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Week 2 fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Dont'e Thornton, Elic Ayomanor, Jayden Higgins in 2025. Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
After a long offseason, we have finally arrived at the first waiver wire period of the season. Whether you dominated in the opening week or are scrambling to fill massive holes in your roster, everyone is looking for league winners on the free agent market.
Three under-the-radar rookie wide receivers played significant roles in Week 1 and are likely available in your fantasy leagues. Are they viable waiver wire pickups heading into Week 2, and should you consider them on waivers?
Here are the fantasy outlooks for Dont'e Thornton, Elic Ayomanor, Jayden Higgins. Let's dive in!
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Dont'e Thornton Jr. Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 20% of leagues
Baller Move: Stash in deeper leagues
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. played his first NFL action on Sunday, totaling two receptions on four targets for 45 yards. The 2025 fourth-round pick was listed as a starting wide receiver and was able to be a key piece in the Raiders' 20-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
The Raiders’ offense looked explosive in their first game with Geno Smith and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Las Vegas ran the 12th-most plays in Week 1, finished seventh in total yards, and Smith posted the second-most passing yards of the week.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. absolutely cooked Carlton Davis on this double move
He is a DANGEROUS deep threat. You can’t guard him 1v1 like this.
6’5” and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash… pic.twitter.com/S7z4hqwdLH
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 8, 2025
Despite the Raiders' superb showing, Thornton’s production remained modest. The rookie receiver played 60% of the snaps, third among the Raiders' receivers, and had just an 11% target share.
This may end up being one of the Raiders’ most pass-heavy and efficient offensive performances of the year. Until the rookie begins converting his role and athleticism into consistent box-score production, he should only be stashed in deeper fantasy leagues.
Elic Ayomanor Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 5% of leagues
Baller Move: Add in All Leagues
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor started in his first game action, totaling two catches on seven targets, for 13 yards against the suffocating Denver defense. Despite less-than-ideal numbers, Ayomanor played 79% of the snaps, placing as the team’s WR2 behind Calvin Ridley.
Despite a poor performance by Ayomanor, he showed promise that he could be a factor in fantasy leagues this season. The rookie receiver had a 25% target share, out-targeting and out-snapping receivers Tyler Lockett and Chimere Dike by a significant margin.
Most unrealized air yards in Week 1 (total air yards on incomplete targets):
Elic Ayomanor (120)
CeeDee Lamb (116)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (83)
Brian Thomas Jr. (81)
Tyquan Thornton (79)
Malik Nabers (75)
Ja'Marr Chase (75)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 9, 2025
Rookie quarterback Cam Ward struggled against one of the best defenses in football, as expected. Ward completed 42.9% of his passes (lowest in the NFL) and was sacked six times. The offensive line is a concern, but the Broncos' defense had the most sacks of any defense in 2024, and they’re going to pose problems for every quarterback in the NFL in 2025.
The Titans will face much easier matchups the rest of the season, and both Ward and Ayomanor are going to improve with more experience in the NFL. Due to how thin the waiver wire looks after Week 1, Ayomanor should be a guy you consider as a waiver priority.
Jayden Higgins Waiver Wire Outlook
Rostered: 36% of leagues
Baller Move: Leave as free agent on waivers
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins hauled in two of three targets for 32 yards in Sunday’s loss against the Los Angeles Rams. The rookie receiver led the Texans in receiving in Week 1, but still only had 4.2 half-PPR fantasy points.
The rookie Jayden Higgins snags it for a first down
HOUvsLAR on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/M6SssTMgIB
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
The Texans were a disaster on offense, putting up the third-fewest points and ranking 24th in passing yards in Week 1. While better days are ahead for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, they are not the same team they were two years ago.
Higgins played 43% of the snaps, playing less than Nico Collins (84%), Xavier Hutchinson (68%), and Justin Watson (53%). The Texans were without veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk, who is the projected WR2 in the offense.
Higgins’ role is undetermined at this point as the team’s WR4 or WR5. His fantasy value is too low to be considered fantasy relevant until he passes Hutchinson and Watson in snap count.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
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