RADIO
Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 2 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.
Welcome back to the fantasy football financial advisory column that looks to help you best manage your precious free agent funds! You may recall that last year turned into the Isaiah Likely sweepstakes after one week of ball, thanks to a thin pool of good candidates, but is 2025 running that dynamic back? Whatever your needs are, we're here to help you win with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.
Remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, especially as just one overly-aggressive team in the league that is willing to risk it all can throw things off. Even if you're not enthralled by your choices, do consider that panning for gold on the wire early on is typically a strong strategy. Let's see what this year has to offer!
As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to utilize league history and personal knowledge whenever possible. We're going to cut off the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but attacking the likes of Bhayshul Tuten, Quinshon Judkins, and others in that 40-60% band can really pay off. If there is an appetite for this article covering those types of players, then please let us know.
Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (QB, IND) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-8%
Jones dazzled in his Indianapolis debut, completing 22-of-29 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown to Michael Pittman Jr. in the 33-8 trouncing of Miami. His legs also looked good, as he rushed seven times for 26 yards and two TDs thanks to a pair of one-yard plunges at the goal line (sorry, Jonathan Taylor teams).
"Indiana Jones" looked sharp, especially in finding Tyler Warren seven times, but he also wasn’t challenged much by a deflated Dolphins unit. We’ll get a critical test in Week 2 as the Colts host the Broncos, which could paint Jones as a decent streamer or a set-and-forget option in 12-teamers. There is a strong offensive line and cast around him in place to support a breakout.
Aaron Rodgers (QB, PIT) - 14% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
There’s no ignoring the old man putting up four passing TDs on 22-of-30 passing for 244 yards against his old team. The Jets made several mistakes, and Rodgers was always ready to capitalize on them, utilizing quick throws in the face of a strong defensive line.
His Pittsburgh home debut now approaches in Week 2 against the Seahawks, but we have to give his four TDs some context. We aren’t hand-waving these things away, though we can’t be ignorant either, as none of these TDs were great plays by Rodgers.
Ben Skowronek got lost on blown coverage. Jonnu Smith’s was a “pop pass,” aka a glorified handoff on a jet sweep. Jaylen Warren’s coverage backer got washed out by a bunch formation breaking. Calvin Austin III had a DB completely blow the assignment by overcommitting to the playaction.
The pessimist can say that this isn’t a sustainable pattern and that it doesn’t necessarily reflect well on projecting Rodgers’ future games. However, the playaction set up much of their success near the red zone. We will eventually see fades to DK Metcalf. If Pittsburgh’s defense gets gashed as it did in Week 1, then Rodgers could be up to the task for some shootouts.
Jaxson Dart (QB, NYG) - 6% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Brian Daboll claims to be sticking with Russell Wilson for Week 2, but it took a little bit for the commitment to surface. We’re just waiting for the day that Dart takes over and rejuvenates this offense after watching Wilson complete only 17 of his 37 pass attempts for 168 scoreless yards.
This preseason, Dart went 32-of-47 for 372 yards and three touchdowns next to a 6-52-1 line with his wheels. His taking snaps will undoubtedly change the playbook, but maybe Daboll will wait until the first half’s schedule (at DAL, KC, LAC, at NO, PHI, at DEN, at PHI, SF) plays out. Or at least for Andrew Thomas to return to left tackle.
I understand all the reasons for why the Giants should stick with Russell Wilson as QB1.
I just can't say with conviction after watching yesterday that it isn't time for Jaxson Dart.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 8, 2025
*Deep-leaguers who are in a blood-for-QBs setting will need to throw a couple of bucks at Mac Jones in case Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) cannot go.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Nick Chubb (RB, HOU) - 31% rostered
FAAB Bid: 20-25%
Aggressive Bid: 25-35%
Desperation Bid: 35-50%
Houston couldn’t gain much ground or frequently approach the red zone against a stout Rams front, but Chubb still performed well when given the rock. He led the team with 13 carries (no one else had more than three), gaining 60 yards while failing to catch his lone target.
The ~50% snap rate isn’t great, but we figure that would climb if Houston can gain a lead. He easily outworked Dameon Pierce for rushes, while Dare Ogunbowale was the passing-down back over Woody Marks.
The Texans may find themselves in a high-scoring battle with Tampa Bay next week, before some Chubb-friendly matchups against Jacksonville and Tennessee. You can take things down a notch if you believe that Joe Mixon plays this year, but I'm not counting on it.
In the end, I really hope you don't need a running back to plug in off waivers for Week 2. We're not there yet, unless you can snag Chubb.
Trey Benson (RB, ARI) - 39% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%
Benson showed why he deserves more opportunities on a 52-yard run up the right sideline, which fueled his 8-69-0 rush line on the day. James Conner had 12-39-0 on the ground, but caught four balls for five yards and a TD.
No one is saying Benson is the 1A back, but his contingent upside if Conner is unavailable remains massive, and he has standalone flex value at home against Carolina’s porous run D in Week 2.
DJ Giddens (RB, IND) - 3% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%
Amid rumblings of a Jonathan Taylor neck injury and their blowout of Miami, the Colts gave Giddens 12 carries in the second half. He only gained 41 yards, but 70% of them came after contact, with his 2.42 yards after contact per attempt ranking ninth out of the 30 rushers with 10 or more carries in Week 1 (going into MNF).
We may see Tyler Goodson return from his elbow injury next week to muddy the waters, but given how well Daniel Jones led the team, having JT’s handcuff becomes a valuable piece. We aren't expecting Jones to suddenly become Jalen Hurts at the goal line! (JT is fine, but neck issues are scary!)
#Colts HC Shane Steichen says Jonathan Taylor is "good" after taking an awkward hit to his neck area yesterday. Adds that Taylor could've gone back into the game but with a big lead, it just wasn't worth it.
Plus, Indy got a chance to get a good look at rookie DJ Giddens.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 8, 2025
Kendre Miller (RB, NO) - 4% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%
Miller ran well in a limited look of five carries, gaining 24 yards against Arizona’s defense. Fantasy managers won’t be able to trust ancillary Saints, but we’ve seen Alvin Kamara fade down the stretch of late, and he’s missed time in recent years as well.
Kellen Moore should be wise enough to reward Miller’s talent if Kamara is unavailable. Those who took stabs at other RBs who were inactive early and are feeling antsy can swap for Miller. It's possible that New Orleans actually wins against a depleted San Francisco squad in Week 2.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
Marquise Brown (WR, KC) - 25% rostered
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, KC) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 12-18%/3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 18-25%/5-8%
Desperation Bid: 25-35%/8-12%
Already without Rashee Rice for their first six games, the Chiefs then lost Xavier Worthy to a shoulder injury early when he and Travis Kelce collided on dual crossing routes. He’s going to try to rehab and play with a brace for the dislocated shoulder, but the reinjury risk is high.
#Chiefs coach Andy Reid describes Xavier Worthy as "day-to-day" talking to reporters, an indication that the plan is to rehab and attempt to play with a brace -- rather than immediate surgery. Some good news initially. https://t.co/uTIwQEeZf1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2025
For now, Brown, Smith-Schuster, and then Tyquan Thornton and perhaps Jalen Royals will be the WR corps. JJSS caught all five targets for 55 yards as a PPR possession receiver, while Brown drowned in volume.
With K.C. down throughout the game, Brown saw a whopping 16 targets, catching 10 of them for 99 yards. He needed a 49-yard rocket throw to even out his line, but you can only feel so bad about a smorgasbord of looks. Patrick Mahomes will need a hero in their Week 2 Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles at their home opener.
Cedric Tillman (WR, CLE) - 28% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-10%
Tillman connected with Joe Flacco on 5-of-8 targets for 52 yards and a touchdown as the Browns came close to knocking off the Bengals. They were near the top of the neutral-situation passing rate leaderboard, which should change with Quinshon Judkins in tow, but Tillman’s role next to Jerry Jeudy remains clear.
Of course, the party could be interrupted whenever the Flacco magic peeters out and the Dillon Gabriel experiment takes over. But hey, maybe he's even better! And there's no ignoring that Tillman and Jeudy have had similar output in recent games (going back to the final month last year).
Quentin Johnston (WR, LAC) - 9% rostered
FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%
Johnston had little buzz coming into the season due to the hype vacuum around Tre' Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith, with the late addition of Keenan Allen syncing with a Johnston concussion. The poor reputation of Johnston’s hands shrouded his 55-711-8 receiving line in just 15 games last year, but his big-play ability is becoming tough to overlook after hanging a 5-79-2 line on Kansas City’s head.
At the end of the day, the Chargers have shown us at least one week’s worth of a pass-happy attack plan that worked extremely well. Omarion Hampton and the ground game will have better matchups and create a more balanced attack, but Johnston, Allen, and Ladd McConkey create a formidable three-wide set.
If this is Justin Herbert’s year to take a leap, there’s no reason Johnston won’t come along for a 10-TD campaign, even if it isn’t PPR-friendly.
Kayshon Boutte (WR, NE) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-10%
Boutte led New England’s offense with 103 yards on six receptions, so naturally the touchdown was scored by the guy with -2 yards (DeMario Douglas). I’d highlighted Boutte in my lotto tickets piece due to the likelihood of getting early starting reps, but crossing the 100-yard marker out of the gate is just fantastic.
While most will view him as a one-week illusion, it is worth noting that his increased usage and strong metrics date back to last year. I noted this in said fliers article: "Boutte was one of 36 receivers with 40 or more first-read targets in the second half of last season (Weeks 10-18). He also ranked 17th with a 35.8% team air yard share."
It’s reasonable to expect Stefon Diggs’ workload to increase, but those two can operate well ahead of Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. Boutte, Diggs, and Hunter Henry are the big three options downfield, with TreVeyon Henderson proving versatile out of the backfield for Drake Maye.
Calvin Austin III (WR, PIT) - 2% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-10%
Austin caught four passes for 70 yards, including an 18-yard score. The TD saw him motion all the way toward the right guard before running a corner route from the gap between his right tackle and TE Darnell Washington on a delayed blocking flat. Jets DB Brandon Stephens was suckered in by Austin’s choppy feet during the playaction fake, which left the wideout free to run a corner route for six.
He was the clear No. 2 WR, with no other WR seeing significant action. In fact, only one total target went to a WR not named Austin or DK Metcalf (naturally, this was a Ben Skowronek TD). We won’t expect weekly fireworks from the Steelers, but Austin’s role is a healthy one.
Elic Ayomanor (WR, TEN) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-10%
The rookie’s usage was incredible, but you have to squint between the box score’s lines due to Cam Ward’s poor play in Denver. He captured nearly half of the team’s air yard share (129) on seven looks, yet wound up with two catches for 13 yards.
Calvin Ridley made some key drops, and while it’s 99% likely that he remains the alpha here, we could see a sizeable role for the rookie alongside him. If you have immediate needs, then perhaps this isn't for you. But if you can invest and stash to see how the Ward Era unfolds, Ayomanor has a very strong upside.
We put a watch emoji next to Boutte, and maybe Ayomanor should warrant more attention because of the high air yards share. Boutte had the 7th-highest AY%, with Ayomanor at 11th in Week 1 before MNF.
Notable air yards share leaders in Week 1:
-Jaxon Smith-Njigba 🔥
-Malik Nabers… pic.twitter.com/VHC3if8vfq— Corbin (@corbin_young21) September 8, 2025
Dyami Brown (WR, JAX) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-7%
On a day where his quarterbacking wasn’t the best, Brown still caught 3-of-4 looks for 52 yards. Their upcoming matchup against the Bengals should keep the need for three-wide sets high, and it’s evident that Liam Coen had a vision in bringing Brown aboard.
It’s also telling that they scripted a pair of jet sweeps for Brown, including one to convert on fourth-and-short. He had a lot of open field between his two edge blockers on that one, but the perimeter defender pushed upfield just enough to force Brown to lose his footing. Their creativity with getting Brown involved could increase.
Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR, ATL) - 1% rostered
Casey Washington (WR, ATL) - 0% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%/0-1%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%/1-2%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%/2-3%
We just want to make a note of these fellows in case Drake London's shoulder injury limits or bars him from Week 2, and Darnell Mooney's own shoulder injury keeps him out as well. Washington was the one who stepped into Mooney's "X" role, but McCloud is the steady veteran in the slot who provides a decent PPR floor.
In reality, Kyle Pitts Sr. is the main beneficiary of a target vacuum being created, but we must point this out going into a Sunday night tilt with Minnesota. Since it's the late slate, it means most of you will likely opt for locking in earlier players.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Brenton Strange (TE, JAX) - 22% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-8%
His four catches for 59 yards don’t jump off any pages, unless you view it next to only his fellow Jags. The TE came out firing, hauling in three catches on Jacksonville’s opening drive, but the passing game would largely stall out.
And naturally, backup Hunter Long caught the six-yard TE on the only 12 personnel snap that Strange was on the sidelines for. The questions around Trevor Lawrence’s ceiling remain, but Week 2’s matchup with Cincinnati should provide the vulnerable defense and gamescript needed for Strange to have a strong day.
Juwan Johnson (TE, NO) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%
The sizeable TE only left the field for one of the team’s 75 offensive snaps on the day, pacing the team with 47 routes run as he brought in 8-of-11 targets for 76 yards. Formats that reward volume over touchdowns will come in handy with any Saint, but having a 6-foot-4 frame does come in handy by the red zone.
It turns out that Johnson had a significant role without Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau active, go figure. Both of them are the PUP list, so we’ve got a few weeks of every-snap potential for Johnson here.
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, CLE) - 2% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%
It appears that Cleveland envisioned and executed a plan after drafting the threatening TE. Fannin played on 55-of-76 snaps, drawing nearly a 50/50 split with David Njoku on third and fourth downs when the team used one TE, per PFF.
He lined up all over the field en route to leading the team with nine targets (plus a carry), catching seven of his looks for 63 yards. The lack of any notable No. 3 WR should help Fannin’s role, as will Cleveland’s likelihood of playing without any significant lead.
Most receptions by a rookie TE in Week 1 in NFL history is 7
That record is now held by Tyler Warren and Harold Fannin Jr
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 8, 2025
Jake Tonges and Michael Mayer are worth a desperation dart if you’re in Mariana Trench-style deep leagues, but there are likely better pivots if you’re stuck following the injuries to George Kittle (hamstring) and Brock Bowers (knee). Tonges could get a month of run with Kittle expected to miss 3-5 weeks, but still.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Rams Defense (at TEN) - 27% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-4%
The Rams did well to hold Houston to nine points with three sacks and two turnovers, utilizing their strong defensive line to bully the Texans’ weak protection.
They’ll now head to Tennessee to face a green Cam Ward-led team that struggled mightily against a stout Denver unit (six sacks, two turnovers, 12 points). The Titans will get off the ground eventually, but we doubt it is this week!
San Francisco 49ers Defense (at NO) - 34% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
San Francisco’s defense won Week 1 in the face of multiple injuries hitting its offensive starters, racking up two fumble recoveries and a sack at Seattle. It would’ve been nice to see more sacks against a weaker line, but now they’ll face another offense that only mustered 13 points in New Orleans.
The defense could be put in worse situations if Jauan Jennings and Brock Purdy cannot go, but you’ll also get home games against the Cardinals and Jaguars after this Saints matchup if you scoop up the Niners.
New England Patriots Defense (at MIA) - 14% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
The Pats defense held up well in a rainy season opener, holding rookie phenom Ashton Jeanty to two yards per carry, next to four sacks and a pick of Geno Smith. They’ll now march to Miami in the hopes that the Dolphins’ lack of chemistry, timing, and production (three sacks, three turnovers at Indy) isn’t solved with home cooking.
Dallas Cowboys Defense (vs. NYG) - 7% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Dallas stood up well against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, all things considered. Despite no Micah Parsons, they gave up 24 points and held A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith to a combined 24 yards, with Saquon Barkley averaging 3.3 yards per carry.
The matchup pendulum now swings from champ to chump. The Giants only mustered a pair of field goals, but Russ was able to get the ball out enough to absorb only two sacks despite the uphill climb. This outlook would change if Dart steps in over Wilson, but you’d still get a rookie making his NFL debut.
More Waiver Wire Analysis
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
