 55% Rostered (BC, MA)

We're making an exception to the 50% rule because Collins is a lesser name on the Houston Texans and could be available in your leagues. If he is, you should be adding him immediately. In Week 1, Collins had a 26% target share and was C.J. Stroud's favorite target. Despite the difficult matchup against Baltimore, Collins was still able to be productive with his volume, finishing with 80 yards on six catches and 11 targets. However, his day could have been even bigger. Collins has a legitimate WR3 upside and should be a priority add for almost any league size.

Air yardage leaders from the morning games:

158 — Nico Collins
151 — Tee Higgins
130 — DeAndre Hopkins
129 — Chris Olave
120 — Mike Evans
115 — Justin Jefferson
109 — Brandon Aiyuk
108 — Amari Cooper
100 — Calvin Ridley

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 10, 2023

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – 4% Rostered (IF)

Sometimes fantasy football managers can over-simplify how real football works. If player A gets injured, we often think, "Player B will just fill their role" and that's often not the case. However, with Cooper Kupp on IR, it sure seemed like Nacua stepped directly into his shoes. That's not to say he's as good as Kupp, but he certainly seemed to fill the Kupp-like role in the Rams' offense.

Highest target share by a rookie WR in Week 1
[since targets first became a stat in 1992]

1. Antonio Bryant, 2002 (46.7%)
2. Zay Flowers, 2023 (45.5%)
3. Eddie Royal, 2008 (44.0%)
4. Puka Nacua, 2023 (39.5%)
5. Michael Westbrook, 1995 (33.3%)

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) September 11, 2023

He had 15 targets and finished with 10 receptions for 119 yards. The Seahawks certainly didn't seem ready to play and I have my concerns that the Rams' Week 1 performance was a fluke, but we can't ignore the performance Nacua put on. Until Kupp returns, it certainly looks like fantasy managers can treat Nacua as a WR3/4. Kupp is eligible to return in Week 5. Will he be ready? That's unknown, but until then, those who add Nacua will seem to have found a startable receiver.

Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers – 55% Rostered (BC, UH)

Another exception will be made for Johnston here. If he's available, it's simple, you add him. He's a first-round rookie who was very efficient in college and his quarterback is Justin Herbert. Teammate Mike Williams has struggled to stay on the field and Keenan Allen is over 30 years old. If anything happens to either player, Johnston's value would soar. It's not out of the question that Johnston's role will grow even if they continue to stay healthy. That's generally the case with first-rounders. Bet on the talent and add him now before his role expands.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers – 29% Rostered (BC, DP)

Christian Watson was out Week 1 with a hamstring injury and head coach, Matt LaFleur called him "week-to-week" leading fantasy managers to question if he'll even be available in Week 2. Prior to kickoff, it was reported Doubs would be on a snap count of sorts, but that didn't stop him from finding the end zone twice. Until Watson returns, Doubs will likely settle in as Love's primary target.

Love was a very efficient passer and the Packers' offense did not struggle to move the football. As Doubs continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury he suffered right before the final preseason game, his role, snap count and effectiveness will likely improve. He could be on the verge of a second-year breakout of sorts.

Jonathan Mingo, Carolina Panthers – 20% Rostered (BC)

Not surprisingly, the Panthers struggled a bit in Week 1. It was Bryce Young's first game in the NFL. Not only that, but they have a new a head coach and a brand-spanking new group of skilled players in Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, Hayden Hurst, and Mingo. While the production may not have been there, the opportunity Mingo saw was certainly encouraging.

Panthers routes run:
Terrace Marshall 38
Adam Thielen 36
Jonathan Mingo 36
Hayden Hurst 27
Miles Sanders 18
Laviska Shenault 11
Chuba Hubbard 11
Giovanni Ricci 4

— M.G. (@MarcasG) September 10, 2023

He finished with five targets, which was third for the team. Marshall is a third-year player who has yet to do very much in the NFL. Thielen, Hurst, and D.J. Chark are on the tail end of their careers. It shouldn't be at all surprising if Mingo eventually becomes Young's primary target. He's not startable yet, but he's a potential breakout candidate in the second half of the season.

Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs – 52% Rostered (BC)

That's right, we're making a third exception. This time because of how poorly Toney's first game of the season will be perceived by many, but there are actually reasons for optimism. Despite missing the vast majority of training camp and only just returning to practice a few days before Week 1, Toney tied for the team league in targets. He did this on just 16 snaps and 11 routes. Not only that, but he received a carry inside the red zone. The utilization was encouraging. Yes, he completely squandered it. Luckily for him, so did Skyy Moore and just about every Chiefs receiver, so in that regard, he's not alone.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs – 36% Rostered (BC, DL)

This Kansas City wide receiver rotation may be a cluster all year, but there were encouraging signs for Rice after Week 1. For starters, Skyy Moore and Toney completely bombed. They couldn't have bombed any harder had they been trying to bomb. Rice on the other hand was very effective with the opportunities he was given.

Rashee Rice was targeted a team-high 5 times on just 12 routes-- a whopping 42% rate.

After finishing with 3 rec, 29 yd, 1 TD, Rice has now scored more than 1/4th of Skyy Moore's rookie season total FPs (38.4) while playing only 30% of the snaps

— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) September 10, 2023

He ran 100% of his routes from the slot and could eventually play his way into the role that JuJu Smith-Schuster held last season. Rice is a much better athlete than Smith-Schuster, so it stands to reason he could be more effective in a similar role. Unless Moore and Toney start producing, it won't be long until Rice will get his chance to shine.

Allen Lazard, New York Jets – 49% Rostered (DP)

With the retirement of Corey Davis and the coaching staff's desire to cater to Aaron Rodgers, which is resulting in more playing time for Randall Cobb than Mecole Hardman, Lazard has a great chance to finish with 100 targets this season as the team's secondary target behind Garrett Wilson. He's unlikely to be a player you're thrilled to put into your starting lineup, but Rodgers trusted him in Green Bay and frequently targeted him near the end zone.

The same could hold true in New York and he's likely to see 5-7 targets per game. He's not a breakout candidate, he's not a league-winner, but he's someone you can depend on as a depth player for bye weeks and future injuries. He's not exciting, but every fantasy football roster needs guys like this.

Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints — 16% Rostered (DP)

Shaheed was one of the most efficient receivers last year, albeit on a very limited sample size. He’s got deep speed and therefore doesn’t need a lot of volume to make an impact. We saw that in Week 1 when he caught five receptions for 89 yards and a score. He also received two carries, illustrating the team wants to get him the ball.

If I have a concern with Shaheed, it’s with the number of quality receivers in New Orleans. There’s Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Juwan Johnson, and eventually, Alvin Kamara. It may be difficult for Shaheed to maintain weekly consistency, but he’s a big play waiting to happen and Carr has shown the ability and willingness to push the ball down the field.

Robert Woods, Houston Texans – 4% Rostered (DL, DP)

Woods was largely written off this offseason after signing with Houston and after a down season last year in Tennessee. However, he's now two years removed from his torn ACL back in 2021. While the days of him being a quality WR2 are long gone, Woods showed that he's still a capable NFL receiver. He finished with 10 targets, six receptions, and 57 yards.

Despite the tough matchup against Baltimore, Stroud showed he can play in this league. While fantasy managers should keep their expectations in check with Woods, he's clearly the second target for Stroud and could be a decent bench player for fantasy rosters. He'll get enough volume week to week to be a capable bye-week and injury replacement.

Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars – 30% Rostered (DP)

I mostly wrote Jones off this offseason after the team acquired Calvin Ridley. That's because he was the best receiver behind Christian Kirk last year and they also had excellent tight end play from Evan Engram. When you add someone like Ridley, it seems like it would drop everyone down a peg, which would make Zones the WR3, which is counting Engram as their TE1.

However, following Week 1, Jones ran 32 routes to Kirk's 24 and out-targeted him six to two. He also ran one more route and earned one more target than Engram. That won't hold across the season. Fantasy managers can lock Ridley into the top role and the workload behind Kirk, Engram, and Jones will likely change week-to-week. As long as he's standing on the same footing as Kirk and Engram, Jones becomes a quality bench player in what should be one of the better passing attacks in the NFL.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots – 1% Rostered (DP)

When the Patriots signed Mike Gesicki and JuJu Smith-Schuster, that seemed to spell the end for Bourne, but he was the team's best receiver this past weekend in a big way. He led the team in routes run with 54, the next closest was Kayshon Boutte with 43. Smith-Schuster ran just 27. Bourne also had 11 targets. The next closest receiver was JuJu with seven. Bourne found the end zone twice and was the most effective receiver for the Patriots. The Patriots' numbers are being slightly inflated by how many pass plays they called, a theme that is unlikely to continue, but Bourne looks like he can provide fantasy managers with a decent bench player who can be started in a pinch.

Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams – 3% Rostered (DL, IF)

Atwell is unlikely to hold long-term appeal as long as Kupp returns following his IR stint, but we don't know if that will happen. Atwell ran 35 routes, which was tied with Van Jefferson and Nacua. He finished with eight targets and went over 100 receiving yards. He's a former second-round draft pick, so the talent is there, but it's fair to wonder just how much fantasy managers can trust this Rams' offense. Atwell is worth a speculative add and looks to be Stafford’s No. 2 target behind Nacua.

Allen Robinson II, Pittsburgh Steelers – 2% Rostered & Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers – 1% Rostered (DL, IF)

Diontae Johnson was ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury, which presented an opportunity for Robinson and Austin. They finished with five receptions and 64 receptions and six receptions and 37 yards, respectively. They both finished with more receiving yards than George Pickens.

Robinson out-targeted Pickens by one. Austin only ran 28 routes whereas Robinson ran 46. If you're going to prioritize one of these receivers, it should be Robinson. Tight end Pat Freiermuth also left with an injury, which could weaken their pass-catching depth even more, theoretically increasing the opportunity for both players heading into Week 2.

Others to consider: Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants – 2% Rostered, Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions – 31% Rostered, Darius Slayton, New York Giants – 4% Rostered, Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions – 1% Rostered, Terrace Marshall Jr., Carolina Panthers – 1% Rostered, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs – 8% Rostered, Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears – 39% Rostered, Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams – 37% Rostered, Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers – 12% Rostered

 

Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers – 19% Rostered (BC, MA)

Musgrave's value has been steadily climbing throughout the preseason. The Packers used Musgrave as a full-time player and he seemed locked into a very heavy role in the offense. That carried over into Week 1 where he ended up running the most routes among any Packers player. He finished with four targets, which was third for the team. He also finished with 50 yards, including one reception where he played the ball poorly in the air. He had the opportunity to have a walk-into-the-end zone kind of touchdown, but instead fell over making the catch. Musgrave is locked into an every-down role and with Watson still nursing a hamstring and fellow rookie Jayden Reed also getting hurt, Musgrave could be even more busy in Week 2. The sky is the limit for Musgrave. He has legit top-10 upside.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots – 16% Rostered

Fantasy managers got more excited about Mike Gesicki when he signed with New England, forgetting about Henry. In Week 1, Henry played 63 snaps. Gesicki played 33. Henry ran 42 routes. Gesicki ran 24. Henry had six targets to Gesicki's three. Henry turned those six targets into five receptions, 56 yards, and a score. The Patriots have a very poor group of receivers, which makes Henry one of the more accomplished receivers on the team. Henry looks like he could be on his way to being the Patriots' second target-earner most weeks and he has a history of being Mac Jones' preferred red zone option. Don’t be surprised if Henry turns in a top-12 season.

Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers – 11% Rostered (WS)

Hurst finished with five receptions, 41 yards, and a score. Hurst finished with seven targets, which paced the team. You can't count on Hurst finding the end zone most weeks and without the score, it's a fairly pedestrian stat line, but Hurst looks like he could be busy as a check-down option for Young this season.

Others to consider: Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders – 2% Rostered, Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys — 38% Rostered, Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals – 5% Rostered, Tyler Conklin, New York Jets – 7% Rostered

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